Phylogenetic relationships of ornamental species in Allium L. subg. Melanocrommyum (Webb et Berthel.) Rouy (Alliaceae)

• Published in: Israel journal of plant sciences Vol. 57; no. 4; pp. 287 - 295
• Main Authors: Fritsch, Reinhard M, Gurushidze, Maia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Science From Israel, a Division of LPPLtd 01.01.2009
• Subjects: Allium; chloroplast DNA; genetic variation; geography; internal transcribed spacers; nuclear genome; polyphyly; progeny
• ISSN: 0792-9978; 2223-8980
• DOI: 10.1560/IJPS.57.4.287

About 30 ornamental Allium species are affiliated to nine sections of subg. Melanocrommyum. Recent molecular investigations (sequences of the Internal Transcribed Spacer of nuclear DNA and the trnL-trnF region of chloroplast DNA) showed that most sections are either para- or polyphyletic. Therefore, genetic relationship of these ornamental taxa cannot simply be deduced from affiliation to identical sections. After a brief historical outline, the current affiliation is discussed in connection with relevant molecular data. Molecular data confirmed these pairs of very closely related species: A. nigrum / A. atropurpureum; A. orientale / A. cyrilli; A. alexeianum / A. nevskianum; A. stipitatum / A. altissimum; but their next related species are mostly other ones than formerly deduced from morphological similarities. Allium hollandicum is a species-pair only with Iranian accessions of A. stipitatum and might be of Iranian offspring. A remarkable genetic diversity related to geography was found in A. rosenorum / A. jesdianum, and A. stipitatum. Allium akaka in the wide sense consists of several taxa. Among the material of A. darwasicum two genetically different entities were detected. Unexpectedly, A. giganteum, A. macleanii, A. protensum, A. caspium, A. lipskyanum, A. aflatunense, A. backhousianum, A. karataviense, A. cupuliferum, A. cristophii, A. regelii, A. cardiostemon, A. aschersonianum A. schubertii, A. fetisowii, and A. decipiens occupy phylogenetic positions rather isolated from their morphologically most similar species.