Molecular phylogenetics and biogeography reveal the origin of cherries (Prunus subg. Cerasus, Rosaceae).

This article focuses on the phylogenetic relationships, divergence times, and biogeographic history of cherries (Prunus subgenus Cerasus), a monophyletic group within the genus Prunus (Rosaceae) distributed across temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Using newly sequenced chloroplast genomes from 12 species combined with 24 previously published genomes, the study identifies five major clades within subg. Cerasus, with Prunus mahaleb as the basal lineage originating in the Eastern Mediterranean–Central Asia around 11.57 million years ago. The research reconstructs two major dispersal events: an initial spread from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau to North America via the Bering Land Bridge and Europe during the Late Miocene to Pliocene, and a later diversification during the Late Pleistocene influenced by Quaternary glaciations. These findings clarify the complex evolutionary history of cherries, highlighting frequent interspecific hybridization and rapid radiation within the group.