Comparisons of chloroplast haplotypes in toxicodendron succedaneum (L.) Kuntze among local cultivars and candidates for superior trees in japan and wild individuals from the Asian continent and Okinawa Island

NdhF gene and trnL-F region chloroplast DNA sequences of Toxicodendron succedaneum (L.) Kuntze derived from local cultivars and candidates for superior trees in Japan, and wild individuals from the Asian Continent and Okinawa Island were compared. Nine single-nucleotide polymorphisms were observed in the overall aligned sequences (2,403 bp), and 10 chloroplast haplotypes were detected. One haplotype (designated A) was observed only in the local cultivars and the candidates for superior trees, while two (B and C) were detected only in individuals from Japan, including Okinawa. Haplotype A differed from some haplotypes in the Asian Continent by only a single nucleotide, while B and C differed more. The findings suggest that the local cultivars and the candidates for superior trees in Japan comprise several lineages derived from the Asian Continent or the south-western islands of Japan.