Disassembling Papaver: a restriction site analysis of chloroplast DNA

Abstract

The results from a chloroplast DNA restriction site analysis of the genera Papaver and Roemeria of subf. Papaveroideae (Papaveraceae) and five outgroup taxa are presented. Papaver is represented by 14 species of eight of the 11 sections recognized, Roemeria by two of its three species. Hunnemannia fumariifolia (subf. Eschscholzioideae), Chelidonium majus (subf. Chelidonioideae), Romneya coulteri, Argemone munita and Stylomecon heterophyllum (all subf. Papaveroideae) were chosen as outgroups. DNAs were digested with 24 restriction enzymes. The major results from this analysis are: 1. Papaver, Roemeria and Stylomecon form a monophyletic group supported by at least 17 restriction site mutations and a 150 to 300 base pair deletion in the inverted repeat of the chloroplast genome. 2. Both Stylomecon and Roemeria are nested within Papaver in its traditional circumscription. 3. Of these, Roemeria is nested within P. sect. Argemonidium and is the sister group to P. pavoninum. 4. Dependent on the mode of character weighting chosen, P. sect. Meconella either is the sister group to P. sect. Argemonidium + Roemeria or of P. sect. Argemonidium + Roemeria + Stylomecon+ the remainder of Papaver (Papaver s. str.). 5. Stylomecon is the sister group to Papaver s. str. (excluding sects Meconella and Argemonidium). These results are discussed on the background of other available systematic evidence.