Exploring the diversity of andean berries from northern Peru based on molecular analyses

More than 12,000 species have been listed under the category of berries, and most of them belong to the orders Ericales and Rosales. Recent phylogenetic studies using molecular data have revealed disagreements with morphological approaches mainly due to diverse floral arrangements, which has proven to be a problem when recognizing species. Therefore, the use of multilocus sequence data is essential to establish robust species boundaries. Although berries are common in Andean cloud forests, diversity of these taxa has not been extensively evaluated in the current context of DNA-based techniques. In this regard, this study characterized morphologically and constructed multilocus phylogenies using four molecular markers, two chloroplast markers (matK and rbcL) and two nuclear markers (ITS and GBSSI-2). Specimens did not show diagnostic features to delimit species of berries. A total of 125 DNA-barcodes of andean berries were newly generated for the four molecular markers. The multilocus phylogenies constructed from these markers allowed the identification of 24 species grouped into the order Ericales (Cavendishia = 1, Clethra = 2, Disterigma = 2, Gaultheria = 4, Thibaudia = 4, Vaccinium = 3) and Rosales (Rubus = 8), incorporating into the Peruvian flora four new records (Disterigma ecuadorense, Disterigma synanthum, Vaccinium meridionale and Rubus glabratus) and revealing the genus Rubus as the most diverse group of berries in the Amazonas region. The results of this study showed congruence in all the multilocus phylogenies, with internal transcribed spacer (ITS) showing the best resolution to distinguish the species. These species were found in coniferous forests, dry and humid forests, rocky slopes, and grasslands at 2,506–3,019 masl from Amazonas region. The integration of morphological and DNA-based methods is recommended to understand the diversity of berries along the Peruvian Andean cloud forest. Abstract in Quechua language Qhawarqan astawan chunka iskayniyuq waranqa especiekuna bayasmanta huch’uy mit’a maypichus hatun rak’i chayaqi ordenkunata Ericaleswan Rosaleswan. Chayraqpi Khuski filogeneticamanta rurachiy allincharqan chanikuna molecularkuna willarqan ayñi rikunawanta morfologicokunamanta, qaylla llapan rantichay t’ika tiktutaywan ñawray, ima kay kaqta qhawacgirqan kay huk champay pachaman riqsiypa especiekunamanta. Hina kaqtintaq, chanikuna qatikipaykunamanta multilocus hat’alliy tiksipmi takyachiypaq saywakuna sinchikuna especiekunamanta. Pana bayaskuna kanku allatinkuna sach’a-sach’api phuyusqa anti runap, ñawran manan karqan achka kamaykuy kunan pacha allwiyaraykupi takyasqakuna ADN. Chayrayku, Noqanchispa taqwi allincharqan huk filogenia multilocus, rarachikupúnmi tawa molecular marcadorkuna, caspa iskay markadorkunawan cloroplastomanta (matK, rbcL) iskay markadorkunawan nuclearkunamanta (ITS, GBSSI-2). Kaykunawan filogeniamanta huniqamuran kikinchay iskay chunka tawayoq especies ima tantaqamuran q'anchis generospi (Cavendishia=1, Clethra=2, Disterigma=2, Gaultheria=4, Thibaudia=4, Vaccinium=3, Rubus=8), kaykunata huñuyqamuranta piruwanu llacha kamay tawa musuq quillqakamachikuta (Disterigma ecuadorense, Disterigma synanthum, Vaccinium meridionale, Rubus glabratus). Nocaykuq lluqsisqan kuwirinti rikuchirurqan llapankuna filogeniaspi multilocusmanta, kaspa espaciador transcrito interno (ITS) pi rikuchina kutuwi mihur rantichay riqsiypaq especiekunata. Abstract in Awajun language Dekanauwai juú weantug 12000 sag nagkaikiut, júna nejég tente ainawai nuintushkam kuashtai Ericales nuigtu Rosales weantui. Molecularesjai takasmaug juki filogeneticos augtus yamá dekai antugnaiñasmauwa nuna Morfologicosjai disa umikmaug, juka waignawai kuashag yagkunum, juwai dekaata tamanum kuashat utugchata ama nunuka. Nunui asamtai multilocus takasmauwa nujai dekanui wajukut ainawa pipish tumaig aidaush. Tujashkam kuashtai tentee nejég ainaug ikam naig yujagkim amuamua nunuig, wajupá kuashtakit tusajig ashi dekapasjig ADNjain dischamui. Nuni tamaugmak, ii augtusag duka takasé filogenia multilocus dekamua nujai, takasji ipák usumat marcadores molecularesjai, jimag marcadores cloroplastosjai (matK nuigtu rbcL) nuigtu jimag marcadores nuclearesjai (ITS nuigtu GBSSI-2). Juu filogenias dekaji 24 sag nagkaikiut tuwaka 7 generosnug tuwaka awa nunu (Cavendishia=1, Clethra=2, Disterigma=2, Gaultheria=4, Thibaudia=4, Vaccinium=3, Rubus=8), juui dekanai yamajam ipák usumat ajag perunum awanunu (Disterigma ecuadorense, Disterigma synanthum, Vaccinium meridionale nuigtu Rubus glabratus).