Molecular evidence for asymmetric hybridization in three closely related sympatric species.

ABSTRACT: Natural hybridization is common in plants and results in different evolutionary consequences to hybridizing species. Pre- and post-zygotic reproductive isolating barriers can impede hybridization between closely related species to maintain their species integrity. In Northwest Yunnan, three Ligularia species (Ligularia cyathiceps, L. duciformis and L. yunnanensis) and four types of morphologically intermediate individuals were discovered growing together in an area subject to human disturbance. In this study, we used three low-copy nuclear loci to test the natural hybridization hypothesis and the hybridization direction was ascertained by three chloroplast DNA fragments. The results indicated there were two hybridization groups at the study site, L. cyathicep

SUBMITTER: Zhang NN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5824843 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature