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PERSEA (AVOCADOS) PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS BASED ON MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS HYPOTESIS OF SPECIES RELATIONSHIPS
ABSTRACT
The genus persea consists of two subgenera, persea (know as avocados) anderiodaphne (know as aguacatillos, avocado-like species). The present study aimed to determine whether the genus persea is a monophyletic group and whether the division into two subgenera is and artificialone. In conjunction with these goals, a hypothesis of the phylogenetic relationships among persea species is proposed. Our results suggest that persea is not monophyletic group. Two clades of perseacan berecognized. The results suggest the eriodaphne and persea should be considered to be independent genera. Various leaf an floral characters contributed for separation in to groups. The definitionof eriodaphne is based on fruit color, sessile glands at the base of the stamens, vein prominence and leaf shape. Persea is more closely related to genera nectandra and ocotea than eriodaphne. The 11species included in persea are recognized as species. The group is defined by fruit flavor, mature leaf color, number of tertiary divergent veins, and pubescent bracts in the inflorescence. Withinthis group a clade of six species in which P. guatemalensis is included is recovered by seed shape, venation pattern relief, and number of fruits per cluster. Moreover, the seed shape supports theseparations of P. floccose and P. zentmyerii. A molecular character analysis is necessary to support the persea clades proposed herein. Nevertheless the phylogenetic relationships revealed by this studyprovide new bases for the seleccion and conservation of the species persea.
INTRODUCCION
The name persea was first proposed by clusius (1601), who took is from the Greek mythology. The type species,persea Americana, was described by miller in his gardener´s dictionary in 1768 (van der werff 2002). Persea is currently recognized as having two subgenera, persea and eriodapnhe (kopp 1996; van...