WGS Phylogenomics of Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe is one of the largest genera in Crassulaceae and the largest in subfamily Kalanchooideae, with almost 200 described species. Most species are Malagasy endemics, while others are from continental African, Arabia, and tropical Asia. Most Kalanchoe species are small herbs, with others being epiphytes, large shrubs to trees, or even geophytes. Up to six distinct forms of asexual reproduction are known for various Kalanchoe species, at various degrees of complexity and specialization. Notably, some kalanchoes gained significant economic importance in the horticultural industry, while others serve as a model for Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis, invasion biology, and medical research. Yet, a stable infrageneric classification for Kalanchoe has been lacking with the only large molecular study aimed at inferring a phylogeny dating back to the early 2,000s, and the evolution of traits such as different modes of asexual reproduction remains unexplored. In this project, we aim to reconstruct the phylogeny of this highly diverse genus.