A preliminary phylogenetic study of Eriobotrya based on cpDNA rbcL and trnL-F sequences

With Sorbus scopulina Hedl. and Malus prunifolia Willd. Barkh as outgroups, phylogenetic relationships, in terms of cpDNA rbcL and trnL-F sequences, were reconstructed for 16 loquat accessions (species, variety, and forma). The preliminary study showed that E. seguinii Card might be one of the primitive taxa in Eriobotrya. Based on cpDNA rbcL sequences, E. bengalensis Hook.f. and forma angustifolia Vidal formed cluster I, while E. elliptica Lindl., E. prinoides Rehd & Wils. E. prinoides Rehd. & Wils. var. dadunensis H. Z. Zhang and E. japonica Lindl. formed cluster II. Based on trnL-F sequences, E. deflexa Nakai and E. deflexa Nakai var. buisanensis Nakai formed one cluster. Information from cpDNA rbcL and trnL-F sequences could not resolve certain phylogenetic relationships of loquat accessions due to the limitations in molecular evolution.