Dataset Information

Newly identified sex chromosomes in the Sphagnum (peat moss) genome alter carbon sequestration and ecosystem dynamics.

ABSTRACT: Peatlands are crucial sinks for atmospheric carbon but are critically threatened due to warming climates. Sphagnum (peat moss) species are keystone members of peatland communities where they actively engineer hyperacidic conditions, which improves their competitive advantage and accelerates ecosystem-level carbon sequestration. To dissect the molecular and physiological sources of this unique biology, we generated chromosome-scale genomes of two Sphagnum species: S. divinum and S. angustifolium. Sphagnum genomes show no gene colinearity with any other reference genome to date, demonstrating that Sphagnum represents an unsampled lineage of land plant evolution. The genomes also revealed an average recombination rate an order of magnitude higher than vascular land plants and short putative U/V sex chromosomes. These newly described sex chromosomes interact with autosomal loci that significantly impact growth across diverse pH conditions. This discovery demonstrates that the ability of Sphagnum to sequester carbon in acidic peat bogs is mediated by interactions between sex, autosomes and environment.

SUBMITTER: Healey AL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9946827 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Newly identified sex chromosomes in the Sphagnum (peat moss) genome alter carbon sequestration and ecosystem dynamics.

Healey Adam L AL Piatkowski Bryan B Lovell John T JT Sreedasyam Avinash A Carey Sarah B SB Mamidi Sujan S Shu Shengqiang S Plott Chris C Jenkins Jerry J Lawrence Travis T Aguero Blanka B Carrell Alyssa A AA Nieto-Lugilde Marta M Talag Jayson J Duffy Aaron A Jawdy Sara S Carter Kelsey R KR Boston Lori-Beth LB Jones Teresa T Jaramillo-Chico Juan J Harkess Alex A Barry Kerrie K Keymanesh Keykhosrow K Bauer Diane D Grimwood Jane J Gunter Lee L Schmutz Jeremy J Weston David J DJ Shaw A Jonathan AJ

Nature plants 20230206 2

Peatlands are crucial sinks for atmospheric carbon but are critically threatened due to warming climates. Sphagnum (peat moss) species are keystone members of peatland communities where they actively engineer hyperacidic conditions, which improves their competitive advantage and accelerates ecosystem-level carbon sequestration. To dissect the molecular and physiological sources of this unique biology, we generated chromosome-scale genomes of two Sphagnum species: S. divinum and S. angustifolium. ...[more]

PMID: 36747050

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Project description:Background and aimsNew plant species can evolve through the reinforcement of reproductive isolation via local adaptation along habitat gradients. Peat mosses (Sphagnaceae) are an emerging model system for the study of evolutionary genomics and have well-documented niche differentiation among species. Recent molecular studies have demonstrated that the globally distributed species Sphagnum magellanicum is a complex of morphologically cryptic lineages that are phylogenetically and ecologically distinct. Here, we describe the architecture of genomic differentiation between two sister species in this complex known from eastern North America: the northern S. diabolicum and the largely southern S. magniae.MethodsWe sampled plant populations from across a latitudinal gradient in eastern North America and performed whole genome and restriction-site associated DNA sequencing. These sequencing data were then analyzed computationally.Key resultsUsing sliding-window population genetic analyses we find that differentiation is concentrated within 'islands' of the genome spanning up to 400 kb that are characterized by elevated genetic divergence, suppressed recombination, reduced nucleotide diversity and increased rates of non-synonymous substitution. Sequence variants that are significantly associated with genetic structure and bioclimatic variables occur within genes that have functional enrichment for biological processes including abiotic stress response, photoperiodism and hormone-mediated signalling. Demographic modelling demonstrates that these two species diverged no more than 225 000 generations ago with secondary contact occurring where their ranges overlap.ConclusionsWe suggest that this heterogeneity of genomic differentiation is a result of linked selection and reflects the role of local adaptation to contrasting climatic zones in driving speciation. This research provides insight into the process of speciation in a group of ecologically important plants and strengthens our predictive understanding of how plant populations will respond as Earth's climate rapidly changes.

Dataset Information

Newly identified sex chromosomes in the Sphagnum (peat moss) genome alter carbon sequestration and ecosystem dynamics.

Publications

Newly identified sex chromosomes in the Sphagnum (peat moss) genome alter carbon sequestration and ecosystem dynamics.

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