Abstract
Abstract— Dwarf mistletoes are a lineage of morphologically-reduced stem parasites inhabiting Pinaceae and Cupressaceae throughout the northern hemisphere and equatorial East Africa. Though diagnosable by a suite of morphological traits, phylogenetic knowledge of species relationships has been limited to studies employing either comprehensive taxonomic sampling of one or two genes, or more sequence data from a limited number of individuals. We used data from genome skimming to assemble 3kb of the nuclear ribosomal cistron and up to 45kb of the plastome to clarify the phylogenetic root of the genus, monophyly of species, and relationships among infraspecific taxa. Genomic differentiation among terminal taxa was variable; however, we found strong support for reciprocally monophyletic New World and Old World lineages, congruent nrDNA and plastome topologies at the species level and below, and monophyly of most taxonomic sections and species. Plastome gene content was stable across the genus with minimal pseudogenization or loss, as in other hemiparasites, with the notable exception of cemA . These findings form the basis of our re-evaluation of historical biogeographical hypotheses, species- and subspecies-level taxonomy, and plastome evolution in Arceuthobium. More broadly, this work provides a foundation for future clade-focused comparative and biosystematics studies of Arceuthobium.
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Claims 5
Claim · model-written summary
Genomic differentiation among terminal taxa was variable.
- Taxon
- Dwarf Mistletoes
Arceuthobiumt0 - Outcome
- Genomic differentiation among terminal taxae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Dwarf Mistletoes”
e0“Genomic differentiation among terminal taxa was variable”
Claim · model-written summary
New World and Old World lineages were reciprocally monophyletic.
- Taxon
- Dwarf MistletoesArceuthobiumt0
- Outcome
- reciprocally monophyletic New World and Old World lineagese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Dwarf Mistletoes”
e0“strong support for reciprocally monophyletic New World and Old World lineages”
Claim · model-written summary
Nuclear and plastome topologies were congruent at species level and below.
- Taxon
- Dwarf MistletoesArceuthobiumt0
- Outcome
- congruent nrDNA and plastome topologiese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Dwarf Mistletoes”
e0“congruent nrDNA and plastome topologies at the species level and below”
Claim · model-written summary
Most sections and species were monophyletic.
- Taxon
- Dwarf MistletoesArceuthobiumt0
- Outcome
- monophyly of most taxonomic sections and speciese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Dwarf Mistletoes”
e0“monophyly of most taxonomic sections and species”
Claim · model-written summary
Plastome gene content was stable with little pseudogenization or loss except cemA.
- Taxon
- Dwarf MistletoesArceuthobiumt0
- Gene
- cemAe0
- Outcome
- Plastome gene content was stable across the genus with minimal pseudogenization or losse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Dwarf Mistletoes”
e0“Plastome gene content was stable across the genus with minimal pseudogenization or loss, as in other hemiparasites, with the notable exception of cemA”