PremiseTheSphagnum recurvumcomplex comprises a group of closely related peat mosses that are dominant components of many northern wetland ecosystems. Taxonomic hypotheses for the group range from interpreting the whole complex as one polymorphic species to distinguishing 6–10 species. The complex occurs throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and some of the putative species have intercontinental ranges. Our goals were to delimit the complex and assess its phylogenetic structure in relation to morphologically defined species and intercontinental geography. MethodsRADseq analyses were applied to a sample of 384 collections from Europe, North America, and Asia. The data were subjected to maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses and analyses of genetic structure using the software STRUCTURE and multivariate ordination approaches. ResultsTheS. recurvumcomplex includesS. angustifolium,S. fallax,S. flexuosum,S. pacificum, andS. recurvumas clades with little evidence of admixture. We also resolved an unnamed clade that is referred to here asS. “pseudopacificum.” We confirm thatS. balticumandS. obtusumare nested within the complex. Species with bluntly acute to obtuse stem leaf apices are sister to those with acute to apiculate leaves. Most of the species exhibit some differentiation between intraspecific population systems disjunct on different continents. ConclusionsWe recognize seven species in the amendedS. recurvumcomplex, includingS. balticumandS. obtusum, in addition to the informal cladeS. “pseudopacificum.” Although we detected some geographically correlated phylogenetic structure within widespread morphospecies, our RADseq data support the interpretation that these species have intercontinental geographic ranges.
more »
« less
A phylogenomic analysis of Lonicera and its bearing on the evolution of organ fusion
Abstract PremiseThe ~140 species ofLoniceraare characterized by variously fused leaves, bracteoles, and ovaries, making it a model system for studying the evolution and development of organ fusion. However, previous phylogenetic analyses, based mainly on chloroplast DNA markers, have yielded uncertain and conflicting results. A well‐supported phylogeny ofLonicerawill allow us to trace the evolutionary history of organ fusion. MethodsWe inferred the phylogeny ofLonicerausing restriction site–associated DNA sequencing (RADSeq), sampling all major clades and 18 of the 23 subsections. This provided the basis for inferring the evolution of five fusion‐related traits. ResultsRADSeq data yielded a well‐resolved and well‐supported phylogeny. The two traditionally recognized subgenera (PericlymenumandChamaecerasus), three of the four sections (Isoxylosteum,Coeloxylosteum, andNintooa), and half of the subsections sampled were recovered as monophyletic. However, the large and heterogeneous sectionIsikawas strongly supported as paraphyletic.Nintooa, a clade of ~22 mostly vine‐forming species, includingL. japonica, was recovered in a novel position, raising the possibility of cytonuclear discordance. We document the parallel evolution of fused leaves, bracteoles, and ovaries, with rare reversals. Most strikingly, complete cupules, in which four fused bracteoles completely enclose two unfused ovaries, arose at least three times. Surprisingly, these appear to have evolved directly from ancestors with free bracteoles instead of partial cupules. ConclusionsWe provide the most comprehensive and well‐supported phylogeny ofLonicerato date. Our inference of multiple evolutionary shifts in organ fusion provides a solid foundation for in depth developmental and functional analyses.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 1929670
- PAR ID:
- 10479657
- Publisher / Repository:
- American Journal of Botany
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- American Journal of Botany
- Volume:
- 110
- Issue:
- 4
- ISSN:
- 0002-9122
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- ancestral character state reconstruction bracteoles classification cupule cytonuclear discordance fused ovaries honeysuckle parallel evolution phylogeny RADSeq
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Abstract PremiseReticulate evolution, often accompanied by polyploidy, is prevalent in plants, and particularly in the ferns. Resolving the resulting non‐bifurcating histories remains a major challenge for plant phylogenetics. Here, we present a phylogenomic investigation into the complex evolutionary history of the vining ferns,Lygodium(Lygodiaceae, Schizaeales). MethodsUsing a targeted enrichment approach with theGoFlag 408flagellate land plant probe set, we generated large nuclear and plastid sequence datasets for nearly all taxa in the genus and constructed the most comprehensive phylogeny of the family to date using concatenated maximum likelihood and coalescence approaches. We integrated this phylogeny with cytological and spore data to explore karyotype evolution and generate hypotheses about the origins of putative polyploids and hybrids. ResultsOur data and analyses support the origins of several putative allopolyploids (e.g.,L. cubense, L. heterodoxum) and hybrids (e.g.,L.×fayae) and also highlight the potential prevalence of autopolyploidy in this clade (e.g.,L. articulatum, L. flexuosum, andL. longifolium). ConclusionsOur robust phylogenetic framework provides valuable insights into dynamic reticulate evolution in this clade and demonstrates the utility of target‐capture data for resolving these complex relationships.more » « less
-
Abstract BackgroundIdentifying the DNA-binding specificities of transcription factors (TF) is central to understanding gene networks that regulate growth and development. Such knowledge is lacking in oomycetes, a microbial eukaryotic lineage within the stramenopile group. Oomycetes include many important plant and animal pathogens such as the potato and tomato blight agentPhytophthora infestans, which is a tractable model for studying life-stage differentiation within the group. ResultsMining of the P. infestans genome identified 197 genes encoding proteins belonging to 22 TF families. Their chromosomal distribution was consistent with family expansions through unequal crossing-over, which were likely ancient since each family had similar sizes in most oomycetes. Most TFs exhibited dynamic changes in RNA levels through the P. infestanslife cycle. The DNA-binding preferences of 123 proteins were assayed using protein-binding oligonucleotide microarrays, which succeeded with 73 proteins from 14 families. Binding sites predicted for representatives of the families were validated by electrophoretic mobility shift or chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Consistent with the substantial evolutionary distance of oomycetes from traditional model organisms, only a subset of the DNA-binding preferences resembled those of human or plant orthologs. Phylogenetic analyses of the TF families withinP. infestansoften discriminated clades with canonical and novel DNA targets. Paralogs with similar binding preferences frequently had distinct patterns of expression suggestive of functional divergence. TFs were predicted to either drive life stage-specific expression or serve as general activators based on the representation of their binding sites within total or developmentally-regulated promoters. This projection was confirmed for one TF using synthetic and mutated promoters fused to reporter genesin vivo. ConclusionsWe established a large dataset of binding specificities forP. infestansTFs, representing the first in the stramenopile group. This resource provides a basis for understanding transcriptional regulation by linking TFs with their targets, which should help delineate the molecular components of processes such as sporulation and host infection. Our work also yielded insight into TF evolution during the eukaryotic radiation, revealing both functional conservation as well as diversification across kingdoms.more » « less
-
Abstract PremiseSphagnum magellanicum(Sphagnaceae, Bryophyta) has been considered to be a single semi‐cosmopolitan species, but recent molecular analyses have shown that it comprises a complex of at least seven reciprocally monophyletic groups, that are difficult or impossible to distinguish morphologically. MethodsNewly developed barcode markers and RADseq analyses were used to identify species among 808 samples from 119 sites. Molecular approaches were used to assess the geographic ranges of four North American species, the frequency at which they occur sympatrically, and ecological differentiation among them. Microhabitats were classified with regard to hydrology and shade. Hierarchical modelling of species communities was used to assess climate variation among the species. Climate niches were projected back to 22,000 years BP to assess the likelihood that the North American species had sympatric ranges during the late Pleistocene. ResultsThe species exhibited parallel morphological variation, making them extremely difficult to distinguish phenotypically. Two to three species frequently co‐occurred within peatlands. They had broadly overlapping microhabitat and climate niches. Barcode‐ versus RADseq‐based identifications were in conflict for 6% of the samples and always involvedS. diabolicumvs.S. magniae. ConclusionsThese species co‐occur within peatlands at scales that could permit interbreeding, yet they remain largely distinct genetically and phylogenetically. The four cryptic species exhibited distinct geographic and ecological patterns. Conflicting identifications from barcode vs. RADseq analyses forS. diabolicumversusS. magniaecould reflect incomplete speciation or hybridization. They comprise a valuable study system for additional work on climate adaptation.more » « less
-
PremisePhylogenetic trees of bryophytes provide important evolutionary context for land plants. However, published inferences of overall embryophyte relationships vary considerably. We performed phylogenomic analyses of bryophytes and relatives using both mitochondrial and plastid gene sets, and investigated bryophyte plastome evolution. MethodsWe employed diverse likelihood‐based analyses to infer large‐scale bryophyte phylogeny for mitochondrial and plastid data sets. We tested for changes in purifying selection in plastid genes of a mycoheterotrophic liverwort (Aneura mirabilis) and a putatively mycoheterotrophic moss (Buxbaumia), and compared 15 bryophyte plastomes for major structural rearrangements. ResultsOverall land‐plant relationships conflict across analyses, generally weakly. However, an underlying (unrooted) four‐taxon tree is consistent across most analyses and published studies. Despite gene coverage patchiness, relationships within mosses, liverworts, and hornworts are largely congruent with previous studies, with plastid results generally better supported. Exclusion ofRNAedit sites restores cases of unexpected non‐monophyly to monophyly forTakakiaand two hornwort genera. Relaxed purifying selection affects multiple plastid genes in mycoheterotrophicAneurabut notBuxbaumia. Plastid genome structure is nearly invariant across bryophytes, but thetufA locus, presumed lost in embryophytes, is unexpectedly retained in several mosses. ConclusionsA common unrooted tree underlies embryophyte phylogeny, [(liverworts, mosses), (hornworts, vascular plants)]; rooting inconsistency across studies likely reflects substantial distance to algal outgroups. Analyses combining genomic and transcriptomic data may be misled locally for heavilyRNA‐edited taxa. TheBuxbaumiaplastome lacks hallmarks of relaxed selection found in mycoheterotrophicAneura. Autotrophic bryophyte plastomes, includingBuxbaumia, hardly vary in overall structure.more » « less
An official website of the United States government

