Genome and transcriptome variation in Aquilegia viridiflora underlies
the adaptive evolution to the environment in the early stage of
speciation
- Wei Zhang,
- Hua-Ying Wang,
- Tengjiao Zhang,
- Xiaoxue Fang,
- Hongxing Xiao
Abstract
The elucidation of adaptive evolution mechanisms in the early stage of
speciation is important for understanding the origin and evolution of
species. Aquilegia viridiflora is in the early stage of speciation, has
a wide distribution range, and shows obvious phenotypic variation among
its different populations. In this study, to analyze the adaptive
evolution mechanism of phenotypic differences in the early stages of
speciation, we analyzed the phenotypes, genomes, and transcriptomes of
different populations of A. viridiflora. Our results indicated that A.
viridiflora originated in northwestern China, and the uplift of the
northeastern Qinghai--Tibet Plateau in the late Miocene may have caused
its differentiation. Aqcoe5G459400 was a key gene in the early stage of
A. viridiflora speciation. Its expression was reduced in environments
with large temperature differences between day and night, causing A.
viridiflora to develop larger flowers and enhancing its attractiveness
to pollinators. Our research revealed the genetic basis of the adaptive
evolution of the phenotype in the early stage of speciation and provides
new evidence of the pattern of speciation via adaptative radiation in
columbine.