Phylogenetic Analysis and Taxonomy of Begonia Species

Begonia represents one of the largest genera of flowering plants, with more than 2 000 accepted species distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. Traditional taxonomy based on morphology alone has struggled to resolve infrageneric relationships owing to convergent vegetative traits and frequent hybridisation. Over the past two decades, molecular phylogenetics—using nuclear markers such as the internal transcribed spacer region (nrITS) and complete plastid genomes—has profoundly reshaped sectional boundaries and exposed deep-branching lineages. These studies have revealed both ancient radiations associated with geological events (for example, karst formation in Southeast Asia) and recent rapid speciation driven by geographic isolation. At the same time, widespread chloroplast capture and incomplete lineage sorting have produced discordant gene trees, underscoring the need for multi-locus and genome-wide analyses. Integrative approaches combining morphology, cytology and high-throughput sequencing are now enabling a more stable, monophyletic classification. Such advances carry global significance for conservation of endemic taxa, for understanding mechanisms of plant diversification in biodiversity hotspots, and for the horticultural development of new Begonia cultivars.

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Phylogenetic Analysis and Taxonomy of Begonia Species publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in phylogenetic analysis and taxonomy of begonia species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

nrITS: nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer, a widely used DNA marker for inferring phylogenetic relationships at low taxonomic levels.

Plastid genome: the complete chloroplast DNA sequence inherited typically through the maternal line, valuable for reconstructing plant evolutionary history.

Chloroplast capture: the replacement of a species’ chloroplast genome by that of another via hybridisation, leading to phylogenetic incongruence.

Phylogenetic incongruence: conflict between phylogenetic trees derived from different genetic data sets or genomes.

Monophyletic clade: a group of organisms comprising an ancestral species and all its descendants, fundamental for natural classification.

References

1. Phylogenetic analyses of Begonia sect. Coelocentrum and allied limestone species of China shed light on the evolution of Sino-Vietnamese karst flora. Botanical Studies (2014).
2. Chloroplast and nuclear DNA exchanges among Begonia sect. Baryandra species (Begoniaceae) from Palawan Island, Philippines, and descriptions of five new species. PLOS ONE (2018).
3. Comparative Analysis of Begonia Plastid Genomes and Their Utility for Species-Level Phylogenetics. PLOS ONE (2016).
4. RESOLVING PHYLOGENETIC AND TAXONOMIC CONFLICT IN BEGONIA. Edinburgh Journal of Botany (2022).