Genomic DNA barcodes provide novel insights into species delimitation in the complex Camellia sect. Thea (Theaceae)
Compared with the use of single parentally inherited chloroplast data sources, utilizing both uniparentally inherited chloroplast data and biparentally inherited nuclear data improved the species delimitation of taxa within C. sect. Thea. The intricate phylogenetic relationships observed are likely a result of widespread past hybridization and chloroplast capture events among species within this group, which may have blurred the species boundaries. Our novel approach to species delimitation within C. sect. Thea may serve as a blueprint for employing genomic DNA barcodes in other taxa with complex histories, and will significantly contribute to the conservation of cultivated tea plant species and their wild relatives.
Authors
- Kevin S. Burgess (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9663-9428)
- Li D (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4990-724X)
- Han‐Tao Qin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9977-6612)
- Lian‐Ming Gao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9047-2658)
- Zhi‐Qiong Mo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0219-1213)
- Yujing Feng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2220-9240)
- Junbo Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1093-5611)
- Zongfang Shen
- Hongtao Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1290-0917)
- Michael Mӧller
Institutions
- Kunming Institute of Botany (CN)
- Mercer University (US)
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (GB)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMC Plant Biology
- Published
- 2025-05-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06612-9
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.84
Funders
- Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences