Integrating genomics with traditional fieldwork and morphology is essential for Lauraceae research, say scientists

Lauraceae, a globally significant woody plant family, encompasses ecologically critical and economically valuable species such as cinnamon, avocado, and bay laurel. While substantial progress has been made in deciphering the family’s phylogeny, taxonomic relationships, and biogeographic patterns over the past two decades, knowledge gaps exist in understanding this evolutionarily complex group.

In a study published in Plant Diversity, researchers from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with collaborators at home and abroad, systematically reviewed contemporary breakthroughs in Lauraceae systematics.

Researchers elucidated that cutting-edge phylogenetic and phylogenomic approaches have revolutionized taxonomic delineation, leading to the formal recognition of nine tribes: Hypodaphnideae, Cryptocaryeae, Cassytheae, Neocinnamomeae, Caryodaphnopsideae, Mezilaureae (newly proposed), Perseeae, Laureae, and Cinnamomeae.

“This taxonomic reorganization has facilitated the reinstatement of five previously synonymized genera and the identification of six novel genera, predominantly distributed across tropical Asia, the Neotropics, and Madagascar,” said Li Lang from XTBG, the first author of the study.

In addition, nuclear genome assembly and comparative genomic analyses have unveiled the molecular underpinnings of metabolic diversification and adaptive evolution within the family. These genomic revelations correlate with paleobotanical evidence documenting a Late Cretaceous radiation followed by Cenozoic expansion.

Modern biogeographic reconstructions have revealed a dual evolutionary heritage with ancestral lineages emerging from both Gondwanan and Laurasian territories. This biogeographic dichotomy has been influenced by the fragmentation of boreotropical flora and recurrent instances of long-distance dispersal events.

Moreover, research efforts have been geographically disparate. In the Neotropics, fieldwork and taxonomic revisions have been emphasized, with many new species descriptions and revised classifications. In Asia, on the other hand, studies have focused more on genomic investigations, historical biogeography, and phylogeography, documenting patterns of Quaternary survival and population expansion.

In spite of recent advances, many systematic relationships remain unresolved and require new genomic tools and a serious effort to reclassify the group.

Therefore, researchers propose that a multidisciplinary approach that includes innovative sequencing, morphological, and ecological studies is required to understand the complexity of the family. As a foundation, carefully curated and well-annotated collections are needed to ensure taxonomic accuracy and reproducibility.

“The integration of genomics with traditional fieldwork and morphology is now indispensable for comprehending the evolution and diversity of this ecologically and economically significant plant family,” said Prof. Li Jie from XTBG, one corresponding author of the study.