Chromosome size matters: genome evolution in the cyperid clade

Title
Chromosome size matters: genome evolution in the cyperid clade
Publication Date
2022
Author(s)
Elliott, Tammy L
Zedek, František
Barrett, Russell L
Bruhl, Jeremy J
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9112-4436
Email: jbruhl@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:jbruhl
Escudero, Marcial
Hroudová, Zdenka
Joly, Simon
Larridon, Isabel
Luceño, Modesto
Márquez-Corro, José Ignacio
Martín-Bravo, Santiago
Muasya, A Muthama
Šmarda, Petr
Thomas, William Wayt
Wilson, Karen L
Bureš, Petr
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Place of publication
United Kingdom
DOI
10.1093/aob/mcac136
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/62696
Abstract

• Background and Aims While variation in genome size and chromosome numbers and their consequences are often investigated in plants, the biological relevance of variation in chromosome size remains poorly known. Here, we examine genome and mean chromosome size in the cyperid clade (families Cyperaceae, Juncaceae and Thurniaceae), which is the largest vascular plant lineage with predominantly holocentric chromosomes.

• Methods We measured genome size in 436 species of cyperids using flow cytometry, and augment these data with previously published datasets. We then separately compared genome and mean chromosome sizes (2C/2n) amongst the major lineages of cyperids and analysed how these two genomic traits are associated with various environmental factors using phylogenetically informed methods.

• Key Results We show that cyperids have the smallest mean chromosome sizes recorded in seed plants, with a large divergence between the smallest and largest values. We found that cyperid species with smaller chromosomes have larger geographical distributions and that there is a strong inverse association between mean chromosome size and number across this lineage.

• Conclusions The distinct patterns in genome size and mean chromosome size across the cyperids might be explained by holokinetic drive. The numerous small chromosomes might function to increase genetic diversity in this lineage where crossovers are limited during meiosis.

Link
Citation
Annals of Botany, 130(7), p. 999-1014
ISSN
1095-8290
0305-7364
Start page
999
End page
1014

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