Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Interspecific Relationships of the Genus Viburnum Inferred from Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) Polymorphism Markers

Abstract

The genus Viburnum (Adoxaceae) comprises deciduous broad-leaved shrubs with a thicket-like growth habit, and globally about 150-200 species are recognized. In Korea, several native Viburnum taxa have recently been listed as threatened, emphasizing the need for robust genetic information to support conservation and management. This study aimed to evaluate genetic diversity and interspecific relationships among 33 Viburnum taxa and to establish a practical framework for their identification and management using start codon targeted (SCoT) markers. SCoT markers were chosen because they are easier to apply than simple sequence repeat (SSR) and generally provide richer nuclear variation than chloroplast DNA (cpDNA), offering a simple yet informative tool for distinguishing closely related members of this shrub genus. Seventeen SCoT primers produced 489 polymorphic bands, revealing substantial nuclear variation among the 33 Viburnum taxa. An unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA), we grouped the 33 accessions into four major genetic clusters, and this clustering pattern was in good agreement with the structure inferred from principal component analysis. These clusters highlighted the genetic isolation of the V. plicatum group and the close affinity of the V. carlesii complex, while also indicating complex relationships among East Asian species. In contrast, V. plicatum formed Cluster IV, highlighting the taxonomic positions of these lineages and their potential priority for conservation and breeding. Overall, the results demonstrate that SCoT markers provide an efficient, operationally simple system for discriminating between closely related accessions and major genetic lineages within Viburnum. The SCoT-based approach developed here provides baseline information for species and cultivar identification. It also supports germplasm conservation and the selection of genetically divergent parents for future breeding programs.

Keywords

SCoT markers / Genetic diversity / Phylogenetic relationships / Viburnum / Germplasm conservation / Taxonomy

Supplementary Materials

The following supporting information can be found at: https://www.sciepublish.com/article/pii/910, Table S1: List of all 60 SCoT primers screened in this study and their basic characteristics; Table S2: Jaccard distance matrix calculated from the binary SCoT dataset for the 33 Viburnum accessions.

Statement of the Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the Writing Process

During the preparation of this work, the authors used Grammarly and Perplexity (AI-assisted tools) to improve readability and language. After using these tools, the authors reviewed and edited the content as needed and took full responsibility for the publication’s content.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Wan-Hee Lee, Head of the Plant Management & Research Division, and Su-Mi Park, Director of Seoul Botanic Park, for administrative support and facilitation of this project. The authors also thank the staff of Seoul Botanic Park for their assistance with field sampling and cultivation of Viburnum accessions.

Author Contributions

I.-J.C.: conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, supervision, writing—original draft, writing—review & editing. H.-M.P.: investigation, long-term collection, and ex situ conservation of Viburnum germplasm, establishment and management of the Viburnum display garden at Seoul Botanic Park. H.-K.K.: investigation, monitoring of growth performance, and ongoing propagation and maintenance of Viburnum accessions.

Ethics Statement

Not applicable. This study did not involve humans or animals. The plant materials used in this study are not listed in the IUCN Red List, and no endangered or protected species were harmed during sample collection. All plant sampling and subsequent experiments were conducted in accordance with the guidelines and regulations of Seoul Botanic Park.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable. This study did not involve humans.

Data Availability Statement

Processed data supporting the findings of this study are provided in the Supplementary Materials. The raw data (including gel images and the binary SCoT marker matrix) are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Funding

This research was funded by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in this paper.

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