Unraveling the extensive phylogenetic discordance and evolutionary history of spurless taxa within the Aquilegia ecalcarata complex.

Parallel evolution of the same, or at least very similar, phenotype(s) in different lineages is often interpreted as evidence for the action of natural selection. However, caution is required when inferring parallel evolution based on uncertain or potentially incorrect phylogenetic frameworks. Here, by conducting extensive phylogenomic and population genetic analyses, we aim to clarify the evolutionary history of spurless taxa within the Aquilegia ecalcarata complex.

Intraspecific diploidization of a halophyte root fungus drives heterosis.

How organisms respond to environmental stress is a key topic in evolutionary biology. This study focused on the genomic evolution of Laburnicola rhizohalophila, a dark-septate endophytic fungus from roots of a halophyte. Chromosome-level assemblies were generated from five representative isolates from structured subpopulations.

Tree species and genetic diversity increase productivity via functional diversity and trophic feedbacks.

Addressing global biodiversity loss requires an expanded focus on multiple dimensions of biodiversity. While most studies have focused on the consequences of plant interspecific diversity, our mechanistic understanding of how genetic diversity within plant species affects plant productivity remains limited. Here, we use a tree species × genetic diversity experiment to disentangle the effects of species diversity and genetic diversity on tree productivity, and how they are related to tree functional diversity and trophic feedbacks.

Genetic Contribution of Paleopolyploidy to Adaptive Evolution in Angiosperms.

Ancient whole-genome duplications (WGDs or polyploidy) are prevalent in plants, and some WGDs occurred during the timing of severe global environmental changes. It has been suggested that WGDs may have contributed to plant adaptation. However, this still lacks empirical evidence at the genetic level to support the hypothesis.

De Novo Sequencing and Comparative Analysis of Schima superba Seedlings to Explore the Response to Drought Stress.

Schima superba is an important dominant species in subtropical evergreen broadleaved forests of China, and plays a vital role in community structure and dynamics. However, the survival rate of its seedlings in the field is low, and water shortage could be a factor that limits its regeneration. In order to better understand the response of its seedlings to drought stress on a functional genomics scale, RNA-seq technology was utilized in this study to perform a large-scale transcriptome sequencing of the S.