Hybridization, polyploidy, and the evolution of sexual systems in Mercurialis (Euphorbiaceae).

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_F1907E4FFEE1
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
Hybridization, polyploidy, and the evolution of sexual systems in Mercurialis (Euphorbiaceae).
Journal
Evolution
Author(s)
Obbard D.J., Harris S.A., Buggs R.J., Pannell J.R.
ISSN
0014-3820 (Print)
ISSN-L
0014-3820
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2006
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
60
Number
9
Pages
1801-1815
Language
english
Abstract
Hybridization and polyploidy are widely believed to be important sources of evolutionary novelty in plant evolution. Both can lead to novel gene combinations and/or novel patterns of gene expression, which in turn provide the variation on which natural selection can act. Here, we use nuclear and plastid gene trees, in conjunction with morphological data and genome size measurements, to show that both processes have been important in shaping the evolution of the angiosperm genus Mercurialis, particularly a clade of annual lineages that shows exceptional variation in the sexual system. Our results indicate that hexaploid populations of M. annua, in which the rare sexual system androdioecy is common (the occurrence of males and hermaphrodites) is of allopolyploid origin involving hybridization between an autotetraploid lineage of M. annua and the related diploid species M. huetii. We discuss the possibility that androdioecy may have evolved as a result of hybridization between dioecious M. huetii and monoecious tetraploid M. annua, an event that brought together the genes for specialist males with those for hermaphrodites.
Keywords
Biological Evolution, Chloroplasts/genetics, DNA, Intergenic/genetics, DNA, Plant/genetics, Euphorbiaceae/genetics, Hybridization, Genetic, Polyploidy
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
22/09/2011 12:16
Last modification date
20/08/2019 16:19
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