Zhang, G.-J.; Hu, H.-H.; Gao, T.-G.; Gilbert, M. G.; Jin, X.-F. (2019). Convergent origin of the narrowly lanceolate leaf in the genus Aster—with special reference to an unexpected discovery of a new Aster species from East China. PeerJ. 7: e6288.

356831

10.7717/peerj.6288 [view]

Zhang, G.-J.; Hu, H.-H.; Gao, T.-G.; Gilbert, M. G.; Jin, X.-F.

2019

7: e6288

Publication

NarrowlylanceolateleavesoccurfrequentlyinthegenusAster.Itwasoftenemployedas adistinguishingcharacterinthetaxonomyofthisgenus.Theoriginofthisparticularleaf shape,however,hasneverbeeninvestigatedusingcomparativemethods.Inthisstudy, we reconstructed a comprehensive phylogeny that includes most species of Aster with narrowly lanceolate leaf. We then gathered data on riparian habitats and the presence or absenceof narrowly lanceolate leaves,and investigated the evolutionaryassociation between them in a phylogenetic context. Our analysis indicated that the species with narrowlylanceolateleavesarenestedinunrelatedlineagesofthegenusAster,implying thattheyoriginatedindependentlyseveraltimes.UsingPagel’scomparativemethodof discrete data, we demonstrated a significant correlation between riparian habitats and narrowly lanceolate leaves. We further inferred the sequence of transition of the two characters.Thisanalysisindicatedthatthesequenceofevolutionofriparianhabitatand narrowly lanceolate leaf form was usually uncertain, but some positive results showed that the occurrence of riparian habitats may not precede the evolution of narrowly lanceolate leaf form. This study provided new insights into the adaptive evolution in a mega-diverse family. In addition, Astertonglingensis, an unexpected new species with narrowlylanceolateleaves,wasdiscoveredandestablishedbasedontheevidencefrom morphology, micromorphology and molecular phylogeny.

Asia

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