Phylogenomics and historical biogeography of Physalis (Solanaceae)

Abstract

The genus Physalis includes 94 species with wide morphophysiological variability and adapted to diverse ecological conditions. It is divided into four subgenera and is considered paraphyletic. In this study, we inferred a plastome‐based phylogenomic hypothesis to clarify relationships within Physalis subg. Physalis , estimated divergence times and reconstructed ancestral distribution areas. A total of 48 species were included: 33 Physalis , 14 from other genera of Physalideae, and 1 from Capsiceae. The results show that Physalis sensu lato is not monophyletic, whereas Physalis subg. Physalis is, and should be recognized as Physalis sensu stricto. The tribe Physalideae may have originated ~51.99 million years ago in the early Eocene, while the subtribe Physalidinae likely began diversifying ~37.58 million years ago in the Nearctic. The divergence between Physalis s.str. and Chamaesaracha coniodes plus Physalis melanocystis occurred ~23.04 million years ago in the Nearctic. Subsequently, Physalis s.str. diversified ~16.59 million years ago, also in the Nearctic. The clade with the highest proportion of perennial species within Physalis s.str. diversified ~11.26 million years ago, most likely in the combined areas of the Nearctic plus the Mexican Transition Zone (MTZ). Finally, perenniality was the ancestral character for Physalideae, whereas annuality was for Physalis s.str., in which the annual species do not cluster within a single clade but are recovered as sister groups to clades composed primarily of perennials. Overall, these findings indicate that the diversification of Physalis was driven by a broad ecological amplitude, reflecting successful adaptation to diverse ecological niches.