Multilocus phylogeny and phylogenomics of Eriochrysis P. Beauv. (Poaceae ? Andropogoneae ? Saccharinae): Taxonomic implications and evidence of interspecific hybridization

WELKER, CASSIANO A. DORNÉLES; SOUZA-CHIES T.T.; LONGHI-WAGNER, H.M.; PEICHOTO M.C.; MCKEIN M.R.; KELLOG E.A.

Santos, SP

Congreso; 66º Congresso Nacional de Botânica; 2015

Sociedad Botanica do Brasil

Species delimitation is a vital issue concerning evolutionary biology and conservation of biodiversity. However, it is a challenging task for several reasons, including the low interspecies variability of markers currently used in phylogenetic reconstructions and the occurrence of reticulate evolution and polyploidy in many lineages of flowering plants. The first molecular phylogeny of the grass genus Eriochrysis P. Beauv. is presented here in order to examine its relationships to other genera of the subtribe Saccharinae / tribe Andropogoneae and to define the circumscriptions of its taxonomically complicated species. Molecular cloning and sequencing of five regions of four low-copy nuclear genes (apo1, d8, ep2-ex7 and ep2-ex8, kn1) were performed, as well as complete plastome sequencing. Trees were reconstructed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference analyses. The present phylogenetic analyses indicate that Eriochrysis is monophyletic and the Old World E. pallida Munro is sister to the New World species. Subtribe Saccharinae is polyphyletic. Based on molecular markers plus morphology, we define the circumscriptions of the New World species of Eriochrysis: E. laxa Swallen is distinct from E. warmingiana (Hack.) Kuhlm., and E. villosa Swallen is distinct from E. cayennensis P. Beauv. The occurrence of natural hybrids between E. laxa and E. villosa was evidenced. The hybrids are probably tetraploids, based on the number of paralogues in the nuclear trees. This is the first record of a polyploid taxon in the genus Eriochrysis. Some incongruities between nuclear genes and plastome analyses were detected and are potentially caused by incomplete lineage sorting and/or ancient hybridization. The set of low-copy nuclear genes used in this study seems to be efficient to solve phylogenetic relationships and define the circumscription of other species complexes in the grass family and relatives, even in presence of polyploidy and reticulate evolution. Complete plastome sequencing is also a promising tool for phylogenetic inferences. (CNPq, Capes - Atualidades em Botânica: dissertações e teses)