Deep divergent events in Sapotaceae identifies a new, small subfamily, Eberhardtioideae, restricted to Southeast Asia

Classifications of the pantropical plant family Sapotaceae based solely on morphology without phylogenetic analyses have historically recognized between 125 and 53 genera. Modern molecular analyses, often combined with morphological data over the past 20 years, have identified three subfamilies (Chrysophylloideae, Sapotoideae, and Sarcospermatoideae) and 73 monophyletic genera. By using a new developed protocol, we have sequence 353 nuclear genes by target capture, which resulted in a robust phylogeny of the deep cladogenetic events in Sapotaceae. Sarcosperma is confirmed monophyletic and the first lineage that split off, corresponding to the subfamily Sarcospermatoideae. The genus Eberhardtia is also found monophyletic and the second lineage to split off, corresponding to a new subfamily with unclear limits of species, which here is described as Eberhardtioideae, a subfamily restricted to Southeast Asia.