Phylogenetic Analysis of Moraceae Species
Summary
The Moraceae, or mulberry family, encompasses over 1,000 species across 40 genera, including ecologically and economically important groups such as Ficus (figs), Morus (mulberries) and Artocarpus (breadfruits and jackfruits). Phylogenetic analysis in this family integrates nuclear and plastid sequence data, genome skimming and target capture to reconstruct evolutionary relationships, estimate divergence times and trace biogeographic histories. Such studies have revealed frequent instances of incomplete lineage sorting and reticulation, reflecting hybridisation and rapid radiations, particularly in tropical clades. Chloroplast genomes have proved highly conserved in structure yet rich in mutational hotspots, while nuclear markers such as the internal transcribed spacer and low-copy nuclear genes resolve deeper splits and reticulate events. Combined morphological and molecular approaches have prompted the recircumscription of non-monophyletic taxa, clarified species boundaries and shed light on the timing of major lineage divergences in the Miocene and earlier. These insights underpin conservation priorities, sustainable utilisation of fruit and timber species and a better understanding of plant diversification in tropical ecosystems.
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Phylogenetic Analysis of Moraceae Species publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in phylogenetic analysis of moraceae species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Phylogenetics: Study of evolutionary relationships among organisms based on genetic or morphological data.
Chloroplast genome: The circular DNA within plant plastids used to infer maternal lineages and evolutionary history.
Hyb-Seq: A targeted sequencing approach combining hybridisation capture with high-throughput sequencing to retrieve hundreds of nuclear genes.
Incomplete lineage sorting: Persistence of ancestral genetic variants across successive speciation events, leading to discordance between gene trees and species trees.
Reticulation: Evolutionary process involving hybridisation or horizontal gene transfer that produces network-like relationships among taxa.
References
- Phylogeny and Biogeography of Morus (Moraceae). Agronomy (2023).
- Comparative chloroplast genome analysis of Ficus (Moraceae): Insight into adaptive evolution and mutational hotspot regions. Frontiers in Plant Science (2022).
- Comparison of chloroplast genomes and phylogenomics in the Ficus sarmentosa complex (Moraceae). PLOS ONE (2022).
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