Abstract Detail

Phylogenomics

Eserman, Lauren [1], Leebens-Mack, Jim [2].

Evolutionary origins of cultivated sweetpotato and relationships in the Batatas complex.

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) is one of the most important crop species worldwide for human nutrition. The large storage roots provide a critical source of carbohydrates and vitamin A, especially in developing countries. Sweetpotato production is currently limited by a small number of improved accessions. However, the wild relatives of crop species have the potential to be stores of agronomically important traits. The relationships between sweetpotato and its wild relatives, the Batatas complex, is currently poorly understood. Most taxa examined were diploid with the exception of cultivated sweetpotato (6x) and Ipomoea tabascana (4x). Phylogenomic analyses recovered four major lineages in the Batatas complex. Sweetpotato was closely allied with I. trifida, and I. tabascana was found to be closely related to I. triloba. Hybridization analysis suggests that cultivated sweetpotato has hybrid ancestry, with parentage from I. ramosissima and I. triloba lineages. Two tests for introgression reveal a single ancient hybridization event in the ancestor of the primarily North American and Mexican clade. Phylogenetic results presented here advance understanding the relationships among sweetpotato and its wild relatives. Furthermore, these results suggest there were at least two independent origins of polyploidy in the Batatas complex. Ancient hybridization and polyploidization certainly played an important role in the evolutionary history of the Batatas complex. These results will advance sweetpotato breeding efforts.

1 - Atlanta Botanical Garden, Conservation & Research, 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA, 30309, United States
2 - University Of Georgia, Plant Biology, 2101 Miller Plant Sciences, Athens, GA, 30602, United States

Keywords:
sweetpotato
Ipomoea
Phylogenomics
Crop wild relatives.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 36, Phylogenomics III
Location: 107/Mayo Civic Center
Date: Wednesday, July 25th, 2018
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: 36001
Abstract ID:376
Candidate for Awards:None