Early-Mid Pleistocene genetic differentiation and range expansions as exemplified by invasive Eurasian Bunias orientalis (Brassicaceae) indicates the Caucasus as key region

Abstract

Turkish Warty cabbage, Bunias orientalis L. (Brassicaceae) is a perennial herb known for its 250 years of invasion history into Europe and worldwide temperate regions. Putative centers of origin were debated to be located in Turkey, the Caucasus or Eastern Europe. Based on the genetic variation from the nuclear and plastid genomes, we identified two major gene pools in the Caucasian-Irano-Turanian region and close to the Northern Caucasus, respectively. These gene pools are old and started to diverge and expand approximately 930 kya in the Caucasus. Pleistocene glaciation and deglaciation cycles favoured later expansion of a European gene pool 230 kya, which was effectively separated from the Caucasian-Irano-Turanian gene pool. Although the European gene pool is genetically less diverse, it has largely served as source for colonization of Western and Northern Europe in modern times with rare observations of genetic contributions from the Caucasian-Irano-Turanian gene pool such as in North-East America. This study largely utilized herbarium material to take advantage of a biodiversity treasure trove providing biological material and also giving access to detailed collection information.

Zahora, a new monotypic genus from tribe Brassiceae (Brassicaceae) endemic to the Moroccan Sahara

“…In addition, plastid DNA markers trn L intron and trn L- trn F intergenic spacer were amplified and sequenced (Koch et al 2017), and results have been subsequently used for megaBLAST searches (high similarity) in GenBank to identify taxa with similar plastid (maternal) genotypes.…”

“…The tribe Brassiceae is among the most complex monophyletic lineages within Brassicaceae. The tribe underwent an early genome triplication (Lysak et al 2005) affecting subsequent diversification (Arias et al 2014) and gave rise to approximately 50 genera comprising 250 species (Huang et al 2019; Koch et al 2017). The entire tribe started to evolve about 23 million years ago, and centers of origin and diversity are the entire circum-Mediterranean region (Arias et al 2014).…”

The first checklist of alien vascular plants of Kyrgyzstan, with new records and critical evaluation of earlier data. Contribution 1

“…This group has been largely neglected in Central Asia; its comprehensive review is presented here. The distinction between the native and secondary distribution areas of Bunias orientalis L. ( Brassicaceae ) used to be controversial ( Laiviņš et al 2006 ) but was recently resolved by genetic studies ( Koch et al 2017 ); we provide evidence for its current invasion to Central Asia. The taxonomy of Xanthium L. ( Asteraceae ) remained a nightmare until Tomasello (2018) provided a solid framework for its classification; this taxonomy and the recent advances in palaeobotany of the Last Postglacial in Asia allowed us to understand the times and causes of invasions of Xanthium in Central Asia.…”

Vegetation growth and landscape genetics of Tillandsia lomas at their dry limits in the Atacama Desert show fine‐scale response to environmental parameters

“…The AFLP analysis of dataset 1 including 41 individuals resulted in 165 loci after semi‐automatically scoring and rigorous quality control (Koch et al., 2017). The final matrix consisted of polymorphic loci only, and the error rate, according to Bonin et al.…”