Format: ORAL

Geetika Sukhramani1, Joongku Lee2, Ritesh K. Choudhary1

1 Agharkar Research Institute, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune 411004, India 2 Department of Forest and Environment Resources, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Korea

The Himalayan region, a biodiversity hotspot, has undergone significant geological and climatic changes over millions of years. Due to its unique ecological and evolutionary trajectory, the Smilacaceae family in the Himalayan refugium offers valuable insights into evolution and conservation priorities. The present study delves explicitly into how examining Himalayan Smilacaceae contributes to our comprehension of evolution, biogeography, and the impacts of climate change. The endemic nature of various Smilax taxa, such as S. elegans subsp. osmastonii, S. microphylla, S. quadrata, S. sailenii, S. turbans in the Himalayan refugium, along with their probable isolated evolutionary paths evident from the disjunctive distribution of S. wightii, unveils unique adaptations and genetic variations. Our findings shed light on fundamental evolutionary processes and the mechanisms underlying speciation. The investigation extends to analyzing inter/intraspecific morphological evolution among Himalayan Smilax species, aiming to decipher their phylogenetic relationships. Moreover, their plastome comparison enables the identification of molecular markers that contribute to the resolution of evolutionary relationships and the detection of genetic diversity within the Smilacaceae family. Past researchers underscored the pivotal role of the Himalayan Smilax in linking species across East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Therefore, examining the phytogeography of Himalayan Smilax becomes crucial in unravelling the temporal origins and biogeographic processes shaping the disjunctive distribution of these species. Smilacaceae in the Himalayan refugium not only aids in reconstructing historical biogeography but also provides insights into species movement, adaptation to changing environments, and the impact of historical events on plant evolution. Utilizing molecular data-derived phylogenetic insights facilitates evaluating evolutionary relationships among the Smilax species in the Himalayan region. This research also endeavours to resolve longstanding taxonomic discrepancies, synthesize synonyms, and establish a more comprehensive framework for identifying and classifying Smilacaceae in the region.