Exploring the tempo of species diversification in Astragalus section Incani DC. based on nuclear and plastid DNA sequences

This study uses phylogenetic relationships of the species-rich section Astragalus (Incani), to follow up on recent evidence pointing rapid and plant diversification patterns in west Iran. Section Incani is introduced for its taxonomic complication resulting from overlapping morphological characters, but few studies have been done this section; hence, we also lack a robust time-calibrated chronogram address hypotheses (e.g., biogeography rates) that implicit time assumptions. Two loci (rpl32-trnL(UAG) nrDNA ITS) were amplified sequenced 87 taxa across reconstruction BEAST. identified as sister clade all remaining sections with high support, within Incani, two strongly supported groups are seen: (1) Clade I includes nine species restricted eastern Iran Central Asia, (2) II bulk northwestern Iran, Turkey southern Europe. Divergence estimates suggest diverged 3 Mya during late Pliocene. The crown date estimated at 1.5 (Pleistocene). Biogeography showed significant improvement likelihood score when ??jump dispersal? parameter was added. An origin (Central Asia) implicated important ancestral area deeper nodes. BAMM analyses indicate best configuration included one shift rates Incani: near (1.5-2 Mya) including II. Issues conducting more generally examined context scale, taxon sampling, larger sets trees.