Showing papers by "Martin A. Lysak published in 2012"

Whole-genome triplication and species radiation in the southern African tribe Heliophileae (Brassicaceae)

Abstract: The unigeneric tribe Heliophileae includes ca. 90 Heliophila species, all endemic to southern Africa. The tribe is morphologically the most diverse Brassicaceae lineage in every aspect of habit, foliage, flower and fruit morphology. Despite this diversity, virtually nothing is known about its origin and genome evolution. Here we present the first in-depth information on chromosome numbers, rDNA in situ localization, genome structure, and phylogenetic relationship within Heliophileae. Chromosome numbers determined in 27 Heliophila species range from 2n = 16 to 2n = ca. 88, but 2n = 20 and 22 prevail in 77% of the examined species. Chromosome-number variation largely follows three major lineages (A, B, and C) resolved in the ITS phylogeny. Clade A species mostly have a chromosome number of 2n = 20, whereas 2n = 22 is the dominant number in clade C (2n = 16 and 22 were counted in two diploid species of clade B). The number and position of 5S and 45S rDNA loci cannot be employed as phylogenetically informative characters. Seven species with different chromosome number and from the three ITS clades were analyzed by comparative chromosome painting. In all species analyzed, 90% of painting probes unveiled three homeologous chromosome regions in Heliophila haploid chromosome complements. These results suggest that all Heliophila species, and probably the entire tribe Heliophileae, experienced a whole-genome triplication (WGT) event. We hypothesize that the mesohexaploid ancestor arose through hybridization between genomes resembling the Ancestral Crucifer Karyotype with n = 8. The WGT has been followed by species-specific chromosome rearrangements (diploidization) resulting in descending dysploidy towards extant quasi-diploid genomes. The WGT might have contributed to diversification and species radiation in Heliophileae. To our knowledge, this is the first study to document polyploidy as a potential major mechanism for the radiation of a Cape plant lineage.

Phylogenetic analyses of ITS and rbcL DNA sequences for sixteen genera of Australian and New Zealand Brassicaceae result in the expansion of the tribe Microlepidieae

Abstract: Sequence data from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) mDNA and rbeL cpDNA regions were used to determine relationships of genera of Brassicaceae from Australia and New Zealand (NZ) that were previously unassigned to a tribe. Maximum likelihood analysis of 71 ITS sequences identified a monophyletic clade of Australian genera, including Carinavalva and Microlepidium that had previously been assigned to the tribe Microlepidieae. Pachycladon is not supported as monophyletic, comprising a clade of the NZ species and another clade of the Tasmanian P. radicatum. These two Pachycladon clades form a polytomy with the Australian clade. Maximum likelihood analysis of the rbel, region generally supports the ITS analysis with the Australian genera forming a monophyletic clade with Pachycladon. Arabidella is polyphyletic in the rbeL phylogeny as A. eremigena is member of the Australian clade but A. trisecta is placed in a sister clade that comprises mainly genera of tribe Camelineae. As a result of these phylogenetic analyses the tribe Microlepidieae is expanded and now includes 16 genera and 56 species endemic to Australia and New Zealand. Genera included in the Microlepidieae are Arabidella, Ballantinia, Blennodia, Carinavalva, Cuphonotus, Drabastrum, Geococcus, Harmsiodoxa, Irenepharsus, Menkea, Microlepidium, Pachycladon, Pachymitus, Phlegmatosperinum, Scambopus and Stenopetalum. Whole-genome duplication has previously been shown to have occurred in the ancestry of Arabidella, Ballantinia, Pachycladon and Stenopetalum and is likely to be a defining feature of the tribe Microlepidieae. Future research needs to investigate circumscription of the Australian genera as there is a predominance of closely related monotypic genera in the Microlepidieae. With resolution of the tribal placement of these Australian and New Zealand genera, ca. 94% (302) of the 321 genera in the family have been assigned to a tribe.