biostudies-literatureUnknown9(1)Muller LBGenome size is known to vary widely across plants. Yet, the evolutionary drivers and consequences of genome size variation across organisms are far from understood. We investigated genome size variation and evolution in two major subfamilies of the Neotropical family Bromeliaceae by determining new genome size values for 83 species, testing phylogenetic signal in genome size variation, and assessing the fit to different evolutionary models. For a subset of epiphytic bromeliad species, we also evaluated the relationship of genome size with thermal traits and relative growth rate (RGR), respectively. Genome size variation in Bromelioideae appears to be evolutionary conserved, while genome size among Tillandsioideae varies considerably, not just due to polyploidy but arguably also due to enviScientific reports5136https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6435678biostudies-literatureBromeliaceae subfamilies show divergent trends of genome size evolution.PMC6435678Zotz GAlbach DCMuller LBfalseBromeliaceae subfamilies show divergent trends of genome size evolution.Genome size is known to vary widely across plants. Yet, the evolutionary drivers and consequences of genome size variation across organisms are far from understood. We investigated genome size variation and evolution in two major subfamilies of the Neotropical family Bromeliaceae by determining new genome size values for 83 species, testing phylogenetic signal in genome size variation, and assessing the fit to different evolutionary models. For a subset of epiphytic bromeliad species, we also evaluated the relationship of genome size with thermal traits and relative growth rate (RGR), respectively. Genome size variation in Bromelioideae appears to be evolutionary conserved, while genome size among Tillandsioideae varies considerably, not just due to polyploidy but arguably also due to envi2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Mar2025-04-19T12:20:48.684Z2019-08-04T07:23:25ZS-EPMC64356783091475310.1038/s41598-019-41474-w