Informativeness of nuclear and chloroplast DNA regions and the phylogeny of the eucalypts and related genera (Myrtaceae)

Abstract

Phylogeny of the eucalypt group (sensu lato) is analysed using 6 regions of DNA: 5S rDNA repeat, ITS-1, ITS-2, psbA - trnH spacer, trnL intron, and trnL 3'exon - trnF spacer. Within the family Myrtaceae, the genus Lophostemon was used as the outgroup to root trees. The ingroup included Allosyncarpia, Arillastrum, Eucalyptopsis, an undescribed genus from Atherton, Queensland - Myrtaceae sp. (=RFK/2519), Angophora (3 species), Corymbia (3 species) and Eucalyptus (6 species). Levels of informativeness of each of the DNA regions are compared and the phylogenetic analyses are presented for each data set and a combined (total evidence) data set. Three monophyletic groups are well supported by the ..