Phylogenetic network of Linum species as revealed by non-coding chloroplast DNA sequences

Abstract

Crop wild relatives are invaluable sources of novel genes for crop improvement and adaptation to changing environments. We assessed phylogenetic relationships among 29 Linum accessions representing 16 species, including cultivated flax and its progenitor pale flax, based on four non-coding regions of chloroplast DNA sequences. We obtained a cpDNA network showing that these 16 Linum species are appropriately connected based on previously defined taxonomic sections; these connections reflect the same evolutionary pathways as determined from earlier morphological and cytological data. These relationships also support an earlier hypothesis that cultivated flax is probably descended from a single domestication of pale flax plants, apparently for oil usage. The detailed species network not only is significant for understanding evolutionary relationships of Linum species, but also useful for classifying exotic gene pools of cultivated flax as a part of the ongoing exploration of new genetic diversity for flax improvement.

Phylogenetic analysis of Elymus (Poaceae) in western China

“…Median-joining (MJ) network analysis was applied to display the genealogical relationships between taxa (Jakob and Blattner, 2006;Fu and Allaby, 2010). Little information related to the phylogenetic network of Elymus species has been published.…”

Genetic diversity of cultivated flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) and its wild progenitor pale flax (Linum bienne Mill.) as revealed by ISSR markers

“…Molecular characterization of flax germplasm has been made using various molecular techniques to assess genetic diversity of cultivated flax and to examine evolutionary relationships of wild flax species (Campbell et al 1995;Everaert et al 2001;Fu et al 2002;Fu 2005;Vromans 2006;Cloutier et al 2009;Fu and Allaby 2010). While some characterizations included pale flax germplasm (e.g., see Fu et al 2002;Fu and Allaby 2010), no specific genetic diversity analyses of pale flax were made, largely due to the lack of pale flax germplasm (Fu et al 2002).…”

“…While some characterizations included pale flax germplasm (e.g., see Fu et al 2002;Fu and Allaby 2010), no specific genetic diversity analyses of pale flax were made, largely due to the lack of pale flax germplasm (Fu et al 2002). Also, no specific molecular markers have been developed for pale flax either (Cloutier et al 2009), although some effort was made to enlarge the set of informative molecular markers for molecular characterization of flax wild relatives (Fu and Peterson 2010).…”

Infra-specific genetic and morphological diversity in Linum album (Linaceae)

“…Crop wild relatives are species closely related to crops, including their progenitors, which may contain beneficial traits such as pest or disease resistance and yield improvement (Dwivedi et al 2008). Fu et al (2010) state that challenges still exist in conservation and utilization of wild plants, as well as in the species delimitation, and understanding of their genetics and species crossability.…”

“…900 accessions representing 53 species of flax wild relatives (Diederichsen 2007). There have been extensive taxonomic, biosystematic and phylogenetic studies in the genus Linum (e.g., Ockendon 1968;Ockendon & Walters 1968;Seetharam 1972;Rogers 1982;Nicholls 1986;Velasco & Goffman 2000;Everaert et al 2001;Sharifnia & Albouyeh 2002;Wiesnerová & Wiesner 2004;Fu 2006;Hemmati 2007;Rogers 2008;McDill 2009;Fu et al 2010;Schmidt et al 2010;Soto-Cerda et al 2011). Moreover, the genetic diversity analysis has been carried out using ISSR specific diversity in wild relatives of cultivated flax including pale flax (L. bienne Mill.)…”