A Comparative Study of 5S rDNA Non-Transcribed Spacers in Elaeagnaceae Species

5S rDNA is organized as a cluster of tandemly repeated monomers that consist of the conservative 120 bp coding part and non-transcribed spacers (NTSs) with different lengths and sequences among different species. The polymorphism in the 5S rDNA NTSs of closely related species is interesting for phylogenetic and evolutional investigations, as well as for the development of molecular markers. In this study, the 5S rDNA NTSs were amplified with universal 5S1/5S2 primers in some species of the Elaeagnaceae Adans. family. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of five Elaeagnus species had similar lengths near 310 bp and were different from Shepherdia canadensis (L.) Nutt. and Sh. argentea (Pusch.) Nutt. samples (260 bp and 215 bp, respectively). The PCR products were cloned and sequenced. An analysis of the sequences revealed that intraspecific levels of NTS identity are high (approximately 95–96%) and similar in the Elaeagnus L. species. In Sh. argentea, this level was slightly lower due to the differences in the poly-T region. Moreover, the intergeneric and intervarietal NTS identity levels were studied and compared. Significant differences between species (except E. multiflora Thunb. and E. umbellata Thunb.) and genera were found. Herein, a range of the NTS features is discussed. This study is another step in the investigation of the molecular evolution of Elaeagnaceae and may be useful for the development of species-specific DNA markers in this family.