On the recognition of the long neglected Vitis adenoclada Hand.-Mazz. (Vitaceae) from southern China

Abstract

This study reports the recognition of Vitis adenoclada Hand.-Mazz. from southern China. The species was not recognized in the Flora Reipublicae Ropularis Sinicicae and Flora of China treatments. Recent field studies and examination of herbarium collections including the type material suggest that Vitis adenoclada is morphologically similar to V. heyneana, in their densely arachnoid tomentose abaxial leaves, yet it can be easily distinguished from the latter by its red-purple glandular hairs on the young branches (vs. glandular hairs absent in V. heyneana) and inflorescences usually subtended by a tendril at the base (vs. only occasionally with a tendril in V. heyneana). Vitis adenoclada may be a species of hybrid origin, with the highly tomentose Vitis heyneana as one of the parental species, and likely the glandular-hair bearing V. davidii as the other parental species. Vitis adenoclada is recorded from southern China in Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan and Zhejiang provinces.

Phylogenetic relationships, hybridization events, and drivers of diversification of East Asian wild grapes as revealed by phylogenomic analyses

“…A hybrid origin for Vitis adenoclada has been proposed due to the similar morphological characteristics, and suggests that Vitis heyneana is one of the parental species of V. adenoclada (Fig. ) (Wen & Ma, 2021). The SNaQ result supports gene flow between V. adenoclada and the most recent common ancestor of V. heyneana and Vitis ficifolia (Fig.…”

“…Natural hybridizations and introgressions have been observed and confirmed among species of subgenus Vitis , which may be caused by incomplete reproductive isolation mechanisms (Péros et al, 2011; Aradhya et al, 2013; Miller et al, 2013; Moore & Wen, 2016; Ma et al, 2018b; Zecca et al, 2019; Morales‐Cruz et al, 2021; Wen & Ma, 2021). However, there are very limited studies documenting the hybridization and introgression of Vitis taxa from East Asia.…”

“…2). Considering the red‐purple glandular trichomes on the branches of V. adenoclada as the most important morphological character to distinguish this taxon from V. heyneana , species with glandular or modified glandular trichomes, such as V. davidii and V. romanetii , are suggested as the other potential parent (Ma et al, 2016; Wen & Ma, 2021). Specifically, our results suggest V. davidii or the recent common ancestor of V. davidii and V. wilsoniae as the most likely parental species for V. adenoclada (Figs.…”