A Jonathan Shaw, Aaron M Duffy, Blanka Aguero, Marta Nieto-Lugilde, Karn Imwattana, Sean C Robinson, Scott Schuette, Richard T Wilkens, Joseph Yavitt, David J Weston, Bryan Piatkowski, Gustaf Granath
Premise: Hybridization is an important evolutionary process across all groups of embryophyte land plants, but relatively little is known about hybridization and introgression in plants with a dominant gametophyte life cycle stage. This paper focuses on hybridization between four closely related species of the moss genus Sphagnum.
Methods: Analyses utilized three types of molecular data: restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq), RADseq-like data derived from in silico digestion of genome sequences, and species-specific barcode markers developed previously for this group. Sampling included 582 gametophytes from 79 collecting sites from 27° to 56°N. A range of analytical methods were employed: phylogeny reconstruction, genetic analyses using the program structure, demographic modeling, and comparative genomics.
Results: Gene flow was detected among all pairwise combinations of extant species and between ancestral lineages and those species. Hybridization between S. diabolicum and S. magniae was especially pronounced and plants in a regional zone from North Carolina to New Jersey were genetically admixed. Demographic analyses indicated that this admixture reflects hybridization. Introgressed SNPs were detected across all chromosomes, but introgressed SNPs fixed in genetically pure samples of the two species were concentrated on four autosomes: 2, 7, 14, and 19. Patterns of genomic admixture/introgression were significantly correlated with climate variation across collection sites within the hybrid zone.
Conclusions: The genomic structure of plants in a regional hybrid zone between S. magniae and S. diabolicum was structured by climate adaptation and strengthens the value of this group for learning more about speciation and climate adaptation.
{"title":"Climate niches structure a regional hybrid zone in Sphagnum (peatmoss, Bryophyta).","authors":"A Jonathan Shaw, Aaron M Duffy, Blanka Aguero, Marta Nieto-Lugilde, Karn Imwattana, Sean C Robinson, Scott Schuette, Richard T Wilkens, Joseph Yavitt, David J Weston, Bryan Piatkowski, Gustaf Granath","doi":"10.1002/ajb2.70143","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.70143","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Premise: </strong>Hybridization is an important evolutionary process across all groups of embryophyte land plants, but relatively little is known about hybridization and introgression in plants with a dominant gametophyte life cycle stage. This paper focuses on hybridization between four closely related species of the moss genus Sphagnum.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Analyses utilized three types of molecular data: restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq), RADseq-like data derived from in silico digestion of genome sequences, and species-specific barcode markers developed previously for this group. Sampling included 582 gametophytes from 79 collecting sites from 27° to 56°N. A range of analytical methods were employed: phylogeny reconstruction, genetic analyses using the program structure, demographic modeling, and comparative genomics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Gene flow was detected among all pairwise combinations of extant species and between ancestral lineages and those species. Hybridization between S. diabolicum and S. magniae was especially pronounced and plants in a regional zone from North Carolina to New Jersey were genetically admixed. Demographic analyses indicated that this admixture reflects hybridization. Introgressed SNPs were detected across all chromosomes, but introgressed SNPs fixed in genetically pure samples of the two species were concentrated on four autosomes: 2, 7, 14, and 19. Patterns of genomic admixture/introgression were significantly correlated with climate variation across collection sites within the hybrid zone.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The genomic structure of plants in a regional hybrid zone between S. magniae and S. diabolicum was structured by climate adaptation and strengthens the value of this group for learning more about speciation and climate adaptation.</p>","PeriodicalId":7691,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Botany","volume":" ","pages":"e70143"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145809253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sierra L. Jaeger, Addison G. Darby, Andrea E. Berardi, Bridget T. Harter, Thomas D. Buchloh, Eric F. LoPresti
Premise
Spatial and temporal variations in climate and ecological interactions may underlie the origin and maintenance of floral color polymorphisms across a species range. Betalains are nitrogen-containing, phylogenetically restricted pigments that, like the widespread and well-studied anthocyanins and carotenoids, may attract pollinators, deter herbivores, and protect against abiotic stress.
Methods
We investigated which selection pressures underlie betalain pigmentation variation in Abronia fragrans, a wildflower polymorphic in floral color across its range.
Results
While most populations produced white flowers, some in the south-central United States bore pink flowers with reduced floral display, suggesting a trade-off between pigment production and reproductive investment. A greenhouse experiment confirmed that floral pigmentation was heritable, though it was not correlated with other inflorescence traits across the species range, nor with pigmentation of most other flower or vegetative tissues. However, floral betalain concentration was positively correlated with hotter, wetter summers and milder winters across populations. Transplant experiments across this floral-color transition zone also revealed marked ecological differences: The pink-flowered site had higher seed set and leaf herbivory, while the white-flowered site experienced greater florivory. Leaf herbivore damage was highest on transplants that differed in floral color from the local morph at each site.
Conclusions
Although less-pigmented plants produced more flowers, this relationship did not translate to higher reproductive success, suggesting an ecological trade-off of pigmentation may drive the observed floral color pattern. Our findings underscore how complex ecological interactions may shape floral trait divergence and highlight the importance of integrating biotic and abiotic factors to understand the evolution of phenotypic variation.
{"title":"Pollinator, herbivore, and climatic selective pressures differ across a floral color transition zone","authors":"Sierra L. Jaeger, Addison G. Darby, Andrea E. Berardi, Bridget T. Harter, Thomas D. Buchloh, Eric F. LoPresti","doi":"10.1002/ajb2.70142","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajb2.70142","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Premise</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Spatial and temporal variations in climate and ecological interactions may underlie the origin and maintenance of floral color polymorphisms across a species range. Betalains are nitrogen-containing, phylogenetically restricted pigments that, like the widespread and well-studied anthocyanins and carotenoids, may attract pollinators, deter herbivores, and protect against abiotic stress.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We investigated which selection pressures underlie betalain pigmentation variation in <i>Abronia fragrans</i>, a wildflower polymorphic in floral color across its range.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>While most populations produced white flowers, some in the south-central United States bore pink flowers with reduced floral display, suggesting a trade-off between pigment production and reproductive investment. A greenhouse experiment confirmed that floral pigmentation was heritable, though it was not correlated with other inflorescence traits across the species range, nor with pigmentation of most other flower or vegetative tissues. However, floral betalain concentration was positively correlated with hotter, wetter summers and milder winters across populations. Transplant experiments across this floral-color transition zone also revealed marked ecological differences: The pink-flowered site had higher seed set and leaf herbivory, while the white-flowered site experienced greater florivory. Leaf herbivore damage was highest on transplants that differed in floral color from the local morph at each site.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Although less-pigmented plants produced more flowers, this relationship did not translate to higher reproductive success, suggesting an ecological trade-off of pigmentation may drive the observed floral color pattern. Our findings underscore how complex ecological interactions may shape floral trait divergence and highlight the importance of integrating biotic and abiotic factors to understand the evolution of phenotypic variation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7691,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Botany","volume":"113 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12816444/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145773298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mackenzie Urquhart-Cronish, Colette S. Berg, Dylan Moxley, Olivia J. Rahn, Lila Fishman, Amy L. Angert
Premise: While range expansion is hypothesized to be a mechanism for species persistence under climate change, many eco-evolutionary models describe demographic and genetic processes during expansion that may increase genetic drift, decrease genetic variation, and ultimately decrease relative fitness at the leading edge. These predictions assume dispersal occurs from the low-density leading edge during colonization, common in post-glacial expansion at the continental scale (~20,000 years ago), but relatively understudied on contemporary timescales, like alpine glacier recession since the end of the Little Ice Age (~150 years ago).
Methods: We use the native alpine plant Erythranthe (Mimulus) lewisii to quantify neutral genetic diversity (single nucleotide polymorphisms) and infer signatures of genetic drift across two contemporary instances of range expansion on alpine glacier forelands in Garibaldi Provincial Park, BC, Canada, by testing for the presence of signatures of increased genetic differentiation and decreased genetic variation toward the contemporary range edge relative to the historical range core over space and time.
Results: We find weak support for the prediction of increasing genetic differentiation toward the range edge, and no support for decreasing genetic diversity toward the range edge. This suggests dispersal occurring primarily from the leading edge is not characterizing colonization, with the implication that potential relative reductions in range-edge fitness due to range expansion as predicted by theory are likely not applicable in nature at this spatiotemporal scale.
Conclusions: Together, our results suggest that demographic dynamics of colonization following alpine glacier retreat do not result in the loss of genetic diversity over space and time.
{"title":"An alpine plant shows no decrease in genetic diversity associated with rapid post-glacial range expansion","authors":"Mackenzie Urquhart-Cronish, Colette S. Berg, Dylan Moxley, Olivia J. Rahn, Lila Fishman, Amy L. Angert","doi":"10.1002/ajb2.70128","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajb2.70128","url":null,"abstract":"<p><b>Premise:</b> While range expansion is hypothesized to be a mechanism for species persistence under climate change, many eco-evolutionary models describe demographic and genetic processes during expansion that may increase genetic drift, decrease genetic variation, and ultimately decrease relative fitness at the leading edge. These predictions assume dispersal occurs from the low-density leading edge during colonization, common in post-glacial expansion at the continental scale (~20,000 years ago), but relatively understudied on contemporary timescales, like alpine glacier recession since the end of the Little Ice Age (~150 years ago).</p><p><b>Methods:</b> We use the native alpine plant <i>Erythranthe</i> (<i>Mimulus</i>) <i>lewisii</i> to quantify neutral genetic diversity (single nucleotide polymorphisms) and infer signatures of genetic drift across two contemporary instances of range expansion on alpine glacier forelands in Garibaldi Provincial Park, BC, Canada, by testing for the presence of signatures of increased genetic differentiation and decreased genetic variation toward the contemporary range edge relative to the historical range core over space and time.</p><p><b>Results:</b> We find weak support for the prediction of increasing genetic differentiation toward the range edge, and no support for decreasing genetic diversity toward the range edge. This suggests dispersal occurring primarily from the leading edge is not characterizing colonization, with the implication that potential relative reductions in range-edge fitness due to range expansion as predicted by theory are likely not applicable in nature at this spatiotemporal scale.</p><p><b>Conclusions:</b> Together, our results suggest that demographic dynamics of colonization following alpine glacier retreat do not result in the loss of genetic diversity over space and time.</p>","PeriodicalId":7691,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Botany","volume":"112 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajb2.70128","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145755038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ann M. Evankow, Jeremy Howland, James Lendemer, Jason Munshi-South
{"title":"Urban lichens as an emerging model for urban evolution","authors":"Ann M. Evankow, Jeremy Howland, James Lendemer, Jason Munshi-South","doi":"10.1002/ajb2.70140","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajb2.70140","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7691,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Botany","volume":"112 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajb2.70140","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145740645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The placement of Sladeniaceae s.l. (Sladenia and Ficalhoa) within Ericales has remained contentious, largely due to incongruent molecular signals between plastid and nuclear loci and lack of clear morphological synapomorphies supporting its circumscription. Resolving its phylogenetic position is essential for clarifying evolutionary relationships along the backbone of Ericales.
Methods
We used genome-skimming and Angiosperms353 data to reconstruct plastid and nuclear phylogenies of Ericales, with comprehensive sampling of Sladeniaceae, Pentaphylacaceae, and allied families. Phytop and SNaQ analyses were applied to evaluate incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) and introgression. Divergence times were estimated using a relaxed-clock birth–death model in the IQ2MC pipeline, and paleo-niche modeling was used to infer the historical distribution of Sladenia.
Results
Plastid phylogenies support the inclusion of Ficalhoa within Sladeniaceae, whereas nuclear trees place Ficalhoa as sister to Pentaphylacaceae, indicating strong cytonuclear discordance. Our analyses revealed a high level of incomplete lineage sorting at the nodes subtending Sladenia, Ficalhoa, and Pentaphylacaceae (ILS-i = 84.8%), which may be explained by the rapid early diversification of core Ericales during the mid-Cretaceous (~110–105 million years ago). No evidence of introgression was detected between Ficalhoa and Sladenia.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that stochastic sorting of ancestral plastid polymorphisms during rapid diversification may be the primary cause of cytonuclear discordance in the placement of Ficalhoa, although ancient plastid capture cannot be ruled out. These results support the inclusion of Ficalhoa within Pentaphylacaceae and underscore the roles of rapid diversification and incomplete lineage sorting in shaping deep phylogenetic relationships in Ericales.
{"title":"Revisiting the molecular circumscription of Sladeniaceae sensu lato (Ericales): Insights from phylogenetic discordance","authors":"Chih-Chieh Yu, Zhi-Qiong Mo, Jing-Yi Lu, Jin-Jin Hu, Jun-Bo Yang, Shu-Feng Li, Lin-Bo Jia","doi":"10.1002/ajb2.70141","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajb2.70141","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Premise</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The placement of Sladeniaceae s.l. (<i>Sladenia</i> and <i>Ficalhoa</i>) within Ericales has remained contentious, largely due to incongruent molecular signals between plastid and nuclear loci and lack of clear morphological synapomorphies supporting its circumscription. Resolving its phylogenetic position is essential for clarifying evolutionary relationships along the backbone of Ericales.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used genome-skimming and Angiosperms353 data to reconstruct plastid and nuclear phylogenies of Ericales, with comprehensive sampling of Sladeniaceae, Pentaphylacaceae, and allied families. Phytop and SNaQ analyses were applied to evaluate incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) and introgression. Divergence times were estimated using a relaxed-clock birth–death model in the IQ2MC pipeline, and paleo-niche modeling was used to infer the historical distribution of <i>Sladenia</i>.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Plastid phylogenies support the inclusion of <i>Ficalhoa</i> within Sladeniaceae, whereas nuclear trees place <i>Ficalhoa</i> as sister to Pentaphylacaceae, indicating strong cytonuclear discordance. Our analyses revealed a high level of incomplete lineage sorting at the nodes subtending <i>Sladenia</i>, <i>Ficalhoa</i>, and Pentaphylacaceae (ILS-i = 84.8%), which may be explained by the rapid early diversification of core Ericales during the mid-Cretaceous (~110–105 million years ago). No evidence of introgression was detected between <i>Ficalhoa</i> and <i>Sladenia</i>.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our findings suggest that stochastic sorting of ancestral plastid polymorphisms during rapid diversification may be the primary cause of cytonuclear discordance in the placement of <i>Ficalhoa</i>, although ancient plastid capture cannot be ruled out. These results support the inclusion of <i>Ficalhoa</i> within Pentaphylacaceae and underscore the roles of rapid diversification and incomplete lineage sorting in shaping deep phylogenetic relationships in Ericales.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7691,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Botany","volume":"112 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145740627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elizabeth W. McCarthy, Abigail G. McCoy, Trinity M. Tobin, Talieh Ostovar, Amy Litt, Jacob B. Landis
Premise
Hybrids commonly display transgressive characters, which fall outside the range exhibited by progenitors and can provide an adaptive hybrid advantage. Transgressive characters have often been documented, but the molecular bases underlying them have rarely been determined. Here, we investigated the molecular basis of transgressive delphinidin and transgressively high flavonol levels in flowers of Nicotiana section Repandae allotetraploids to determine whether these pigments are driven by differential expression and/or coding sequence evolution and, if coding sequence evolution is involved, whether there is evidence of complementation of the progenitors or resurrection of gene function in allotetraploids.
Methods
We analyzed transcriptomes of corolla tissue from buds at 60%, 85%, and 95% of the mean corolla length at anthesis from Nicotiana section Repandae allotetraploids and their diploid progenitors. We examined differential expression of flavonoid biosynthetic pathway (FBP) genes and correlated transcript levels with pigment composition.
Results
Diploid progenitors lacked anthocyanins due to a nonfunctional F3′5′H and a retained intron that leads to a premature stop codon in ANS in N. sylvestris and to premature stop codons in ANS in N. obtusifolia. Differential expression of FBP genes sufficiently explains floral pigment composition in Nicotiana section Repandae allotetraploids.
Conclusions
Differential expression drives the production of transgressive delphinidin and transgressive flavonol levels in Nicotiana section Repandae allotetraploids, and there is no evidence for complementation nor gene resurrection. Transgressive delphinidin may provide an adaptive advantage to increase pollinator attraction in N. repanda and protect against UV radiation in N. nudicaulis.
{"title":"Differential expression of flavonoid biosynthetic pathway genes drives the production of transgressive pigments in Nicotiana section Repandae allotetraploids","authors":"Elizabeth W. McCarthy, Abigail G. McCoy, Trinity M. Tobin, Talieh Ostovar, Amy Litt, Jacob B. Landis","doi":"10.1002/ajb2.70137","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajb2.70137","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Premise</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Hybrids commonly display transgressive characters, which fall outside the range exhibited by progenitors and can provide an adaptive hybrid advantage. Transgressive characters have often been documented, but the molecular bases underlying them have rarely been determined. Here, we investigated the molecular basis of transgressive delphinidin and transgressively high flavonol levels in flowers of <i>Nicotiana</i> section <i>Repandae</i> allotetraploids to determine whether these pigments are driven by differential expression and/or coding sequence evolution and, if coding sequence evolution is involved, whether there is evidence of complementation of the progenitors or resurrection of gene function in allotetraploids.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We analyzed transcriptomes of corolla tissue from buds at 60%, 85%, and 95% of the mean corolla length at anthesis from <i>Nicotiana</i> section <i>Repandae</i> allotetraploids and their diploid progenitors. We examined differential expression of flavonoid biosynthetic pathway (FBP) genes and correlated transcript levels with pigment composition.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Diploid progenitors lacked anthocyanins due to a nonfunctional <i>F3</i>′<i>5</i>′<i>H</i> and a retained intron that leads to a premature stop codon in <i>ANS</i> in <i>N. sylvestris</i> and to premature stop codons in <i>ANS</i> in <i>N. obtusifolia</i>. Differential expression of FBP genes sufficiently explains floral pigment composition in <i>Nicotiana</i> section <i>Repandae</i> allotetraploids.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Differential expression drives the production of transgressive delphinidin and transgressive flavonol levels in <i>Nicotiana</i> section <i>Repandae</i> allotetraploids, and there is no evidence for complementation nor gene resurrection. Transgressive delphinidin may provide an adaptive advantage to increase pollinator attraction in <i>N. repanda</i> and protect against UV radiation in <i>N. nudicaulis</i>.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7691,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Botany","volume":"112 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145712794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Susan R. Kephart, Theresa M. Culley, Jenny K. Archibald, Robert Tunison, Kathryn E. Theiss, James E. Kephart
Premise
Understanding genetic and morphological variability helps efforts to sustain landscapes and develop effective species concepts for resolving difficult groups. To unravel puzzling relationships and range disjunctions, we applied morphometrics, phenology, phylogenetics and population genetics in Camassia species with cultural, ecological, and conservation value, asking: Do the unusual Camassia populations in northeastern California represent previously unrecognized, disjunct C. howellii? Do C. howellii, C. leichtlinii, and C. quamash maintain diagnostic features in allopatry or sympatry? Are C. quamash subsp. breviflora and subsp. linearis taxonomically distinct?
Methods
We evaluated 34 Camassia populations in situ for morphometric traits, phenology, and habitat type, collecting tissue for population microsatellite and phylogenetic analyses (rpl16, trnD-trnT). Fieldwork and genetic analyses of Camassia species allowed hypothesis testing of all criteria.
Results
Oregon and California populations of C. howellii shared 94–95% morphospace but differed significantly from C. leichtlinii and C. quamash, primarily in having more basal leaves, subglobose fruits, and smaller flowers that open in mid-late afternoon, closing at sunset without reopening. Both microsatellite and phylogenetic data indicated separation of the three species, with slight genetic differentiation between the disjunct populations of C. howellii. Subspecies of C. quamash differed morphologically and genetically, with clear phylogenetic separation.
Conclusions
Integrative approaches proved effective, affirming disputed species identities and upholding subspecific status for C. quamash subsp. linearis. For C. howellii, population genetic differentiation between disjunct regions appears congruent with phylogenetic analyses. Slight morphological differentiation of Oregon and California populations is consistent with geographic isolation, implying subspecific genetic divergence worthy of future study.
{"title":"Disentangling complex relationships and disjunctions in western Camassia: Integrating multiple criteria to resolve taxonomic boundaries","authors":"Susan R. Kephart, Theresa M. Culley, Jenny K. Archibald, Robert Tunison, Kathryn E. Theiss, James E. Kephart","doi":"10.1002/ajb2.70135","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajb2.70135","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Premise</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Understanding genetic and morphological variability helps efforts to sustain landscapes and develop effective species concepts for resolving difficult groups. To unravel puzzling relationships and range disjunctions, we applied morphometrics, phenology, phylogenetics and population genetics in <i>Camassia</i> species with cultural, ecological, and conservation value, asking: Do the unusual <i>Camassia</i> populations in northeastern California represent previously unrecognized, disjunct <i>C. howellii</i>? Do <i>C. howellii, C. leichtlinii,</i> and <i>C. quamash</i> maintain diagnostic features in allopatry or sympatry? Are <i>C. quamash</i> subsp. <i>breviflora</i> and subsp. <i>linearis</i> taxonomically distinct?</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We evaluated 34 <i>Camassia</i> populations in situ for morphometric traits, phenology, and habitat type, collecting tissue for population microsatellite and phylogenetic analyses (<i>rpl16, trnD-trnT</i>). Fieldwork and genetic analyses of <i>Camassia</i> species allowed hypothesis testing of all criteria.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Oregon and California populations of <i>C. howellii</i> shared 94–95% morphospace but differed significantly from <i>C. leichtlinii</i> and <i>C. quamash</i>, primarily in having more basal leaves, subglobose fruits, and smaller flowers that open in mid-late afternoon, closing at sunset without reopening. Both microsatellite and phylogenetic data indicated separation of the three species, with slight genetic differentiation between the disjunct populations of <i>C. howellii</i>. Subspecies of <i>C. quamash</i> differed morphologically and genetically, with clear phylogenetic separation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Integrative approaches proved effective, affirming disputed species identities and upholding subspecific status for <i>C. quamash</i> subsp. <i>linearis</i>. For <i>C. howellii</i>, population genetic differentiation between disjunct regions appears congruent with phylogenetic analyses. Slight morphological differentiation of Oregon and California populations is consistent with geographic isolation, implying subspecific genetic divergence worthy of future study.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7691,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Botany","volume":"112 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajb2.70135","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145712831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plants in sympatric populations with congeners may have evolved tolerance to the negative effects of heterospecific pollen (HP) through selection on female or male reproductive traits. If so, then the degree of HP tolerance may vary depending on the co-existence history of the maternal and paternal plant source populations. Empirical evidence from species with a known history of contact is limited.
Methods
This study focused on sympatric and allopatric populations of the native Oxalis corniculata and its recently arrived congener O. dillenii in Japan. Specifically, we conducted heterospecific and conspecific crosses with O. corniculata and two sequential pollination treatments using conspecific (CP) followed by heterospecific (HP) pollen, with CP donors from sympatric or allopatric populations.
Results
Heterospecific crosses revealed lower seed production in O. corniculata than conspecific crosses, with sympatric populations showing a significantly greater reduction. Sequential pollination experiments reduced conspecific seed production, particularly when both the recipients and CP donor originated from sympatric populations.
Conclusions
Our results suggest that individuals from sympatric populations may mitigate the negative effects of HP caused by hybrid seed formation. Furthermore, the variation in tolerance to the inhibition of conspecific fertilization by HP could be attributed to the recipient and CP donor origins. But the unexpectedly high susceptibility of sympatric populations to HP highlights the complex ecological and evolutionary factors that influence HP tolerance.
{"title":"Variation in tolerance to heterospecific pollen from a non-native congener depends on co-existence history of maternal and paternal source populations","authors":"Yusuke Hoshino, Sachiko Horie, Masayuki Maki, Ikumi Dohzono","doi":"10.1002/ajb2.70139","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajb2.70139","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Premise</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Plants in sympatric populations with congeners may have evolved tolerance to the negative effects of heterospecific pollen (HP) through selection on female or male reproductive traits. If so, then the degree of HP tolerance may vary depending on the co-existence history of the maternal and paternal plant source populations. Empirical evidence from species with a known history of contact is limited.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study focused on sympatric and allopatric populations of the native <i>Oxalis corniculata</i> and its recently arrived congener <i>O. dillenii</i> in Japan. Specifically, we conducted heterospecific and conspecific crosses with <i>O. corniculata</i> and two sequential pollination treatments using conspecific (CP) followed by heterospecific (HP) pollen, with CP donors from sympatric or allopatric populations.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Heterospecific crosses revealed lower seed production in <i>O. corniculata</i> than conspecific crosses, with sympatric populations showing a significantly greater reduction. Sequential pollination experiments reduced conspecific seed production, particularly when both the recipients and CP donor originated from sympatric populations.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results suggest that individuals from sympatric populations may mitigate the negative effects of HP caused by hybrid seed formation. Furthermore, the variation in tolerance to the inhibition of conspecific fertilization by HP could be attributed to the recipient and CP donor origins. But the unexpectedly high susceptibility of sympatric populations to HP highlights the complex ecological and evolutionary factors that influence HP tolerance.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7691,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Botany","volume":"112 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajb2.70139","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145706891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alejandra V. García, Francisco de Blas, Ercilia M. S. Moreno, José G. Seijo
Premise
Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is an allotetraploid (AABB) globally important crop. While it lacks critical alleles for resistance to many diseases and climate adaptation, wild Arachis species are diverse and possess genes useful for crop improvement. Thus, understanding their reproductive biology and cross-compatibility is critical to the development of viable hybrids suitable for breeding programs. We evaluated factors influencing hybridization effectiveness of peanut wild relatives.
Methods
We evaluated species-specific reproductive efficiency through spontaneous and artificial self-pollination, and cross-compatibility, via 5321 artificial pollinations performed across 30 interspecific combinations. We monitored hybrid development through to adult F1. Hybridization effectiveness was measured as absolute and relative parameters, with the latter normalized to the reproductive efficiency of the female parent. We estimated genetic distances using a high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism array to evaluate whether there is a correlation with hybridization success.
Results
Reproductive efficiency after spontaneous pollination differed among species, and manual pollinations did not affect it. Relative hybridization effectiveness was different between intragenomic and intergenomic combinations, and genetic distance was not correlated with cross-compatibility between species. Instead, reproductive efficiency of the female parent and a set of prezygotic and postzygotic reproductive barriers, whose strength varied by species pair, cross direction, and genome type, affected hybridization effectiveness.
Conclusions
The framework we used documented that, beyond genetic distance and genome type, intrinsic biological traits influence hybridization success between peanut wild relatives. This approach may offer a model pathway to enhance the understanding of the hybridization potential of crop wild species and their effective utilization in pre-breeding programs.
{"title":"Reproductive efficiency and asymmetric barriers outweigh genetic distance and genome type in the crossability among peanut wild relatives","authors":"Alejandra V. García, Francisco de Blas, Ercilia M. S. Moreno, José G. Seijo","doi":"10.1002/ajb2.70138","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajb2.70138","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Premise</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Peanut (<i>Arachis hypogaea</i>) is an allotetraploid (AABB) globally important crop. While it lacks critical alleles for resistance to many diseases and climate adaptation, wild <i>Arachis</i> species are diverse and possess genes useful for crop improvement. Thus, understanding their reproductive biology and cross-compatibility is critical to the development of viable hybrids suitable for breeding programs. We evaluated factors influencing hybridization effectiveness of peanut wild relatives.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We evaluated species-specific reproductive efficiency through spontaneous and artificial self-pollination, and cross-compatibility, via 5321 artificial pollinations performed across 30 interspecific combinations. We monitored hybrid development through to adult F1. Hybridization effectiveness was measured as absolute and relative parameters, with the latter normalized to the reproductive efficiency of the female parent. We estimated genetic distances using a high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism array to evaluate whether there is a correlation with hybridization success.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Reproductive efficiency after spontaneous pollination differed among species, and manual pollinations did not affect it. Relative hybridization effectiveness was different between intragenomic and intergenomic combinations, and genetic distance was not correlated with cross-compatibility between species. Instead, reproductive efficiency of the female parent and a set of prezygotic and postzygotic reproductive barriers, whose strength varied by species pair, cross direction, and genome type, affected hybridization effectiveness.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The framework we used documented that, beyond genetic distance and genome type, intrinsic biological traits influence hybridization success between peanut wild relatives. This approach may offer a model pathway to enhance the understanding of the hybridization potential of crop wild species and their effective utilization in pre-breeding programs.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7691,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Botany","volume":"112 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145699633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sam McCarren, Jude Daya, Alice L. M. Fairnie, Anna Fagre, Desiree Forsythe, Troy A. Roepke, Cora S. Stobie
<p>We are writing in response to John R. Pannell's (2023) commentary, “Sex, sexes, sex roles, and gender in land plants,” published in the <i>American Journal of Botany</i>. While Pannell's discussion about the use of the term “plant gender” in biology raises important points, it also highlights broader issues about how biologists engage with sensitive topics. This letter serves as a starting point to reflect on how we can approach such discussions more thoughtfully and inclusively.</p><p>Natural scientists often perceive themselves as objective, focusing on empirical evidence and data (Beebe and Dellsén, <span>2020</span>). However, history has shown that science is a human endeavor, and humans are naturally subjective beings. There are numerous examples through time where this has led to problematic scientific experiments or outcomes, including, for example, phrenology (Bank, <span>1996</span>), genetic essentialism (Moore et al., <span>2025</span>), the eugenics movement (Allen, <span>2011</span>), nonconsensual human research practices such as the Tuskegee syphilis study (Paul and Brookes, <span>2015</span>) or the theft of Henrietta Lacks' cervical cancer cells (Beskow, <span>2016</span>), and finally, the misuse of science to support antiqueer and antitrans policies (McNamara et al., <span>2022</span>). These instances of scientific racism and sexism have enduring consequences that shape public trust in science and affect marginalized communities to this day. For example, research continues to show that students have a difficult time separating the social construction of race from phenotypic differences in skin color (Donovan et al., <span>2020</span>). More relevant to this piece is the harm that persists in the conflation of sex and gender (Stuhlsatz et al., <span>2020</span>; Forsythe et al., <span>2024b</span>), a point that we will further unpack in the later sections. We emphasize through these examples that science is not practiced in a vacuum—every scientist is shaped by their subjective experiences and social context (Haraway, <span>1988</span>). Science does not only aim to describe reality, it also shapes how it is discussed. This becomes particularly important when addressing socially sensitive topics tied to identity, such as gender, sexuality, race, nationality, religion, or disability. For this reason, many journals require position statements from authors on both the lived experiences and identities that they hold, and what makes them experts in the topics they discuss.</p><p>For example, the authors of this letter are queer and/or transgender. When reading Pannell's (<span>2023</span>) commentary supporting the continued use of “gender” to describe different aspects of reproductive function in plant biology, we found ourselves in collective disagreement and concerned about the potential of this argument to further confuse students and the general public. This reaction underscores why the perspectives of those most affected
此外，Oberle和Fairchild（2023）认为，在植物生物学中使用“性别”会造成不必要的混乱，并强化人类中心主义和二元思维。他们指出，正如社会科学和公众所理解的那样，性别适用于人类身份和社会结构，而不是生物功能。他们的工作进一步强调，在植物生物学中保留这一术语不仅歪曲了植物繁殖中涉及的生物过程的复杂性，而且混淆了性和性别之间的重要区别，从而疏远了性别认同不符合二元框架的个体。他们的批评直接挑战了Pannell的主张，即在生物学中使用“植物性别”一词可能是有用的或良性的。然而，Oberle和Fairchild只是科学界不断增长的运动的一个例子，他们在社会和科学的边界上努力解决复杂的想法，并从伦理上推动该领域朝着减少伤害的语言和想法发展。在Taylor和Dewsbury（2018）中，作者解决了科学中隐喻的复杂且经常有问题的使用。Hales（2020）为科学教师提供了如何在科学课程中教授复杂概念以减少伤害的指南。奥格登（2024）提供了一个令人信服的论据，反对在讨论生态学时使用“入侵”和其他战争和仇外的隐喻。这些例子都指向一个日益增长的主题：虽然科学与社会结构之间的关系可能是复杂的，而且具有深刻的历史意义，但我们不能为了暂时的简单而选择忽略这些有问题的概念。我们加入到这场日益壮大的运动中，呼吁科学界重新定义科学中存在问题的语言。当自然科学家和教育工作者参与敏感的社会问题时，他们有责任对这个话题进行深入的教育（Driessen et al., 2024）。自然科学方面的专业知识不会自动转化为对社会科学的理解。此外，大多数学术生物学家没有接受过关于教育最佳实践的正式培训（Winberg等人，2019；Forsythe等人，2024a），更不用说包容性教学了。但包容性教学法有可能在疏远或欢迎来自不同背景的学生之间产生关键差异（Hales, 2020）。特别是在生物学中，解决复杂社会结构的内容可以通过使概念更相关，从而使学生更感兴趣，从而提高学生对材料本身的记忆和理解（Dewsbury et al., 2022）。重要的是，任何促进敏感问题讨论的人都要认真确保自己做好准备，不仅要有科学知识，还要对问题的社会、历史和政治背景有细致入微的理解（Matlin et al., 2019）。促进困难对话的研究人员和教育工作者应该考虑指出他们自己的主观局限性，并鼓励参与者也这样做（Harding, 1995）。此外，任何两个有争议的立场都不应该仅仅因为它们是在科学框架内提出的就被视为同样有效（Grimes, 2019）。调解人必须发挥调解和指导作用，而不是强加自己的观点，而是引导对话走向包容和尊重（Pendergrass, 2017）。对于这些讨论来说，教室是一个特别微妙的环境，尤其是当被辩论的身份特别脆弱和/或由群体中的少数人代表时。例如，在一个主要由基督徒学生和一个穆斯林学生组成的教室里，关于伊斯兰教和进化论之间冲突的讨论很有可能疏远个别的穆斯林学生，并在群体中制造紧张气氛。少数民族学生往往承担着代表性的重量，而促进不良的讨论可能加深孤立和排斥的感觉（Tuitt, 2012）。因此，在这种情况下，讨论基督教与进化论之间的冲突会更合适。同样，这种动态也适用于关于性别和性的讨论。在关于“植物性别”的讨论中，一个非二元或跨性别的学生可能会感到被孤立或被忽视。了解敏感问题对学生来说通常是有价值的（Lowe, 2015），但这绝不应该以牺牲边缘化群体为代价。跨性别者和双性人等性别少数群体的权利取决于精确和包容的语言（Miyagi et al., 2021）。因此，关于性或社会性别的讨论必须谨慎措辞，以避免任何可能被用来支持反性别意识形态或民粹主义叙事的模糊性。 因此，以一种允许学生质疑现状并学习超出自己学科的观点的方式来组织关于植物繁殖的讨论将会更有益。例如，Subramaniam和Bartlett（2023）发表的文章就是一个很好的基础。辅导员必须对这些动态保持敏感，并积极努力防止伤害，同时鼓励公开、尊重的对话。此外，他们应该根据自己的专业知识以及每个特定队列的组成来调整讨论主题的选择。根据我们的经验，在演讲厅里以一种敏感和包容的方式讨论性和性别，不仅能减少伤害，还能积极肯定酷儿和跨性别学生的身份，帮助他们在学术领域感受到被关注、被尊重和被重视。科学进步常常涉及到修正我们的理解和适应新的观点。即使是经验丰富的科学家有时也会被误导，或者没有意识到他们工作的更广泛的社会影响，这是很自然的。最重要的是，一旦这些问题被指出，我们如何应对。我们都应该致力于改善科学的文化和实践，反映出知识的完整性和首先承认危害而成长的意愿。科学话语不断演变，以反映新的理解和社会进步。生物科学一再放弃充满偏见或误解的术语，以支持精确和中立（例如，Houk等人，2005;Callaway, 2024）。同样，在植物生物学中的“性别”背景下，认识到受我们使用的语言影响最大的人的观点并进行相应调整，将加强我们工作的科学和社会基础。像Oberle和Fairchild（2023）以及Subramaniam和Bartlett（2023）一样，我们建议在植物生殖生物学中不要使用像“性别”这样不精确的术语，而是采用科学准确、上下文清晰、没有政治内涵的术语。这一变化不仅将澄清植物生殖系统，而且将使该领域与更广泛的科学界保持一致，并作为科学中深思熟虑的语言使用的模型。尽管改变有时是艰难的，但它并不是看起来不可克服的挑战。特别是在教授下一代科学家的时候，我们在教授这些概念的方式上做一个简单的改变就会立竿见影，例如，“生殖分配策略”或“定量交配系统”这样的术语可以很容易地取代“植物性别”。生物科学并非孤立于社会问题之外。当生物学家参与自然科学和社会科学交叉的话题时，他们必须认识到这些对话所带来的社会和政治影响。促进跨学科、深思熟虑、见多识广和包容的讨论需要的不仅仅是提出相反的观点。它需要引导对话走向理解、尊重和包容。Pannell的评论强调，生物学家需要更仔细地处理这些问题，确保那些受影响最大的人的声音不仅被听到，而且被重视。构思和发展这些想法，并撰写了手稿的初稿。所有作者都积极参与撰写和完善文本，参与形成论文的讨论，提供关键反馈，并批准最终版本。
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