Maintenance of pure hybridogenetic water frog populations: Genotypic variability in progeny of diploid and triploid parents.

An intriguing outcome of hybridisation is the emergence of clonally and hemiclonally reproducing hybrids, that can sustain, reproduce, and lead to the emergence of polyploid forms. However, the maintenance of diploid and polyploid hybrid complexes in natural populations remains unresolved. We selected water frogs from the Pelophylax esculentus complex to study how diploid and triploid hybrids, which reproduce hemiclonally via hybridogenesis, are maintained in natural populations. During gametogenesis in diploid hybrids, one of the parental genomes is eliminated, and the remaining genome is endoreplicated. In triploid hybrids, the single-copy genome is typically eliminated, while genome endoreplication does not occur. To investigate how diploid and triploid hybrid frogs reproduce in populations without parental species, we crossed these hybrid animals from two separate pure hybrid populations located in Poland. Using cytogenetic analysis of tadpoles that emerged from the crosses, we established which gametes were produced by parental hybrids. The majority of hybrid females and hybrid males produced one type of gamete with the P. ridibundus genome. However, in both studied populations, approximately half of the diploid and triploid hybrids simultaneously produced gametes with different genome compositions and ploidy levels, specifically, the P. ridibundus and P. lessonae genomes, as well as diploid gametes with genomes of both parental species. Triploid hybrid males and females mostly produced haploid gametes with the P. lessonae genome; however, gametes with the P. ridibundus genome have also been observed. These results suggest that not all hybrids follow the classical hybridogenetic reproduction program and reveal a significant level of alterations in the gametogenesis pathways. In addition, we found a variable survival rate of particular progeny genotypes when we crossed hybrid females with different males suggesting the important role of postzygotic barriers on the maintenance of pure hybrid systems. We suggest that the observed variability in produced gametes and the different survival rate of the progeny with certain genotypes is crucial for the existence of pure hybrid systems.

Introduction

Species are fundamental evolutionary units that are separated from each other via different prezygotic and postzygotic barriers [1]. Such barriers prevent gene flow between different species, ensuring the isolation of their genomes [1, 2]. Interspecific hybridisation occurs both in plants and animals, causing the instant creation of novel gene combinations [3, 4]. These novelties may promote the evolutionary success of hybrid lineages, and possibly, the emergence of new species [3-6]. However, one of the outputs of interspecific hybridisation is hybrid sterility, which prevents recombination and thus, gene flow between the genomes of parental species [7, 8]. In some animal hybrids, sterility is often overcome via modifications of gametogenesis by the emergence of clonal or hemiclonal reproduction [9-11]. These forms of reproduction become possible when gamete formation is modified to prevent pairing thus, preventing recombination between orthologous chromosomes [11, 12]. Clonal propagation of the genome usually leads to the emergence of triploid individuals with the frequent ability to fully or partially restore recombination (sexual reproduction) [11-15]. This phenomenon of asexuality accompanied by polyploidisation may involve multiple transient stages in which different forms of hybrids reproduce with parental (sexual) species or with each other [14, 16]. However, how these stages of hybrid reproduction are manifested and what mechanisms provide maintenance of hybrids remains unresolved.

The water frog complex (Pelophylax esculentus complex) provides several opportunities to study hemiclonal reproduction and polyploidisation. This complex includes two parental species, namely, the marsh frog (P. ridibundus; RR genotype, 2n = 26) and the pool frog (P. lessonae; LL genotype, 2n = 26), the hybridisation of which leads to diploid hybrids, i.e., the edible frog (P. esculentus; RL, 2n = 26) [17]. In addition to diploid hybrids, triploid (RRL and LLR, 3n = 39), tetraploid (RRLL), and rare pentaploid (RRLLL) hybrids have been recorded in natural populations [18-21]. Diploid hybrids exhibit a hemiclonal reproductive mode, known as hybridogenesis [22]. During gametogenesis, the genome of one parental species is eliminated, while the other genome is duplicated, allowing for its transmission into gametes [22-24]. In restoring the next hybrid generation, such gametogenic properties create hybrids depending on one of the parental species. This leads to the formation of various populations where hybrids coexist with both parental species (R-E-L systems) and one or another parental species (L-E or R-E systems, respectively) [18, 19, 25]. Alteration of diploid hybrid gametogenesis leads to the appearance of fertile triploid hybrids, which partially restores sexual reproduction [14, 18, 26]. During gametogenesis of triploid hybrids, the genome represented in one copy is typically eliminated, while the others recombine to form haploid gametes [18, 19, 26, 27]. Diploid and triploid hybrids can coexist independently from parental species, producing self-maintaining evolutionary units (known as “E systems”) [18, 19, 25, 28, 29]. Such populations are widespread in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine [28-32]. Here, we focused on the reproduction of hybrid frogs in pure hybrid populations to determine contribution of hybrid animals to the progeny.

In this study, we considered whether different pure hybrid systems have similar hybrid reproduction patterns. To investigate this, we selected two E systems located in northwest (Wysoka Kamieńska) and southwest (Uciechów) Poland. In the E and L-E systems observed in Wysoka Kamieńska, all three forms of edible frog (RL, LLR, LRR) co-occur, with the predominant form being LLR hybrids (approximately 60% of frogs per population) [33]. This population in Wysoka Kamieńska is closely located to other E systems in Usedom and Bornholm Islands, northern Germany, Denmark, and southern Sweden, which have been comprehensively studied [28–30, 32, 34, 35]. Diploid hybrids from studied E systems mainly produce haploid P. ridibundus gametes and diploid gametes, leading to the emergence of triploid hybrids [20, 28, 29, 34, 35]. Triploid hybrids with the LLR genotype usually produce haploid gametes with the P. lessonae genome, as well as diploid gametes with P. ridibundus and P. lessonae genomes and gametes with two copies of the P. lessonae genome [27, 28, 32–34]. The other selected E system, located in southwest (Uciechów) Poland, is remote from the northern systems and likely represents a separate case of pure hybrid population formation. According to our previous unpublished long-term field observations, this population included only hybrid animals and was isolated from other water frog populations. However, the genotype composition of individuals from Uciechów has not been described thus far; therefore, we aimed to characterise the structure of this population and the pattern of hybrid emergence and maintenance in this E system.

Finally, we investigated whether all types of gametes produced by hybrids contributed to the progeny genome composition. We crossed the same hybrid individuals with both parental (sexual) species, and other hybrids, to compare the genotypes of their progeny. Previous studies have reported that hybrids can simultaneously produce a variety of gametes with different genome compositions and ploidy [28, 29, 35–39]. We expected to find no difference in the contribution of hybrid gametes to the emergence of tadpoles with different genome combinations after crosses with different parents. To test this, we performed a karyotype analysis of tadpoles obtained after artificial crosses of di- and triploid hybrid frogs with each other and with parental species from different populations. We identified karyotypes of 655 tadpoles from 27 crosses of hybrid frogs via fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) using species-specific markers. The results allowed us to determine the contribution of hybrid frogs to the appearance of different forms of hybrids in E systems and the role of postzygotic barriers on the survival and maintenance of the progeny.

Materials and methods

Animals

All procedures with both adults and tadpoles were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. Adult frogs were captured by the General and Regional Directorates for Environmental Protection (DZP-WG.6401.02.5.2015.JRO, WPN.6401.177.2016.IL). Adult individuals used for in vitro crosses were sampled from different locations in Poland. According to the data collected in S1 Table, P. lessonae (females, N = 5; males, N = 8) were obtained from the L-E and R-E-L systems; P. ridibundus (females, N = 1; males, N = 6) were collected from R-E and R-E-L systems. P. esculentus (RL females, N = 9; LLR females, N = 3; RL males, N = 9; LLR males, N = 3; RRL males, N = 1) were taken from E systems in Wysoka Kamieńska (northwestern Poland), Uciechów (southwestern Poland), and other locations. All experimental procedures were approved by the Local Commission for Ethics in Experiments on Animals in Wrocław, Poland (27/2016) and the local animal ethics committee of Saint-Petersburg State University (# 131-03-3).

Taxonomic evaluation of animals

Adult frogs collected for crossing experiments were first identified based on morphological features according to Kierzkowski et al. [40]. Ploidy of P. esculentus individuals was initially evaluated via erythrocyte long-axis measurements before crosses [40]. Phalanges were carefully cut to obtain blood smears. After air-drying the erythrocytes, the long axis was measured under an Axiostar Plus microscope (Zeiss) using 20× lenses and KS400 software (Zeiss). Diploid erythrocytes were 23.4–24.9 μm long, and triploid erythrocytes were 29.5–33.3 μm long. After crossing experiments, all frogs were identified by karyotyping followed by FISH with species-specific markers, such as pericentromeric repeat RrS1 [41-43] and interstitial sites of the telomeric repeat (ITSs) [36, 44].

Crossing experiments

The collected animals were kept in humid boxes and subsequently used for in vitro crossing experiments according to the standard procedures for water frogs [45]. Twenty-four hours before the procedure, females were injected intraperitoneally with 6.25 mg/kg-body weight of salmon luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH, H-7525.0001, Bachem) in amphibian phosphate-buffered saline (APBS, pH 7.4, 11.2 mM NaCl, 0.22 mM KCl, 0.8 mM Na2HPO4, 0.14 mM KH2PO4). Eggs were artificially obtained from each female and separated into several plates (depending on the clutch size) for fertilisation by different males. Males and females were sacrificed after anaesthetising in a 0.5% solution of ethyl 3-aminobenzoate methanesulfonate (tricaine methanesulfonate, MS-222, Sigma Chemical Co.) in APBS. Tissues and organs were dissected and fixed in 96% ethanol for subsequent DNA isolation (phalange) and chromosomal (intestine) analyses, as well as for in vitro fertilisation of eggs (testes). Tadpoles of various phenotypes (LL, RR, RL, RRL, LLR), resulting from controlled in vitro crosses, were reared in a greenhouse in PPE tanks, with approximately 10 tadpoles per litre of water and fed with frozen lettuce and fish food. A total of 655 tadpoles were analysed from 27 crosses of hybrids with each other and parental species.

Tadpole genome composition was identified by karyotyping followed by FISH using species-specific probes. Using the (TTAGGG)5 probe, we revealed one or two interstitial telomere repeat sites distinguishing the NOR-bearing chromosomes of P. lessonae and P. ridibundus [36, 44]. In addition, we applied a probe to detect the centromere RrS1 repeat, which only localises in P. ridibundus chromosomes [41-43].

Metaphase chromosome preparation

Tadpoles were anaesthetised with 0.15% MS222 (Sigma) before euthanasia. The gills, intestine, and tail tip were hypotonised in distilled water for 30 min, followed by fixation in a 3:1 (ethanol:glacial acetic acid) Carnoy’s solution. After three fixative exchanges, tissues were stored at 4°C until use. To obtain metaphase chromosomes, fixed tissues were placed in 70% glacial acetic acid for 3 min and intensively macerated to obtain a cell suspension. The suspension was dropped onto slides heated to 60°С, on which nuclei and metaphase chromosomes remained after liquid evaporation.

FISH

To identify chromosomes of both parental species, we applied DNA/DNA FISH protocols with an oligonucleotide probe (TTAGGG)n repeat or a PCR-labelled probe to RrS1 repeat on metaphase chromosomes obtained from tadpoles and parental individuals. A biotin-labelled probe for RrS1 pericentromeric repeat was obtained from the genomic DNA of P. ridibundus using PCR with the following primers (according to [41]): 5′-AAGCCGATTTTAGACAAGATTGC-3′; 5′-GGCCTTTGGTTACCAAATGC-3′.

Metaphase chromosomes were pre-treated with RNAse A (100–200 mg/ml) for 1 h and pepsin (0.01% in 0.01 N HCl) for 10 min and then post-fixed in 2% paraformaldehyde for 10 min (in 1× PBS, 50 mM MgCl2). For the oligonucleotide probe, the hybridisation mix contained 40% formamide, 2.4× SSC, 12% dextran sulphate, 5 ng/μl single-stranded (TTAGGG)5 probe conjugated with biotin and 10–50-fold excess of tRNA. For the PCR-labelled probe, the hybridisation mix contained 50% formamide, 2× SSC, 10% dextran sulphate, 5 ng/μL probe conjugated with biotin, and 10–50-fold excess of ssDNA. The hybridisation mix was applied to slides with metaphase chromosomes under coverslips. Slides with chromosomes and probes were denatured simultaneously for 5 min at 82°C. For the oligonucleotide probe, hybridisation was performed overnight at room temperature, followed by washing in 2× SSC at 42°C. Regarding the PCR-labelled probe, hybridisation was performed overnight at 37°C, followed by washing in 0.2× SSC at 50°C. Biotin-labelled probes were detected using streptavidin conjugated with Cy3 (Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories) or Alexa 488 (Invitrogen). Subsequently, the slides were counterstained in 1,4-Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) antifade solution containing 1 mg/ml 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). At least three full metaphase plates with evident FISH signals were examined to identify the karyotypes of the tadpoles and their parental individuals.

Wide-field microscopy

A Leica fluorescence microscope DM 4000В was used to analyse metaphase chromosomes. Fluorescent signals were detected using appropriate filter cubes (Leica Wetzlar GmbH, Germany). Images were taken using a monochrome digital camera DFC350 FX under 10×, 20×, 40×, and 100× objective lens magnifications using the Leica CW 4000 FISH software. Proper adjustments of the images were performed using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.

Results

We analysed 33 hybrid individuals from two isolated pure hybrid P. esculentus systems (E systems) located in southwest (Uciechów) and northwest (Wysoka Kamieńska) Poland. Both populations shared similar genotypes. Males were represented by all three genotypes (RL, RRL, LLR), while females were represented by RL and LLR genotypes; RRL females were not found (S1 Table).

Crosses of hybrid frogs from E-system from Uciechów

To investigate the mechanisms of hybrid frog maintenance in a previously undescribed E system located in southwestern Poland (Uciechów), we performed a set of crossing experiments of hybrid frogs with the other hybrids and with the parental species. We performed 17 crosses of one triploid and eight diploid hybrid females with P. ridibundus, P. lessonae, as well as triploid hybrid males with LLR and RRL genotypes (Fig 1; S2 Table). In addition, we crossed P. lessonae females and two diploid hybrid males.

Fig 1

Results of crossing experiments of diploid and triploid hybrids from pure hybrid system located in southwest (Uciechów) Poland.

Genome composition of tadpoles was identified by karyotyping followed by FISH with probes to centromeric repeat RrS1 and telomeric (TTAGGG)n sequence. RR indicates P. ridibundus individuals; LL indicates P. lessonae individuals; RL indicates diploid hybrids; LLR and RRL indicate triploid hybrid individuals. Suggested genome composition of gametes produced by males and females is inferred based on tadpole karyotypes and parent genotypes. R and L represent gametes with P. ridibundus and P. lessonae genomes, respectively. RL indicates diploid gametes with the genomes from both parental species. Question mark (?) indicates difficulties in prediction of the precise genome composition in gametes produced by hybrid males or females. Crossing IDs correspond to S2 Table.

In one cross of a diploid hybrid female with a P. lessonae male (cross # 37/2016), we obtained only diploid hybrid tadpoles (Figs 1, 3C; S2 Table). In crosses of two other diploid hybrid females with P. ridibundus males (crosses ## 14/2016, 18/2016), we obtained only P. ridibundus tadpoles (Fig 1, S1G Fig; S2 Table). Thus, these females produced eggs with only the P. ridibundus genome.

Fig 3

Identification of the tadpoles from crossings of diploid hybrid females with P. lessonae males (a-c, g-i, l), P. ridibundus males (m-o), diploid hybrid males (j, k), and triploid hybrid males with LLR genotype (d-f). Metaphase chromosomes from tadpoles after FISH with (TTAGGG)5 (b-d,g-i,k,l,o). One or two interstitial (TTAGGG)n repeat sites were distinguished in P. lessonae and P. ridibundus NOR-bearing chromosomes, respectively. Arrows indicate interstitial (TTAGGG)n repeat sites. FISH with the RrS1 (a,e,f,j,m,n) probe allows distinguishing pericentromeric regions of only P. ridibundus chromosomes. According to karyotype and species-specific FISH markers, we distinguished tadpoles of P. ridibundus (j,m), diploid hybrids (b,c,e,f,h,i,k,l,n), and triploid hybrids with LLR (a,d,g) and RRL (o) genome compositions. Crossing IDs correspond to Figs 1, 2 and S2 Table. Scale bars = 10 μm.

To check whether the hybrid females’ contribution to the progeny was comparable to crosses with different parents, we split the eggs obtained from hybrid individuals and fertilised them with the sperm of various sexual males. In crosses of diploid hybrid female with P. ridibundus (cross # 15/2016) and P. lessonae (cross # 16/2016) males, we obtained P. ridibundus and P. esculentus tadpoles, respectively (Figs 1, 3L; S1K Fig; S2 Table). We concluded that the studied females transmitted oocytes only with the P. ridibundus genome (Fig 1).

In addition, we crossed another diploid hybrid female with a P. lessonae male (cross # 2/2016), a P. ridibundus male (cross # 7/2016), and triploid hybrid male with the LLR genotype (cross # 5/2016) (Figs 1, 3F–3I; S1M and S1N Fig). In crosses from this female with P. lessonae and triploid hybrids, we obtained only diploid hybrid progeny. However, in a cross with P. ridibundus, we detected not only P. ridibundus progeny, but also diploid hybrids. We concluded that this female simultaneously produced haploid gametes with the P. ridibundus genome and haploid gametes with the P. lessonae genome (Fig 1).

Furthermore, we crossed another diploid hybrid female with P. lessonae (cross # 3/2016) and P. ridibundus (cross # 8/2016) males (Fig 1). In the cross with the P. lessonae male (cross # 3/2016), we obtained diploid and triploid hybrids with the LLR genome (Fig 1; S1E, S1F Fig). When we crossed this female with the P. ridibundus male, we obtained P. ridibundus and triploid hybrids with the RRL genotype (cross # 8/2016), as expected, and diploid hybrids (Figs 1 and 3M–3O). Thus, this diploid hybrid female simultaneously produced three types of gametes: the majority of the gametes were haploid with the P. ridibundus genome, and a minor proportion of gametes was haploid with the P. lessonae genome or diploid with genomes of both parental species (Fig 1).

In crosses of an additional diploid hybrid female with a P. lessonae male (cross # 7/2017), we obtained triploid hybrids with the LLR genotype and diploid hybrids (Figs 1, 3G and 3H). However, when we crossed the same female with diploid hybrid male (cross # 9/2017), all progenies were diploid, including the P. ridibundus and P. esculentus individuals (Figs 1, 3J and 3K). We concluded that this diploid hybrid female produced diploid eggs with genomes of both parental species, as well as haploid eggs with the P. ridibundus genome. The diploid hybrid male presumably produced two types of haploid gametes with the P. ridibundus genome (Fig 1). Nevertheless, we could not infer the genome composition of all gametes produced by hybrid females and hybrid males, as it is possible for hybrid males and hybrid females to produce gametes with the P. lessonae genome.

In a cross of another diploid hybrid female and a P. lessonae male (cross # 11/2016), we obtained only diploid hybrid tadpoles (Fig 1, S1L Fig). We suggest that this diploid hybrid female produced haploid gametes with the P. ridibundus genome. However, when we crossed the same female and triploid hybrid males with the RRL genotype (cross # 12/16), we obtained triploid hybrids with RRL and LLR genotypes, as well as diploid hybrids and P. ridibundus individuals (Fig 1, S1A–S1D Fig). We cannot precisely identify the additional gametes of the crossed hybrids, but we can infer the formation of diploid eggs with genomes of both parental species and haploid eggs with the P. lessonae genome, which were undetected in the crosses of the same female with P. lessonae males (Fig 1). Alternatively, triploid hybrid males with the RRL genotype can produce spermatozoa with four different genotypes (diploid RL, diploid LL, haploid R, and L); however, this scenario is less probable.

Next, we crossed one triploid LLR female with P. lessonae male (cross # 8/2017), diploid hybrid male (cross # 10/2017), and P. ridibundus male (cross # 15/2017) (Fig 1, S2A, S2B, S2D–S2F Fig). After crossing this female with P. ridibundus male, we found only diploid P. esculentus tadpoles. However, when we crossed the same female with P. lessonae male, we obtained P. esculentus and P. lessonae tadpoles. P. ridibundus and P. esculentus tadpoles were obtained from a cross of the same female with P. esculentus male. These results allowed us to speculate that this triploid hybrid female produced haploid oocytes with P. lessonae or P. ridibundus genomes (Fig 1).

In addition, we crossed two diploid hybrid males with P. lessonae females. In one cross (cross # 9/2016), we detected only diploid hybrid tadpoles (Fig 1). We concluded that this diploid hybrid male produced gametes with the P. ridibundus genome. However, in the second cross (cross # 17/2017), we found diploid hybrids and P. lessonae individuals (Fig 1; S2H and S2I Fig). We suggest that this individual male simultaneously produced two types of gametes: haploid gametes with the P. ridibundus genome and haploid gametes with the P. lessonae genome.

Results of hybrid frog crosses from Wysoka Kamieńska

Additionally, we analysed the mechanisms of hybrid frog maintenance in different E systems located in northwest Poland (Wysoka Kamieńska). We performed eight crosses of one diploid and two triploid LLR hybrid females with hybrid males and with males of parental species. In addition, we crossed five diploid and two triploid LLR males with parental species (S2 Table).

We performed crosses of one diploid hybrid female with P. lessonae male (cross # 1/2016) and triploid hybrid male with LLR genotype (cross # 4/2016). In both crosses, we obtained diploid and triploid LLR hybrid tadpoles (Figs 2, 3A, 3B, 3D and 3E). We suggest that this diploid hybrid female transmitted oocytes with the haploid P. ridibundus genome and diploid oocytes with genomes of both parental species; triploid hybrid males likely produced gametes with the P. lessonae genome (Fig 2). Nevertheless, triploid hybrid male was able to also produce diploid sperm with genomes of both parental species (Fig 2).

Fig 2

Results of crossing experiments of diploid and triploid hybrids from pure hybrid system located in the northwest (Wysoka Kamieńska) Poland.

Genome composition of tadpoles was identified by karyotyping followed by FISH. RR indicates P. ridibundus individuals; LL indicates P. lessonae individuals; RL indicates diploid hybrids; LLR and RRL indicate triploid hybrid individuals. Suggested genome composition of eggs and sperm is inferred based on tadpoles’ karyotypes and parents`genotypes. R and L indicate gametes with P. ridibundus and P. lessonae genomes, respectively. RL indicates diploid gametes with the genomes from both parental species. Question mark (?) shows inability to deduce precise genome composition of gametes produced by hybrid males or females. Crossing IDs correspond to S2 Table.

In addition, we obtained tadpoles from two crosses of two triploid hybrid females with the LLR genotype and diploid hybrid males. In one cross (cross # 26/2016), we found tadpoles of P. ridibundus, diploid hybrids, and triploid hybrids with the LLR genotype (Fig 2; S2I–S2K Fig). In this case, we could not identify all types of gametes produced by hybrid parents, but we concluded that both male and female hybrids produced P. ridibundus gametes, and one of the parents produced diploid gametes. In another cross of triploid hybrid female with the LLR genotype and diploid hybrid male (Cross # 27/2016), we obtained P. ridibundus and diploid hybrid progeny (Fig 2; S2G and S2H Fig). Similar to the previously described cross, we could not precisely identify the gametes produced by hybrid parents, but we suggest that both male and female hybrids produced haploid gametes with the P. ridibundus genome, and at least one of the parents additionally produced haploid gametes with the P. lessonae genome (Fig 2).

Next, we performed three crosses of diploid hybrid males with P. lessonae females. In two crosses of hybrid males (crosses # 23/2016 and # 28/2016), we detected only diploid hybrid tadpoles (Fig 2; S2M Fig). We concluded that diploid hybrid males from the studied crosses produced gametes with the P. ridibundus genome (Fig 2). All tadpoles from one cross of hybrid male and P. lessonae female (cross # 31/2016) were P. lessonae (Fig 2; S2C Fig). Therefore, the diploid hybrid male produced gametes with the P. lessonae genome (Fig 2).

Additionally, we analysed tadpoles from a crossing of P. ridibundus female with triploid hybrid male with the LLR genotype (cross # 30/2016). All analysed tadpoles were diploid P. esculentus (Fig 2; S2L Fig). Therefore, this triploid hybrid male produced gametes with the P. lessonae genome (Fig 2).

Discussion

Gamete formation in hybrids from the studied pure hybridogenetic water frog populations

The two studied pure E systems located in northwest (Wysoka Kamieńska) and southwest (Uciechów) Poland have similar structures and genetic compositions. In both populations, we detected diploid RL and triploid RRL and LLR hybrids, with predominant LLR genotypes (S1 Table). This result corresponds with previous data obtained for other E systems from northwest Poland, northern Germany, Denmark, and southern Sweden [28–30, 32, 34, 35]. Moreover, our results are strongly corroborated by early observations performed on E systems in northwest (Wysoka Kamieńska) Poland [33, 34]. Therefore, we propose that the water frog genotype composition is highly stable in E systems, and gametes produced by hybrids of different genotypes and ploidy are sustainable.

The genome composition of tadpoles obtained in a series of artificial crosses allowed us to establish the varieties of gametes produced by diploid and triploid hybrids. Moreover, we observed similarities between the mechanisms of hybrid frog maintenance in the two isolated pure hybrid systems. Diploid hybrid females from both analysed E systems predominantly produced gametes with P. ridibundus genomes and diploid gametes with both parental genomes (Fig 4). Diploid gametes are crucial for the formation of triploid hybrids with both the LLR and RRL genotypes. The role of diploid hybrid females in the formation of triploid progeny has been shown in a number of other E systems [14, 20, 28, 29, 33], as well as in L-E and R-E systems [17, 18, 36, 37, 42, 46]. We also found that at least one diploid hybrid female from Uciechów produced haploid gametes with the P. lessonae genome along with diploid and haploid gametes with P. ridibundus genomes. Such gametes have not been found in other E systems [20, 25, 28, 29, 34, 35, 47–49].

Fig 4

Schematic overview of contribution of diploid and triploid water frog hybrids to the maintenance of pure hybrid systems.

Data from both the studied pure hybrid systems are summarised with the indication of genotypes, sex, and gametes of hybrid frogs, tadpole genotypes, as well as presumptive adult progeny. Female gametes are indicated in pink, and male gametes are indicated in blue. Gametes produced by RRL individuals were not included in the schematic because of the low number of investigated individuals.

Diploid P. esculentus males mostly produced gametes with the P. ridibundus genome. Nevertheless, in both populations, we detected rare diploid hybrid males producing gametes with only the P. lessonae genome or gametes with a mixture of the P. lessonae and the P. ridibundus genomes. Males, which simultaneously produce two types of gametes, have been previously observed in other systems and are particularly abundant in R-E systems [37, 38, 50–52]. These results were obtained by measuring sperm genome DNA using flow cytometry [38, 51] and determined after an analysis of progeny [37], as well as cytogenetic analysis of meiosis [50]. The simultaneous formation of two types of gametes can be explained by alterations in genome elimination/endoreplication in different germ cell lines [36, 51].

Triploid hybrid males with the LLR genotype produced haploid sperm with the P. lessonae genome in both analysed populations in Wysoka Kamieńska and Uciechów. Our results are in agreement with earlier reports that triploid hybrids usually eliminate the genome that presents as a single copy (LLR hybrids eliminate R genome; RRL hybrids eliminate L genome) and transmit a two-copy genome to haploid gametes after normal meiosis [14, 18–20, 26, 28, 36]. In contrast to triploid hybrid males, triploid hybrid females with the LLR genotype simultaneously produced a mixture of gametes with P. lessonae and P. ridibundus genomes. The simultaneous formation of gametes with various genome compositions has been shown for rare triploid LLR females from E systems [28, 29].

Diploid and triploid hybrids in both populations produced similar types of gametes, suggesting a common pattern of emergence and maintenance of pure hybrid populations. Hybrid males and females of both ploidy levels in the studied E systems produced gametes with various genome compositions and ploidy levels, suggesting different contributions to the progeny genotypes. Based on our results, we suggest a pattern of hybrid emergence in the studied E systems from Poland (Fig 4). The dominant fraction of gametes produced by diploid males and females are those with the P. ridibundus genome; gametes with the P. lessonae genome are mostly produced by triploid LLR hybrids of both sexes. The suggested reproductive patterns are similar to those previously proposed for hybrids from the other E-type systems located in Denmark and southern Sweden [14, 18–20, 28, 29]. Hence, the processes underlying the emergence and maintenance of hybrids are essentially the same in the E systems studied thus far.

Impact of hybrid gametogenesis on the survival rates in different crosses

We found high variability of progeny genotypes when crossing one female with several males, which indicates different survival rates of progeny depending on parental genotypes. Previous studies have shown that hybrid frogs simultaneously produce gametes that differ in ploidy and genotypes [14, 28, 29, 36, 37, 39, 42, 46]. In these studies, the genomic composition of gametes was inferred by investigating the genome composition of oocytes and identifying the karyotypes of progeny [14, 28, 29, 36, 37, 39, 42, 46]. However, here we found that not all of the gametes produced were able to contribute to viable tadpoles if they were fertilised by sperm from different parental species or hybrid males. According to our results, three diploid (43%) and two triploid (50%) P. esculentus females were able to simultaneously produce gametes with different ploidy levels and genotype composition. We also detected decreased survival of tadpoles with parental genotypes, which appeared after crossing hybrids with different parental species. In two crosses of diploid and triploid hybrid females with the LLR genotype, we were not able to detect P. lessonae progeny, whereas P. esculentus tadpoles were detected if the same females were crossed with P. ridibundus males. In the cross of triploid hybrid female and P. ridibundus male, we did not detect P. ridibundus tadpoles, wherein P. esculentus tadpoles were documented in the cross of the same female and P. lessonae male. The decreased survival rate of neo-parental species progeny can be explained by deleterious mutations accumulated in the clonally transmitted P. ridibundus and P. lessonae genomes [53-55]. When eggs containing the clonal P. lessonae genome are fertilised by hybrid sperm bearing the P. lessonae genome, it leads to the death of P. lessonae or P. ridibundus embryos [17, 54–56]. Earlier, it was shown that P. ridibundus, which emerged from the crosses of two hybrids transmitting the same genome from L-E systems, has multiple developmental abnormalities and is ultimately not viable [17, 46, 57]. Similarly, P. esculentus males from R-E systems in central Europe often simultaneously produce two types of gametes with P. ridibundus and P. lessonae genomes based on the identification of the tadpole genotypes [52]. After crosses with P. ridibundus females, the majority of progeny consisted of P. esculentus males, suggesting that P. ridibundus individuals likely die during early development [52]. In the studied E systems from northwestern and southwestern Poland, we did not find adult P. ridibundus and P. lessonae individuals, despite the detection of P. ridibundus and P. lessonae tadpoles, even after crosses of two hybrids from the same locality. These results suggest that parental species have decreased survival rates at later developmental stages and are likely to die during metamorphosis. Moreover, parental species may have different fitness values than hybrid individuals [58]. Thus, the viability of the certain progeny genotypes indicates the strong effect of postzygotic rather than prezygotic barriers on the maintenance of studied hybrid systems. Comparative analysis of crosses results and hybrids gametogenesis in E [28, 29, 59], R-E [36–38, 50, 51, 60, 61], L-E [17, 39, 42, 54, 56, 62, 63] and R-L-E [42] systems, and direct observations of eliminated genome in hybrid tadpoles [42, 43, 64] clearly show that P. lessonae genome is preferentially eliminated in contrast to P. ridibundus genome. Nevertheless, striking variability of gametes produced by diploid and triploid hybrids in E systems suggest aberrancies in the genome elimination and endoreplication during hybrids frog gametogenesis (this study, [28, 29, 59]). Such aberrancies may be caused by the genetic introgression from other water frog species into the genetic background of P. ridibundus and thus completely or partially prevent hybridogenetic reproduction [63]. Additionally, the ability of P. lessonae genome to persist elimination can cause competition between different genomes to be eliminated or retained, resulting in gamete variability in one individual. Interestingly, that R-E systems in the central Europe, in which diploid hybrid males produce two types of sperm, have a single origin suggesting the possibility of latter scenario [50, 52]. Nevertheless, the mechanism of genome elimination in water frogs requires further investigation.

Based on the high variability of gametes produced by diploid and triploid hybrids, as well as the various survival rates of the resulting tadpoles, we suggest that not all hybrids in E systems follow the “classical” hybridogenetic pathways. The genome variability of gametes produced by hybrid individuals from E systems is significantly higher than that in hybrids from L-E systems, which exhibit a stable and transient formation of gametes [17, 39, 42, 57, 63]. The variability of gametes produced by hybrids likely increases the number of possible combinations of genotypes in their progeny. Moreover, the survival rate of particular tadpole genotypes also depends on the genotype of the parents involved in a particular cross.

Conclusion

By cytogenetic analysis of tadpoles obtained from various crosses of hybrid frogs from two separate pure hybrid systems in Poland, we characterised the hybrid contribution to the emergence and maintenance of hybrids in populations without parental species. We found similarities in gamete formation between hybrids in the two separate E systems. Diploid hybrid males primarily produced gametes with the P. ridibundus genome or a mixture of haploid gametes with P. ridibundus and P. lessonae genomes; diploid hybrid females produced gametes with the P. ridibundus genome and a mixture of haploid gametes with the P. ridibundus genome, as well as diploid gametes with genomes of both parental species. Triploid hybrid males primarily produced haploid gametes with the P. lessonae genome, while triploid hybrid females produced a mixture of haploid gametes with P. ridibundus and P. lessonae genomes. The majority of diploid and triploid hybrids simultaneously produced several types of gametes, which differed in genome composition and ploidy level. Moreover, we observed sex-specific differences in the contribution to the progeny in both diploid and triploid hybrids. In addition, we detected preferential variability in the survival rate of particular genotypes, depending on which species the progeny is crossed with, suggesting that postzygotic barriers play an important role on the maintenance of hybrid systems. Such dependence of the variability in progeny genotypes on the genotypes of their parents has crucial methodological consequences, as progeny genotypes can be biased based on the survival rate of a particular genotype.

Identification of the tadpoles from crossings of diploid hybrid females with P. lessonae males (e,f,l,m), P. ridibundus males (g,k,n), diploid hybrid males (h,i), and triploid hybrid males with LLR genotype (a-d, j). Metaphase chromosomes from tadpoles after FISH with (TTAGGG)5 (a-f,h,i) and RrS1 (g,j,k,n) probes. Arrows indicate interstitial (TTAGGG)n repeat sites. According to karyotype and used species specific FISH markers we distinguished tadpoles of P. lessonae (h), P. ridibundus (b,g,k,n), diploid hybrids (a,f,i,j,l,m) and triploid hybrids with LLR (d,e) and RRL (c) genotypes. Crosses IDs correspond to Figs 1, 2 and S2 Table. Scale bars = 10 μm.

(TIF)

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Identification of tadpoles from crossings of triploid hybrid females with P. lessonae males (a, b), P. ridibundus males (d), diploid hybrid males (e-k) as well as crosses of hybrid males with P. lessonae (c, m) and P. ridibundus (l) females. Metaphase chromosomes of tadpoles after FISH with (TTAGGG)5 (a-c,e-l) and RrS1 (d,m) probes. Arrows indicate interstitial (TTAGGG)n repeat sites. According to karyotype and used species specific FISH markers we distinguished tadpoles of P. lessonae (a,c), P. ridibundus (f,h,j), diploid hybrids (b,d,e,g,i,l,m) and triploid hybrids with LLR genotype (k). Crosses IDs correspond to Figs 1, 2 and S2 Table. Scale bars = 10 μm.

(TIF)

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List of studied European water frogs from the population systems of E type in Poland.

(XLSX)

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List of crossed individuals and analyzed tadpoles with the indication of their genotypes.

(XLSX)

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28 Mar 2022

1 May 2022

Reviewer #1: I have carefully read your manuscript entitled "Maintenance of pure hybridogenetic water frog populations: genotypic variability in progeny of diploid and triploid parents". I believe this paper contains new important information on frog genotypes in hybridogenic populations from Poland, and therefore it can be published in PLOS ONE.

Response: Thank you for saying nice words about the manuscript and appreciating our work. We have corrected the imprecisions throughout the text and figures according to your suggestions.

However, I have a few suggestions which could apparently improve the manuscript. Specifically, material from the northwestern site of Wysoka Kamieńska is discussed in the main text, as opposed to Kamień Pomorski and Wysoka Kamieńska in the Supporting Information section.

Response: Thank you for showing this imprecision. We corrected the name of the locality in the Supporting Information section.

In addition, a particular verb, e.g. "obtained", is missing from the fourth line of the third paragraph on page 15 of the PDF file of the manuscript.

Response: We have added missing verb according to your suggestion.

Moreover, the volume and/or page numbers for the references no. 17 and 35 are missing. Response: Thank you for this point. We have added page numbers for mentioned references.

Please also check publication data for the reference no. 54 (apparently published in Annales Zoologici in Warsaw, Poland).

Response: Thank you for the pointing this imprecision. We corrected it.

Finally, the author's name for the reference no. 49 (a PhD thesis?) is given twice.

Response: We deleted additional author name.

Reviewer #2: The hybridogenetic water frog populations analysed in this work provide an unique model for studying such a complex processes as polyploidisation, chromatin elimination and hybrid reproduction which are of great importance for evolution and speciation. The manuscript represents the results of scrupulous work on crossing and cytogenetic analysis of hybrid frogs from self-maintaining E system of diploid and triploid hybrids (655 tadpoles from 27 crosses). The cytogenetic method used in the study (karyotyping and FISH with species-specific markers) is sufficient and allows authors to identify genome composition of tadpoles. However, I have a couple minor suggestions for presenting and discussing the material.

Response: Thank you very much for your work and appreciating our results. We have changed manuscript to address your suggestions in most cases and we provided explanations bellow in detailed responses.

Figures 1 and 2 clearly illustrate the results of experiments, however they largerly duplicate highly descriptive text in the Results section. Moreover, the summary of these results is nicely represented in Figure 4. I would probably recommend to move Figures 1 and 2 to the Supplementary material.

Response: You raise an important point. Thank you for understanding that Figures 1 and Figure 2 are important to demonstrates different examples of all types of tadpoles obtained from various crosses for two analysed hybrid systems. However, we decided to keep both Figures in the main text of the manuscript as it will simplify reading the text and comparing results for each of studied populations. In contrast, Figure 4 gives just the summary of those results and missing the information about multiple crosses of some individuals.

I believe that the manuscript would benefit if the authors put more emphasis on the unique results and significance of their work. Thus, authors reveal deviations from the "classical hybridogenetic reproduction program" as well as variable survival rate of particular progeny genotypes. What does this mean for understanding the maintenance of pure hybrid population systems? Do I understand correctly that one of the key findings of the work is that the genotype ratio in this E system is probably maintain due to postzygotic barriers (unviability of the certain progeny genotypes) rather than prezygotic (froming certain types of gametes)? I recommend this would be more clearly written.

Response: Thank you for raising these important questions. We clarified our conclusions according to your comment and added the information in the abstract, discussion and conclusions.

In Abstract:

Lines 32-34. “In addition, we found a variable survival rate of particular progeny genotypes when we crossed hybrid females with different parents suggesting the important role of postzygotic barriers on the maintenance of pure hybrid systems.”

In Discussion section:

Lines 387-389. “Thus, the viability of the certain progeny genotypes indicates the strong effect of postzygotic rather than prezygotic barriers on the maintenance of studied hybrid systems.”

In Conclusions:

Lines 424-429. “Moreover, we observed sex-specific differences in the contribution to the progeny in both diploid and triploid hybrids. In addition, we detected preferential variability in the survival rate of particular genotypes, depending on which species the progeny is crossed with, suggesting that postzygotic barriers play an important role on the maintenance of hybrid systems.”

I am not sure that the word "mechanism" is appropriate in this sentence of the Abstract: "To investigate the mechanism of diploid and triploid hybrid frog reproduction, we crossed these hybrid animals from two separate pure hybrid populations located in Poland." In this work, neither the mechanisms of elimination of one of the parental genomes, nor the mechanisms of choosing which of the genomes will be eliminated, nor the causes for the ratio of gametes of different types are addressed. However, brief discussion of these problems would help place the work in a broader context.

Response: According to your suggestions, we corrected the abstract and included additional paragraph where we discuss hypothetical mechanisms concerning elimination of parental genomes in studied systems.

In Abstract:

Lines 19-22. “To investigate how diploid and triploid hybrid frog reproduce in populations without parental species, we crossed these hybrid animals from two separate pure hybrid populations located in Poland.”

In Discussion:

Lines 390-403. “Comparative analysis of crosses results and hybrids gametogenesis in E [28, 29, 59], R-E [36–38, 50, 51, 60, 61], L-E [17, 39, 42, 54, 56, 62, 63] and R-L-E [42] systems, and direct observations of eliminated genome in hybrid tadpoles [42, 43] clearly show that P. lessonae genome is preferentially eliminated in contrast to P. ridibundus genome. Nevertheless, striking variability of gametes produced by diploid and triploid hybrids in E systems suggest aberrancies in the genome elimination and endoreplication during hybrids frog gametogenesis (this study, [28, 29, 59]). Such aberrancies may be caused by the genetic introgression from other water frog species into the genetic background of P. ridibundus and thus completely or partially prevent hybridogenetic reproduction [63]. Additionally, the ability of P. lessonae genome to persist elimination can cause competition between different genomes to be eliminated or retained, resulting in gamete variability in one individual. Interestingly, that R-E systems in the central Europe, in which diploid hybrid males produce two types of sperm, have a single origin suggesting the possibility of latter scenario [50, 52]. Nevertheless, the mechanism of genome elimination in water frogs requires further investigation.”

Unfortunately, I could not access Supporting Information (Table S1).

Response: We apologize for this inconvenience and uploaded all files in the revised version.

From the technical side, the manuscript lacks line and page numbering.

Response: We apologize for this inconvenience. We corrected it in the revised version.

Submitted filename: response to reviewers_25.04.docx

Click here for additional data file.

3 May 2022

Maintenance of pure hybridogenetic water frog populations: genotypic variability in progeny of diploid and triploid parents

PONE-D-22-04633R1

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14 Jun 2022

PONE-D-22-04633R1

Maintenance of pure hybridogenetic water frog populations: genotypic variability in progeny of diploid and triploid parents

Dear Dr. Dedukh:

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