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13 pages, 2065 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Species Identification and Genetic Diversity Analysis of Medicinal Plants Aconitum pendulum Busch and Aconitum flavum Hand.-Mazz.

by Jing Sun, Qing Sun, Xin Li, Wenjing Li, Yi Li, Yubi Zhou and Yanping Hu

Plants 2024, 13(6), 885; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060885 - 19 Mar 2024

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Abstract

The classification system for the genus Aconitum is highly complex. It is also the subject of ongoing debate. Aconitum pendulum Busch and Aconitum flavum Hand.-Mazz. are perennial herbs of the genus Aconitum. Dried roots of these two plants are used in traditional [...] Read more.

The classification system for the genus Aconitum is highly complex. It is also the subject of ongoing debate. Aconitum pendulum Busch and Aconitum flavum Hand.-Mazz. are perennial herbs of the genus Aconitum. Dried roots of these two plants are used in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, morphological observations and ISSR molecular markers were employed to discriminate between A. flavum and A. pendulum, with the objective of gaining insights into the interspecies classification of Aconitum. The pubescence on the inflorescence of A. flavum was found to be appressed, while that on the inflorescence of A. pendulum was spread. UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average) cluster analysis, PCoA (principal coordinates analysis), and Bayesian structural analysis divided the 199 individuals (99 individuals from DWM population and 100 individuals from QHL population) into two main branches, which is consistent with the observations of the morphology of pubescence on the inflorescence. These analyses indicated that A. flavum and A. pendulum are distinct species. No diagnostic bands were found between the two species. Two primer combinations (UBC808 and UBC853) were ultimately selected for species identification of A. flavum and A. pendulum. This study revealed high levels of genetic diversity in both A. flavum (H_e = 0.254, I = 0.395, PPB = 95.85%) and A. pendulum (H_e = 0.291, I = 0.445, PPB = 94.58%). We may say, therefore, that ISSR molecular markers are useful for distinguishing A. flavum and A. pendulum, and they are also suitable for revealing genetic diversity and population structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Taxonomy, Systematics, and Phylogeography)

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29 pages, 13527 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrative Taxonomy Reveals Hidden Diversity in the Aloina catillum Complex (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta)

by María J. Cano, Juan A. Jiménez, Mónica Martínez, Lars Hedenäs, M. Teresa Gallego, Omar Rodríguez and Juan Guerra

Plants 2024, 13(3), 445; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13030445 - 02 Feb 2024

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Abstract

Aloina catillum is a variable moss typical of xerophytic environments in the Neotropics, characterized against other closely allied Aloina species with well-differentiated leaf border by its setae twisted to the left throughout. In order to clarify its variability and its relationships with the [...] Read more.

Aloina catillum is a variable moss typical of xerophytic environments in the Neotropics, characterized against other closely allied Aloina species with well-differentiated leaf border by its setae twisted to the left throughout. In order to clarify its variability and its relationships with the allied species with differentiated leaf border A. brevirostris, A. obliquifolia, and A. rigida, we performed an integrative study including sequence data from four markers (nuclear ITS, plastid atpB-rbcL, trnG, trnL-F), morphometry, and species assembling by automatic partitioning (ASAP) algorithm. Our data suggest that A. catillum consists of at least three species: A. calceolifolia (an earlier name for A. catillum), and two species described here as a new, A. bracteata sp. nov. and A. limbata sp. nov. This latter species includes the specimens previously identified as A. obliquifolia from South America. Additionally, some morphological and molecular variability was also detected in A. limbata, but was not consistent enough to be recognized taxonomically. The study supports the presence of A. brevirostris in the Neotropics and A. rigida is tentatively excluded from South America. Full descriptions of the A. catillum s.l. species and a diagnostic key to this complex in South America are provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Taxonomy, Systematics, and Phylogeography)

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23 pages, 150848 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Position of Lophozia dubia (Lophoziaceae, Marchantiophyta) in the Phylogenetic System of Lophozia and the Distribution of Lophozia in Southeast Eurasia, Extending to Indonesia

by Vadim A. Bakalin, Yulia D. Maltseva and Aleksey V. Troitsky

Plants 2024, 13(3), 367; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13030367 - 26 Jan 2024

Viewed by 632

Abstract

Lophozia pallida, the commonly used name for a rare and little-known Sino-Himalayan species, was found to be a synonym of Lophozia dubia, a forgotten and previously misinterpreted species known in Indonesia. A comparative study of herbarium materials and our collections made [...] Read more.

Lophozia pallida, the commonly used name for a rare and little-known Sino-Himalayan species, was found to be a synonym of Lophozia dubia, a forgotten and previously misinterpreted species known in Indonesia. A comparative study of herbarium materials and our collections made it possible to ‘extend’ the distribution of Lophozia s. str. southward to Indonesia. The description of oil bodies from the species is provided for the first time. The position of the species in the Lophozia phylogenetic system demonstrates its clear differences from the morphologically similar Lophozia guttulata and its phylogenetic relationship with the Japanese–Korean Lophozia koreana. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Taxonomy, Systematics, and Phylogeography)

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13 pages, 10386 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Autotetraploid Origin of Chinese Cherry Revealed by Chromosomal Karyotype and In Situ Hybridization of Seedling Progenies

by Yan Wang, Xueou Li, Yan Feng, Juan Wang, Jing Zhang, Zhenshan Liu, Hao Wang, Tao Chen, Wen He, Zhiwei Wu, Yuanxiu Lin, Yunting Zhang, Mengyao Li, Qing Chen, Yong Zhang, Ya Luo, Haoru Tang and Xiaorong Wang

Plants 2023, 12(17), 3116; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12173116 - 30 Aug 2023

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Abstract

Polyploidy is considered a driving force in plant evolution and diversification. Chinese cherry [Cerasus pseudocerasus (Lindl.) G.Don], an economically important fruit crop native to China, has evolved at the tetraploid level, with a few pentaploid and hexaploid populations. However, its auto- or [...] Read more.

Polyploidy is considered a driving force in plant evolution and diversification. Chinese cherry [Cerasus pseudocerasus (Lindl.) G.Don], an economically important fruit crop native to China, has evolved at the tetraploid level, with a few pentaploid and hexaploid populations. However, its auto- or allo-polyploid origin remains unclear. To address this issue, we analyzed the ploidy levels and rDNA chromosomal distribution in self- and open-pollinated seedling progenies of tetraploid and hexaploid Chinese cherry. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) analysis was conducted to reveal the genomic relationships between Chinese cherry and diploid relatives from the genus Cerasus. Both self- and open-pollinated progenies of tetraploid Chinese cherry exhibited tetraploids, pentaploids, and hexaploids, with tetraploids being the most predominant. In the seedling progenies of hexaploid Chinese cherry, the majority of hexaploids and a few pentaploids were observed. A small number of aneuploids were also observed in the seedling progenies. Chromosome 1, characterized by distinct length characteristics, could be considered the representative chromosome of Chinese cherry. The basic Chinese cherry genome carried two 5S rDNA signals with similar intensity, and polyploids had the expected multiples of this copy number. The 5S rDNA sites were located at the per-centromeric regions of the short arm on chromosomes 4 and 5. Three 45S rDNA sites were detected on chr. 3, 4 and 7 in the haploid complement of Chinese cherry. Tetraploids exhibited 12 signals, while pentaploids and hexaploids showed fewer numbers than expected multiples. Based on the GISH signals, Chinese cherry demonstrated relatively close relationships with C. campanulata and C. conradinae, while being distantly related to another fruiting cherry, C. avium. In combination with the above results, our findings suggested that Chinese cherry likely originated from autotetraploidy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Taxonomy, Systematics, and Phylogeography)

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20 pages, 6620 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phylogenetic Partitioning of Gansu Flora: Unveiling the Core Transitional Zone of Chinese Flora

by Zizhen Li, Qing Tian, Peifang Chong, Weibo Du, Jia Wei and Rong Huang

Plants 2023, 12(17), 3060; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12173060 - 25 Aug 2023

Viewed by 805

Abstract

Floristic regions, conventionally established using species distribution patterns, have often overlooked the phylogenetic relationships among taxa. However, how phylogenetic relationships influence the historical interconnections within and among biogeographic regions remains inadequately understood. In this research, we compiled distribution data for seed plants in [...] Read more.

Floristic regions, conventionally established using species distribution patterns, have often overlooked the phylogenetic relationships among taxa. However, how phylogenetic relationships influence the historical interconnections within and among biogeographic regions remains inadequately understood. In this research, we compiled distribution data for seed plants in Gansu, a region of significant biogeographic diversity located in northwestern China.We proposed a novel framework for floristic regions within Gansu, integrating distribution data and phylogenetic relationships of genera-level native seed plants, aiming to explore the relationship between phylogenetic relatedness, taxonomic composition, and regional phylogenetic delineation. We found that (1) phylogenetic relatedness was strongly correlated with the taxonomic composition among floras in Gansu. (2) The southeastern Gansu region showed the lowest level of spatial turnover in both phylogenetic relationships and the taxonomic composition of floristic assemblages across the Gansu region. (3) Null model analyses indicated nonrandom phylogenetic structure across the region, where most areas showed higher phylogenetic turnover than expected given the underlying taxonomic composition between sites. (4) Our results demonstrated a consistent pattern across various regionalization schemes and highlighted the preference for employing the phylogenetic dissimilarity approach in biogeographical regionalization investigations. (5) Employing the phylogenetic dissimilarity approach, we identified nine distinct floristic regions in Gansu that are categorized into two broader geographical units, namely the northwest and southeast. (6) Based on the phylogenetic graphic regions of China across this area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Taxonomy, Systematics, and Phylogeography)

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23 pages, 7571 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phylogeography of 912 Cherry Accessions Insight into Independent Origins of Fruiting Cherries and Domestication Footprints of Cultivated Chinese Cherry (Prunus pseudocerasus Lindl.)

by Tao Chen, Qing Chen, Jing Zhang, Yan Wang, Hao Wang, Yong Zhang, Ya Luo, Haoru Tang and Xiaorong Wang

Plants 2023, 12(12), 2258; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12122258 - 09 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1106

Abstract

The subgenus Cerasus (Rosaceae) contain numerous fruit trees and ornamentals with high economic values. The origin and genetic divergence among various types of fruiting cherries always remain a perplexing issue. We employed three plastom fragments and ITS sequence matrices derived from 912 cherry [...] Read more.

The subgenus Cerasus (Rosaceae) contain numerous fruit trees and ornamentals with high economic values. The origin and genetic divergence among various types of fruiting cherries always remain a perplexing issue. We employed three plastom fragments and ITS sequence matrices derived from 912 cherry accessions to elucidate the phylogeographic structure and genetic relationship among fruiting cherries, as well as the origin and domestication of cultivated Chinese cherry. The integration of haplotype genealogies, Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) approach and estimation of genetic differentiation within and between different groups and lineages has facilitated the resolution of several previously unresolved questions. Firstly, distant phylogenetic relationships between Cerasus and Microcerasus accessions, as indicated by both nuclear and chloroplast data, suggested independent origins and evolution for these two taxa. Moreover, two distinct geographic origin centers (Europe and China) have been confirmed, with significant phylogeographic signals and high genetic differentiation observed between cherries from these regions. This may be attributed to long-term geographic isolation caused by Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains. Our phylogeographic analyses and ABC analysis suggested that cherries inhabiting in China may have undergone multiple hybridization events during the glacial refugia of the eastern edge and southern Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains, followed by rapid radiation throughout their current habitats during interglacial period. The discrepancy between nuclear and chloroplast data may be attributed to hybridization events and incomplete lineage sorting. Furthermore, we speculated that the domesticated Chinese cherries were derived from wild accessions in Longmenshan Fault Zones approximately 2600 years ago. We have also traced the domestication processes and dispersal routes of cultivated Chinese cherries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Taxonomy, Systematics, and Phylogeography)

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26 pages, 4147 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptome-Based Study on the Phylogeny and Hybridization of Marattialean Ferns (Marattiaceae)

by Jing Zhao, Xinmao Zhou, Shaoli Fang, Zhangming Zhu, Yuxin Li, Hong Yu and Zhaorong He

Plants 2023, 12(12), 2237; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12122237 - 07 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1192

Abstract

Marattiaceae is a phylogenetically isolated family of tropical eusporangiate ferns including six genera with more than one-hundred species. In Marattiaceae, monophyly of genera has been well-supported phylogenetically. However, the phylogenetic relationships among them were elusive and controversial. Here, a dataset of 26 transcriptomes [...] Read more.

Marattiaceae is a phylogenetically isolated family of tropical eusporangiate ferns including six genera with more than one-hundred species. In Marattiaceae, monophyly of genera has been well-supported phylogenetically. However, the phylogenetic relationships among them were elusive and controversial. Here, a dataset of 26 transcriptomes (including 11 newly generated) were used to assess single-copy nuclear genes and to obtain the organelle gene sequences. Through phylotranscriptomic analysis, the phylogeny and hybridization events of Marattiaceae were explored and a robust phylogenomic framework for the evolution of Marattiaceae was provided. Using both concatenation- and coalescent-based phylogenies, the gene-tree discordance, incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) simulations, and network inference were examined. Except the low support with mitochondrial genes of Marattiaceae, nuclear genes and chloroplast genes strongly supported a sister relationship between Marattiaceae and leptosporangiate ferns. At the genus level, all phylogenetic analysis based on nuclear genes datasets recovered five genera in Marattiaceae as monophyletic with strong support. Danaea and Ptisana were the first two diverged clades in turn. Christensenia was a sister clade to the clade Marattia + Angiopteris s.l. In Angiopteris s.l., three clades (Angiopteris s.s., the Archangiopteris group, and An. sparsisora) were well identified with maximum support. The Archangiopteris group was derived from Angiopteris s.s. at ca. 18 Ma. The putative hybrid species An. sparsisora between Angiopteris s.s. and the Archangiopteris group was verified by the species network analyses and the maternal plastid genes. This study will improve our understanding for using the phylotranscriptomic method to explore phylogeny and investigate hybridization events for difficult taxa in ferns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Taxonomy, Systematics, and Phylogeography)

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Review

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19 pages, 4017 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role of the Hercynian Mountains of Central Europe in Shaping Plant Migration Patterns in the Pleistocene—A Review

by Jacek Urbaniak and Paweł Kwiatkowski

Plants 2023, 12(18), 3317; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12183317 - 20 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1416

Abstract

The climatic changes that took place in Europe during the Quaternary period influenced plant habitats as well as their species and vegetation composition. In this article, biogeographical studies on Hercynian mountain plants that include data for the Alps, Carpathians, and European lowlands are [...] Read more.

The climatic changes that took place in Europe during the Quaternary period influenced plant habitats as well as their species and vegetation composition. In this article, biogeographical studies on Hercynian mountain plants that include data for the Alps, Carpathians, and European lowlands are reviewed in order to discuss the phylogeographical structure and divergence of the Hercynian populations from those in other European mountain ranges, Scandinavia, and lowlands. The analyzed studies show specific phylogeographical relations between the Hercynian mountains, Alps, Scandinavia, Carpathians, and European lowlands. The results also indicate that the genetic patterns of plant populations in the Hercynian Mountains may differ significantly in terms of origin. The main migration routes of species to the Hercynian ranges began in the Alps or Carpathians. Some species, such as Rubus chamaemorus L., Salix lapponum L., and Salix herbacea L., are glacial relics that may have arrived and settled in the Hercynian Mountains during the Ice Age and that survived in isolated habitats. The Hercynian Mountains are composed of various smaller mountain ranges and are a crossroads of migration routes from different parts of Europe; thus, intensive hybridization has occurred between the plant populations therein, which is indicated by the presence of several divergent genetic lines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Taxonomy, Systematics, and Phylogeography)

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