Evolution

Diversity, population structure, and evolution of local peach cultivars in China identified by simple sequence repeats

Z. J. Shen, Ma, R. J., Cai, Z. X., Yu, M. L., and Zhang, Z., “Diversity, population structure, and evolution of local peach cultivars in China identified by simple sequence repeats”, vol. 14, pp. 101-117, 2015.

The fruit peach originated in China and has a history of domestication of more than 4000 years. Numerous local cultivars were selected during the long course of cultivation, and a great morphological diversity exists. To study the diversity and genetic background of local peach cultivars in China, a set of 158 accessions from different ecological regions, together with 27 modern varieties and 10 wild accessions, were evaluated using 49 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) covering the peach genome. Broad diversity was also observed in local cultivars at the SSR level.

Chromosomes of Gymnothorax funebris and the karyotypical differentiation within Gymnothorax (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae)

M. A. O. Alves, Monteiro-Junior, J. E., Oliveira, C. A. M., Silveira, R. M., Costa, I. R., and Maggioni, R., “Chromosomes of Gymnothorax funebris and the karyotypical differentiation within Gymnothorax (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae)”, vol. 13, pp. 1127-1132, 2014.

Cytogenetic studies in Gymnothorax funebris revealed a diploid chromosome number 2n = 42 (6 metacentrics, 4 submetacentrics, and 32 acrocentrics, FN = 52). The results obtained are novel and similar to those previously described for species belonging to Muraenidae family. The conventional karyotype is also novel and divergent from other species of the genus Gymnothorax, where a higher proportion of metacentric chromosomes predominate. The data are reported and discussed considering the cytotaxonomy of the genus.

A new algorithm to construct phylogenetic networks from trees

J. Wang, “A new algorithm to construct phylogenetic networks from trees”, vol. 13, pp. 1456-1464, 2014.

Developing appropriate methods for constructing phylogenetic networks from tree sets is an important problem, and much research is currently being undertaken in this area. BIMLR is an algorithm that constructs phylogenetic networks from tree sets. The algorithm can construct a much simpler network than other available methods. Here, we introduce an improved version of the BIMLR algorithm, QuickCass. QuickCass changes the selection strategy of the labels of leaves below the reticulate nodes, i.e., the nodes with an indegree of at least 2 in BIMLR.

Karyomorphology and karyotype asymmetry in the South American Caesalpinia species (Leguminosae and Caesalpinioideae)

P. S. Rodrigues, Souza, M. M., and Corrêa, R. X., “Karyomorphology and karyotype asymmetry in the South American Caesalpinia species (Leguminosae and Caesalpinioideae)”, vol. 13, pp. 8278-8293, 2014.

With the purpose of addressing the pattern of karyotype evolution in Caesalpinia species, chromosome morphology was characterized in five species from Brazil, and karyotypic asymmetry was analyzed in 14 species from South America. All accessions had the chromosome number 2n = 24, which was first described here for Caesalpinia laxiflora Tul. and Cenostigma macrophyllum Tul. The karyotype formula of C. laxiflora, Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tul., and C. macrophyllum was 12 m.

Sequence variation and molecular evolution of BMP4 genes

D. J. Zhang, Wu, J. H., Husile, G., Sun, H. L., and Zhang, W. G., “Sequence variation and molecular evolution of BMP4 genes”, vol. 13, pp. 9196-9201, 2014.

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) regulates skeletogenesis, osteoblastic differentiation, and the induction of hair follicles. Its protein-coding region contains a signal peptide, prodomain (which regulates post-translational synthesis), and a mature domain (which mediates gene function). Previous studies considered this gene to be conserved. By reanalyzing the coding region of BMP4 in 16 mammalian species, we found that the mature domain is conserved in mammals. A comparison of the putative amino acid sequence demonstrates that BMP4 is relatively conserved.

Physical mapping of the Period gene on meiotic chromosomes of South American grasshoppers (Acridomorpha, Orthoptera)

T. E. Souza, Oliveira, D. L., Santos, J. F., and Rieger, T. T., “Physical mapping of the Period gene on meiotic chromosomes of South American grasshoppers (Acridomorpha, Orthoptera)”, vol. 13, pp. 10829-10836, 2014.

The single-copy gene Period was located in five grasshopper species belonging to the Acridomorpha group through permanent in situ hybridization (PISH). The mapping revealed one copy of this gene in the L1 chromosome pair in Ommexecha virens, Xyleus discoideus angulatus, Tropidacris collaris, Schistocerca pallens, and Stiphra robusta. A possible second copy was mapped on the L2 chromosome pair in S. robusta, which should be confirmed by further studies.

Molecular taxonomy and evolutionary hypothesis concerning Astyanax fasciatus (Characiformes, Characidae) from Vila Velha State Park and Tibagi and Iguaçu Rivers

D. A. Matoso, da Silva, M., Artoni, R. F., and Torres, R. A., “Molecular taxonomy and evolutionary hypothesis concerning Astyanax fasciatus (Characiformes, Characidae) from Vila Velha State Park and Tibagi and Iguaçu Rivers”, vol. 12, pp. 631-638, 2013.

A species complex hypothesis involving Astyanax fasciatus from southern Brazil was tested using 12S mtDNA sequences. Phylogenetic inferences were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian as phylogenetic methods and Hemigrammus bleheri as the outgroup. Besides 11 sequences from A. fasciatus, the data set was comprised of other partial 12S sequences including material from Astyanax altiparanae (two sequences) and Astyanax sp (four sequences), both from the Iguaçu River. The hypothesis of an A.

Molecular cytogenetics of nucleolar organizer regions in Phyllomedusa and Phasmahyla species (Hylidae, Phyllomedusinae): a cytotaxonomic contribution

A. Barth, Souza, V. A., Solé, M., and Costa, M. A., “Molecular cytogenetics of nucleolar organizer regions in Phyllomedusa and Phasmahyla species (Hylidae, Phyllomedusinae): a cytotaxonomic contribution”, vol. 12, pp. 2400-2408, 2013.

Chromosome numbers, morphology, and nucleolus organizer region (NOR) locations are useful cytological characters for taxonomic and evolutionary studies. In this study, we provide the first cytogenetic analysis of Phyllomedusa bahiana and Phasmahyla spectabilis, and report new cytogenetic data on variation in NOR numbers and positions in Phyllomedusa rohdei and Phyllomedusa nordestina using conventional staining, AgNOR-banding, and 45S rDNA fluorescence in situ hybridization. All 4 species showed 2n = 26 chromosomes. P.

 DNA-based and geometric morphometric analysis to validate species designation: a case study of the subterranean rodent Ctenomys bicolor

J. F. B. Stolz, Gonçalves, G. L., Leipnitz, L., and Freitas, T. R. O., “ DNA-based and geometric morphometric analysis to validate species designation: a case study of the subterranean rodent Ctenomys bicolor”, vol. 12, pp. 5023-5037, 2013.

The genus Ctenomys (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) shows several taxonomic inconsistencies. In this study, we used an integrative approach including DNA sequences, karyotypes, and geometric morphometrics to evaluate the taxonomic validity of a nominal species, Ctenomys bicolor, which was described based on only one specimen in 1912 by Miranda Ribeiro, and since then neglected. We sampled near the type locality assigned to this species and collected 10 specimens.

Genome elimination during microsporogenesis in two pentaploid accessions of Brachiaria decumbens (Poaceae)

G. C. L. Ricci, Pagliarini, M. S., and Valle, C. B., “Genome elimination during microsporogenesis in two pentaploid accessions of Brachiaria decumbens (Poaceae)”, vol. 9, pp. 2364-2371, 2010.

Polyploidy is a prominent and significant force in plant evolution, taking place since ancient times and continuing until today. Recent cytogenetic studies in the genus Brachiaria using germplasm collected from wild African savannas in the 1980s revealed that most species and accessions within species are polyploid. Diploid, tetraploid, and pentaploid accessions have been found.

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