Nuclear DNA 2C-values for 16 species from Timor-Leste increases taxonomical representation in tropical ferns and lycophytes

Abstract

Knowledge regarding genome size allows us to infer relationships between taxa, address questions related to systematics and contribute to biodiversity studies. However, currently, less than 3% of the described Pteridophyta species have genome size estimates reported in databases, and only around one third of these are tropical species, although the tropics are home of 86% of fern diversity. The region of Timor-Leste, included in one of the 25 hotspots of biodiversity, is considered one of the richest areas of the world in terms of pteridophyte species. Nonetheless, biodiversity-driven research focused on this territory’s biodiversity is scarce. This study presents novel 2C-values for 15 species of ferns collected in Timor-Leste, using flow cytometry. Furthermore, one species of the lycophyte Palhinhaea cernua (L.) Vasc. & Franco, was also studied and its estimated genome size compared to a previous report. Estimates ranged from 10.45 pg in Selliguea feei Bory to 29.7 pg in Microsorum punctatum (L.) Copel, and are considered medium-size genomes. The data was compared with previous reports for closely related species. These are the first 2C-values for two families and seven genera of ferns, increasing the number of pteridophytes with reported C-values from 292 to 307.