Systematics of Apiaceae subfamilies Apioideae and Saniculoideae: Phylogenetic affinities and biogeographic implications

CALVIÑO, C. I. AND DOWNIE, S. R

San Carlos de Bariloche

Simposio; VI Southern Connection Congress; 2010

Universidad Nacional del Comahue, INTA y CONICET

Only 30% of Apiaceae genera belong to the southern hemisphere (SH), but the region is important because it is the origin of this mostly north temperate family. Four subfamilies are currently recognized within Apiaceae: Apioideae, Saniculoideae, Azorelloideae and Mackinlayoideae. While Azorelloideae is mostly South American and Mackinlayoideae is mostly Australian, Apioideae and Saniculoideae are mostly north temperate taxa. The origin of Azorelloideae and Mackinlayoideae in the SH is evident. We review our work to highlight the importance of the SH in the origin of subfamilies Apioideae and Saniculoideae, as well. To estimate phylogeny among these subfamilies cpDNA trnQ-trnK and nrITS regions from 241 accessions were analyzed using maximum parsimony and Bayesian methods. The resultant phylogenies were examined using dispersal-vicariance analysis to ascertain the biogeographic histories of these taxa. The majority of the southern African endemic genera comprise successively diverging lineages at the base of both Apioideae and Saniculoideae. The biogeographic scenarios reinforce the importance of southern Africa in the early evolutionary history of Apiaceae. This region is the origin of the common ancestor of subfamilies Apioideae and Saniculoideae and also the place where these two major lineages diverged. Subfamily Apioideae subsequently migrated northward into Eurasia. Within subfamily Saniculoideae, tribe Saniculeae, also subsequently migrated northward into Asia or Europe.