Abstract:

Dendrology is a branch of biology, dealing with the characteristics of woody plants; and phylogeny is the basis of dendrology. Common limiting factors in phylogenetic studies include inadequate species sampling and the availability of sufficient sequence data. The application of new approaches may broaden the range of materials to be utilized and thereby improve the resolution of phylogenies, thus advancing dendrological studies to higher levels. Herbaria preserve specimens that are the permanent vouchers for species; they comprise an important resource bank, storing information on morphology, distribution, ecology and phenology, and also plant materials. Herbarium specimens contain deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences fragmented due to degradation and oxidization during specimen preparation and preservation. As such, Sanger sequencing cannot make full use of herbarium specimens in phylogenetic studies due to these limitations. This study introduces a novel method referred to as herbariomics, in which DNA sequences (i.e., nrITS, plastomes, mitomes and single-copy nuclear genes) can be obtained from herbarium specimens by using next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics methodologie. Herbariomics enable low-cost, time-saving, highly efficient, and accurate dendrological research. Its application is likely to accelerate research associated with reconstructing the Tree of Life, DNA barcoding, species conservation, and the sustainable utilization of trees.

Key words: dendrology and taxonomy, herbariomics, phylogeny