Natural hybridization among three Rhododendron species (Ericaceae) revealed by morphological and genomic evidence.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Natural hybridization can influence the adaptive response to selection and accelerate species diversification. Understanding the composition and structure of hybrid zones may elucidate patterns of hybridization processes that are important to the formation and maintenance of species, especially for taxa that have experienced rapidly adaptive radiation. Here, we used morphological traits, ddRAD-seq and plastid DNA sequence data to investigate the structure of a Rhododendron hybrid zone and uncover the hybridization patterns among three sympatric and closely related species.

Results

Our results show that the hybrid zone is complex, where bi-directional hybridization takes place among the three sympatric parental species: R. spinuliferum, R. scabrifolium, and R. spic

SUBMITTER: Zheng W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8582147 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature