Introduction
The Zingiberaceae family includes about 1200 species spread over 53 genera. These
plants are distributed across the tropical and subtropical world, with their core populations and
species richness concentrating in Southern and Southeast Asia. Zingiberaceae consists of the
four recognized subfamilies of Alpinioideae, Siphonochiloideae, Tamijioideae and
Zingiberoideae. The Alpinioideae and Zingiberoideae are the two large subfamilies in the
[Link] aim of this study were as follows: (1) to compare and analyze the
structure features of sequenced chloroplast genomes of Zingiberoideae and the seed
structures of Alpinioideae in the Zingiberaceae family; (2) to determine the evolution of
chloroplast genomes of Zingiberoideae and the seed structure of the Alpinioideae; and (3)
to discuss their phylogenetic analyses.
Discussion
Among phylogenetic investigation, several studies employed nuclear internal transcribed
spacer (ITS) and conventional chloroplast matK/trnK-matK/trnL-trnF data to investigate the
evolutionary connections within subfamily Zingiberoideae and within the four genera of Globba,
Hedychium, Kaempferia and Zingiber. In Alpinioideae, a formal revision has yet to be published
to address the incongruencies in phylogenetic relationships, however well-supported informal
clades based on ITS and trnK/matK sequence data have been proposed and include seven
distinct clades of Alpinia taxa [Alpinia carolinensis, Alpinia eubractea, Alpinia fax, Alpinia
galanga (L.), Alpinia rafflesiana, Alpinia zerumbet, and Alpinia zerumbet subclade] (Kress et
al., 2005, 2007). These two subfamilies are similar in using ITS and matK to investigate
their evolutionary connections. Complete chloroplast genomes give excellent resolution for
relationship reconstruction within the Alpinia, Amomum, Curcuma, and Zingiber genera,
allowing study of their evolutionary positions in the Zingiberaceae family. Flowers and
inflorescences are the most well-known and often utilized morphological traits for taxon
identification and phylogenetic reconstruction for Alpinioideae; nevertheless, seed shape
and anatomy are also significant sources of potentially phylogenetically relevant characters
(Liao & Wu, 1996, 2000; Tang et al., 2005).
Phylogenetic relationships within four genera of Globba, Hedychium, Kaempferia,
and Zingiber in the Zingiberoideae had been somewhat ambiguous in previous phylogenies;
for example, in Globba, nuclear ITS and chloroplast matK data had very low resolution or
were generally lacking among Globba species; and in Hedychium, nuclear ITS and
chloroplast matK/trnL-t. In Alpinioideae, seeds vary greatly in terms of shape and seed coat
anatomy. In the context of a previously published phylogenetic analysis (Kress et al., 2007),
they identified several phylogenetic significant characters using three-dimensional
visualizations and digital sections, many of which had not previously been documented in
studies based on histological sections and surface fractures.
Conclusion
In Zingiberoideae, ten complete chloroplast genomes from nine species, namely, G.
lancangensis, G. marantina, G. multiflora, G. schomburgkii, G. schomburgkii var.
angustata, H. coccineum, H. neocarneum, K. rotunda ‘Red Leaf’, K. rotunda ‘Silver
Diamonds’ and Z. recurvatum, have been sequenced, assembled and annotated for the
first time. The structural characteristics of these ten chloroplast genomes are
demonstrated to be conservative, and they are comparable to those described for
Zingiberoideae chloroplast genomes. Meanwhile, comparative investigations of 18
Zingiberoideae chloroplast genomes have yielded 12 highly variable areas that might be
employed as molecular markers for phylogenetic study and species identification.
Phylogenetic connections among four genera of Globba, Hedychium, Kaempferia, and
Zingiber in the subfamily Zingiberoideae have been convincingly resolved using full
chloroplast-derived SNP data. In Alpinioideae, the shape and anatomy of seeds vary
greatly, and they give taxonomically relevant traits for several known clades within the
subfamily. Micropylar and chalazal mesotestal alterations, the placement of the
endotestal gap, and the morphology of endotestal and exotestal cells are the most
informative clade distinguishing characteristics. Some clades could not be distinguished
only by seed characteristics, although many were clearly identified by their distinctive
seeds. This implies that a larger sample of seeds, particularly those from clades not
covered in the current study, will give additional information on natural variation in the
group and a better understanding of Alpinioideae evolution. Furthermore, seed data
from current members are vital for resolving Zingiberales' relatively mysterious fossil
record, which is rich in fruits and seeds.
References
Benedict, J. C., Smith, S. Y., Collinson, M. E., Leong-Škorničková, J., Specht, C. D.,
Fife, J. L., Stampanoni, M., Xiao, X., & Parkinson, D. Y. (2015). Evolutionary
significance of seed structure in Alpinioideae (Zingiberaceae). Botanical Journal
of the Linnean Society, 178(3), 441–466. [Link]
Kress, W. J., Prince, L. M., & Williams, K. (2002). The phylogeny and a new
classification of the gingers (Zingiberaceae): evidence from molecular data.
American Journal of Botany, 89(10), 1682–1696.
[Link]
Li, D., Li, J., Wang, D., Xu, H. E., & Zhu, G. (2021). Molecular evolution of chloroplast
genomes in subfamily Zingiberoideae (Zingiberaceae). BMC Plant Biology, 21(1).
[Link]
A Synthesis Paper
Submitted by: Jorengel Mae M. Labo BSBIO3Cx
Submitted to: Marilag Mateo
BIO48A
May 12, 2023