Format: ORAL

Ji-Hyeon Jeon1, Masayuki Maki2, Yu-Chung Chiang3, Younhee Shin4, and Seung-Chul Kim1

1 Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea 2 Department of Ecological Developmental Adaptability Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan 3 Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 4 Research and Development Center, Insilicogen Inc., Yongin, Republic of Korea

Many phylogenetic or evolutionary studies across various plant taxa, particularly those involving recently diverged and closely related species, have historically faced challenges in comprehending species relationships and evolutionary histories within these groups. Recent advancements in genome-wide sequencing technologies and bioinformatics tools have now empowered phylogenomic analyses to unravel robust species phylogenies, offering valuable insights into the intricate evolutionary trajectories of lineages characterized by complex histories. The East Asian wild roses within Rosa section Synstylae (Rosaceae), recognized as significant genetic contributors to modern ornamental roses, represent a group of species known to have recently diverged and maintained close relationships. Leveraging 1,683 highly conserved single-copy orthologs from the reference genome of R. chinensis, a close relative within the Synstylae section, we successfully established the first robust phylogenetic relationships among eight species in Rosa section Synstylae. Moreover, additional phylogenomic analyses unveiled the complex evolutionary history of the R. sect. Synstylae lineage, likely influenced by a combination of deep coalescence and genetic introgressions. Through comparative ortholog analyses utilizing the draft genome assembly of R. lucieae, we discerned patterns of gene family evolution within section Synstylae, particularly in response to the adaptation to specific ecological niches. These innovative phylogenomic approaches not only enhance our understanding of the evolution of East Asian wild roses but also offer a framework for comprehending the evolutionary dynamics of other recently diverged and closely related lineages worldwide.