Cryptic genetic diversity in Solanum elaeagnifolium (Solanaceae) from South America

CHIARINI, FRANCO E.; SCALDAFERRO, MARISEL A.; BERNARDELLO, GABRIEL; ACOSTA, M. CRISTINA

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Año: 2018

0067-1924

Solanum elaeagnifoliumis a global invasive weed that is polyploid in the South American range. Our aim was to establish the origin and distribution of these polyploid lineages, together with their relationship with the invasion ofnew habitats. Ploidy level was determined in 26 natural populations using chromosomal counts, and two non-coding plastid regionstrnL-trnFandrpl32F-trnLwere sequenced. Relationships among haplotypes were examined by a medianjoining network, and groups of populations were identified by employing a spatial analysis of molecular variance. Phylogenetic relationships among haplotypes were reconstructed using Bayesian inference, and divergence times were estimated using BEAST. We found 21 haplotypes structured into three lineages: one with diploids in North America and invaded areas, and two in South America that developed independent polyploidisation events. The separation oflineages took place during the Pliocene with more recent divergences in the Early Pleistocene. The existence of three lineages can be attributed to the uplift of the Andes and the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama. Diversification within each lineage may be related to the recent cyclical glacial variation throughout the Pleistocene creating haplotype diversity and recurrent polyploidy. Thus, the South American populations ofS. elaeagnifoliumdid not originate from a recent colonisation but are established ancient lineages.