The evolutionary history of the white-rayed species of Melampodium (Asteraceae) involved multiple cycles of hybridization and polyploidization.

ABSTRACT:

Premise of the study

Polyploidy plays an important role in race differentiation and eventually speciation. Underlying mechanisms include chromosomal and genomic changes facilitating reproductive isolation and/or stabilization of hybrids. A prerequisite for studying these processes is a sound knowledge on the origin of polyploids. A well-suited group for studying polyploid evolution consists of the three species of Melampodium ser. Leucantha (Asteraceae): M. argophyllum, M. cinereum, and M. leucanthum.

Methods

The origin of polyploids was inferred using network and tree-based phylogenetic analyses of several plastid and nuclear DNA sequences and of fingerprint data (AFLP). Genome evolution was assessed via genome size measurements, karyotype analysis, and in situ hybridizatio

SUBMITTER: Rebernig CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4268502 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature