Extensive polyploid hybridization within the fern genus Woodsia

• In the process of resolving the phylogeny of the cosmopolitan Woodsia ferns we have conducted the most comprehensive nuclear phylogeny of ferns. We have sequenced two nuclear regions (pgiC and RPA2) on up to 175 different specimen corresponding to some 30 species. In addition to the nuclear markers we have also sequenced 5 chloroplast regions (matK, rbcL, atpA, atpB and trnGR).The results show an extensive hybridization and chromosome doubling within the genus Woodsia. As many as 19 out of the 32 species we identify in the phylogeny are polyploids.The Scandinavian species Woodsia alpina is the allopolyploid hybrid of Woodsia ilvensis x Woodsia glabella. In this study we show that the hybrid has originated multiple times, and also that both parents have, at least once each, acted as the donor of the maternally inherited chloroplast genome.An extreme hybrid is Woodsia ×abbeae. It is an hybrid between the two species Woodsia ilvensis and Woodsia oregana ssp. cathcartiana separated by as much as 30-50 million years.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Biologisk systematik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Biological Systematics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Systematisk botanik

Systematic Botany

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

kon (subject category)