Angiosperm phylogeny based on <011>matK sequence information

Abstract

Plastid matK gene sequences for 374 genera representing all angiosperm orders and 12 genera of gymnosperms were analyzed using parsimony (MP) and Bayesian inference (BI) approaches. Traditionally, slowly evolving genomic regions have been preferred for deep-level phylogenetic inference in angiosperms. The matK gene evolves approximately three times faster than the widely used plastid genes rbcL and atpB. The MP and BI trees are highly congruent. The robustness of the strict consensus tree supercedes all individual gene analyses and is comparable only to multigene-based phylogenies. Of the 385 nodes resolved, 79% are supported by high jackknife values, averaging 88%. Amborella is sister to the remaining angiosperms, followed by a grade of Nymphaeaceae and Austrobaileyales. Bayesian inference resolves Amborella + Nymphaeaceae as sister to the rest, but with weak (0.42) posterior probability. The MP analysis shows a trichotomy sister to the Austrobaileyales representing eumagnoliids, monocots + Chloranthales, and Ceratophyllum + eudicots. The matK gene produces the highest internal support yet for basal eudicots and, within core eudicots, resolves a crown group comprising Berberidopsidaceae/Aextoxicaceae, Santalales, and Caryophyllales + asterids. Moreover, matK sequences provide good resolution within many angiosperm orders. Combined analyses of matK and other rapidly evolving DNA regions with available multigene data sets have strong potential to enhance resolution and internal support in deep level angiosperm phylogenetics and provide additional insights into angiosperm evolution.

Pollen morphology of some rainforest taxa occurring in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia

“…The larger, usually 3-colporate pollen of A. resinosum differs from the small to very small, 2-colporate pollen of Cunoniaceae species examined in this study. This finding supports anatomical and molecular studies which excluded Aphanopetalum from Cunoniaceae (Dickison et al 1994, Bradford & Barnes 2001, Fishbein et al 2001, Hilu et al 2003.…”

Origins of the southeastern Australian vegetation

“…According to recent molecular phylogenies, the sister families for Casuarinaceae and Proteaceae are families now centred in the Northern Hemisphere (e.g. Manos & Steele 1997;Hilu et al 2003). These families are very distinct morphologically and such close relationships had never been predicted previously.…”

Leaf Cuticular Morphology Links Platanaceae and Proteaceae

“…Platanaceae have been included within Hamamelidales (Takhtajan 1980;Cronquist 1981;Schwarzwalder and Dilcher 1991). However, there is now strong support from DNA sequences (Drinnan et al 1994;Hoot and Douglas 1998;Hoot et al 1999;Savoleinen et al 2000;Hilu et al 2003) that Platanaceae and Proteaceae are sister taxa, with the theoretical option that Platanus could be included as a (basal) member of Proteaceae (APG II 2003). The status of Nelumbonaceae as a member of Proteales is less emphatic, with relatively weak support from molecular data (Kim et al 2004) and no support from gynoecial features (Endress and Igersheim 1999) and floral development and anatomy (Hayes et al 2000).…”

“…Taxa studied included Nelumbo and species of Berberidaceae, Menispermaceae, Papaveraceae, Ranunculaceae, and Sabiaceae, which are other early-diverging tricolpates (Drinnan et al 1994;Hilu et al 2003). Less comprehensive comparisons were made with the very large core tricolpate clade, but species from more than 170 families were examined, including Gunneraceae.…”