Abstract:

Objective: Prunus simingensis, a new species of Prunus subgenus Cerasus, was discovered in Siming Mountain, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China. In this study, morphological observations and molecular phylogenetic analyses were used to comprehensively describe and taxonomically identify this species, to determine its phylogenetic status and reveal its morphological distinctions from the closely related species, P. serrulata. Method: Morphological comparisons were conducted based on herbarium specimens of the new species and closely related species, supplemented by field survey data. Phylogenetic relationships within subgenus Cerasus were analyzed based on complete chloroplast genome sequences. Sequences were quality-filtered and aligned using MAFFT. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using maximum likelihood (ML) in IQ-TREE and neighbor-joining (NJ) in MEGA to verify the phylogenetic position of P. simingensis. Result: 1) Morphological studies showed that P. simingensis has green petioles, leaves, pedicels, and sepals, white petals, pubescent pedicels and styles, and red fruits. In contrast, P. serrulata has brown to reddish-brown corresponding organs, petals turning light pink at late flowering, glabrous pedicels and styles, and dark purple-black fruits. 2) Phylogenetic analyses showed that P. simingensis was closely related to P. serrulata, but formed an independent clade, supporting its recognition as a new species of subgenus Cerasus. Conclusion: Based on comprehensive morphological and molecular evidence, this study confirms P. simingensis as a new species in subgenus Cerasus. The discovery increases the diversity of subgenus Cerasus in eastern China, and also provides a reference for classification, evolutionary research, and conservation of subgenus Cerasus plants.

Key words: molecular phylogeny, morphological comparison, Rosaceae, Prunus subgenus Cerasus