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PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Whole-genome duplications (WGDs) can rapidly increase genome size in angiosperms. Yet their mean genome size is not correlated with ploidy. We compared three hypotheses to explain the constancy of genome size means across ploidies. The genome downsizing hypothesis suggests that genome size will decrease by a given percentage after a WGD. The genome size threshold hypothesis assumes that taxa with large genomes or large monoploid numbers will fail to undergo or survive WGDs. Finally, the genome downsizing and threshold hypothesis suggests that both genome downsizing and thresholds affect the relationship between genome size means and ploidy. METHODS: We performed nonparametric bootstrap simulations to compare observed angiosperm genome size means among species or genera against simulated genome sizes under the three different hypotheses. We evaluated the hypotheses using a decision theory approach and estimated the expected percentage of genome downsizing. KEY RESULTS: The threshold hypothesis improves the approximations between mean genome size and simulated genome size. At the species level, the genome downsizing with thresholds hypothesis best explains the genome size means with a 15% genome downsizing percentage. In the genus level simulations, the monoploid number threshold hypothesis best explains the data. CONCLUSIONS: Thresholdes of angiosperm genome sizes, and monoploid number is important for determining the genome size mean at the genus level.

Anthocyanins are pigmented secondary metabolites produced via the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway and play important roles in plant stress responses, pollinator attraction, and consumer preference. Using RNA-sequencing analysis of a cross between diploid potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) lines segregating for flower color, we identified a homolog of the ANTHOCYANIN 2 (AN2) gene family that encodes a MYB transcription factor, herein termed StFlAN2, as the regulator of anthocyanin production in potato corollas. Transgenic introduction of StFlAN2 in white-flowered homozygous doubled-monoploid plants resulted in a recovery of purple flowers. RNA-sequencing revealed the specific anthocyanin biosynthetic genes activated by StFlAN2 as well as expression differences in genes within pathways involved in fruit ripening, senescence, and primary metabolism. Closer examination of the locus using genomic sequence analysis revealed a duplication in the StFlAN2 locus closely associated with gene expression that is likely attributable to nearby genetic elements. Taken together, this research provides insight into the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in potato while also highlighting how the dynamic nature of the StFlAN2 locus may affect expression.

Background Homosporous ferns are distinctive amongst the land plant lineages for their high chromosome numbers and enigmatic genomes. Genome size measurements are an under exploited tool in homosporous ferns and show great potential to provide an overview of the mechanisms that define genome evolution in these ferns. The aim of this study is to investigate the evolution of genome size and the relationship between genome size and spore size within the apomictic Asplenium monanthes fern complex and related lineages. Results Comparative analyses to test for a relationship between spore size and genome size show that they are not correlated. The data do however provide evidence for marked genome size variation between species in this group. These results indicate that Asplenium monanthes has undergone a two-fold expansion in genome size. Conclusions Our findings challenge the widely held assumption that spore size can be used to infer ploidy levels within apomictic fern complexes. We argue that the observed genome size variation is likely to have arisen via increases in both chromosome number due to polyploidy and chromosome size due to amplification of repetitive DNA (e.g. transposable elements, especially retrotransposons). However, to date the latter has not been considered to be an important process of genome evolution within homosporous ferns. We infer that genome evolution, at least in some homosporous fern lineages, is a more dynamic process than existing studies would suggest.

Background and Aims: Gametophytic apomixis is regularly associated with polyploidy. It has been hypothesized that apomixis is not present in diploid plants because of a pleiotropic lethal effect associated with monoploid gametes. Rare apomictic triploid plants for Paspalum notatum and P. simplex, which usually have sexual diploid and apomictic tetraploid races, were acquired. These triploids normally produce male gametes through meiosis with a range of chromosome numbers from monoploid (n = 10) to diploid (n = 20). The patterns of apomixis transmission in Paspalum were investigated in relation to the ploidy levels of gametes. Methods: Intraspecific crosses were made between sexual diploid, triploid and tetraploid plants as female parents and apomictic triploid plants as male parents. Apomictic progeny were identified by using molecular markers completely linked to apomixis and the analysis of mature embryo sacs. The chromosome number of the male gamete was inferred from chromosome counts of each progeny. Key Results: The chromosome numbers of the progeny indicated that the chromosome input of male gametes depended on the chromosome number of the female gamete. The apomictic trait was not transmitted through monoploid gametes, at least when the progeny was diploid. Diploid or near-diploid gametes transmitted apomixis at very low rates. Conclusions: Since male monoploid gametes usually failed to form polyploid progenies, for example triploids after 4x × 3x crosses, it was not possible to determine whether apomixis could segregate in polyploid progenies by means of monoploid gametes.- Methods Intraspecific crosses were made between sexual diploid, triploid and tetraploid plants as female parents and apomictic triploid plants as male parents. Apomictic progeny were identified by using molecular markers completely linked to apomixis and the analysis of mature embryo sacs. The chromosome number of the male gamete was inferred from chromosome counts of each progeny. - Key Results The chromosome numbers of the progeny indicated that the chromosome input of male gametes depended on the chromosome number of the female gamete. The apomictic trait was not transmitted through monoploid gametes, at least when the progeny was diploid. Diploid or near-diploid gametes transmitted apomixis at very low rates. - Conclusions Since male monoploid gametes usually failed to form polyploid progenies, for example triploids after 4x 3x crosses, it was not possible to determine whether apomixis could segregate in polyploid progenies by means of monoploid gametes