Abstract Detail

Systematics

Hilgenhof, Rebecca [1], Gagnon, Edeline [2], Knapp, Sandra [3], Aubriot, Xavier [4], Tepe, Eric J. [5], Bohs, Lynn [6], Giacomin, Leandro [7], Gouvêa, Yuri F. [8], Martine, Chris [9], Orejuela, Andrés [10], Orozco, Clara Inez [10], Peralta, Iris [11], Sarkinen, Tiina [12].

Morphological trait evolution in the mega-diverse genus Solanum (Solanaceae) - lability of key taxonomic characters at clade level.

Solanum L. is one of the world’s largest and economically most important plant genera, including 1,245 currently accepted species and several major and minor crops (e.g., tomato, potato, brinjal eggplant, pepino, lulo, scarlet eggplant, and Gboma eggplant). We used stochastic mapping to examine the evolution of 26 key morphological traits at the clade level for the major and minor clades of this giant genus using a recently published phylogeny of Solanum. The most conserved traits can be used to define clades and include trichome structure, presence or absence of prickles, anther modifications, breeding system, and leaf type. Six traits relating to plant structure, inflorescence, corolla, and fruit morphology show high polymorphism within clades indicating evolutionary lability at more shallow depths between species that may relate to local adaptation. We identify several convergent traits (e.g., tubers, compound leaves, campanulate corollas, yellow corollas, heteromorphic anthers, dry berries, and red berry colouration) in Solanum, where differences in the genetic control of the evolutionarily independent organs could be explored in future studies. The most evolutionarily labile traits in Solanum at clade level relate to plant structure (growth form) and defence (glandular trichomes), providing potential avenues for the investigation of the hyper-diversity in the genus.

Related Links:
Solanaceae Source

1 - Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR, UK
2 - Technical University of Munich, School of Life Sciences, Emil-Ramann-Str. 2, Freising, 85354, Germany
3 - Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
4 - Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Écologie, Systématique et Évolution, Orsay, 91405, France
5 - University of Cincinnati, Biological Sciences, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
6 - University Of Utah, Department Of Biology, 257 South 1400 East, 201 South Biology, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, United States
7 - Universidade Federal Da Paraíba, Centro De Ciências Exatas E Da Natureza, Departamento De Sistemática E Ecologia, Campus I (s.n.) - Cidade Universitária, João Pessoa, PB, 58051-090, Brazil
8 - Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Botânica, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
9 - Bucknell University, Biological Sciences, 203 Rooke Biology Building, Lewisburg, PA, 17837, United States
10 - Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Carrera 30 45-03, edificio 425, Bogotá, Colombia
11 - National University of Cuyo, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences , Almirante Brown 500, 5505 Chacras de Coria, Luján, Mendoza, Argentina
12 - Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20A Inverleith Row, Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh, EDINBURGH, EDH, EH3 5LR, United Kingdom

Keywords:
morphology
Solanum
Stochastic mapping
Clade diagnosis
identification.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Number: SYST III007
Abstract ID:1016
Candidate for Awards:None