The objective of this work was to molecularly characterize 11 Cratylia argentea accessions, based on the ITS (ITS1/5.8S/ITS2) region sequencing, as well to establish its phylogenetic relationship with other legume species. The phylogenetic relationship of this species with other 15 legume ones was established using a gene sequence that codes the subunit 18S of the rRNA (rDNA 18S). DNA amplification of the ITS/5.8S region of these 11 accessions revealed an amplicon with around 650 bp. ITS/5.8S sequences were obtained from all accessions analysed, and then aligned with the region ITS/5.8S of Galactia striata legume. The size of ITS/5.8S region ranged from 565 to 615 bp. Average G + C contents in the ITS1 and ITS2 regions ranged between 46 and 47%. The multiple sequence alignment between the ITS sequences from C. argentea accessions and Galactia striata revealed the presence of deletions and insertions. C. argentea accessions formed a unique politomic clade. Cratylia argentea phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that this species is placed into the true Diocleinae Clade, and that Calopogonium and Pachyrhizus are not included in subtribe Diocleinae.
genetic distance; forage plant; legume shrubs; genetic variability
