Phylogenetic Studies and Evolutionary Dynamics of Cactaceae

The cactus family (Cactaceae) comprises around 2,000 species of succulent plants that have undergone remarkable diversification across the Americas. Modern phylogenetic analyses integrate nuclear and plastid markers with high-throughput sequencing to resolve relationships among the major lineages—Pereskioideae, Opuntioideae, Maihuenioideae and Cactoideae—and to trace events of rapid radiation, genome duplication and reticulation. Comparative plastome studies reveal extreme genome reduction, frequent loss or rearrangement of inverted-repeat regions and the ndh gene suite, reflecting adaptation to arid environments. Cytogenetic surveys demonstrate polyploidy and chromosomal rearrangements as drivers of species richness, while hybridisation and introgression further blur species boundaries. Biogeographic reconstructions indicate a Mesoamerican or southern South American origin in the Miocene, followed by dispersal and vicariance associated with Andean uplift, desert formation and river incision such as the Grand Canyon. These integrative approaches refine taxonomic circumscription, inform conservation priorities for endemic and threatened taxa, and provide genes and markers for horticulture and ecological restoration.

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Phylogenetic Studies and Evolutionary Dynamics of Cactaceae publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in phylogenetic studies and evolutionary dynamics of cactaceae across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Plastome: The complete DNA sequence of a plant’s chloroplast, commonly employed for reconstructing phylogenetic relationships due to its conserved structure and gene content.

Inverted-repeat region: Two identical DNA segments in reverse orientation within the plastome; expansion, contraction or loss of these repeats is indicative of structural genome evolution.

Phylogenomics: The inference of evolutionary relationships and divergence times using genome-scale sequence data.

Vicariance: The process by which a population is divided by a geographical barrier, leading to genetic divergence and speciation.

Cladogenesis: The branching evolution of an ancestral lineage into two or more descendant lineages.

Introgression: The transfer of genetic material from one taxon into the gene pool of another through hybridisation and backcrossing.

References

1. Plastome variations reveal the distinct evolutionary scenarios of plastomes in the subfamily Cereoideae (Cactaceae). BMC Plant Biology (2023).
2. Phylogenomics and Biogeography of the Mammilloid Clade Revealed an Intricate Evolutionary History Arose in the Mexican Plateau. Biology (2023).
3. Evolution of the Xerocarpa clade (Opuntia; Opuntieae): Evidence for the Role of the Grand Canyon in the Biogeographic History of the Iconic Beavertail Cactus and Relatives. Plants (2023).
4. Unraveling Reticulate Evolution in Opuntia (Cactaceae) From Southern Mexico. Frontiers in Plant Science (2021).
5. Karyotype characterization and evolution of chromosome number in Cactaceae with special emphasis on subfamily Cactoideae. Acta Botanica Brasilica (2020).