Uncovering the genetic architecture of parallel evolution

© 2023 The Authors. Molecular Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd..

Identifying the genetic architecture underlying adaptive traits is exceptionally challenging in natural populations. This is because associations between traits not only mask the targets of selection but also create correlated patterns of genomic divergence that hinder our ability to isolate causal genetic effects. Here, we examine the repeated evolution of components of the auxin pathway that have contributed to the replicated loss of gravitropism (i.e. the ability of a plant to bend in response to gravity) in multiple populations of the Senecio lautus species complex in Australia. We use a powerful approach which combines parallel population genomics with association mapping in a Multiparent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) population to break down genetic and trait correlations to reveal how adaptive traits evolve during replicated evolution. We sequenced auxin and shoot gravitropism-related gene regions in 80 individuals from six natural populations (three parallel divergence events) and 133 individuals from a MAGIC population derived from two of the recently diverged natural populations. We show that artificial tail selection on gravitropism in the MAGIC population recreates patterns of parallel divergence in the auxin pathway in the natural populations. We reveal a set of 55 auxin gene regions that have evolved repeatedly during the evolution of the species, of which 50 are directly associated with gravitropism divergence in the MAGIC population. Our work creates a strong link between patterns of genomic divergence and trait variation contributing to replicated evolution by natural selection, paving the way to understand the origin and maintenance of adaptations in natural populations.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2023

Erschienen:

2023

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:32

Enthalten in:

Molecular ecology - 32(2023), 20 vom: 23. Okt., Seite 5575-5589

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

James, Maddie E [VerfasserIn]
Allsopp, Robin N [VerfasserIn]
Groh, Jeffrey S [VerfasserIn]
Kaur, Avneet [VerfasserIn]
Wilkinson, Melanie J [VerfasserIn]
Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Association mapping
Auxin pathway
Indoleacetic Acids
Journal Article
Multiparent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) population
Parallel evolution
Recombinant population
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Shoot gravitropism

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 11.10.2023

Date Revised 11.10.2023

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1111/mec.17134

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM362371660