Biogeography and genome size evolution of the oldest extant vascular plant genus, Equisetum (Equisetaceae).

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Extant plant groups with a long fossil history are key elements in understanding vascular plant evolution. Horsetails (Equisetum, Equisetaceae) have a nearly continuous fossil record dating back to the Carboniferous, but their phylogenetic and biogeographic patterns are still poorly understood. We use here the most extensive phylogenetic analysis to date as a framework to evaluate their age, biogeography and genome size evolution.

Methods

DNA sequences of four plastid loci were used to estimate divergence times and investigate the biogeographic history of all extant species of Equisetum. Flow cytometry was used to study genome size evolution against the framework of phylogenetic relationships in Equisetum.

Key results

On a well-supported phylogenet

SUBMITTER: Christenhusz MJM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8052921 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature