Whole genome sequencing analysis reveals strong reproductive isolation between two hybridizing Rhododendron species in subgenus Tsutsusi

doi:10.1016/j.pld.2025.12.001

Plant Diversity ›› 2026, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (01): 212-215.DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2025.12.001

Whole genome sequencing analysis reveals strong reproductive isolation between two hybridizing Rhododendron species in subgenus Tsutsusi

Xiaoling Tian^a, Ningning Zhang^b,c, Xiaohua Li^d, Zhong Zhang^e, Heng Shu^c, Chunying Zhang^f, Yongpeng Ma^c, Yupeng Geng^a

a Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security/State Key Laboratory of Vegetation Structure, Function and Construction (VegLab)/Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China;
b School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China;
c Yunnan Key Laboratory for Integrative Conservation of Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China;
d Lushan Botanical Garden, Jiangxi Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang 332200, China;
e Changguling Forest Farm, Jinggangshan National Nature Reserve, Jinggangshan 343600, China;
f Shanghai Botanical Garden, Shanghai 200232, China

收稿日期:2025-08-28 修回日期:2025-11-27 出版日期:2026-01-25 发布日期:2026-03-05
通讯作者: Yongpeng Ma,E-mail:mayongpeng@mail.kib.ac.cn;Yupeng Geng,E-mail:ypgeng@ynu.edu.cn
基金资助:
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U23A20160, 32360336) and Guizhou Provincial Key Technology R&D Program (Qian KeHe ZhiCheng [2023] YiBan035).

Whole genome sequencing analysis reveals strong reproductive isolation between two hybridizing Rhododendron species in subgenus Tsutsusi

Xiaoling Tian^a, Ningning Zhang^b,c, Xiaohua Li^d, Zhong Zhang^e, Heng Shu^c, Chunying Zhang^f, Yongpeng Ma^c, Yupeng Geng^a

a Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security/State Key Laboratory of Vegetation Structure, Function and Construction (VegLab)/Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China;
b School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China;
c Yunnan Key Laboratory for Integrative Conservation of Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China;
d Lushan Botanical Garden, Jiangxi Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang 332200, China;
e Changguling Forest Farm, Jinggangshan National Nature Reserve, Jinggangshan 343600, China;
f Shanghai Botanical Garden, Shanghai 200232, China

Received:2025-08-28 Revised:2025-11-27 Online:2026-01-25 Published:2026-03-05
Contact: Yongpeng Ma,E-mail:mayongpeng@mail.kib.ac.cn;Yupeng Geng,E-mail:ypgeng@ynu.edu.cn
Supported by:
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U23A20160, 32360336) and Guizhou Provincial Key Technology R&D Program (Qian KeHe ZhiCheng [2023] YiBan035).

摘要/Abstract

关键词: Reproductive isolation, Natural hybridization, Rhododendron, Mutation load, Whole genome sequence

Key words: Reproductive isolation, Natural hybridization, Rhododendron, Mutation load, Whole genome sequence

Xiaoling Tian, Ningning Zhang, Xiaohua Li, Zhong Zhang, Heng Shu, Chunying Zhang, Yongpeng Ma, Yupeng Geng. Whole genome sequencing analysis reveals strong reproductive isolation between two hybridizing Rhododendron species in subgenus Tsutsusi[J]. Plant Diversity, 2026, 48(01): 212-215.

参考文献

Arnold, M.L., 1997. Natural hybridization and evolution. Oxford University Press, New York, USA.
Chang, Y., Zhao, S., Xiao, H., et al., 2022. Unusual patterns of hybridization involving two alpine Salvia species: Absence of both F1 and backcrossed hybrids. Front. Plant Sci. 13, 1010577.
Dai, X., Yang, C., Yang, B., et al., 2020. A new species of Rhododendron (Ericaceae) from Guizhou, China. PhytoKeys 146, 53-59.
Dobzhansky, T.H., 1936. Studies on hybrid sterility. II. localization of sterility factors in Drosophila pseudoobscura hybrids. Genetics 21, 113-135.
Geng, Y.Y., 2014. The genus Rhododendron of China. Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers, Shanghai.
Liu R.L., 2001. A new species of Rhododendron from Jiangxi, China. J. Syst. Evol. 39, 272-274.
Ma, Y.P., Zhang, C.Q., Zhang, J.L., et al., 2010. Natural hybridization between Rhododendron delavayi and R. cyanocarpum (Ericaceae), from morphological, molecular and reproductive evidence. J Integr. Plant Biol. 52, 844-851.
Ma, Y.P., Milne, R.I., Zhang, C.Q., et al., 2010. Unusual patterns of hybridization involving a narrow endemic Rhododendron species (Ericaceae) in Yunnan, China. Am. J. Bot. 97, 1749-1757.
Ma, Y.P., Wu, Z.K., Dong, K., et al., 2015. Pollination biology of Rhododendron cyanocarpum (Ericaceae): An alpine species endemic to NW Yunnan, China. J. Sys. Evol. 53, 63-71.
Ma, Y.P., Liu, D.T., Wariss, H.M., et al., 2022. Demographic history and identification of threats revealed by population genomic analysis provide insights into conservation for an endangered maple. Mol. Ecol. 31, 767-779.
McFarlane S.E., Pemberton J.M., 2019. Detecting the true extent of introgression during anthropogenic hybridization. Trends Ecol. Evol. 34, 315-326.
Muller, H. J., 1942. “Isolating mechanisms, evolution, and temperature” in Biological symposia: A series of volumes devoted to current symposia in the field of biology, vol. 6. Ed. T.H. Dobzhansky (Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Jaques Cattell Press), 71-125.
Pan, Y., Shi, S., Gong, X., et al., 2008. A natural hybrid between Ligularia paradoxa and L. duciformis (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) from Yunnan, China. Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 95, 487-494.
Shen, Y., Yao, G., Li Y., Tian X., et al., 2024. RAD-seq data reveals robust phylogeny and morphological evolutionary history of Rhododendron. Hortic. Plant J. 10, 866-878.
Shrestha, N., Wang, Z., Su, X., et al., 2018. Global patterns of Rhododendron diversity: the role of evolutionary time and diversification rates. Global Ecol. Biogeogr. 27, 913-924.
Sun, S., Wang, B., Li, C., et al., 2023. Unraveling prevalence and effects of deleterious mutations in maize elite lines across decades of modern breeding. Mol. Biol. Evol. 40, msad170.
Xia, X.M., Yang, M.Q., Li, C.L., et al., 2022. Spatiotemporal evolution of the global species diversity of Rhododendron. Mol. Biol. Evol. 39, msab314.
Zha, H.G., Milne, R.I., Sun, H., 2010. Asymmetric hybridization in Rhododendron agastum: a hybrid taxon comprising mainly F1s in Yunnan, China. Ann. Bot. 105, 89-100.
Zhang, J.L., Zhang, C.Q., Gao, L.M., et al., 2007. Natural hybridization origin of Rhododendron agastum (Ericaceae) in Yunnan, China: inferred from morphological and molecular evidence. J. Plant Res. 120, 457-463.
Zhang, J., Ma, Y., Wu, Z., et al., 2017. Natural hybridization and introgression among sympatrically distributed Rhododendron species in Guizhou, China. Biochem. Sys. Ecol. 70, 268-273.
Zhang, X., Qin, H., Xie, W., et al., 2020. Comparative population genetic analyses suggest hybrid origin of Rhododendron pubicostatum, an endangered plant species with extremely small populations endemic to Yunnan, China. Plant Divers. 42, 312-318.
Zheng, W., Yan, L., Burgess Kevin S., et al., 2025. Comparative analysis of multiple hybrid zones of Rhododendron duclouxii uncovered different potential evolutionary outcomes. Plant Divers. 47, 944-955. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pld.2025.04.005.

[1]	Ming-Shu Zhu, Zhi-Qiong Mo, Michael Möller, Ting Zhang, Chao-Nan Fu, Jie Cai, Wei Zheng, Ya-Huang Luo, De-Zhu Li, Lian-Ming Gao. Climate change impacts on Rhododendron diversity: Regional responses and conservation strategies in China[J]. Plant Diversity, 2025, 47(06): 956-968.
[2]	Wei Zheng, Li-Jun Yan, Kevin S. Burgess, Richard I. Milne, Han-Tao Qin, Shao-Lin Tan, Ya-Huang Luo, Jia-Yun Zou, Zhi-Qiong Mo, Michael Möller, Chao-Nan Fu, Lian-Ming Gao. Comparative analysis of multiple hybrid zones of Rhododendron × duclouxii uncovered different potential evolutionary outcomes[J]. Plant Diversity, 2025, 47(06): 944-955.
[3]	Nana Peng (彭娜娜), Lihua Yang (杨丽华), Xizuo Shi (史习佐), Hanghui Kong (孔航辉), Ming Kang (康明). Genomic and population genomic analyses reveal contrasting diversity and demographic histories in a critically endangered and a widespread Oreocharis species[J]. Plant Diversity, 2025, 47(05): 746-758.
[4]	Zhi-Li Zhou (周知里), Tial C. Ling, Jian-Li Zhao (赵建立), Xin-Zhi Wang (王欣之), Lin-Lin Wang (王林林), Li Li (李莉), Wen-Jing Wang (王雯婧), Dong-Rui Jia (贾东瑞), Zhi-Kun Wu (吴之坤), Xu-Dong Sun (孙旭东), Yong-Ping Yang (杨永平), Yuan-Wen Duan (段元文). Parallel loss of anthocyanins triggers the incipient sympatric speciation in an alpine ginger[J]. Plant Diversity, 2025, 47(03): 429-439.
[5]	Yiqing Chen, Lina Dong, Huiqin Yi, Catherine Kidner, Ming Kang. Genomic divergence and mutation load in the Begonia masoniana complex from limestone karsts[J]. Plant Diversity, 2024, 46(05): 575-584.
[6]	Yanwei Guan, Yongru Wu, Zheng Cao, Zhifeng Wu, Fangyuan Yu, Haibin Yu, Tiejun Wang. Island biogeography theory and the habitat heterogeneity jointly explain global patterns of Rhododendron diversity[J]. Plant Diversity, 2024, 46(05): 565-574.
[7]	Ting-Ting Zou, Sen-Tao Lyu, Qi-Lin Jiang, Shu-He Shang, Xiao-Fan Wang. Pre- and post-pollination barriers between two exotic and five native Sagittaria species: Implications for species conservation[J]. Plant Diversity, 2023, 45(04): 456-468.
[8]	Jin-Feng Wu, Dong-Rui Jia, Rui-Juan Liu, Zhi-Li Zhou, Lin-Lin Wang, Min-Yu Chen, Li-Hua Meng, Yuan-Wen Duan. Multiple lines of evidence supports the two varieties of Halenia elliptica (Gentianaceae) as two species[J]. Plant Diversity, 2022, 44(03): 290-299.
[9]	Xiu-Jiao Zhang, Xiong-Fang Liu, De-Tuan Liu, Yu-Rong Cao, Zheng-Hong Li, Yong-Peng Ma, Hong Ma. Genetic diversity and structure of Rhododendron meddianum, a plant species with extremely small populations[J]. Plant Diversity, 2021, 43(06): 472-479.
[10]	Harue Abe, Hiroki Miura, Yoshitaka Motonaga. Quantitative classification of Camellia japonica and Camellia rusticana (Theaceae) based on leaf and flower morphology[J]. Plant Diversity, 2021, 43(03): 216-224.
[11]	Xuemei Zhang, Hantao Qin, Weijia Xie, Yongpeng Ma, Weibang Sun. Comparative population genetic analyses suggest hybrid origin of Rhododendron pubicostatum, an endangered plant species with extremely small populations endemic to Yunnan, China[J]. Plant Diversity, 2020, 42(04): 312-318.
[12]	Lin-Lin Wang, Zhi-Qiang Zhang, Yong-Ping Yang, Yuan-Wen Duan. The coexistence of hermaphroditic and dioecious plants is associated with polyploidy and gender dimorphism in Dasiphora fruticosa[J]. Plant Diversity, 2019, 41(05): 323-329.
[13]	Huai Ning, Jiaojun Yu, Xun Gong. Bidirectional natural hybridization between sympatric Ligularia vellerea and L. subspicata[J]. Plant Diversity, 2017, 39(04): 214-220.

Whole genome sequencing analysis reveals strong reproductive isolation between two hybridizing Rhododendron species in subgenus Tsutsusi

Whole genome sequencing analysis reveals strong reproductive isolation between two hybridizing Rhododendron species in subgenus Tsutsusi

PDF (PC)

可视化

摘要/Abstract

引用本文

使用本文

参考文献

相关文章 13

编辑推荐

Metrics

本文评价