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Genome size variation in the Fagaceae and its implications for trees

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Abstract

Polyploidization is a major source of diversification among plants, particularly during cladogenesis, but most evidence involves herbaceous temperate species. The prevalence of polyploidy among woody taxa is largely unknown, especially among tropical groups. In this study, we examined genome size variation globally and at several taxonomic levels within the Fagaceae. This family has diversified in the northern temperate zone (Quercus) and at least twice in the Asian tropics (Lithocarpus and Castanopsis), allowing us to examine genomic size evolution across a broad latitudinal range. We compared nuclear DNA contents from 78 species in six genera, including new measurements for 171 individuals from 47 Chinese species using standard flow cytometry methods. No evidence suggests that polyploidization or whole genome duplication has occurred in the family. Genome size varied among genera, but limited variation was present in each genus and species. In general, tropical species had larger genomes than temperate species, but the ancestral state cannot be determined given current evidence. Partial duplication does seem to occur among species as within genus variation was larger than within species variation. A review of the literature suggests that genome size and even chromosome structure is highly conserved among woody plants and trees. We propose that ploidy level and genome size are conserved among trees because they participate in diverse syngameons. This behavior would provide similar benefits to polyploidization but avoid exclusion from the syngameon. This conservatism in genome size and structure should enhance ongoing whole genome studies.

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Acknowledgements

We thank J. Doležel for providing the seeds of internal standards; Y-H Tan and the XTBG Seed Bank for acorn collection; I. Leith, J. E. Carlson, Z-K Zhou, and G. M. Lambert for beneficial communication; and 2009 Yunnan High-End Talent of Yunnan Regional Government (No. 09SK051) and the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, No. 08GK014B01) for funding support.

Data Archiving Statement

The data in this analysis consists of flow cytometry measurements of nuclear DNA content for 171 individuals from 47 tropical Chinese species, including three separate genera and the tropical subgenus Cyclobalanopsis within the genus Quercus. This data will be deposited at the Plant DNA C-values Database (http://data.kew.org/cvalues/) hosted by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan, 666303, China

    Si-Chong Chen, Charles H. Cannon, Chai-Shian Kua & Jia-Jia Liu

  2. Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China

    Si-Chong Chen & Jia-Jia Liu

  3. Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    Si-Chong Chen

  4. Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79410, USA

    Charles H. Cannon

  5. School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    David W. Galbraith

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  1. Si-Chong Chen
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  2. Charles H. Cannon
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  3. Chai-Shian Kua
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  4. Jia-Jia Liu
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Correspondence to Charles H. Cannon.

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Communicated by A. Kremer

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Chen, SC., Cannon, C.H., Kua, CS. et al. Genome size variation in the Fagaceae and its implications for trees. Tree Genetics & Genomes 10, 977–988 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-014-0736-y

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