Chromosomal rearrangements in holocentric organisms lead to reproductive isolation by hybrid dysfunction: The correlation between karyotype rearrangements and germination rates in sedges.

Premise Of The Study: Understanding the drivers of speciation is a central task of evolutionary biology. Chromosomal rearrangements are known to play an important role in species diversification, but the role of rearrangements of holocentric chromosomes-chromosomes without localized centromeres-is poorly understood.

Methods: We made numerous artificial crosses between Carex scoparia individuals of different diploid chromosome numbers and, for comparison, between individuals of the same chromosome number.