Phylogenomics using low-depth whole genome sequencing: a case study with the olive tribe

Species trees have traditionally been inferred from a few selected markers, and genome-wide investigations remain largely restricted to model organisms or small groups of species for which sampling of fresh material is available, leaving out most of the existing and historic species diversity. The genomes of an increasing number of species, including specimens extracted from natural history collections, are being sequenced at low depth. While these datasets are widely used to analyse organelle genomes, the nuclear fraction is generally ignored. Here we evaluate different reference-based methods to infer phylogenies of large taxonomic groups from such datasets. Using the example of the Oleeae tribe, a worldwide-distributed group, we build phylogenies based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) obtained using two reference genomes (the olive and ash trees). The inferred phylogenies are overall congruent, yet present differences that might reflect the effect of the distance to the reference on the amount of missing data. To limit this issue, the genome complexity was reduced by using pairs of orthologous coding sequences as the reference, thus allowing combining SNPs obtained using two distinct references. Concatenated and coalescence trees based on these combined SNPs suggest events of incomplete lineage sorting and/or hybridization during the diversification of this large phylogenetic group. Our results show that genome-wide phylogenetic trees can be inferred from low-depth sequence datasets for eukaryote groups with complex genomes, and histories of reticulate evolution. This opens new avenues for large-scale phylogenomics and biogeographic analyses covering both the extant and historic diversity stored in museum collections

Factors affecting targeted sequencing of 353 nuclear genes from herbarium specimens spanning the diversity of angiosperms

The world’s herbaria collectively house millions of diverse plant specimens, including endangered or extinct species and type specimens. Unlocking genetic data from the typically highly degraded DNA obtained from herbarium specimens was difficult until the arrival of high-throughput sequencing approaches, which can be applied to low quantities of severely fragmented DNA. Target enrichment involves using short molecular probes that hybridise and capture genomic regions of interest for high-throughput sequencing. In this study on herbariomics, we used this targeted sequencing approach and the Angiosperms353 universal probe set to recover up to 351 nuclear genes from 435 herbarium specimens that are up to 204 years old and span the breadth of angiosperm diversity. We show that on average 207 genes were successfully retrieved from herbarium specimens, although the mean number of genes retrieved and target enrichment efficiency is significantly higher for silica gel-dried specimens. Forty-seven target nuclear genes were recovered from a herbarium specimen of the critically endangered St Helena boxwood, Mellissia begoniifolia, collected in 1815. Herbarium specimens yield significantly less high molecular weight DNA than silica gel-dried specimens, and genomic DNA quality declines with sample age which is negatively correlated with target enrichment efficiency. Climate, taxon-specific traits, and collection strategies additionally impact target sequence recovery. We also detected taxonomic bias in targeted sequencing outcomes for the 10 most numerous angiosperm families that were investigated in depth. We recommend that 1) for species distributed in wet tropical climates, silica gel-dried specimens should be used preferentially, 2) for species distributed in seasonally dry tropical climates, herbarium and silica gel-dried specimens yield similar results, and either collection can be used, 3) taxon specific traits should be explored and established for effective optimisation of taxon-specific studies using herbarium specimens, 4) all herbarium sheets should, in future, be annotated with details of the preservation method used, 5) long-term storage of herbarium specimens should be in stable low humidity and low temperature environments, and 6) targeted sequencing with universal probes, such as Angiosperms353 should be investigated closely as a new approach for DNA barcoding that will ensure better exploitation of herbarium specimens than traditional Sanger sequencing approaches

Conceptual and empirical advances in Neotropical biodiversity research

The unparalleled biodiversity found in the American tropics (the Neotropics) has attracted the attention of naturalists for centuries. Despite major advances in recent years in our understanding of the origin and diversification of many Neotropical taxa and biotic regions, many questions remain to be answered. Additional biological and geological data are still needed, as well as methodological advances that are capable of bridging these research fields. In this review, aimed primarily at advanced students and early-career scientists, we introduce the concept of "trans-disciplinary biogeography," which refers to the integration of data from multiple areas of research in biology (e.g., community ecology, phylogeography, systematics, historical biogeography) and Earth and the physical sciences (e.g., geology, climatology, palaeontology), as a means to reconstruct the giant puzzle of Neotropical biodiversity and evolution in space and time. We caution against extrapolating results derived from the study of one or a few taxa to convey general scenarios of Neotropical evolution and landscape formation. We urge more coordination and integration of data and ideas among disciplines, transcending their traditional boundaries, as a basis for advancing tomorrow\u27s ground-breaking research. Our review highlights the great opportunities for studying the Neotropical biota to understand the evolution of life

Reconstruction d'une hypothèse phylogénétique de la tribu d'Oleeaae (Oleaceae) à partir de l'ADN chloroplastique et nucléaire ribosomique : diversification et patrons d'évolution moléculaire

La tribu d'Oleeae (Oleaceae) est un modèle biologique très intéressant pour étudier la diversification et les patterns d'évolution moléculaire chez les plantes. Les reconstitutions de l'histoire évolutive et phylogénétique des relations entre ses espèces ont été au cœur de cette thèse. Ce travail a conduit à des progrès significatifs dans la résolution des relations phylogénétiques au sein de la tribu à différents niveaux taxonomiques. Nous avons démontré que l'utilisation d'une approche de "Genome Skimming" est très appropriée pour générer plastomes complets (ptDNA) et de l'ADN ribosomal nucléaire (nrDNA), même sur un échantillon d'herbier. Nous avons montré l'utilité du ptDNA pour reconstruire la première ossature phylogénétique robuste pour la tribu, et fourni de nouvelles connaissances sur l'histoire biogéographique et sur l'évolution de certains traits. Nous avons aussi montré que l'évolution de la composition en bases du nrDNA peut être influencée par des facteurs climatiques.The Oleeae tribe (Oleaceae) is a very interesting biological model to investigate plant diversification and molecular evolution patterns. However, a comprehensive phylogeny is missing to accurately describe the evolutionary and biogeographic history of this tribe. Reconstructions the Oleeae evolutionary history and the phylogenetic relationships between its species were the core of this thesis. This work has led to significant progress in resolving the phylogenetic relationships within the tribe at different taxonomic levels. We demonstrated that the use of a shotgun approach is a highly suitable method to generate complete plastomes (ptDNA) and nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA), even on herbarium sample. We showed the usefulness of ptDNA to reconstruct highly resolved phylogeny of Oleeae and provided new insights into the biogeographic history and the evolution of some traits. We also showed that the evolution of nrDNA base-composition seems to be influenced by environmental factors

Phylogenetic hypothesis of the Oleeae tribe (Oleaceae): diversification and molecular evolution patterns in plastid and nuclear ribosomal DNA

La tribu d'Oleeae (Oleaceae) est un modèle biologique très intéressant pour étudier la diversification et les patterns d'évolution moléculaire chez les plantes. Les reconstitutions de l'histoire évolutive et phylogénétique des relations entre ses espèces ont été au cœur de cette thèse. Ce travail a conduit à des progrès significatifs dans la résolution des relations phylogénétiques au sein de la tribu à différents niveaux taxonomiques. Nous avons démontré que l'utilisation d'une approche de "Genome Skimming" est très appropriée pour générer plastomes complets (ptDNA) et de l'ADN ribosomal nucléaire (nrDNA), même sur un échantillon d'herbier. Nous avons montré l'utilité du ptDNA pour reconstruire la première ossature phylogénétique robuste pour la tribu, et fourni de nouvelles connaissances sur l'histoire biogéographique et sur l'évolution de certains traits. Nous avons aussi montré que l'évolution de la composition en bases du nrDNA peut être influencée par des facteurs climatiques.The Oleeae tribe (Oleaceae) is a very interesting biological model to investigate plant diversification and molecular evolution patterns. However, a comprehensive phylogeny is missing to accurately describe the evolutionary and biogeographic history of this tribe. Reconstructions the Oleeae evolutionary history and the phylogenetic relationships between its species were the core of this thesis. This work has led to significant progress in resolving the phylogenetic relationships within the tribe at different taxonomic levels. We demonstrated that the use of a shotgun approach is a highly suitable method to generate complete plastomes (ptDNA) and nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA), even on herbarium sample. We showed the usefulness of ptDNA to reconstruct highly resolved phylogeny of Oleeae and provided new insights into the biogeographic history and the evolution of some traits. We also showed that the evolution of nrDNA base-composition seems to be influenced by environmental factors

Fast assembly of the mitochondrial genome of a plant parasitic nematode (Meloidogyne graminicola) using next generation sequencing

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Fast assembly of the mitochondrial genome of a plant parasitic nematode (Meloidogyne graminicola) using next generation sequencing

Little is known about the variations of nematode mitogenomes (mtDNA). Sequencing a complete mtDNA using a PCR approach remains a challenge due to frequent genome reorganizations and low sequence similarities between divergent nematode lineages. Here, a genome skimming approach based on HiSeq sequencing (shotgun) was used to assemble de novo the first complete mtDNA sequence of a root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne graminicola). An AT-rich genome (84.3%) of 20,030 bp was obtained with a mean sequencing depth superior to 300. Thirty-six genes were identified with a semi-automated approach. A comparison with a gene map of the M. javanica mitochondrial genome indicates that the gene order is conserved within this nematode lineage. However, deep genome rearrangements were observed when comparing with other species of the superfamily Hoplolaimoidea. Repeat elements of 111 bp and 94 bp were found in a long non-coding region of 7.5 kb, as similarly reported in M. javanica and M. hapla. This study points out the power of next generation sequencing to produce complete mitochondrial genomes, even without a reference sequence, and possibly opening new avenues for species/race identification, phylogenetics and population genetics of nematodes