Adaptive sequence evolution is driven by biotic stress in a pair of orchid species (Dactylorhiza) with distinct ecological optima

• DOI: 10.1111/mec.14123
• Publication Date: 2017-03-30T09:10:33Z
• Authors: Francisco Balao; Emiliano Trucchi; Thomas M. Wolfe; Bao‐Hai Hao; Maria Teresa Lorenzo; Juliane Baar; Laura Sedman; Carolin Kosiol; Fabian Amman; Mark W. Chase; Mikael Hedrén; Ovidiu Paun
• Keywords: plant evolution; Lineage (genetic)

Abstract The orchid family is the largest in angiosperms, but little known about molecular basis of significant variation they exhibit. We investigate here transcriptomic divergence between two European terrestrial orchids, Dactylorhiza incarnata and fuchsii , integrate these results context their distinct ecologies that we also document. Clear signals lineage‐specific adaptive evolution protein‐coding sequences are identified, notably targeting elements biotic defence, including both physical chemical adaptations divergent pools pathogens herbivores. In turn, a substantial regulatory species appears linked to adaptation/acclimation abiotic conditions. Several pathways affected by differential expression targeted deviating post‐transcriptional regulation via sRNA s. Finally, D. suffer from insufficient control over activity RNA ‐dependent DNA polymerase, resulting increased class I transposable and, time, larger genome size than . extensive suggests genomic shock hybrids offers insights into difficulty coexistence at homoploid level. Altogether, biological response selection, accumulated during history governed microenvironmental context, which pressures act synergistically shape transcriptome structure, regulation.