Phylogenetic Analysis of the Genus Pistacia (Anacardiaceae)

Pistacia is an economically important genus because it contains the pistachio crop, P. vera, which has edible seeds of considerable commercial importance. The evolutionary history of the genus and the taxonomic relationships among the species are controversial and not well understood. This study that has been conducted on this genus to refine taxonomic and evolutionary relationship utilizing different types of data (including morphology, anatomy and molecular) The studied species were the following: Pistacia aethiopica J. O. Kokwaro, P. atlantica Desf., P. chinensis Bunge, P. eurycarpa Yaltirik, P. falcata Becc. ex Martelli, P. integerrima Stew. ex Brand., P. khinjuk Stocks, P. lentiscus L., P. mexicana HBK, P. mutica Fisch. & Mey., P. palaestina Boiss., P. terebinthus L., P. texana Swingle, P. vera L., and P. weinmannifolia Poiss. ex Franch. Phylogenetic analysis based on morphological data strongly supported the monophyly of Pistacia. The genus divided into two monophyletic groups. One group (Section Pistacia) contains P. atlantica, P. chinensis, P. eurycarpa, P. falcata, P. integerrima, P. khinjuk, P. mutica, P. palaestina, P. terebinthus, and P. vera while the other group (Section Lentiscus) contains P. aethiopica, P. lentiscus, P. mexicana, P. texana, and P. weinmannifolia. In anatomical analysis, all species had anomocytic stomata. In most species, the stomata density was higher on the abaxial surface than the adaxial. The ratio of abaxial to adaxial stomatal density varied from 0.0 to 1.7. Stomatal distribution may provide insights into how Pistacia species evolve in terms of leaf anatomy and respond to different climatic changes. Stomatal distribution changed (losing stomata on either surface) as the genus moved into regions of higher rainfall. This study revealed leaflets of P. vera, which have random orientation, were isobilateral, while leaflets of the other species were dorsiventral and were oriented horizontally. RAPD analysis showed that P. khinjuk and P. vera are very close species. This study provides more insights into understanding the evolution, taxonomy and genetics of this economically important genus.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biological Sciences

Department dc:contributor.department

Biological Sciences

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• AL-Saghir, Mohannad Ghazi

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Porter, Duncan M.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Opell, Brent D.
• Saghai-Maroof, Mohammad A.
• Scheckler, Stephen E.

• anatomy
• morphology
• taxonomy
• phylogeny
• Pistacia
• genetics

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-06262006-201120

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/28131