Ferns have the highest proportion of apomictic species in all plant groups, but the reasons for this are unclear. Dyer et al. determine the reproductive mode of species in the Asplenium monanthes fern complex, and use...
Tag - polyploidy
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Minority cytotypes in fragrant orchids
Patterns of ploidy variation can provide useful insights into the evolutionary mechanisms that shape the dynamics of plant systems showing ploidy diversity. Trávníček et al. examine cytotype variation in fragrant...
Epigenetic regulation gives diversity in triploid bananas
The production of triploid banana and plantain (Musa spp.) cultivars with improved characteristics remains a major challenge for plant breeders. Hippolyte et al. examine 561 accessions and determine the closest diploid...
Reproductive isolation between hybridizing orchids
The potential for gene exchange between species with different ploidy levels has long been recognized, but only a few studies have tested this hypothesis in situ and most of them have focused on not more than two co...
Maximum likelihood inference of chromosome numbers
Botanists interested in changes in chromosome number have often relied on inferring a basic number, x, but this has been done without consistent (reproducible) reference to species’ relationships and frequencies of...
Genome size in Narcissus hybrids
Although natural hybridization in the genus Narcissus (daffodils) is not infrequent, that between phylogenetically distant species differing in basic chromosome number involves significant genome changes. Using PI and...
Polyploidy and plant invasions (Invited Review)
Biological invasions are a major ecological and socio-economic problem in many parts of the world. Te Beest et al. synthesize current knowledge on the importance of polyploidy for the invasion of introduced plants, and...
Chromosome pairing in Musa interspecific cultivars
Most cooking and several desert bananas are interspecific triploid hybrids between Musa acuminata (A genome) and M. balbisiana (B genome). To investigate the possibility of chromosome exchanges between these two...
Apomixis is not prevalent in a high-alpine ecosystem
`Apomixis is not prevalent in a high-alpine ecosystem Apomixis (agamospermy) is expected to provide selective advantages in high alpine environments, where conditions tend to be unfavourable for sexual reproduction of...
Coexistence of multiple cytotypes of an orchid
Coexistence of multiple cytotypes of an orchid Large-scale cytotype surveys have indicated that intraspecific ploidy diversification is much more common than previously thought. Trávníček et al. examine inter- and...
Coexistence of multiple cytotypes of an orchid
Coexistence of multiple cytotypes of an orchid Large-scale cytotype surveys have indicated that intraspecific ploidy diversification is much more common than previously thought. Trávníček et al. examine inter- and...
Polyploidy and mating patterns in the moss Atrichum
Polyploidy and mating patterns in the moss Atrichum Evolutionary transitions from unisexuality to hermaphroditism in mosses are associated with polyploidy. Jesson et al. investigate this association in populations of...
Cytotype distribution and evolution of a polyploid complex
Cytotype distribution and evolution of a polyploid complex The distribution of cytotypes on different spatial scales provides valuable insights into evolutionary processes of a polyploid complex. Sonnleitner et al...
The Genetics Behind Evolution
Highlight Annals of Botany cover Over the years, hundreds of papers have been published describing the genetic changes that occur during evolution of plants, and the differences evident between individual species. An...
Editor Pat Heslop-Harrison