Genome-wide SNP analysis elucidates the evolution of Prunus takesimensis in Ulleung Island: Genetic consequences of anagenetic speciation

Of two major speciation modes of endemic plants on oceanic islands, cladogenesis and anagenesis, the latter has been recently emphasized as an effective mechanism for increasing plant diversity in isolated, ecologically homogeneous insular setting. As a single flowering cherry occurring on Ulleung Island in East Sea, Prunus takesimensis Nakai has been presumed as derived through anagenetic speciation on the Island. Based on morphological similarities, P. sargentii distributed in adjacent continental areas and islands has been suggested as its purported continental progenitor. However, the overall genetic complexity and resultant non-monophylies of closely related flowering cherries have hindered determining their phylogenetic relationships as well as establishing concrete continental progenitor and insular derivative relationship. Based on extensive sampling of wild flowering cherries including P. takesimensis and P. sargentii from Ulleung Island and its adjacent areas, this study infer...