Phylogeny and chromosomal differentiation in Cestreae (Solanaceae)

Cestreae is a monophyletic tribe within the subfamily Cestroideae (Solanaceae), comprising the American genera Cestrum, Sessea, and Vestia. While the monophyly of Cestrum has been confirmed by DNA sequences, the phylogenetic relationships among its species, as well as its relationship to Sessea and Vestia remain unresolved. This study describes cytogenetic traits, expands cytological records, extends phylogenetic sampling, and analyzes chromosome evolution in Cestreae through ancestral character reconstruction. Chromosome counts, karyotype analyses, and B chromosome identification were conducted using root meristem preparations stained with Giemsa. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with rDNA probes and DAPI was used to examine rDNA distribution. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred for 23 species using four molecular markers (ITS, matK, ndhF, and trnL-F) under Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference approaches. In addition to sequences from GenBank/NCBI, 14 ITS new sequences were obtained from PCR products. Ancestral haploid chromosome numbers (n) were reconstructed using ChromEvol, while karyotype formulae and rDNA distribution patterns were inferred through stochastic character mapping (SCM) in R. All analyzed species had a chromosome number of 2n = 16, with two types of karyotype formula. Three Cestrum species possessed B chromosomes, and four distinct rDNA distribution patterns were identified. Ancestral state reconstruction suggests that 2n = 16, a karyotype formula of 7m + 1sm, and rDNA synteny (18-5.8-26S + 5S) on sm pair #8 and terminal 18-5.8-26S sites on one m chromosome pair, may represent ancestral characteristics in Cestreae.