HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

What's this?

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplementary Data Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (24) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Datwyler, S. L. Articles by Weiblen, G. D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Datwyler, S. L. Articles by Weiblen, G. D. Agricola Articles by Datwyler, S. L. Articles by Weiblen, G. D. Social Bookmarking                            What's this?

On the origin of the fig: phylogenetic relationships of Moraceae from ndhF sequences¹

Department of Plant Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108 USA

The majority of species in the mulberry family (Moraceae) are figs (Ficus), marked by a specialized inflorescence (syconium) and an obligate mutualism with pollinating fig wasps. Because of the unique morphology of the syconium, it has been difficult to investigate the evolutionary position of the fig. We sequenced the chloroplast gene ndhF to examine relationships in Moraceae and to elucidate shifts in reproductive traits. The reclassification of tribes is warranted, and the limits of Artocarpeae, Moreae, and Castilleae are revised to reflect evolutionary relationships. The results point to ancestral dioecy in Moraceae and multiple origins of monoecy, androdioecy, and gynodioecy. Ancestral wind pollination gave way to insect pollination at least twice. Strong support for the sister-group relationship of a revised Castilleae with Ficus suggests that entomophily and involucral bracts encircling the flowers preceded the evolution of the syconium. Bracts surround flowers in Castilleae only during early development, but in Ficus the involucre and the receptacle enclose the fruit as well. Molecular dating suggests that fig pollination is at least 80–90 million years old. The diversity of Ficus relative to its sister group is a likely consequence of ancient specialization and cospeciation with pollinating fig wasps.

Key Words: breeding systems • Ficus • molecular dating • Moraceae • phylogenetic classification • pollination

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Facebook    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. D. Marks, L. Tian, J. P. Wenger, S. N. Omburo, W. Soto-Fuentes, J. He, D. R. Gang, G. D. Weiblen, and R. A. Dixon Identification of candidate genes affecting {Delta}9-tetrahydrocannabinol biosynthesis in Cannabis sativa J. Exp. Bot., September 1, 2009; 60(13): 3715 - 3726. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Duangjai, B. Wallnofer, R. Samuel, J. Munzinger, and M. W. Chase Generic delimitation and relationships in Ebenaceae sensu lato: evidence from six plastid DNA regions Am. J. Botany, December 1, 2006; 93(12): 1808 - 1827. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. K Monro The revision of species-rich genera: a phylogenetic framework for the strategic revision of Pilea (Urticaceae) based on cpDNA, nrDNA, and morphology Am. J. Botany, March 1, 2006; 93(3): 426 - 441. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Ronsted, G. D Weiblen, J. M Cook, N. Salamin, C. A Machado, and V. Savolainen 60 million years of co-divergence in the fig-wasp symbiosis Proc R Soc B, December 22, 2005; 272(1581): 2593 - 2599. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Machado, N. Robbins, M. T. P. Gilbert, and E. A. Herre Critical review of host specificity and its coevolutionary implications in the fig/fig-wasp mutualism PNAS, May 3, 2005; 102(suppl_1): 6558 - 6565. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]