Repetitive sequences in Sapindales: evolutionary impact on a global scale

Abstract

The Sapindales order, with one diversity center at neotropical region, is a monophyletic group with a great economic importance. It has nine families, where six of them habitat at netropical region: Anacardiaceae, Burseraceae, Meliaceae, Rutaceae, Sapindaceae and Simaroubaceae. Mainly, the Simaroubaceae family includes trees and shrub; and Simaba is the most important genus considering the number of species. The genome size is a relevant biological characteristics and its evolution is important for genomics and evolutionary biology. Angiosperms present a wide genome size and chromosome number variation. The genome size variation might be independent of chromosome number and organism complexity. Most of modifications in this value involve gain or loss of repetitive DNA sequences families, but may also be indicating polyploidy events. In Sapindales order, there is DNA content data available at least one species of most of the families. This study aims to contribute for the understanding of genome evolution in the Sapindales families, and its possible causes, based on genome size studies, DNA sequencing and karyotype characterization, with emphasis on Simaroubaceae family. The genome size evolution direction will be determined allied with phylogenetic study that is being developed by the thematic project team. (AU)