0000000000677952
AUTHOR
Joan Pedrola-monfort
Balanced Gene Losses, Duplications and Intensive Rearrangements Led to an Unusual Regularly Sized Genome in Arbutus unedo Chloroplasts
Completely sequenced plastomes provide a valuable source of information about the duplication, loss, and transfer events of chloroplast genes and phylogenetic data for resolving relationships among major groups of plants. Moreover, they can also be useful for exploiting chloroplast genetic engineering technology. Ericales account for approximately six per cent of eudicot diversity with 11,545 species from which only three complete plastome sequences are currently available. With the aim of increasing the number of ericalean complete plastome sequences, and to open new perspectives in understanding Mediterranean plant adaptations, a genomic study on the basis of the complete chloroplast geno…
Evolutionary Trends in the Mitochondrial Genome of Archaeplastida: How Does the GC Bias Affect the Transition from Water to Land?
[EN] Among the most intriguing mysteries in the evolutionary biology of photosynthetic organisms are the genesis and consequences of the dramatic increase in the mitochondrial and nuclear genome sizes, together with the concomitant evolution of the three genetic compartments, particularly during the transition from water to land. To clarify the evolutionary trends in the mitochondrial genome of Archaeplastida, we analyzed the sequences from 37 complete genomes. Therefore, we utilized mitochondrial, plastidial and nuclear ribosomal DNA molecular markers on 100 species of Streptophyta for each subunit. Hierarchical models of sequence evolution were fitted to test the heterogeneity in the base…
Temporal and spatial diversification of the African disjunct genus Androcymbium (Colchicaceae)
Abstract The genus Androcymbium (Colchicaceae) includes 57 species that are distributed in the extreme northern and southern portions of Africa, mainly in regions with a Mediterranean climate. We present the first phylogeographic analysis of the genus with species from all five of its distribution areas (North Africa, Horn of Africa, Namibia, western South Africa, and eastern South Africa). We used sequence data from six chloroplast regions and one nuclear region. Phylogeographic reconstructions were conducted using both parsimony and Bayesian inference methods. Molecular dating estimates using a Bayesian approach suggest a middle Miocene (13.4 ± 1.5 mya) origin of the genus; this approach …
Simulation model comparing the hydroperiod of temporary ponds with different shapes
A model of the water dynamics for shallow, small and temporary Mediterranean ponds has been developed taking into account the annual patterns of rainfall and potential evaporation, pond parameters (pond area, depth and shape) and watershed parameters (watershed area and saturated water content of the soil). This model predicts the amount of water retained in the pond in real time and therefore, when a pond is going to dry out. It is then possible to calculate how much water will remain in the pond after raining or the number of days per year that the pond is going to be dry. Analyses have been performed for different shapes of ponds and sensitivity of the state variables, at different value…
Taxonomic clarification in W-Mediterranean Androcymbium (Colchicaceae): A. wyssianum sunk in the synonymy of A.gramineum and A.europaeum restored
Abstract Hoyo A. del & Pedrola-Monfort J.: Taxonomic clarification in W Mediterranean Androcymbium (Colchicaceae): A. wyssianum sunk in the synonymy of A. gramineum and A. europaeum restored. — Willdenowia 40: 47–53. — Online ISSN 1868-6397. — © 2010 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. doi:10.3372/wi.40.40103 (available via http://dx.doi.org/) Capsule dehiscence has been used as a diagnostic character for W Mediterranean species of Androcymbium. Depending on the state of capsule maturity, the character, however, can be ambiguous in herbarium material. Based on morphological, phenological and cpDNA characters it is shown that misinterpretation of the capsule as indehiscent in the type material of A. gramine…
Plastid DNA Homogeneity in Celtis australis L. (Cannabaceae) and Nerium oleander L. (Apocynaceae) throughout the Mediterranean Basin
International audience; Premise of research. Riparian plants are highly dependent on water sources; consequently, general climatic conditions are less important to these taxa relative to woodland and shrubland species. This leads to interesting research questions regarding riparian plant taxa. Research on phylogeography of Mediterranean riparian tree and shrub species is scarce. In this article, we investigated the plastidial genetic diversity in Celtis australis L. (hackberry) and Nerium oleander L. (oleander) throughout the Mediterranean Basin. Both species are distributed in gullies, rivers, and stream banks under warm temperate climates. Methodology. Eighteen cpSSR loci and three noncod…