A review of recent studies of plant systematics and evolution in China

Abstract

Aims: Studies on plant systematics and evolution aim to elucidate the origin and diversification of plants and to elucidate the factors that affect the patterns of plant diversity temporally and spatially. As the largest and most highly attended conference on plant sciences, the International Botanical Congress (IBC) came to China in 2017 (IBC 2017) and attracted nearly 7,000 participants from around the globe. The success of holding IBC 2017 in China has profound influence on plant sciences in China both because it was an important forum to demonstrate the achievements and progresses of Chinese scientists and because it strengthened the link and collaboration of scientists between China and abroad. Progresses: On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of IBC 2017, I reviewed the achievements and breakthroughs in the field of plant systematics and evolution in China, including the origin and diversification of early plants, taxonomy and phylogenetic reconstruction of major plant lineages, plant speciation and adaptive evolution, species interaction and concerted evolution, origin and underlying mechanisms of innovation characters, plant polyploidy and polyploid evolution, species endangerment and protection, as well as origin and domestication of cultivated plants. All the progresses highlighted here have contributed greatly to our better understanding of plant biodiversity across the world, which embodies the growing impacts of Chinese scientists on global research and development in plant sciences. Prospect: I pointed out the opportunities and challenges that plant scientists have faced, including fast development of genome sequencing and '-omic' studies, the interdisciplinary and multi-level investigations and cooperation, managementof big data, and the practical applications of plant systematics and evolutionary studies in resource utilization, species conservation, agriculture and horticulture, medicine and plant trade, etc.

Chloroplast Genomes Evolution and Phylogenetic Relationships of Caragana species

“…The sister relationship of section Longispinae and Halimodendron was not strong (bootstrap value = 87). The monophyly of section Spinosae was not recovered, and future studies with nuclear genetic data representing biparental inheritance and more complete species sampling will be required [ 36 ], as well as further study of the cause of conflict by comparing the phylogenetic relationships of nuclear genes and plastids.…”