| Abstract Detail
The Botany of Invasions Cang, Alice [1], Dlugosch, Katrina [2]. Genome size and structural variation in the invasive yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis). Evolutionary drivers responsible for the extraordinary genome size variation across angiosperms remain largely unknown and biological invasions present unique opportunities to clarify the population-level processes that shape this variation. Genome size shifts have occurred in association with successful colonization events in some plants, suggesting phenotypic consequences of variation. If it imposes functional constraints, a potential invader may benefit from reduced genome sizes that promote "weedy" traits. Potential mechanisms also include selection along environmental clines, and founder effects that allow larger genomes to drift to high frequency. In the Californian invasion of the thistle, Centaurea solstitialis, we found patterns of slower vegetative growth and later flowering times in larger genomes, with lower lifetime biomass and flower production, likely due to neutral processes rather than selection. We also investigate genome size patterns in the western European region of its native range, and compare genome sizes between the Californian invasion and its putative source populations in the native range . Current work employs long-read sequencing to characterize transposable element content of the C. solstitialis genome, which are the molecular mechanisms that often underlie patterns of genome size variation.
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1 - University of Arizona, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tucson, AZ, United States
2 - University Of Arizona, ECOL AND EVOL BIOLOGY/ EMS, P.O. Box 210088, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
Keywords:
none specified
Presentation Type: Symposium Presentation
Session: SY2, The Botany of Invasions
Location: /
Date: Monday, July 19th, 2021
Time: 11:15 AM(EDT)
Number: SY2004
Abstract ID:1157
Candidate for Awards:None |
