Supergene evolution via stepwise duplications and neofunctionalization of a floral-organ identity gene.

ABSTRACT: Heterostyly represents a fascinating adaptation to promote outbreeding in plants that evolved multiple times independently. While l-morph individuals form flowers with long styles, short anthers, and small pollen grains, S-morph individuals have flowers with short styles, long anthers, and large pollen grains. The difference between the morphs is controlled by an S-locus "supergene" consisting of several distinct genes that determine different traits of the syndrome and are held together, because recombination between them is suppressed. In Primula, the S locus is a roughly 300-kb hemizygous region containing five predicted genes. However, with one exception, their roles remain unclear, as does the evolutionary buildup of the S locus. Here we demonstrate that th

SUBMITTER: Huu CN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7502755 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature