Evolution of Asian Interior Arid-Zone Biota: Evidence from the Diversification of Asian <i>Zygophyllum</i> (Zygophyllaceae)

<div><p>The Asian interior arid zone is the largest desert landform system in the Northern Hemisphere, and has high biodiversity. Little is currently known about the evolutionary history of its biota. In this study, we used <i>Zygophyllum</i>, an important and characteristic component of the Asian interior arid zone, to provide new insights into the evolution of this biota. By greatly enlarged taxon sampling, we present the phylogenetic analysis of Asian <i>Zygophyllum</i> based on two plastid and one nuclear markers. Our phylogenetic analyses indicate that Asian <i>Zygophyllum</i> and <i>Sarcozygium</i> form a clade and <i>Sarcozygium</i> is further embedded within the shrub subclade. An integration of phylogenetic, biogeographic, and molecular dating methods indicates that <i>Zygophyllum</i> successfully colonized the Asian interior from Africa in the early Oligocene, and Asian <i>Zygophyllum</i> became differentiated in the early Miocene and underwent a burst of diversification in the late Miocene associated with the expansion of Asian interior arid lands due to orogenetic and climatic changes. Combining diversification patterns of other important components of the Asian interior arid zone, we propose a multi-stage evolution model for this biota: the late Eocene–early Oligocene origin, the early Miocene expansion, and the middle-late Miocene rapid expansion to the whole Asian interior arid zone. This study also demonstrates that, for <i>Zygophyllum</i> and perhaps other arid-adapted organisms, arid biomes are evolutionary cradles of diversity.</p>