MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY OF BUTIA (ARECACEAE): AN UPDATE SHOWING THE PARANÁ FOREST AND ATLANTIC FOREST AS A PHYSICAL BARRIER IN THE EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF SPECIES

Resumo

Butia is endemic to South America, with the highest species count in Brazil. Currently, 22 species of Butia are recognized, but little is known about the phylogenetic relationships among them. Thus, this study investigated the phylogenetic relationships of B. buenopolensis, B. capitata, B. catarinenses, B. eriospatha, B. lallemantii, B. marmorii, B. odorata, B. paraguayensis, B. yatay, and specimens related to B. paraguayensis and B. yatay using WRKY gene family markers, applying the Maximum Likelihood analysis. Results confirm the monophyly of Butia. A strongly supported dichotomy (100% bootstrap) was observed in the phylogram. The hypothesis that the presence of the Southern Plateau and the forest formations of the Parana Forest and Atlantic Forest in the southern region of Brazil caused the formation of the dichotomy observed in the phylogenetic tree is elucidated. The clades formed reflect more than phylogenetic relationships, also reflect the impact of South America’s phytogeography on species’ ecological adaptations: while the Chaco-Cerrado Clade includes acaulescent or dwarf species adapted to the Cerrado and Chaco, the Espinal-Pampa Clade has species with elevated stems. This is the first study to demonstrate congruence between molecular and biogeographic data by comparing molecular phylogeny with species’ geographic distribution.