Abstract Detail

Colloquia: Emerging Results from Studies of Gymnosperms on the Tree of Life II

Mei, Wenbin [1], Raubeson, Linda A. [2].

A whole plastome approach to inferring the relationships in the Araucariaceae.

Evolutionary relationships within the conifer family Araucariaceae remain uncertain. Previous studies have supported inconsistent phylogenetic hypotheses and are based on limited data or minimal sampling. Using a conventionally prepared reference plastome sequence for Araucaria columnaris, we designed a primer strategy to amplify the Araucariaceae plastome as 57 overlapping 3-4 kb amplicons. The PCR products then were pooled and prepared for multiplex Solexa sequencing [as in Cronn et al 2008, Nucleic Acids Research 36: e122], generating a million or more, 60-80bp sequencing reads for each taxon, which can then be assembled against the reference genome. Using this method we have generated an additional 26 nearly complete chloroplast genomes in the family Araucariacaeae. The species in our study include recently discovered Wollemia nobilis and representatives of all sections of Araucaria (10 species) and Agathis (16 species). Both plastid protein-coding gene sequences and whole plastome sequences will be aligned using species of Podocarpacaeae as outgroups. Using this matrix we can address several major phylogenetic issues remaining in Araucariaceae. First, there is a long time debate about the relationship between Araucaria, Agathis and Wollemia, with two hypotheses previously receiving support: ((Araucaria, Agathis), Wollemia)) and ((Wollemia, Agathis), Araucaria)). Second, phylogenetic relationships within Agathis, still controversial, will be addressed using 16 species, which is more than any previous study. Third, we can address whether the current Gondwana distribution of Araucariaceae is the result of long distance dispersal or vicariance. The dataset in this study includes more DNA data and more extensive and representative sampling than any study before, and thus we anticipate being better able to reconstruct the infrageneric phylogeny of Araucariaceae, and address other historical biogeographic questions.

Broader Impacts:

1 - Central Washington University, Department of Biological Sciences, 400 E University Way, Ellensburg, WA, 98926-7537
2 - Central Washington University, Department of Biological Sciences, 400 E University Way, Ellensburg, WA, 98926-7537, USA

Keywords:
Araucariaceae
phylogeny
Solexa sequencing technology
plastome.

Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Session: C2
Location: Ballroom C/Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Time: 2:00 PM
Number: C2005
Abstract ID:680