Estimation of genome sizes of plants from Ottelia Pers. based on flow cytometry

The genome sizes of six taxa and three doubtful species of Ottelia were evaluated using flow cytometry (FCM) with the modified lysate P1. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. Fruct. et Semin was used as a reference species. The smallest C-value (6.759 pg) was detected in Ottelia cordata (Wall.) Dandy, whereas the largest C-value (12.929 pg) was found in Ottelia guanyangensis Z. Z. Li, S. Wu & Q. F. Wang. An ambiguous correlation was detected between the phylogenetic relationships within Ottelia and genome size. Furthermore, evaluation of phylogenetic status based on molecular systematics demonstrated that the three doubtful species were diploid and maintained a close relationship with Ottelia acuminata var. songmingensis Z. T. Jiang, H. Li & Z. L. Dao and O. guanyangensis, but a distant relationship with Ottelia cordata. Our study provides basic genomic resources for future phylogenetic and genomic research on the genus Ottelia.