Phylogeny of Broad-leaved and Fine-leaved Festuca Lineages (Poaceae) based on Nuclear ITS Sequences

Abstract

Abstract This work presents a reconstruction of the phylogenetic relationships between ten lineages of fescues based on the analysis of nuclear rDNA ITS sequences. Thirty two representatives of most native Western Mediterranean subgenera and sections of Festuca s.l. have been included in this survey in order to establish the evolutionary links between known groups of fescues (subg. Schedonorus, subg. Festuca sect. Festuca and sect. Aulaxyper) and other related Festuca groups that have been poorly studied or that are analyzed here for the first time (subg. Drymanthele, subg. Festuca sect. Subbulbosae, sect. Eskia, sect. Pseudatropis, sect. Scariosae, sect. Pseudoscariosa). Phylogenetic analysis identified two different clades, the “broad-leaved” Festuca and the “fine-leaved” Festuca, using Dactylis, Poa, Deschampsia, Secale, and Brachypodium as outgroups. The “broad-leaved” Festuca clade shows the consecutive sister divergence of the groups: i) the Subbulbosae pro parte clade (some Festuca paniculata s.l. ...