Morgan K Moeglein1, David S Chatelet2, Michael J Donoghue1, Erika J Edwards1. 1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, PO Box 208106, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA. 2. Biomedical Imaging Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 6YD, United Kingdom.
Abstract
PREMISE: Plant genome size ranges widely, providing many opportunities to examine how genome size variation affects plant form and function. We analyzed trends in chromosome number, genome size, and leaf traits for the woody angiosperm clade Viburnum to examine the evolutionary associations, functional implications, and possible drivers of genome size. METHODS: Chromosome counts and genome size estimates were mapped onto a Viburnum phylogeny to infer the location and frequency of polyploidization events and trends in genome size evolution. Genome size was analyzed with leaf anatomical and physiological data to evaluate the influence of genome size on plant function. RESULTS: We discovered nine independent polyploidization events, two reductions in base chromosome number, and substantial variation in genome size with a slight trend toward genome size reduction in polyploids. We did not find strong relationships between genome size and the functional and morphological traits that have been highlighted at broader phylogenetic scales. CONCLUSIONS: Polyploidization events were sometimes associated with rapid radiations, demonstrating that polyploid lineages can be highly successful. Relationships between genome size and plant physiological function observed at broad phylogenetic scales may be largely irrelevant to the evolutionary dynamics of genome size at smaller scales. The view that plants readily tolerate changes in ploidy and genome size, and often do so, appears to apply to Viburnum.
PREMISE: Plant genome size ranges widely, providing many opportunities to examine how genome size variation affects plant form and function. We analyzed trends in chromosome number, genome size, and leaf traits for the woody angiosperm clade Viburnum to examine the evolutionary associations, functional implications, and possible drivers of genome size. METHODS: Chromosome counts and genome size estimates were mapped onto a Viburnum phylogeny to infer the location and frequency of polyploidization events and trends in genome size evolution. Genome size was analyzed with leaf anatomical and physiological data to evaluate the influence of genome size on plant function. RESULTS: We discovered nine independent polyploidization events, two reductions in base chromosome number, and substantial variation in genome size with a slight trend toward genome size reduction in polyploids. We did not find strong relationships between genome size and the functional and morphological traits that have been highlighted at broader phylogenetic scales. CONCLUSIONS: Polyploidization events were sometimes associated with rapid radiations, demonstrating that polyploid lineages can be highly successful. Relationships between genome size and plant physiological function observed at broad phylogenetic scales may be largely irrelevant to the evolutionary dynamics of genome size at smaller scales. The view that plants readily tolerate changes in ploidy and genome size, and often do so, appears to apply to Viburnum.
Authors: Michael J Donoghue; Deren A R Eaton; Carlos A Maya-Lastra; Michael J Landis; Patrick W Sweeney; Mark E Olson; N Ivalú Cacho; Morgan K Moeglein; Jordan R Gardner; Nora M Heaphy; Matiss Castorena; Alí Segovia Rivas; Wendy L Clement; Erika J Edwards Journal: Nat Ecol Evol Date: 2022-07-18 Impact factor: 19.100
Authors: Matthew J Butrim; Dana L Royer; Ian M Miller; Marieke Dechesne; Nicole Neu-Yagle; Tyler R Lyson; Kirk R Johnson; Richard S Barclay Journal: Front Plant Sci Date: 2022-06-16 Impact factor: 6.627