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Genomic architecture of phenotypic divergence between two hybridizing plant species along an elevational gradient

Brennan, A.C.; Hiscock, S.J.; Abbott, R.J.

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Authors

S.J. Hiscock

R.J. Abbott



Abstract

Knowledge of the genetic basis of phenotypic divergence between species and how such divergence is caused and maintained is crucial to an understanding of speciation and the generation of biodiversity. The hybrid zone between Senecio aethnensis and S. chrysanthemifolius on Mount Etna, Sicily, provides a well-studied example of species divergence in response to conditions at different elevations, despite hybridization and gene flow. Here, we investigate the genetic architecture of divergence between these two species using a combination of quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and genetic differentiation measures based on genetic marker analysis. A QTL architecture characterized by physical QTL clustering, epistatic interactions between QTLs, and pleiotropy was identified, and is consistent with the presence of divergent QTL complexes resistant to gene flow. A role for divergent selection between species was indicated by significant negative associations between levels of interspecific genetic differentiation at mapped marker gene loci and map distance from QTLs and hybrid incompatibility loci. Within-species selection contributing to interspecific differentiation was evidenced by negative associations between interspecific genetic differentiation and genetic diversity within species. These results show that the two Senecio species, while subject to gene flow, maintain divergent genomic regions consistent with local selection within species and selection against hybrids between species which, in turn, contribute to the maintenance of their distinct phenotypic differences.

Citation

Brennan, A., Hiscock, S., & Abbott, R. (2016). Genomic architecture of phenotypic divergence between two hybridizing plant species along an elevational gradient. AoB PLANTS, 8, Article plw022. https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plw022

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 19, 2016
Online Publication Date Apr 15, 2016
Publication Date Apr 15, 2016
Deposit Date Apr 19, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal AoB PLANTS
Publisher Oxford University Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 8
Article Number plw022
DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plw022

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Copyright Statement
Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.







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