Systematic studies on selected genera of aroideae in Kelantan based on morphological and chloroplast DNA.

A study conducted for Aroideae species in Kelantan shows that the Aroideae subfamily is diverse and widespread in Kelantan. Twenty three species Aroideae were recognized in Kelantan of which two species (Aglaonema cochinchinense Engler and A. pumilum Hook.f.) represented new records and four species (Alocasia sp.1, A. sp.2, Homalomena sp.1 and H. sp.2) represented novel species of Araceae for the Peninsular Malaysia. Others seventeen species were widely distributed in Peninsular Malaysia. Several species of Aroideae were difficult to be classified based on morphological characters such as Aglaonema nitidum (Jack) Kunth, A. cochinchinense Engl., Homalomena sp.1, H. sp. 2, H. humilis (Jack) Hook.f., Alocasia sp. 2, A. inornata Hallier f., Apoballis mutata (Hook.f.) S. Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce and Schismatoglottis calyptrata (Roxb.) Zoll. & Moritzi. Since there is lack of obvious phenotypic variation among species, molecular analysis was performed. Chloroplast DNA sequences were investigated to further distinguish the species and resolve relationships between the species of Aroideae subfamily. Chloroplast DNA regions were used to determine these relationships because of the non-mendelian mode of inheritance of these genomes, low substitution rate and uniparental (maternal inheritance) mode of inheritance