Phylogenomics of Eugenia (Myrtaceae)

Eugenia is one of the most taxonomically challenging lineages of flowering plants, in which morphological delimitation has changed over the last few years resulting from recent phylogenetic study based on molecular data. Efforts until now have been limited to Sanger sequencing of mostly plastid markers. These phylogenetic studies indicate 11 clades formalised as infrageneric groups. However, relationships between these clades are poorly supported at key nodes and inconsistent between studies, particularly along the backbone and within Eugenia sect. Umbellatae, which encompasses ca. 700 species. To resolve and better understand systematic discordance, 54 Eugenia taxa were subjected to phylogenomic Hyb-Seq sequencing using 353 low-copy nuclear genes.