Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Manuela Bog, Maho Inoue, Anja Klahr, Joerg Fuchs, Yuri Ivanenko, Kiyotaka Hori, Karsten Horn, Martin Schnittler, H. Wilfried Bennert
Summary: Hybridization was found to occur frequently in the genus Diphasiastrum in the Russian Far East, with 16 out of 22 samples showing hybrid characteristics. The analysis of nuclear markers revealed predominantly uniparental hybridization, with some instances of backcrossing. Samples of D. alpinum from the Far East showed differences compared to European samples, suggesting possible cryptic speciation.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Jan W. Arntzen, Robert Jehle, Ben Wielstra
Summary: The study of deeply diverged yet hybridizing salamander species revealed a skewed sex ratio in the hybrid generation, with gene flow predominantly towards one species and detrimental effects of introgressive hybridization. Factors such as Bateson-Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibilities, ecological segregation, cytonuclear incompatibilities all contribute to maintaining species integrity despite incomplete isolation during secondary contact.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Julien Kincaid-Smith, Alan Tracey, Ronaldo de Carvalho Augusto, Ingo Bulla, Nancy Holroyd, Anne Rognon, Olivier Rey, Cristian Chaparro, Ana Oleaga, Santiago Mas-Coma, Jean-Francois Allienne, Christoph Grunau, Matthew Berriman, Jerome Boissier, Eve Toulza
Summary: The article describes the occurrence of schistosomiasis and the genetic admixture of hybrid schistosomes, as well as their compatibility with snail vectors. The results indicate that the hybrid is strongly introgressed genetically, with ancient hybridization events and subsequent backcrosses with the human-specific species. The study also highlights the discrepancy between egg morphology and genetic composition of schistosomes, emphasizing the importance of genetic testing for accurate hybrid identification.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lena Homberger, Jiawu Xu, Dirk Brandis, Tin-Yam Chan, Heleen Keirsebelik, Monika Normant-Saremba, Jonas Schoelynck, Ka Hou Chu, Christine Ewers-Saucedo
Summary: The Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, is a highly invasive species that has caused economic and ecological impacts in Europe. Recent research suggests that Japanese mitten crab, E. japonica, DNA has been found in populations in Europe, indicating possible hybridization between the two species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Craig F. Barrett, Joshua Lambert, Mathilda V. Santee, Brandon T. Sinn, Samuel V. Skibicki, Heather M. Stephens, Hana Thixton
Summary: Hybridization and introgression are common processes among numerous plant species, presenting challenges and opportunities for studies of species delimitation, phylogenetics, taxonomy, and adaptation. In this study, leaf morphology, genetic variation, and species distribution models were used to analyze hybridization between Rhus integrifolia and R. ovata in California and Arizona, revealing morphological and genetic distinctions among parental species and high levels of intermediacy among putative hybrids. The study also identified a negative association between leaf area and precipitation, and predicted northward range shifts with both species likely to occupy more coastal regions in the future, potentially increasing hybridization frequency.
PLANT SPECIES BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Magdalena Bohutinska, Mark Alston, Patrick Monnahan, Terezie Mandakova, Sian Bray, Pirita Paajanen, Filip Kolar, Levi Yant
Summary: Two plant species exhibit different genomic responses to whole genome duplication, suggesting the presence of multiple evolutionary trajectories when adapting to the challenges of whole genome duplication.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Martin Certner, Magdalena Lucanova, Elwira Sliwinska, Filip Kolar, Joao Loureiro
Summary: In theory, any plant tissue with intact nuclei can be used for estimating nuclear DNA content using flow cytometry (FCM), but tissue selection and quality can impact measurement accuracy. Based on research goals, choosing appropriate tissue is crucial for accurate estimates, following best practices guidelines.
Article
Plant Sciences
Abel Gizaw, Juan Manuel Gorospe, Martha Kandziora, Desalegn Chala, Lovisa Gustafsson, Abush Zinaw, Luciana Salomon, Gerald Eilu, Christian Brochmann, Filip Kolar, Roswitha Schmickl
Summary: Research has found that the species diversity in Dendrosenecio genus began between the Late Miocene and the Pleistocene, when high elevation habitats first emerged in East Africa. Analysis identified four major clades corresponding to geographically distant mountain groups. Species delimitation analysis supported 10 species, with only five receiving full support.
Article
Plant Sciences
Guillaume Wos, Lenka Mackova, Katerina Kubikova, Filip Kolar
Summary: This study investigates the intraspecific variation in endoreduplication and reveals that it is mainly influenced by the original ploidy level of the populations, with diploids showing significantly higher endoreduplication. The effect of elevation on endoreduplication level is also observed, but shows regional-specific patterns. Transcriptomic analysis suggests that differentially expressed genes related to stress and hormone response, as well as modifications in the cell wall and chloroplasts, are involved in the endoreduplication process.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Juanita Gutierrez-Valencia, Marco Fracassetti, Robert Horvath, Benjamin Laenen, Aurelie Desamore, Andreas D. Drouzas, Magne Friberg, Filip Kolar, Tanja Slotte
Summary: The study found that intra-sexual competition shapes the evolution of pollen-expressed genes, with the intensity of sexual selection decreasing as self-fertilization rates increase.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Luciana Salomon, Marcela Nicola, Martha Kandziora, Filip Kolar, Petr Sklenar
Summary: This study explored the evolutionary history of Oritrophium, a genus endemic to alpine habitats in North and South America, revealing its polyphyletic origin in the Early Pliocene in the Andes. The genus likely diversified with the emergence of the Paramo during the Late Pliocene and dispersed mainly from South-to-North in the Pleistocene. Oritrophium s.s. represents the first record of a long-distance dispersal from the Paramo of South America to North America. The dispersal pattern within South America was mirrored by the intraspecific population diversity and structure of the investigated species.
Article
Forestry
Jan Smid, Petr Vit, Jan Douda, Karol Krak, Bohumil Mandak
Summary: The tetraploid species A. rohlenae has replaced the diploid species in the western Balkan Peninsula and forms a contact zone with diploid populations. Tetraploids are primarily located in mountainous areas and are gradually replaced by diploids towards lowlands.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Veronika Konecna, Marek Sustr, Doubravka Pozarova, Martin Certner, Anna Krejcova, Edita Tylova, Filip Kolar
Summary: Parallel evolution is a common phenomenon in nature that showcases rapid environmental adaptation. In this study, researchers investigated the genomic and phenotypic parallelism in Arabidopsis arenosa populations adapted to toxic serpentine soils. They found evidence of phenotypic parallelism in functional traits, with varying fitness differences congruent to neutral genetic differentiation. There was also significant genomic parallelism at the gene level, suggesting that similar phenotypes may arise from selection on different loci in similar functional pathways. The study highlights the importance of genetic redundancy in rapid adaptation involving traits with polygenic architecture.
Article
Plant Sciences
Guillaume Wos, Erwann Arc, Karl Huelber, Veronika Konecna, Adam Knotek, Doubravka Pozarova, Clara Bertel, Dominik Kaplenig, Terezie Mandakova, Gilbert Neuner, Peter Schoenswetter, Ilse Kranner, Filip Kolar
Summary: Parallel local adaptation, when different genetic lineages independently adapt to the same selective environment, was investigated in Arabidopsis arenosa populations from four distinct mountain regions. The study found that the populations exhibited similar adaptive responses to elevation difference, indicating parallel local adaptation. The results highlight the role of divergent selection and provide experimental support for the repeatability of adaptive evolution.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Josselin Clo, Nelida Padilla-Garcia, Filip Kolar
Summary: It is widely believed that successful polyploidy reflects an increased fitness due to whole-genome duplication (WGD), but there are also costs and frequency-dependent selection in neo-polyploid lineages. The idea that polyploidy can be fixed by genetic drift is underexplored in the literature. By building a theoretical model, the researchers found that polyploidy can only fix in a population by chance when genetic drift is stronger than natural selection, even if polyploidy confers a selective advantage.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
D. Kaplenig, C. Bertel, E. Arc, R. Villscheider, M. Ralser, F. Kolar, G. Wos, K. Huelber, I Kranner, G. Neuner
Summary: The success or failure of plants in coping with freezing temperatures is crucial for their distribution and adaptation in new habitats. This study focused on the differentiation in freezing resistance, cold acclimation potential, and ice management strategies in alpine and foothill populations of Arabidopsis arenosa, revealing the importance of dynamic adjustment and evolutionary history in plant adaptation to alpine environments. The formation of an extracellular ice lens as a mechanism to avoid tissue damage during freezing is a novel finding with potential implications for plant survival in extreme cold conditions.
Article
Ecology
Nelida Padilla-Garcia, Gabriela Sramkova, Eliska Zaveska, Marek Slenker, Josselin Clo, Vojtech Zeisek, Magdalena Lucanova, Ieva Rurane, Filip Kolar, Karol Marhold
Summary: This study investigates the impact of evolutionary processes on niche differentiation of autopolyploids in Arabidopsis arenosa. Through cytotyping and considering the evolutionary history, the study reveals that the niche shift of tetraploids is not driven by whole-genome duplication per se, but rather reflects dynamic post-WGD evolution, including migration and introgression with other diploid lineages. These findings highlight the importance of evolutionary processes following WGD in the adaptation of polyploids to challenging environments.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Clara Bertel, Dominik Kaplenig, Maria Ralser, Erwann Arc, Filip Kolar, Guillaume Wos, Karl Huelber, Andreas Holzinger, Ilse Kranner, Gilbert Neuner
Summary: The study investigated the leaf traits of alpine and foothill ecotypes of Arabidopsis arenosa and found significant differences in many traits, which may be plastic adjustments to the local environment rather than geographical origins.
Article
Biology
Josselin Clo, Filip Kolar
Summary: Through a meta-analysis within angiosperm species, it was found that the effects of polyploidy on inbreeding depression are complex and depend on the time since polyploidization. Young polyploid lineages have less inbreeding depression, while natural polyploid lineages are intermediate and have more inbreeding depression compared to synthetic neopolyploids.
Article
Plant Sciences
Martha Kandziora, Petr Sklenar, Filip Kolar, Roswitha Schmickl
Summary: A major challenge in phylogenetics and genomics is to resolve young rapidly radiating groups. This study focuses on the high-Andean Asteraceae genus Loricaria to shed light on the potential sources of phylogenetic discordance. By analyzing hundreds of nuclear loci and plastome phylogeny, the study provides strong evidence for incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) and hybridization within the genus Loricaria, which may have been promoted during Pleistocene glaciations.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)