Genome-wide RAD sequencing resolves the evolutionary history of serrate leaf Juniperus and reveals discordance with chloroplast phylogeny.

Juniper (Juniperus) is an ecologically important conifer genus of the Northern Hemisphere, the members of which are often foundational tree species of arid regions. The serrate leaf margin clade is native to topologically variable regions in North America, where hybridization has likely played a prominent role in their diversification. Here we use a reduced-representation sequencing approach (ddRADseq) to generate a phylogenomic data set for 68 accessions representing all 22 species in the serrate leaf margin clade, as well as a number of close and distant relatives, to improve understanding of diversification in this group.

Gene flow between diploid and tetraploid junipers - two contrasting evolutionary pathways in two Juniperus populations.

Background: Gene flow and polyploidy have been found to be important in Juniperus evolution. However, little evidence has been published elucidating the association of both phenomena in juniper taxa in the wild. Two main areas were studied in Spain (Eastern Iberian Range and Sierra de Baza) with both diploid and tetraploid taxa present in sympatry.

Extensive Shifts from Cis- to Trans-splicing of Gymnosperm Mitochondrial Introns.

Hundreds of plant mitogenomes have been sequenced from angiosperms, but relatively few mitogenomes are available from its sister lineage, gymnosperms. To examine mitogenomic diversity among extant gymnosperms, we generated draft mitogenomes from 11 diverse species and compared them with four previously published mitogenomes. Examined mitogenomes from Pinaceae and cycads retained all 41 protein genes and 26 introns present in the common ancestor of seed plants, whereas gnetophyte and cupressophyte mitogenomes experienced extensive gene and intron loss.

Terpenes May Serve as Feeding Deterrents and Foraging Cues for Mammalian Herbivores.

Terpenes, volatile plant secondary compounds produced by woody plants, have historically been thought to act as feeding deterrents for mammalian herbivores. However, three species of woodrats, Neotoma stephensi, N. lepida, and N.

Polyploidy in the Conifer Genus : An Unexpectedly High Rate.

Recent research suggests that the frequency of polyploidy may have been underestimated in gymnosperms. One notable example is in the conifer genus , where there are already a few reports of polyploids although data are still missing for most species. In this study, we evaluated the extent of polyploidy in by conducting the first comprehensive screen across nearly all of the genus.

Phylogenomic evidence for ancient recombination between plastid genomes of the Cupressus-Juniperus-Xanthocyparis complex (Cupressaceae).

Background: Phylogenetic relationships among Eastern Hemisphere cypresses, Western Hemisphere cypresses, junipers, and their closest relatives are controversial, and generic delimitations have been in flux for the past decade. To address relationships and attempt to produce a more robust classification, we sequenced 11 new plastid genomes (plastomes) from the five variously described genera in this complex (Callitropsis, Cupressus, Hesperocyparis, Juniperus, and Xanthocyparis) and compared them with additional plastomes from diverse members of Cupressaceae.

Results: Phylogenetic analysis of protein-coding genes recovered a topology in which Juniperus is sister to Cupressus, whereas a tree based on whole plastomes indicated that the Callitropsis-Hesperocyparis-Xanthocyparis (CaHX) clade is sister to Cupressus.

Phenolic Components and Antioxidant Activity of Wood Extracts from 10 Main Spanish Olive Cultivars.

The chemical composition and radical-scavenging activity of wood samples from 10 main Spanish olive cultivars were studied. The wood samples were collected during the pruning works from trees growing under the same agronomical and environmental conditions. The 10 ethyl acetate extracts were submitted to HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS analysis to determine the phenolic constituents.

Evolutionary origin and demographic history of an ancient conifer (Juniperus microsperma) in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

All Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) endemic species are assumed to have originated recently, although very rare species most likely diverged early. These ancient species provide an excellent model to examine the origin and evolution of QTP endemic plants in response to the QTP uplifts and the climate changes that followed in this high altitude region. In this study, we examined these hypotheses by employing sequence variation from multiple nuclear and chloroplast DNA of 239 individuals of Juniperus microsperma and its five congeners.

Predominant and substoichiometric isomers of the plastid genome coexist within Juniperus plants and have shifted multiple times during cupressophyte evolution.

Most land plant plastomes contain two copies of a large inverted repeat (IR) that promote high-frequency homologous recombination to generate isomeric genomic forms. Among conifer plastomes, this canonical IR is highly reduced in Pinaceae and completely lost from cupressophytes. However, both lineages have acquired short, novel IRs, some of which also exhibit recombinational activity to generate genomic structural diversity.

Genetic diversity and conservation implications of four Cupressus species in China as revealed by microsatellite markers.

Understanding the extent and distribution of genetic diversity is crucial for the conservation and management of endangered species. Cupressus chengiana, C. duclouxiana, C.

Diversification and biogeography of Juniperus (Cupressaceae): variable diversification rates and multiple intercontinental dispersals.

• A central aim of biogeography is to understand when and how modern patterns of species diversity and distribution developed. Many plant groups have disjunct distributions within the Northern Hemisphere, but among these very few have been studied that prefer warm semi-arid habitats. • Here we examine the biogeography and diversification history of Juniperus, which occurs in semi-arid habitats through much of the Northern Hemisphere.

cDNA isolation and functional expression of myrcene synthase from Perilla frutescens.

cDNA cloning of a monoterpene synthase from Perilla frutescens whose steam-distilled oil contains 92.9% perillaketone, was performed by the PCR method using primers designed based on limonene synthase. The full-length nucleotide sequence of this cDNA consisted of 1978 bp including a 1827-bp translational region encoding a deduced protein of 608 amino acids, which was similar to that of limonene synthase from P.

The circumscription and phylogenetic relationships of Callitropsis and the newly described genus Xanthocyparis (Cupressaceae).

A new species of conifer was recently discovered in northern Vietnam. In a preliminary phylogenetic analysis of morphological data a possible sister species, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (D. Don) Spach, was identified; however, because of the presumed phylogenetic remoteness of these two species to the remainder of the Cupressaceae, a new genus-Xanthocyparis-was described to accommodate both species.

A pregeijerene isomer from Juniperus erectopatens foliage.

A hydrocarbon that is widespread in Juniperus foliage was isolated from Juniperus erectopatens (Cheng and L. K. Fu) R.