THE cpDNA trnL-trnF CONTRIBUTES TO THE SEPARATION OF THE SUBGENERA Persea and Eriodaphne (Lauraceae; Persea) AS INDEPENDENT GENERA

Abstract

The genus Persea has two subgenera, Persea and Eriodaphne. There is controversy about the taxonomy between species of the subgenus Persea, and its relationships with the subgenus Eriodaphne. Because of its complex evolutionary patterns, the subgenus Persea has considerable variability with uncertain taxonomic affinities. In this study, we analyzed the sequences of the trnLtrnF region of chloroplast DNA from leaves of 38 accessions: 7 of the subgenus Eriodaphne and 31 from the subgenus Persea; one accession of the subgenus Beilschmiedia was also included. The first alignment with the trnL-trnF intergenic spacer included 12 individuals of the genus Persea and one of Beilschmiedia, which were aligned with 26 sequences from the GenBank of 22 genera of the Lauraceae family and one of the Hernandiaceae family. In a second alignment with a fragment close to 900 pb that comprises the end 3’ of the trnLuaa gene, which includes an intron, the trnL-F spacer and the end 5’ of the trnFgaa gene, four sequences from the GenBank were included: one of Persea
americana (AY841669), and three species of the genus Sassafras. The aim of this study was to infer the possible phylogenetic relationships, particularly those of the two subgenera. The phylogenetic analysis was not consistent with the current classification of the genus as it clearly separated the two subgenera Persea and Eriodaphne, while in the clade of subgenus Persea did not show species grouping or affinity. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that the subgenera Persea and Eriodaphne should be regarded as independent genera.