Standing genetic variation and introgression shape the cryptic radiation of Aquilegia in the mountains of Southwest China.

ABSTRACT: Cryptic diversity in evolutionary radiation offers an excellent system for investigating the intricacies of evolutionary progress. Understanding the evolution of cryptic diversity is imperative for unraveling the hidden complexities of biodiversity. However, empirical evidence elucidating the mechanisms behind cryptic radiation remains limited, particularly in plants. Here, we focus on a monophyletic group of Aquilegia species mainly distributed in the mountains of Southwest China, one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. Using whole-genome resequencing of 158 individuals from 23 natural populations, we identify three to four paraphyletic lineages within each morphological species. Our findings reveal that 39 out of 43 detected instances of introgression occurred post-lineage formation. I

SUBMITTER: Peng JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12043930 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature