Disentangling a "Big Genus"; Unwinding Ipomoeeae s.l. (Convolvulaceae) Using Angiosperms353-Guided Classical...

Area of Science:

• Botany
• Plant Taxonomy
• Molecular Phylogenetics

Background:

• The plant genus Ipomoea, with over 800 species, is polyphyletic and taxonomically complex, hindering clear classification.
• Previous phylogenetic studies of the tribe Ipomoeeae lacked sufficient representation from Asian and African taxa, limiting comprehensive generic classification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance understanding of phylogenetic relationships within the Ipomoeeae tribe.
• To incorporate phylogenomic data from 17 African Ipomoea taxa to resolve taxonomic uncertainties.

Main Methods:

• Utilized target enrichment with the Angiosperms353 probe set for phylogenomic analysis.
• Employed a single locus (ITS) constrained-phylogenetic analysis approach, guided by phylogenomic data.

Main Results:

• The Angiosperms353 phylogenomic tree strongly supported the monophyly of Ipomoeeae and the polyphyly of Ipomoea.
• Constrained phylogenetic trees showed improved statistical support compared to unconstrained analyses.
• Observed conflicting gene trees within the Angiosperms353 phylogeny despite strong support.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights the necessity for infrageneric divisions within Ipomoea and a formal subtribal classification for Ipomoeeae.
• Advocates for the use of phylogenomic data in phylogenetic inference and taxonomic delimitation of Ipomoeeae.
• Recommends increased taxa sampling and the use of nuclear molecular data with multi-species coalescent approaches for robust classification.