Molecular phylogenetics of Neotropical Cedreleae (mahogany family, Meliaceae) based on nuclear and plastid DNA sequences reveal multiple origins of “Cedrela odorata”

This study focuses on the 17 Neotropical species described in Cedrela (Meliaceae; Cedreleae), in particular C. odorata, which has been shown in past population genetic studies to be more variable than other tree species. We sampled two sets of molecular markers, nuclear ribosomal spacers (nrITS), and several plastid regions (the psbB, psbN, psbT exons and the trnS–trnG spacer). Both sets of markers produced congruent results using parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods for a set of taxa that include outgroups (outside Cedreleae) as well as other members of the related genera within Cedreleae. All results confirm current delimitation of Cedreleae and genetic distinctiveness for four new species with divergent morphologies. Our study also provides evidence that there are several genetic entities among the accessions of C. odorata that have distinct ranges or habitat preferences. These entities may constitute new species, are morphologically cryptic and require a great deal more investigation to delimit their ranges. Our results have important implications for conservation of Cedrela odorata, which is heavily harvested throughout its range in the American tropics.