Chilean Pitavia more closely related to Oceania and Old World Rutaceae than to Neotropical groups: evidence from two cpDNA non-coding regions, with a new subfamilial classification of the family

Author(s)

Groppo, Milton ^[1] ; Kallunki, Jacquelyn A. ^[2] ; Pirani, Jose Rubens ^[3] ; Antonelli, Alexandre ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Biol, FFCLRP, BR-14040901 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] New York Bot Garden, Bronx, NY 10458 - USA

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Gothenburg, Dept Biol & Environm Sci, S-40530 Gothenburg - Sweden

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PHYTOKEYS; v. 19, p. 9-29, 2012.
• Web of Science Citations: 21

Abstract

The position of the plant genus Pitavia within an infrafamilial phylogeny of Rutaceae (rue, or orange family) was investigated with the use of two non-coding regions from cpDNA, the trnL-trnF region and the rps16 intron. only species of the genus, Pitavia punctata Molina, is restricted to the temperate forests of the Coastal Cordillera of Central-Southern Chile and threatened by loss of habitat. The genus traditionally has been treated as part of tribe Zanthoxyleae (subfamily Rutoideae) where it constitutes the monogeneric tribe Pitaviinae. This tribe and genus are characterized by fruits of 1 to 4 fleshy drupelets, unlike the dehiscent fruits typical of the subfamily. Fifty-five taxa of Rutaceae, representing 53 genera (nearly one-third of those in the family) and all subfamilies, tribes, and almost all subtribes of the family were included. Parsimony and Bayesian inference were used to infer the phylogeny; six taxa of Meliaceae, Sapindaceae, and Simaroubaceae, all members of Sapindales, were also used as out-groups. Results from both analyses were congruent and showed Pitavia as sister to Flindersia and Lunasia, both genera with species scattered through Australia, Philippines, Moluccas, New Guinea and the Malayan region, and phylogenetically far from other Neotropical Rutaceae, such as the Galipeinae (Galipeeae, Rutoideae) and Pteleinae (Toddalieae, former Toddalioideae). Additionally, a new circumscription of the subfamilies of Rutaceae is presented and discussed. Only two subfamilies (both monophyletic) are recognized: Cneoroideae (including Dictyolomatoideae, Spathelioideae, Cneoraceae, and Ptaeroxylaceae) and Rutoideae (including not only traditional Rutoideae but also Aurantioideae, Flindersioideae, and Toddalioideae). As a consequence, Aurantioideae (Citrus and allies) is reduced to tribal rank as Aurantieae. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 06/03170-0 - Phylogenetic and systematic studies in Rutaceae: phylogeny and delimitation of Galipeinae (Galipeae) based on nuclear and plastidial DNA sequences
• Grantee: Milton Groppo Júnior
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants