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A taxonomic monograph of Ipomoeaintegrated across phylogenetic scales

A taxonomic monograph of Ipomoeaintegrated across phylogenetic scales

Authors :
Muñoz-Rodríguez, Pablo
Carruthers, Tom
Wood, John R. I.
Williams, Bethany R. M.
Weitemier, Kevin
Kronmiller, Brent
Goodwin, Zoë
Sumadijaya, Alex
Anglin, Noelle L.
Filer, Denis
Harris, David
Rausher, Mark D.
Kelly, Steven
Liston, Aaron
Scotland, Robert W.
Source :
Nature Plants; November 2019, Vol. 5 Issue: 11 p1136-1144, 9p
Publication Year :
2019

Abstract

Taxonomic monographs have the potential to make a unique contribution to the understanding of global biodiversity. However, such studies, now rare, are often considered too daunting to undertake within a realistic time frame, especially as the world’s collections have doubled in size in recent times. Here, we report a global-scale monographic study of morning glories (Ipomoea) that integrated DNA barcodes and high-throughput sequencing with the morphological study of herbarium specimens. Our approach overhauled the taxonomy of this megadiverse group, described 63 new species and uncovered significant increases in net diversification rates comparable to the most iconic evolutionary radiations in the plant kingdom. Finally, we show that more than 60 species of Ipomoea, including sweet potato, independently evolved storage roots in pre-human times, indicating that the storage root is not solely a product of human domestication but a trait that predisposed the species for cultivation. This study demonstrates how the world’s natural history collections can contribute to global challenges in the Anthropocene.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2055026X and 20550278
Volume :
5
Issue :
11
Database :
Supplemental Index
Journal :
Nature Plants
Publication Type :
Periodical
Accession number :
ejs51509679
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-019-0535-4