SYSTEMATIC IMPLICATIONS OF CHLOROPLAST DNA VARIATION IN JALTOMATA ANDSELECTED PHYSALOID GENERA (SOLANACEAE)

Chloroplast DNA restriction site data were used to assess relationship s among the solanaceous genera Jaltomata, Hebecladus, Old and New Worl d Physalis, Chamaesaracha, Leucophysalis, Margaranthus, Nicandra, and Saracha, and to assess interspecific relationships within Jaltomata. C ladograms rooted with Nicotiana tabacum were constructed with Wagner a nd Dollo parsimony. Strict consensus trees indicate that Hebecladus or iginated from within Jaltomata; together these genera are monophyletic and constitute the recently circumscribed genus Jaltomata. There are two primary clades in Jaltomata: one a morphologically diverse group c onfined to western (largely Andean) South America, the Greater Antille s, and the Galapagos Islands; and the other a morphologically homogene ous group widely distributed from the southwestern United States to Bo livia. The controversial Leucophysalis viscosa, formerly treated as Ja ltomata viscosa, is related to Leucophysalis, Physalis, Chamaesaracha, and Margaranthus; it does not group with any of the sampled species o f Jaltomata. Physalis appears to be polyphyletic since P. alkekengi of the Old World branches off prior to a clade including Chamaesaracha, Margaranthus, and the two New World Physalis species sampled.