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On the Brink of Holoparasitism: Plastome Evolution in Dwarf Mistletoes (Arceuthobium, Viscaceae)

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Abstract

Chloroplast sequences spanning rps7 to 23S rDNA in Arceuthobium campylopodum and A. pendens were generated and compared to Arabidopsis and seven other parasitic plants. Pseudogenes for trnV, trnI (GAU), and trnA (UGC) were seen in both Arceuthobium species, paralleling the situation in the holoparasite Epifagus (Orobanchaceae). These tRNA genes were intact, however, in two other members of Santalales (Ximenia and Phoradendron). The 16S–23S rDNA intergenic spacer was sequenced for 13 additional species of Arceuthobium representing both Old and New World taxa. All species examined had pseudogenes for trnI and trnA, however, deletions in these tRNAs have occurred in different regions among various lineages of the genus. The aligned 16S–23S rDNA intergenic spacer was analyzed using maximum parsimony and compared with nuclear ITS rDNA using a similar suite of species. Overall species relationships were generally congruent, although two cases of potential lineage sorting or chloroplast capture were detected. Arceuthobium is a valuable genetic model to constrast with holoparasites because, despite significant alteration and truncation of its plastome, it still maintains photosynthetic function.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the people listed in Table 2, who assisted in obtaining Arceuthobium samples that were used in this study. We are particularly grateful to Michael Moore (Oberlin College), who provided unpublished sequences of Phoradendron and Ximenia. Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation (to D.L.N.) and the Spanish Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Centíficas through research funding CGL2006-00300/BOS (to M.A.G.).

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  1. Department of Plant Biology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901-6509, USA

    Daniel L. Nickrent

  2. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Plaza de Murillo 2, 28014, Madrid, Spain

    Miguel A. García

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  1. Daniel L. Nickrent
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Correspondence to Daniel L. Nickrent.

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Nickrent, D.L., García, M.A. On the Brink of Holoparasitism: Plastome Evolution in Dwarf Mistletoes (Arceuthobium, Viscaceae). J Mol Evol 68, 603–615 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00239-009-9224-7

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