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. 2023 Jan 14;12(2):399.
doi: 10.3390/plants12020399.

Systematics and Phylogenetic Placement of Panicum L. Species within the Melinidinae Based on Morphological, Anatomical, and Molecular Data (Poaceae, Panicoideae, Paniceae)

Carolina Delfini  1 , Diego L Salariato  1 , Sandra S Aliscioni  1   2 , Fernando O Zuloaga  1
Affiliations

Systematics and Phylogenetic Placement of Panicum L. Species within the Melinidinae Based on Morphological, Anatomical, and Molecular Data (Poaceae, Panicoideae, Paniceae)

Carolina Delfini et al. Plants (Basel). .

Abstract

Generic boundaries of the African species Panicum deustum Thunb., Panicum trichocladum Hack. ex K. Schum., and Panicum vollesenii Renvoize are analyzed and compared with related genera of the tribe Paniceae and the subtribe Melinidinae. Based on morphological (vegetative and reproductive characters including habit, ligules, inflorescence, spikelets, and ornamentation of the upper anthecium), anatomical (transverse section of leaves), and molecular data (three chloroplast markers), a new genus is proposed for P. deustum, while P. trichocladum and P. vollesenii are transferred to the genus Megathyrsus (Pilg.) B.K. Simon & S.W.L. Jacobs. The phylogenetic position of both taxa within the Melinidinae and their morphological affinities with other genera of the subtribe are also discussed. Additional studies on the Melinidinae will clarify the systematic position of the genera that are still in a doubtful position within the subtribe, such as Eriochloa and Urochloa.

Keywords: Africa; Bathochloa; Megathyrsus; Panicum deustum; Panicum trichocladum; Panicum vollesenii.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A 50% majority-rule consensus tree from the Bayesian inference analysis of the total combined dataset (ndhF + rpl16 + trnL-F). Bootstrap supports from parsimony are listed above the branches and bootstrap supports from maximum likelihood/posterior probabilities with Bayesian inference are listed below the branches. Nodes with “–” have bootstrap supports ˂ 50%. Clades denoted by letters are discussed in the text.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Light micrographs of leaf blade in cross section: (A,B). Panicum deustum; (C). Panicum trichocladum; (D). Panicum vollesenii. Abbreviations: ops = outer parenchymatous bundle [vouchers: (A): Bequaert 3398, (B): de Witte 10792, (C): Hitchcock 24927, (D): Vollesen 3871].
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A–D). Scanning electron micrographs of the upper anthecium of Panicum deustum: (A). dorsal view; (B). ventral view; (C). base of the upper lemma; and (D). apex of the upper palea. (E–H). Scanning electron micrographs of the upper anthecium of Panicum trichocladum: (E). dorsal view; (F). ventral view; (G). apex of the upper lemma; and (H). apex of the upper palea [vouchers: (A–D): Bequaert 3398; (E–H). Hitchcock 24927].
Figure 4
Figure 4
Batochloa deusta (Thunb.) Salariato & Zuloaga: (A). habit; (B). ligular region; (C). portion of the inflorescence with clavellate hairs; (D). spikelet, lateral view and pedicel with clavellate hairs; (E). lower glume, dorsal view; (F). upper glume, dorsal view; (G). lower lemma, dorsal view; (H). lower palea and lower flower with three stamens; (I). upper anthecium, ventral view; (J). upper anthecium, dorsal view; (K). upper palea with lodicules and gynoecium; and (L). caryopsis, hilum view [voucher: (A–L): Bequaert3398].
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