All the Colors of the Rainbow: Diversification of Flower Color and Intraspecific Color Variation in the Genus Iris

• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.569811
• Publication Date: 2020-10-13T04:12:46Z
• Authors: Katarzyna Roguz; M. Kate Gallagher; Esther Senden; Yamit Bar-Lev; Merav Lebel; Roni Heliczer; Yuval Sapir
• Keywords: Convergent evolution; Hummingbird

Floral color plays a key role as visual signaling and is therefore of great importance in shaping plant-pollinator interactions. Iris (Iridaceae), genus comprising over 300 species named after the Greek goddess colorful rainbow, famous for its dazzling palette flower colors patterns, which vary considerably both within among species. Despite large variation Iris, little known about phylogenetic ecological contexts floral color. Here, we seek to resolve evolution macroevolutionary framework. We used analysis reconstruct ancestral state other pollination-related traits (e.g., presence nectar mating system), also tracked variation. further explored weather trait transitions are better explained by environmental or pollinator-mediated selection. Our study revealed that most recent common ancestor likely had monomorphic, purple flowers, with crest spot on fall. The flowers were insect-pollinated, nectar-rewarding, self-compatible. diversity see modern irises, represents trade-off between conflicting selection pressures. Whether shifts these result from abiotic biotic selective agents maintained neutral processes without any remains an open question. serves starting point future work exploring genetic physiological mechanisms controlling coloration color-diverse Iris.