Molecular identification of Boletus speciosus (Boletaceae) using nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region in Vietnam

DNA barcoding is a useful tool for species identification using standardized genomic DNA fragments. In Vietnam there are 12 species of genus Boletus, some valued for food and medicine, whereas others are extremely poisonous. However, there is poor knowledge about the number of poisonous species. We used DNA barcodes (internal transcribed spacer (ITS) to explore Boletus speciosus and to investigate the current taxonomy of Boletus. In the current study, ITS region showed high level of universality for PCR and sequencing. All samples from Vietnam have close relationship with B. speciosus (MLBS = 100%, BPP =99%). Genetic p-distances interspecific divergence within and among Boletus species were varied from 0% to 21.3%.