Origin and Biogeography of Aesculus L. (Hippocastanaceae): A Molecular Phylogenetic Perspective

Abstract

Sequences of chloroplast gene matK and internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal RNA genes were used for phylogenetic analyses of Aesculus, a genus currently distributed in eastern Asia, eastern and western North America, and southeastern Europe. Phylogenetic relationships inferred from these molecular data are highly correlated with the geographic distributions of species. The identified lineages closely correspond to the five sections previously recognized on the basis of morphology. Ancestral character-state reconstruction, a molecular clock, and fossil evidence were used to infer the origin and biogeographic history of the genus within a phylogenetic framework. Based on the molecular phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus, sequence divergence, and paleontological evidence, we infer that the genus originated during the transition from the Cretaceous to the Tertiary (-65 M.Y.B.P.) at a high latitude in eastern Asia and spread into North America and Europe as an element of the "boreotropical flora"; the current disjunct distribution of the genus resulted from geological and climatic changes during the Tertiary.

Plastid and nuclear DNA markers reveal intricate relationships at subfamilial and tribal levels in the soapberry family (Sapindaceae)

“…2) is somewhat dependant on the placement of Xanthoceras sorbifolia. Although Billia and Handeliodendron, thought to be close relative of Aesculus (Xiang et al, 1998;Forest et al, 2001), were not sampled here, the analysis confirms the definition of Hippocastanoideae as previously suggested by Judd et al (1994) and Harrington et al (2005). This temperate clade is charac- terized by deciduous opposite simple leaves (generally palmatilobate), two ovules per locule and a type-A pollen (Biesboer, 1975;Müller and Leenhouts, 1976, Fig.…”

Temporal and spatial variations in the parasitoid complex of the horse chestnut leafminer during its invasion of Europe

“…In all invaded areas, C. ohridella is attacked by a large number of native predators and parasitoids (e.g., Heitland et al 1999;Hellrigl 2001;Grabenweger et al 2005a, b), but so far these natural enemies do not regulate the population density of the leafminer (Girardoz et al 2007a, b). By contrast, the Balkans as the origin of the horse chestnut leafminer are supported by the theory that the only representative of the genus Cameraria in Europe may be a relict species, which survived the glacial cooling of the tertiary period together with its main host tree, A. hippocastanum (Deschka and Dimić 1986;Grabenweger and Grill 2000;Xiang et al 1998). This theory is more recently supported by a study based on mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA markers (Valade et al 2009).…”

PHYLOGENY, BIOGEOGRAPHY, AND MOLECULAR DATING OF CORNELIAN CHERRIES (CORNUS,CORNACEAE): TRACKING TERTIARY PLANT MIGRATION

“…Furthermore, phylogenetic and molecular dating evidence has also suggested post-Eocene and Miocene connections of temperate clades via the NALB (Liquidambar: Hoey and Parks 1991; Cercis: Donoghue et al 2001;Davis et al 2002a). They have also suggested connections of thermophilic taxa via BLB (e.g., Melastomeae: Renner and Meyer 2001) and Eocene connections of deciduous taxa via both NALB and BLB (e.g., Aesculus: Xiang et al 1998b; Juglans: Stanford et al 2000). Studies of taxa with tropical affinities that suggested a potential NALB connection have also suggested various timings of the connection (e.g., Hoey and Parks 1991;Schnable and Wendel 1998;Lavin et al 2000;Chanderbali et al 2001;Fristch 2001;Manos and Stanford 2001;Renner and Meyer 2001;Davis et al 2002a,b).…”