Next-generation sequencing-assisted DNA barcoding and genome analysis of Rivina humilis

Adequate naming of medically significant plant species is crucial to the conservation of biodiversity, taxonomic verification and contaminating mixtures of herbs. The current research was intended to molecularly verify Rivina humilis with the help of chloroplast DNA barcoding. Genomic DNA was amplified of the chloroplast ribulose-1, 5 -bisphosphate carboxylase large subunit gene region followed by bidirectional sequencing. Forward and reverse sequences were combined together such that they gave a good consensus sequence to be used in comparative analysis. The identification of species was done by sequence similarity search that was made against distribution databases that were being made publicly. The resultant sequence was exhibiting high percentage identity and full query coverage to the validated accessions of R. humilis and statistically important scores of alignment. Phylogenetic analysis also served as a creation of confirmation that the species was identified through a clustering of the study sample within the R. humilis clade that had high support through bootstrap. The amplification produced only one distinct fragment of around 600 base pairs which was a sign of specificity and no contamination. The results indicated that DNA barcoding based on chloroplast genes was an accurate and consistent process of molecular authentication of the species. The produced validated molecular data was ahead of creating reference barcode libraries and augmenting the taxonomic identification. The findings justified the use of molecular identification tools in the study of medicinal plants, measuring biodiversity and conservation of wild plants as well as quality advances of plant products.