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Phylogenetic relations between western venezu ela psidium (myrtaceae) species from sequences in nuclear (ITS) and plastidial (trnh-psbA) dna regions

Abstract:

Western Venezuela is a region with high diversity of Psidium species and, thus, the goal was established to estimate from the molecular sequences the phylogenetic relations between r epresentatives o f s aid genus. I n t he Venezuelan s tates o f Mérida, Táchira, Trujillo and Zulia, leaves of P. guineense, P. guajava, P. friedrichsthalianum and Calycolpus moritzianus, as well as herbarium samples of P. acutangulum, were collected. The ITS region (ITS-4 and ITS-5 spacers) of the nuclear genome and the trnH-psbA region of the plastidial genome were amplified. Additionally, P. cattleianum and P. cinereum were also analyzed. As an external group were included Blepharo calix salicifolius, Calyptranthes lanceolata, Campomanesia pubescens, Eugenia sulcata, Luma chequen, Marlierea eugeniopsoides, Myrceugenia planipes and Pimenta dioica. A parsimony analysis using PAUP was applied, analyzing sequences individually and combining them in order to obtain trees with a higher consistency index (CI). Results support the monophylic nature of the genus, which corresponds to morpho-anatomical and geographical distribution considerations. These findings can be applied in genetic improvement programs, considering the fruit production potential of some Psidium species in Venezuela.