Using a multilocus phylogeny to test morphology-based classifications of Polystichum (Dryopteridaceae), one of the largest fern genera.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Polystichum (Dryopteridaceae) is probably the third largest fern genus in the world and contains ca. 500 species. Species of Polystichum occur on all continents except Antarctica, but its highest diversity is found in East Asia, especially Southwest China and adjacent regions. Previous studies typically had sparse taxon sampling and used limited DNA sequence data. Consequently, the majority of morphological hypotheses/classifications have never been tested using molecular data.

Results

In this study, DNA sequences of five plastid loci of 177 accessions representing ca. 140 species of Polystichum and 13 species of the closely related genera were used to infer a phylogeny using maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference, and maximum parsimony. Our analyses show that (1)

SUBMITTER: Le Pechon T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4772321 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature