Phylogeny of the Southwest Asian Pimpinella and related genera based on nuclear and plastid sequences.

Abstract

Pimpinella L. is a large genus and arguably one of the most complex genera in the family Apiaceae. In this study, the infra-generic relationship between Southwest Asian Pimpinella species and their generic allies in the tribe Pimpinelleae Spreng were investigated using sequence data from the cpDNA (chloroplast DNA) rps16 exon and rpL16 intron and nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer regions. In total, 185 accessions representing 52 species of Pimpinella, 8 species of Aegopodium, and the monotypic Opsicarpium Mozaff. were analyzed using maximum parsimony and Bayesian methods. In our phylogenetic study, Pimpinella and Opsicarpium were considered together as a monophyletic group within the tribe Pimpinelleae. As a result, Opsicarpium insignis Mozaff has been formally transferred to Pimpinella. Our results indicate that the genera Pimpinella and Reutera Boiss formed a monophyletic group and also supported merging the genus Reutera with Pimpinella. This study confirms the transfer of the Southwest Asian Pimpinella anthriscoides (Boiss.) F. Ghahrem., Khajepiri & Mozaff to the genus Aegopodium as Aegopodium tribracteolatum Schmalh.