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The holocentric chromosome microevolution: from phylogeographic patterns to genomic associations with environmental gradients
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  • José Ignacio Márquez-Corro,
  • Santiago Martín-Bravo,
  • José Luis Blanco-Pastor,
  • Modesto Luceño,
  • Marcial Escudero
José Ignacio Márquez-Corro
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
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Santiago Martín-Bravo
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José Luis Blanco-Pastor
University of Seville
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Modesto Luceño
Pablo de Olavide University
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Marcial Escudero
University of Seville

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Geographic isolation and chromosome evolution are two of the major drivers of diversification in eukaryotes in general, and specifically, in plants. On one hand, range shifts induced by Pleistocene glacial oscillations deeply shaped the evolutionary trajectories of species in the Northern Hemisphere. On the other hand, karyotype variability within species or species complexes may have adaptive potential as different karyotypes may represent different recombination rates and linkage groups that may be associated with locally adapted genes or supergenes. Organisms with holocentric chromosomes are ideal to study the link between local adaptation and chromosome evolution, due to their high cytogenetic variability, especially when it seems to be related to environmental variation. Here, we integrate the study of the phylogeography, chromosomal evolution and ecological requirements of a plant species complex distributed in the Western Euro-Mediterranean region (Carex gr. laevigata, Cyperaceae). We aim to clarify the relative influence of these factors on population differentiation and ultimately on speciation. We obtained a well-resolved RADseq phylogeny that sheds light on the phylogeographic patterns of molecular and chromosome number variation, which are compatible with south-to-north postglacial migration. In addition, landscape genomics analyses identified candidate loci for local adaptation, and also strong significant associations between the karyotype and the environment. We conclude that karyotype distribution in C. gr. laevigata has been constrained by both range shift dynamics and local adaptation. Our study demonstrates that chromosome evolution may be responsible, at least partially, for microevolutionary patterns of population differentiation and adaptation in Carex.
13 Jun 2023Submitted to Molecular Ecology
14 Jun 2023Submission Checks Completed
14 Jun 2023Assigned to Editor
14 Jun 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Jun 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
12 Jul 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
31 Jul 20231st Revision Received
01 Aug 2023Submission Checks Completed
01 Aug 2023Assigned to Editor
01 Aug 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
11 Aug 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
30 Aug 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
07 Sep 20232nd Revision Received
09 Sep 2023Assigned to Editor
09 Sep 2023Submission Checks Completed
09 Sep 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
22 Sep 2023Editorial Decision: Accept