Article
Plant Sciences
Amalia Ibiapino, Miguel A. Garcia, Bruno Amorim, Mariana Baez, Mihai Costea, Sasa Stefanovic, Andrea Pedrosa-Harand
Summary: Karyotypes of Cuscuta plants exhibit high diversity in terms of chromosome number and genome size. The prevalent evolutionary processes in this genus include genome duplications and dysploidy. The expansion of genome size in Cuscuta may be associated with its parasitic lifestyle. The position of rDNA sites varies, especially in species with multiple sites in the same karyotype.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Natalia Tkach, Marcin Nobis, Julia Schneider, Hannes Becher, Grit Winterfeld, Surrey W. L. Jacobs, Martin Roser
Summary: The Australian grass genus Austrostipa, with approximately 64 species, represents an evolutionary radiation. Molecular phylogenetic and SEM analyses were conducted to study diversification and morphological variation within the genus, with focus on lemma epidermal pattern. The study revealed low plastid DNA variation, two main subgenera clades, and the presence of two distinct Acc1 clades in polyploid Austrostipa and Anemanthele.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Natalia Borowska-Zuchowska, Magdalena Senderowicz, Dana Trunova, Bozena Kolano
Summary: Cytogenetics is a branch of genetics focused on cellular components, especially chromosomes, and their relationship to heredity, genome structure, function, and evolution. Modern cytogenetic approaches allow for the visualization of different sequences in the plant genome and contribute to understanding its evolutionary history.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Susann Plath, Evelyn Klocke, Thomas Nothnagel
Summary: Asparagus wild relatives have the potential to enhance the genetic variability and develop new cultivars with desirable traits in garden asparagus. A detailed cytogenetic characterization of these resources is necessary for their efficient utilization in breeding.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gulru Yucel, Alexander Betekhtin, Evren Cabi, Metin Tuna, Robert Hasterok, Bozena Kolano
Summary: This study investigates the evolution of chromosome number and rDNA loci in Onobrychis species. It found that diploid species showed a high level of polymorphism in rDNA loci number and localisation, while polyploid species exhibited similar rDNA loci patterns. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that x = 8 was the ancestral chromosome number and dysploidy and polyploidisation were the major mechanisms driving chromosome number evolution. Additionally, the study reconstructed the ancestral state of rRNA gene loci in Onobrychis, with one locus of 5S rDNA and one locus of 35S rDNA in an interstitial chromosomal position.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Danon Clemes Cardoso, Mariana Neves Moura, Maykon Passos Cristiano
Summary: Heterochromatin, comprised of repetitive DNA sequences, plays an important role in chromosome structure and function. This study found that AT-rich heterochromatin is present in psammophilous Mycetophylax species, and the genome size is correlated with the proportion of adenine and thymine. The dynamic development of AT-rich heterochromatin and karyotype repatterning contribute to the diversification of psammophilous Mycetophylax ants.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ana Paula Moraes, Thaissa Brogliato Junqueira Engel, Eliana R. Forni-Martins, Fabio de Barros, Leonardo P. Felix, Juliano Sarmento Cabral
Summary: The study on Maxillariinae reveals that genome size and chromosome number are partially correlated with ecological data in the evolutionary process, suggesting the significance of these genomic traits in the ecological niche.
Article
Plant Sciences
Felipe Nollet, Enoque Medeiros Neto, Joel M. P. Cordeiro, Maria Teresa Buril, Mark W. Chase, Leonardo P. Felix
Summary: In Epidendrum subgenus Amphiglottium, high levels of chromosome modification are observed, and the study suggests that hybridization and introgression play a role in generating chromosome variation and heterochromatin diversification.
BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesco Cicconardi, James J. Lewis, Simon H. Martin, Robert D. Reed, Charles G. Danko, Stephen H. Montgomery
Summary: The study reveals that multiple chromosome fusions in Heliconius butterflies have significant impacts on population evolution and genetic diversity, altering the characteristics of fused and unfused chromosomes, reducing diversity, and affecting turnover rates of functional loci. The findings further support the notion that chromosome fusion in Heliconius has dramatic effects on rates of neutral and adaptive divergence, potentially influencing patterns of diversification in these butterflies, a classic example of adaptive radiation.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Amanda S. Santos, Erton M. Almeida, Leonardo P. Felix, Marcelo Guerra
Summary: Research on the chromosomal numbers of 14 species of Linderniaceae revealed that species like Ameroglossum have a chromosome number of 2n = 60 or higher, with similar chromosome structures and distribution of rDNA sites. This suggests a close relationship between representatives of Linderniaceae typical of inselbergs.
BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Qinzheng Zhao, Ya Meng, Panqiao Wang, Xiaodong Qin, Chunyan Cheng, Junguo Zhou, Xiaqing Yu, Ji Li, Qunfeng Lou, Molly Jahn, Jinfeng Chen
Summary: A new method was developed to rapidly and accurately represent karyotypes of Cucumis species, revealing that African and Asian origin species underwent large-scale genomic reshuffling during evolution.
Article
Plant Sciences
Julia E. Steier, Terezie Mandakova, Martin F. Wojciechowski, Kelly P. Steele
Summary: The genus Medicago contains about 90 species, including important forage crop and genomic model species. Some Medicago species lack information on chromosome number and genome size, particularly those from Medicago section Buceras. Research suggests that there are distinct entities within currently recognized species, with differences in chromosome number and genome size, indicating the role of polyploidy and chromosomal abnormalities in genome evolution. This data provides a foundation for whole-genome sequencing projects and further research on paraphyletic lineages.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhen Huang, Zaoxu Xu, Hao Bai, Yongji Huang, Na Kang, Xiaoting Ding, Jing Liu, Haoran Luo, Chentao Yang, Wanjun Chen, Qixin Guo, Lingzhan Xue, Xueping Zhang, Li Xu, Meiling Chen, Honggao Fu, Youling Chen, Zhicao Yue, Tatsuo Fukagawa, Shanlin Liu, Guobin Chang, Luohao Xu
Summary: Microchromosomes are prevalent in nonmammalian vertebrates, but some are missing in bird genome assemblies. This study presents a new chicken reference genome, including all autosomes and sex chromosomes, and provides detailed characterization of small microchromosomes (dot chromosomes) with unique sequence and epigenetic features, shedding insights into the structure and evolution of chromosomes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Phuong T. N. Hoang, Joerg Fuchs, Veit Schubert, Tram B. N. Tran, Ingo Schubert
Summary: Chromosome sets and genome sizes are stable for distinct species and provide essential cues for taxonomy and phylogenetic relationship studies. This study presents a survey on chromosome counts and genome size measurement for all 36 duckweed species, discussing their evolutionary impact and peculiarities in duckweeds.
Article
Plant Sciences
Shaghayegh Mehravi, Ghasem Karimzadeh, Alaeddin Kordenaeej, Mehrdad Hanifei
Summary: This study reports the karyomorphology and genome size of 15 populations of St John's wort for the first time. It found variation in chromosome length and identified eight different somatic chromosome numbers. The study also discovered mixoploidy and suggested that hybridization, polyploidy, and dysploid variation might be the main factors influencing chromosome number evolution in this species.
Article
Agronomy
Hayet Benhizia, Yacine Benhizia, Radhia Djeghar, Fatima Pustahija, Sonja Siljak-Yakovlev, Nadra Khalfallah
Summary: This study investigated four diploid taxa of the genus Hedysarum using molecular cytogenetics, revealing differences in chromosomal composition, gene positions, and genome sizes among them. Palynological analysis also showed variations in pollen grains among different taxa, enriching our understanding of the relationships among these species.
GENETIC RESOURCES AND CROP EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Farah Abdel Samad, Frederic Medail, Alex Baumel, Sonja Siljak Yakovlev, Anthony Roukoz, Georges Tohme, Henriette Tohme, Magda Bou Dagher Kharrat
Summary: Coastal vegetation includes unique species with specific adaptations to its environment, but urban development in the Mediterranean region has severely impacted coastal ecosystems. Astragalus berytheus, a narrow endemic plant in the eastern Mediterranean, is highly threatened in Lebanon due to urban sprawl. With only one remaining population in Lebanon, conservation measures are urgently needed to prevent its extinction in the near future.
Article
Plant Sciences
Airy Gras, Oriane Hidalgo, Ugo D'Ambrosio, Montse Parada, Teresa Garnatje, Joan Valles
Summary: This study explores the relationships between botanical families and medicinal vascular plants using a molecular phylogenetic framework. It includes quantitative analyses, identification of hot nodes, and discussion of plant usage and family richness in ethnobotany.
Article
Plant Sciences
Maarten J. M. Christenhusz, Mark W. Chase, Michael F. Fay, Oriane Hidalgo, Ilia J. Leitch, Jaume Pellicer, Juan Viruel
Summary: Through genomic sequencing and chromosome studies, it was found that extant species of Equisetum diverged in the Carboniferous and Jurassic periods, coinciding with the breakup of Pangaea and warmer climate. Differences in genome size between subgenera may be related to the number of sperm flagellae.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jill K. Olofsson, Emma Curran, Florence Nyirenda, Matheus E. Bianconi, Luke T. Dunning, Vanja Milenkovic, Graciela Sotelo, Oriane Hidalgo, Robyn F. Powell, Marjorie R. Lundgren, Ilia J. Leitch, Patrik Nosil, Colin P. Osborne, Pascal-Antoine Christin
Summary: Geographical isolation can lead to the emergence of distinct phenotypes within the same species, but reproductive barriers or selection are necessary to maintain polymorphism after secondary contact. This study explores the processes that maintain intraspecific variation of C-4 photosynthesis, showing genome-wide divergence for the photosynthetic types while genetic clusters overlap geographically and occasionally mix within the same habitat. Despite evidence of introgression between non-C-4 and C-4 groups, genetic lineages retain their identity possibly due to selection against hybrids, resulting in a geographical mosaic of photosynthetic types.
Article
Plant Sciences
Carolina M. Siniscalchi, Oriane Hidalgo, Luis Palazzesi, Jaume Pellicer, Lisa Pokorny, Olivier Maurin, Ilia J. Leitch, Felix Forest, William J. Baker, Jennifer R. Mandel
Summary: Data generated using the family-specific Compositae1061 probe set and the universal Angiosperms353 probe set can be merged for downstream analyses, with 30 shared loci allowing for the combination of data generated in different ways, facilitating collaborative efforts and shared data within the synantherological community.
APPLICATIONS IN PLANT SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jaume Pellicer, Jordi Lopez-Pujol, Marc Aixarch, Teresa Garnatje, Joan Valles, Oriane Hidalgo
Summary: The study shows that flow cytometry can be used to differentiate populations of Centaurea podospermifolia, making it an effective tool for monitoring pure populations and potentially becoming an integral part of management plans.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jaume Pellicer, Manica Balant, Pol Fernandez, Roi Rodriguez Gonzalez, Oriane Hidalgo
Summary: This study investigates the origin of hybrid individuals in the Urospermum genus using morphological and molecular methods. The results suggest that the hybrids have a homoploid origin and U. dalechampii is the maternal progenitor. Further monitoring studies are needed to evaluate the extent of hybridization and its potential impact on the biology of the genus.
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Oriane Hidalgo, Manica Balant, Jaume Pellicer
Article
Plant Sciences
Pol Fernandez, Oriane Hidalgo, Ana Juan, Ilia J. Leitch, Andrew R. Leitch, Luis Palazzesi, Luca Pegoraro, Juan Viruel, Jaume Pellicer
Summary: Polyploidy is a common phenomenon in angiosperms and plays a significant role in plant diversification. This study focused on the population-level cytotype screening of Senecio doronicum and found the coexistence of tetraploid, hexaploid, and octoploid individuals. The analysis of genomic data supports the autopolyploid origin of these polyploid individuals and suggests the contribution of tetraploids in the formation of hexaploids. The coexistence of different cytotypes may indicate the initiation of speciation.
Review
Plant Sciences
Luis Palazzesi, Jaume Pellicer, Viviana D. Barreda, Benoit Loeuille, Jennifer R. Mandel, Lisa Pokorny, Carolina M. Siniscalchi, M. Cristina Telleria, Ilia J. Leitch, Oriane Hidalgo
Summary: With a large number of species and diverse phenotypes, Asteraceae is an economically and ecologically important plant family. It is distributed worldwide in various habitats, making it an excellent model for studying eco-evolutionary questions. This review summarizes recent progress in understanding Asteraceae through collaborative efforts in paleobotany, cytogenetics, comparative genomics, and phylogenomics. The review also highlights how these developments open up new possibilities for integration and better understanding of evolution beyond Asteraceae.
BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Manica Balant, Roi Rodriguez Gonzalez, Sonia Garcia, Teresa Garnatje, Jaume Pellicer, Joan Valles, Daniel Vitales, Oriane Hidalgo
Summary: Cannabis sativa, a versatile plant used in traditional medicine and for various purposes, exhibits a wide range of morphological and genetic diversity. This study used flow cytometry to explore the diversity of genome size and sex determination in Cannabis individuals. The results showed that there were significant differences in genome size between male and female individuals, although flow cytometry was not able to directly discriminate these differences.
Article
Plant Sciences
Lin Fu, Luis Palazzesi, Jaume Pellicer, Manica Balant, Maarten J. M. Christenhusz, Luca Pegoraro, Ivan Perez-Lorenzo, Ilia J. Leitch, Oriane Hidalgo
Summary: Asteraceae, or the daisy family, is one of the most diverse plant families, commonly found in grasslands, deserts, savannas, and high-elevation mountains. They have a unique inflorescence called the capitulum, which resembles a flower but is actually composed of tightly grouped florets. The capitulum is a key characteristic that contributes to the evolutionary success of the family and is economically important due to its use in agriculture and horticulture. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of the morphological diversity of capitula in different lineages of Asteraceae. To address this, a protocol for dissecting and characterizing the full diversity of capitula has been developed.
BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pol Fernandez, Ilia J. Leitch, Andrew R. Leitch, Oriane Hidalgo, Maarten J. M. Christenhusz, Lisa Pokorny, Jaume Pellicer
Summary: Giant genomes are rare in the plant kingdom, with most research focusing on angiosperms and gymnosperms. However, a study on ferns reveals differences in genome organization and dynamics. The genus Tmesipteris has two species with giant genomes, which exhibit high repeat diversity compared to small-genome taxa.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Florence Ngo Ngwe, Sonja Siljak-Yakovlev
Summary: We studied the sex chromosomes of Dioscorea dumetorum in Cameroon and found that one pair of chromosomes is sex chromosomes. This research contributes to our understanding of the sex determination mechanism in D. dumetorum (standard sex-determining XX/XY system).