Resolution of deep eudicot phylogeny and their temporal diversification using nuclear genes from transcriptomic and...

Area of Science:

• Botany and Evolutionary Biology
• Phylogenetics and Genomics
• Plant Evolution

Background:

• Eudicots, comprising 75% of flowering plants, are crucial for ecosystems and human life.
• Explosive diversification in eudicots complicates phylogenetic resolution, particularly within the Pentapetalae group.
• Previous eudicot phylogenies and diversification rate analyses have remained largely unresolved.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct a highly supported phylogenetic tree of eudicots.
• To identify shifts in diversification rates within eudicot lineages.
• To provide new insights into the evolutionary history and diversification of flowering plants.

Main Methods:

• Phylogenetic analysis using 31 newly generated transcriptomes and 88 existing datasets.
• Analysis of 70% of eudicot orders to ensure comprehensive coverage.
• Molecular clock analysis to estimate divergence times and diversification rates.

Main Results:

• A well-resolved eudicot phylogeny was established, dividing Pentapetalae into two major clades.
• Crown eudicots originated approximately 146 million years ago, earlier than previously estimated.
• Two significant increases in diversification rates were identified, preceding the diversification of Pentapetalae and asterids.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a robust framework for understanding eudicot evolution and diversification.
• Newly generated transcriptomic data significantly improved phylogenetic resolution.
• The findings offer crucial insights into the evolutionary trends and diversification drivers within eudicots.