Barking up the wrong tree: the dangers of taxonomic misidentification in molecular phylogenetic studies.
Name
plecevo_article_101135_en_1.pdf
Description
visibility:open
Size
5.72 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (CRC64NVME)
wVyJYpGPiuk=
Resource type
Journal article
Date published
April 19, 2023
Abstract
– is a Brazilian endemic genus that has sat uncomfortably in Convolvulaceae where it was placed due to an enlarged and adnate fruit bract typical of . A recent molecular phylogeny suggested that two of its five morphologically almost identical species actually belong to two different families, Malpighiaceae (superrosids) and Ehretiaceae (superasterids). Later studies have demonstrated that effectively belongs to Ehretiaceae, but the proposal of one species belonging to Malpighiaceae has remained problematic. In this study, we re-assess this hypothesis, discuss the issues that have led to this assumption, and offer insights on the importance of carefully using herbarium collections and incorporating morphological evidence in systematic studies.
– Sequences of , , and ITS for all 77 currently accepted genera of Malpighiaceae, and Elatinaceae (outgroup) were compiled from GenBank and analysed with Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference criteria for nuclear, plastid and combined datasets. Additional database and herbarium studies were performed to locate and analyse all duplicates of the holotype of to check for misidentified or contaminated material.
– Our examination of expanded DNA datasets and herbarium sheets of all isotypes revealed that a mistake in tissue sampling was, in fact, what led to this species being proposed to belong in Malpighiaceae. Kew’s isotype had a leaf of Malpighiaceae (likely ) stored in the fragment capsule, which was sampled and sequenced instead of the actual leaves of . Recently published studies have settled the placement of in Ehretiaceae (Boraginales) and proposed three additional species.
– DNA sequences can be helpful in classifying taxa when morphology is conflicting or of a doubtful interpretation, with molecular phylogenetic placement being established as a popular tool accelerating the discovery of systematic relationships. Nonetheless, molecular techniques are also susceptible to methodological mistakes, which necessitates building a solid foundation of plant morphology and taxonomy to avoid artefacts in phylogenetic studies.
Funder
| Funder name | Awards |
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brazil | #317720/2021-0 |
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás, Brazil | #202110267000867 |
Journal title
Plant Ecology and Evolution
Volume
156
Issue
2
Publisher
Agentschap Plantentuin Meise
Place of publication
Meise, Belgium
ISSN
2032-3913
eISSN
2032-3921
Date accepted
April 4, 2023
Official URL
Related URL
Rights statement
In Copyright
Additional information
IF = 1.345 (2022-2023)