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Summary Karyotypes provide key cytogenetic information on the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary origins in related eukaryotic species. Despite our knowledge of the chromosome numbers of sugarcane and its wild relatives, the chromosome composition and evolution among the species in theSaccharumcomplex have been elusive owing to the complex polyploidy and the large numbers of chromosomes of these species.Oligonucleotide‐based chromosome painting has become a powerful tool of cytogenetic studies especially for plant species with large numbers of chromosomes. We developed oligo‐based chromosome painting probes for all 10 chromosomes inSaccharum officinarum(2n = 8x = 80). The 10 painting probes generated robust fluorescencein situhybridization signals in all plant species within theSaccharumcomplex, including species in the generaSaccharum,Miscanthus,NarengaandErianthus.We conducted comparative chromosome analysis using the same set of probes among species from four different genera within theSaccharumcomplex. Excitingly, we discovered several novel cytotypes and chromosome rearrangements in these species.We discovered that fusion from two different chromosomes is a common type of chromosome rearrangement associated with the species in theSaccharumcomplex. Such fusion events changed the basic chromosome number and resulted in distinct allopolyploids in theSaccharumcomplex.
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This content will become publicly available on December 25, 2025
Macroevolutionary inference of complex modes of chromosomal speciation in a cosmopolitan plant lineage
Summary The effects of single chromosome number change—dysploidy – mediating diversification remain poorly understood. Dysploidy modifies recombination rates, linkage, or reproductive isolation, especially for one‐fifth of all eukaryote lineages with holocentric chromosomes. Dysploidy effects on diversification have not been estimated because modeling chromosome numbers linked to diversification with heterogeneity along phylogenies is quantitatively challenging.We propose a new state‐dependent diversification model of chromosome evolution that links diversification rates to dysploidy rates considering heterogeneity and differentiates between anagenetic and cladogenetic changes. We apply this model toCarex(Cyperaceae), a cosmopolitan flowering plant clade with holocentric chromosomes.We recover two distinct modes of chromosomal evolution and speciation inCarex. In one diversification mode, dysploidy occurs frequently and drives faster diversification rates. In the other mode, dysploidy is rare, and diversification is driven by hidden, unmeasured factors. When we use a model that excludes hidden states, we mistakenly infer a strong, uniformly positive effect of dysploidy on diversification, showing that standard models may lead to confident but incorrect conclusions about diversification.This study demonstrates that dysploidy can have a significant role in speciation in a large plant clade despite the presence of other unmeasured factors that simultaneously affect diversification.
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- PAR ID:
- 10571239
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- New Phytologist
- Volume:
- 245
- Issue:
- 5
- ISSN:
- 0028-646X
- Format(s):
- Medium: X Size: p. 2350-2361
- Size(s):
- p. 2350-2361
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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