Evolution of morphological and climatic adaptations in Veronica L. (Plantaginaceae).
Perennials and annuals apply different strategies to adapt to the adverse environment, based on 'tolerance' and 'avoidance', respectively. To understand lifespan evolution and its impact on plant adaptability, we carried out a comparative study of perennials and annuals in the genus Veronica from a phylogenetic perspective. The results showed that ancestors of the genus Veronicawere likely to be perennial plants. Annual life history of Veronica has evolved multiple times and subtrees with more annual species have a higher substitution rate. Annuals can adapt to more xeric habitats than perennials. This indicates that annuals are more drought-resistant than their perennial relatives. Due to adaptation to similar selective pressures, parallel evolution occurs in morphological characters among annual species of Veronica.
Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Urumqi , PR China.
Jian-Cheng
JC
Wang
Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Urumqi , PR China.
Bo-Rong
BR
Pan
Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky-University Oldenburg , Oldenburg , Germany.
Dirk C
DC
Albach
Adaptability; Ancestral state reconstruction; Phylogenetic signal; Veronica