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A multi-locus chloroplast phylogeny for the Cucurbitaceae and its implications for character evolution and
Alexander Kocyan1, Li-Bing Zhang, Hanno Schaefer
1Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilians University, D-80638 Munich, Germany.
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
|February 27, 2007
Summary
The phylogeny of the economically important Cucurbitaceae family was inferred using chloroplast DNA. Molecular data partially support traditional classifications and reveal new clades and evolutionary relationships within this plant family.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Molecular evolution
- Phylogenetics
Background:
- The Cucurbitaceae family comprises approximately 800 species in 130 genera, representing a significant group of economically important plants.
- Understanding the evolutionary relationships within this family is crucial for botanical and agricultural sciences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To infer the phylogeny of the Cucurbitaceae family using molecular data.
- To investigate the evolutionary history and relationships among genera within Cucurbitaceae.
- To correlate morphological characters with the inferred molecular phylogeny.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetic analysis based on chloroplast DNA sequences from five regions (rbcL, matK, trnL, trnL-trnF, rpl20-rps12).
- Data obtained from 171 species representing 123 genera within the Cucurbitaceae family.
- Comparison of molecular phylogeny with floral and fruit morphology, pollen characteristics, and karyotype data.
Main Results:
- Molecular data provided weak support for traditional subfamilies (Cucurbitoideae and Nhandiroboideae) but recovered most tribes.
- Identified Indofevillea khasiana as sister to all other Cucurbitoideae.
- Discovered a new clade comprising ancestrally Asian genera and the New World tribe Sicyeae.
- Revealed poly- or paraphyletic status for several genera, including Cucumis and Trichosanthes.
- Correlated floral characters (styles, filaments, anthers, tendril type, pollen) with the chloroplast phylogeny.
- Observed high evolutionary flexibility in petal and fruit characters, and karyotype.
Conclusions:
- The study refines the understanding of Cucurbitaceae phylogeny, challenging some traditional classifications.
- Chloroplast DNA analysis is a valuable tool for resolving evolutionary relationships in this family.
- Floral morphology shows stronger evolutionary correlation with phylogeny than fruit or karyotype characters.
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