Morphological and anatomical development in the Vitaceae. IX. Comparative ontogeny and phylogenetic implications of Vitis rotundifolia Michx.

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Botany
• Main Authors: Timmons, Susan A., Posluszny, Usher, Gerrath, Jean M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2007
• Subjects: Plant Science; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b07-077; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/B07-077; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/B07-077

The grape family, Vitaceae, is an economically important fruit family. Although the Vitaceae have been used for conservation, viticulture, and horticulture, little is known about the phylogenetic relationships of this family. Recent phylogenetic reconstructions using DNA data have disagreed with traditional classifications and other DNA-based phylogenies by grouping Vitis and Cissus species within one clade and linking Vitis rotundifolia Michx. (muscadine grape) more closely with these Cissus species. This study uses comparative developmental morphology as an independent method to investigate whether V. rotundifolia is more similar to Cissus antarctica Vent. (kangaroo vine) than other Vitis species. Results obtained using epi-illumination light microscopy and histology were compared with those from similar studies of Vitis ‘Ventura’, Vitis riparia Michx., and C. antarctica. Twelve vegetative and floral characters including axillary bud dorsiventrality, uncommitted primordium shape, calyptra, and ring-shaped gynoecial disk placed V. rotundifolia in with other Vitis species. Only two characters, stipule timing and simple tendrils, were common to C. antarctica and V. rotundifolia, suggesting that V. rotundifolia is more similar to Vitis spp. than to C. antarctica, and supporting traditional classifications contrary to ITS1 and trnL DNA phylogenies.