Phylogenetic relationships in the genus Leontopodium (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae) based on AFLP data |
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Authors: | STEFAN SAFER KARIN TREMETSBERGER YAN‐PING GUO GUDRUN KOHL MARY R. SAMUEL TOD F. STUESSY HERMANN STUPPNER |
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Affiliation: | 1. Institute of Pharmacy/Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52c, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;2. Institute of Botany, Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor‐Mendel‐Stra?e 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria;3. College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, no. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing 100875, China;4. Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, 1030 Vienna, Austria |
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Abstract: | The genus Leontopodium comprises 30–41 species. The centre of diversity is the Sino‐Himalayan region in south‐western China, where about 15 species occur. The two species native to Europe, L. alpinum (known as the common ‘Edelweiss’) and L. nivale, are part of the cultural heritage of the people living there. Despite its importance, very little is known about the systematics of the genus. Because recent molecular studies have shown that species within this genus are closely related and difficult to distinguish with rDNA and cpDNA data, we used AFLPs to obtain a more detailed understanding of the phylogeny of the genus. Our main aims were as follows: (1) to clarify species relationships within the genus; and (2) to reveal information about the biogeography of the genus. We used AFLPs with six primer combinations to investigate 216 individuals in 38 populations of 16 different species. With AFLPs, we were able to recognize 10 different groups, all of which had strong bootstrap support. These results were also congruent with the morphology‐based taxonomy of the genus. Most private and rare fragments were found in the Yunnan region (south‐western China) relative to Europe and Mongolia/central China, suggesting a long‐lasting in situ history of populations in the centre of diversity of the genus. Our results illustrate the utility of AFLPs to resolve phylogenetic relationships between these closely related species. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 165 , 364–377. |
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Keywords: | Edelweiss genetic variation Qinghai– Tibetan plateau taxonomy |
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