Multiplexed-shotgun-genotyping data resolve phylogeny within a very recently derived insular lineage

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Island biogeography
• Phylogenetics

Background:

• Oceanic island plants are key models for evolutionary studies.
• Phylogenetic studies of island flora often show a disconnect between molecular data and diversity.
• This lack of resolution hinders understanding of evolutionary patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the utility of multiplexed shotgun genotyping (MSG) for resolving phylogenetic relationships in the Macaronesian plant genus Tolpis.
• To address limitations of previous molecular markers in resolving shallow and deep evolutionary nodes within this genus.
• To provide a high-resolution phylogeny for Tolpis, aiding in the interpretation of its evolutionary history.

Main Methods:

• Genomic libraries were created for 27 Tolpis accessions.
• Multiplexed shotgun genotyping (MSG) was employed for reduced-representation sequencing.
• Phylogenetic analyses were performed using the pyRAD program and RAxML.

Main Results:

• MSG analysis yielded a highly resolved phylogeny for Tolpis with strong statistical support.
• The study achieved the first robust inference of relationships within the Canary Island clade of Tolpis.
• This demonstrates MSG's effectiveness in resolving complex evolutionary histories.

Conclusions:

• Multiplexed shotgun genotyping (MSG) is highly effective for resolving phylogenies in rapidly diversifying plant lineages.
• This approach can overcome challenges posed by extensive ecological and morphological diversity.
• MSG is recommended for future phylogenetic studies of other rapid plant radiations.