Towards a phylogeny for Astragalus section Caprini (Fabaceae) and its allies based on nuclear and plastid DNA sequences

Mehrshid Riahi, Shahin Zarre, Ali Aasghar Maassoumi, Shahrokh Kazempour Osaloo, Martin Wojciechowski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

We conducted phylogenetic analyses of the sect. Caprini and its closely related sections within Astragalus. Analyses of a combined dataset including nrDNA ETS and three cpDNA markers using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference from 44 species of sect. Caprini and its allied taxa yielded congruent relationships among several major lineages. These results largely disagree with previously recognized taxonomic groups, most notably in the following ways: (1) subsects. Caprini and Purpurascentes of sect. Caprini are not natural groups; (2) sects. Alopecuroidei and Laxiflori are nested within sect. Astragalus; and (3) subsect. Chronopus constitutes a separate phylogenetic lineage. Representatives of sects. Astragalus, Alopecuroidei, and Laxiflori share a common ancestor with that of sect. Caprini. Our studies indicate that Astragalus annularis is an outlier species for the genus Astragalus and sect. Caraganella is the first-diverging clade within the genus Astragalus. Results of these analyses are supported by morphology and suggest the need for new taxonomic delimitations, which are forthcoming. Key morphological characters were mapped onto the phylogenetic tree and discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)119-133
Number of pages15
JournalPlant Systematics and Evolution
Volume293
Issue number1-4
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2011

Keywords

  • Astragalus
  • ETS rDNA
  • cpDNA
  • sect. Alopecuroidei
  • sect. Caprini
  • sect. Laxiflori

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Plant Science

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