Biology subjects

Tkach, N.

Publications and source records attributed to Tkach, N..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2020

Molecular phylogenetics and micromorphology of Australasian Stipeae (Poaceae), and the interrelation of whole-genome duplication and evolutionary radiations in this grass tribe

The mainly Australian grass genus Austrostipa with ca. 64 species represents a remarkable example of an evolutionary radiation. To investigate aspects of diversification, macro- and micromorphological variation in this genus we conducted a molecular phylogenetic and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis including representatives from all of its accepted subgenera. Plastid DNA variation within Austrostipa was low and only few lineages were resolved. Nuclear ITS and Acc1 yielded comparable groupings of taxa and resolved subgenera Arbuscula, Petaurista, Bambusina in a common clade and as monophyletic. In summary, we suggest recognizing nine subgenera in Austrostipa. Because of its taxonomic significance in Stipeae, we studied the lemma epidermal structure in 34 representatives of Austrostipa. In most species, the lemma epidermal pattern (LEP) was relatively uniform (maize-like LEP), but in six species it was more similar to that of Stipa s.str., Neotrinia, Ptilagrostis and Orthoraphium. The species representing subgenera Lobatae, Petaurista, Bambusina and A. muelleri from subg. Tuberculatae were well-separated from all the other species included in the analysis. Two different sequence copies of Acc1 were found in polyploid Austrostipa and Anemanthele. Each of the copy types formed a single clade. This was also true of the sampled species of Stipa s.str., but their clades were strongly separated from those of Austrostipa and Anemanthele. This underlines the statement of Tzvelev (1977) that most if not all contemporary Stipeae are of hybrid origin and demonstrates it for the first time unambiguously on the molecular level. Chromosome number variation is surveyed and reviewed for the whole tribe Stipeae and interpreted in a molecular phylogenetic framework. The rather coherent picture of chromosome number variation underlines the phylogenetic and evolutionary significance of this character. The closest extant relatives of Austrostipa and Anemanthele are in the clade of Achnatherum s.str., Celtica, Oloptum and Stipellula. These genera are most abundant in Central and Eastern Asia, which makes a colonization of Australian and New Zealand from this region more likely, perhaps via long-distance dispersal, than colonization of Australia from southern South America via Antarctica as previously invoked. Supporting Information may be found online in the Supporting Information section at the end of the article.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Phylogeny, morphology and the role of hybridization as driving force of evolution in grass tribes Aveneae and Poeae (Poaceae)

To investigate the evolutionary diversification and morphological evolution of grass supertribe Poodae (subfam. Pooideae, Poaceae) we conducted a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis including representatives from most of their accepted genera. We focused on generating a DNA sequence dataset of plastid matK gene-3trnK exon and trnL- trnF regions and nuclear ribosomal ITS1-5.8S gene-ITS2 and ETS that was taxonomically overlapping as completely as possible (altogether 257 species). The idea was to infer whether phylogenetic trees or certain clades based on plastid and nuclear DNA data correspond with each other or discord, revealing signatures of past hybridization. The datasets were analysed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches. Instances of severe conflicts between the phylogenetic trees derived from both datasets, some of which have been noted earlier, unambiguously point to hybrid origin of several lineages (subtribes, groups of genera, sometimes genera) such as Phalaridinae, Scolochloinae, Sesleriinae, Torreyochloinae; Arctopoa, Castellia, Graphephorum, Hyalopodium, Lagurus, Macrobriza, Puccinellia plus Sclerochloa, Sesleria, Tricholemma, American Trisetum, etc. and presumably Airinae, Holcinae and Phleinae. Calamagrostis flavens appears to be an intergeneric hybrid between Agrostis and Calamagrostis. Most frequently there is good agreement of other regions of the trees, apart from intrinsic different phylogenetic resolution of the respective DNA markers. To explore the to date rather unclear morphological evolution of our study group a data matrix encompassing finally 188 characters was analysed for ancestral state reconstructions (ASR) using the tree from the combined molecular dataset as presumably best approximation to the species phylogeny. For 74 characters ASRs were feasible and yielded partly surprising results for the study group as a whole but also for some of their subdivisions. Considering taxonomy and classification it became evident, that many morphological characters show a very high degree of homoplasy and are seemingly able to change within comparatively short timespans in the evolution of our grasses. Most of the taxonomic units distinguished within our study group, e.g. as subtribes, are defined less by consistent morphological characters or character combinations and should be rather understood as clades revealed by molecular phylogenetic analysis. One reason for this extreme homoplasy concerning traditionally highly rated characters of inflorescences or spikelets and their components might be that they have little to do with pollination (always wind) or adaptation to pollinators as in other angiosperms but rather with dispersal and diaspores. Easily changing structure of spikelet disarticulation, of glume, lemma or awn characters might be advantageous in the rapid adaptation to different habitats and micro-habitats, which was evidently most successfully accomplished by these grasses. A partly revised classification of Poodae is presented, including a re-instatement of tribes Aveneae and Poeae s.str. Following a comparatively narrow delineation of preferably monophyletic subtribes, Antinoriinae, Avenulinae, Brizochloinae, Helictochloinae, Hypseochloinae are described as new. New genera are Arctohyalopoa and Hyalopodium. New combinations are Arctohyalopoa lanatiflora, A. lanatiflora subsp. ivanoviae, A. lanatiflora subsp. momica, Colpodium biebersteinianum, C. kochii, C. trichopodum, C. verticillatum, Deschampsia micrathera, Dupontia fulva, Festuca masafuerana, Hyalopodium araraticum, Paracolpodium baltistanicum, Parapholis cylindrica, P. xpauneroi. Festuca masatierrae is a new name.\n\nSupporting Information may be found online in the Supporting Information section at the end of the article.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Recovery of the type specimen of Avena breviaristata, an endemic Algerian grass species collected only once (1882): morphology, taxonomy and botanical history

Avena breviaristata, collected only once (1882) in Algeria and never re-collected since, is a very mysterious grass species because unfortunately even the type specimen got lost 60--80 years ago. Morphological information on this species was thus based on a few published descriptions, which made it difficult, however, to correctly infer the genus affiliation of this morphologically odd species. Avena breviaristata became affiliated in the past with various oat-like genera (Avenula, Helictotrichon, Tricholemma). Due to the recent rediscovery of the type specimen at the P herbarium and the opportunity to study this specimen, we report here on the morphological characters of A. breviaristata underpinned by meaningful illustrations. They are discussed in comparison with the morphology of representative species of the above-mentioned genera. Uncommon characters of the spikelets (type of disarticulation of the rachilla, lemma structure, lodicules) and to some extent of the inflorescences, leaves and leaf sheaths support the inclusion of A. breviaristata in the North African genus Tricholemma. Considering biogeography, T. breviaristatum from the arid Hauts Plateaux in Algeria is a highly xeromorphic counterpart of the mesomorphic species T. jahandiezii, which is confined to higher altitudes of the rather humid Moyen Atlas in Morocco. This underlines the status of Tricholemma as a relic endemic. Our morphological survey supports the classification of Avenula (only A. pubescens) as separate from Helictotrichon s.str. and Helictochloa. Moreover, morphological evidence does not support an origin of A. pubescens by intergeneric hybridization between the latter genera as hypothesized in some prior studies. Especially the glabrous palea, the special shape of the lodicules and the structure of the awn show no intermediacy. The complicated history of the type collection of T. breviaristatum and the role of botanical authors are given.

plant biology↗