Phylogenetic relationships of saccharinae and sorghinae

Abstract

Multiple taxonomic and phylogenetic studies have been conducted on sugarcane, Miscanthus, and sorghum, but to date the results have been contradictory and somewhat confusing. A few generalities have emerged. The Andropogoneae is clearly monophyletic. Saccharum and Miscanthus are closely related to each other. Their relationship with Sorghum is less clear, although they are probably more closely related to Sorghum than any of them is to maize or to Andropogon and its immediate relatives. The phylogeny of Andropogoneae is largely unresolved, which leads to a number of problems of taxonomic nomenclature. The solution will require considerably more phylogenetic data on a much broader set of species than has been sampled to date.