Hybridization and differential introgression associated with environmental shifts in a mistletoe species complex.

ABSTRACT: Host specialization after host shifting is traditionally viewed as the pathway to speciation in parasitic plants. However, geographical and environmental changes can also influence parasite speciation, through hybridization processes. Here we investigated the impact of past climatic fluctuations, environment, and host shifts on the genetic structure and patterns of hybridization and gene flow between Psittacanthus calyculatus and P. schiedeanus, a Mesoamerican species complex. Using microsatellites (408 individuals), we document moderate genetic diversity but high genetic differentiation between widespread parental clusters, calyculatus in dry pine-oak forests and schiedeanus in cloud forests. Bayesian analyses identified a third cluster, with admixture between parental clusters in areas o

SUBMITTER: Baena-Diaz F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5882953 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature