Phylogeny of Vitaceae based on the nuclear GAI1 gene sequences'

Phylogenetic analysis of 105 nuclear GA11 sequences of Vitaceae provided a fairly robust phylogeny, largely congruent with the recently published chloroplast data of the family. In the GA11 phylogeny, Cayratia Juss., Tetrastigma (Miq.) Planch., and Cyphostemma (Planch.) Alston form a clade. Cyphostemma and Tetrastigma are both monophyletic, and Cayratia is paraphyletic. Ampelopsis Michx is paraphyletic with the African Rhoicissus Planch. and the South American Cissus striata Ruiz & Pav. and its close relatives (e.g., Cissus simsiana Roem. & Schult.) nested within it. The pinnately leaved Ampelopsis forms a subclade, and the simple and palmately leaved Ampelopsis constitutes another subclade. All species of Cissus L. sampled from Asia, Africa, and Central and South America (except the C striata complex) form a monophyletic group. Pterisanthes Blume of southeastern Asia forms a clade with the Asian Ampelocissus Planch. Vitis L. is monophyletic and forms a larger clade with the tropical Ampelocissus and Pterisanthes. Parthenocissus Planch., forms a clade with Yua C.L. Li, with each genus reportedly monophyletic. Cissus from the Old World is paraphyletic with the neotropical core Cissus nested within it. The basal grade of Cissus consists of taxa from Africa. The African-Asian biogeographic relationships are complex, with several intercontinental disjunctions. The Northern Hemisphere Ampelopsis is most closely related to the South American C. striata complex and the African Rhoicissus.