Legume Genomics and Genetics 2024, Vol.15, No.1, 27-36 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/lgg 27 Review Article Open Access Advances in Phylogenomic Studies of the Fabaceae Family: Resolving Complex Evolutionary Relationships Xuanjun Fang Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China Corresponding email: Xuanjun.fang@hitar.org Legume Genomics and Genetics, 2024 Vol.15, No.1 doi: 10.5376/lgg.2024.15.0004 Received: 10 Jan., 2024 Accepted: 11 Feb., 2024 Published: 22 Feb., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Fang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Fang X.J., 2024, Advances in phylogenomic studies of the Fabaceae family: resolving complex evolutionary relationships, Legume Genomics and Genetics, 15(1): 27-36 (doi: 10.5376/lgg.2024.15.0004) Abstract The objective of this study is to summarize recent advances in phylogenomic studies of the Fabaceae family, with a focus on resolving complex evolutionary relationships. The Fabaceae family, one of the most diverse and economically significant plant families, presents unique challenges in understanding its evolutionary history due to its extensive diversity and complex speciation events. This study aims to highlight key findings and methodological innovations that have advanced our understanding of the phylogeny of this family. Recent phylogenomic studies have provided new insights into the evolutionary history of the Fabaceae family. High-throughput sequencing technologies and advanced bioinformatics tools have enabled the identification of major clades, divergence times, and lineage-specific adaptations. These studies have resolved previously unclear relationships and have offered a more comprehensive view of the evolutionary trajectories within the family. In conclusion, the study underscores that recent phylogenomic studies have significantly enhanced our understanding of the evolutionary relationships within the Fabaceae family. Continued research, coupled with the integration of emerging technologies, is crucial for further resolving complex phylogenetic relationships and supporting conservation efforts. The findings from these studies have important implications for plant genomics, agriculture, and biodiversity conservation. Keywords Fabaceae; Phylogenomics; Evolutionary relationships; High-throughput sequencing; Bioinformatics 1 Introduction The Fabaceae family, also known as Leguminosae, is the third largest family of flowering plants, comprising approximately 19 500 species across 765 genera (Zhao et al., 2021). This family is of immense ecological and economic importance, contributing significantly to global agriculture through crops such as soybean, chickpea, and common bean (Kagale and Close, 2021). Fabaceae species are known for their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic relationships with rhizobia, which enhances soil fertility and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers (Zhao et al., 2021). This nitrogen-fixing ability, along with their nutritional value, makes legumes crucial for food security, environmental sustainability, and human health (Kagale and Close, 2021). Phylogenomics, the intersection of phylogenetics and genomics, involves the analysis of genome-scale data to infer evolutionary relationships among species. This approach has become increasingly important for resolving complex phylogenetic relationships that are difficult to decipher using traditional methods (Koenen et al., 2019). In the context of the Fabaceae family, phylogenomic studies have provided insights into deep-branching relationships, polyploidization events, and the evolutionary history of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis (Koenen et al., 2019; Zhao et al., 2021). Advances in next-generation sequencing technologies have facilitated the generation of large-scale genomic data, enabling more accurate and comprehensive phylogenetic analyses (Kagale and Close, 2021). This study aims to provide a detailed overview of recent advances in phylogenomic research of the Fabaceae family. By synthesizing data from multiple sources, we will present a comprehensive picture of the current understanding of evolutionary relationships within this diverse family. The study will emphasize key findings from recent research, such as the resolution of deep-branching relationships among subfamilies, the identification
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