Young evolutionary origins of dioecy in the genus Asparagus.
Am J Bot
; 111(2): e16276, 2024 02.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38297448
ABSTRACT
PREMISE Dioecy (separate sexes) has independently evolved numerous times across the angiosperm phylogeny and is recently derived in many lineages. However, our understanding is limited regarding the evolutionary mechanisms that drive the origins of dioecy in plants. The recent and repeated evolution of dioecy across angiosperms offers an opportunity to make strong inferences about the ecological, developmental, and molecular factors influencing the evolution of dioecy, and thus sex chromosomes. The genus Asparagus (Asparagaceae) is an emerging model taxon for studying dioecy and sex chromosome evolution, yet estimates for the age and origin of dioecy in the genus are lacking. METHODS:
We use plastome sequences and fossil time calibrations in phylogenetic analyses to investigate the age and origin of dioecy in the genus Asparagus. We also review the diversity of sexual systems present across the genus to address contradicting reports in the literature.RESULTS:
We estimate that dioecy evolved once or twice approximately 2.78-3.78 million years ago in Asparagus, of which roughly 27% of the species are dioecious and the remaining are hermaphroditic with monoclinous flowers.CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings support previous work implicating a young age and the possibility of two origins of dioecy in Asparagus, which appear to be associated with rapid radiations and range expansion out of Africa. Lastly, we speculate that paleoclimatic oscillations throughout northern Africa may have helped set the stage for the origin(s) of dioecy in Asparagus approximately 2.78-3.78 million years ago.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Cromosomas Sexuales
/
Evolución Biológica
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Am J Bot
/
Am. j. bot
/
American journal of botany
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos