Mitochondrial DNA Confirms the American Origin of Modern Firs

The results of phylogenetic analysis of 15 species, representing all the main evolutionary lineages of the genus Abies, and Keteleeria davidiana, used as an outgroup, are presented. The data include the nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial DNA about 28 kb in length obtained by partial resequencing of the assembly of the mitochondrial genome of the Siberian fir A. sibirica. The basal position of the mtDNA haplotypes of some American firs has been established, which confirms the American origin of modern Abies. The mitotypes of most Eurasian species form a daughter clade with respect to American firs, indicating its origin as a result of one migration from America to Eurasia. At the same time, previously obtained data on nuclear and chloroplast DNA indicate repeated migrations of firs from America to Eurasia. This conflict between mitochondrial and nuclear data can be explained by a hybrid capture of mitochondrial DNA of native Eurasian species by migrant species.

Automated summary

The study conducted phylogenetic analysis on different species of the Abies genus, revealing the American origin of modern Abies and the origin of Eurasian species. Additionally, nuclear and chloroplast DNA data suggest multiple migrations of Abies species from America to Eurasia, while conflicts between mitochondrial and nuclear data may be explained by hybrid capture of mitochondrial DNA from native Eurasian species by migrant species.