Preliminary Phylogenetic Analysis and DNA Barcoding of Endemic and Threatened Silene species in Türkiye using ITS and rps16 Intron Markers

The genus Silene (Caryophyllaceae) is one of the most species-rich groups in Türkiye, with 180 recognized taxa, 63 of which are endemic. Despite their ecological and conservation importance, the phylogenetic relationships of many endemic and threatened taxa remain unresolved. Here, we investigated twelve Turkish Silene taxa, including four endemics, using nuclear ribosomal ITS and chloroplast rps16 intron sequences. The concatenated dataset (1517 bp) contained 108 polymorphic sites and provided strong phylogenetic signal. Bayesian analyses revealed two well-supported clades: (i) Lasiostemones, Sclerocalycine, and Nanosilene; and (ii) Spergulifoliae and Auriculatae. Notable markers included a unique 38-bp insertion in S. argaea and several section-specific substitutions. This study represents the first integrated DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analysis of endangered Turkish Silene taxa, highlighting the utility of combined ITS and rps16 intron markers for species identification and resolving phylogenetic relationships, while providing a genetic baseline for the conservation of these rare taxa.