Frequent allopolyploidy with distant progenitors in the moss generaPhyscomitriumandEntosthodon(Funariaceae) identified via subgenome phasing of targeted nuclear genes

Abstract

AbstractAllopolyploids represent a new frontier in species discovery among embryophytes. Within mosses, allopolyploid discovery is challenged by low morphological complexity. The rapid expansion of sub-genome sequencing approaches in addition to computational developments to identifying genome merger and whole-genome duplication using variation among nuclear loci representing homeologs has allowed for increased allopolyploid discovery among mosses. We confirm the intergeneric hybrid nature ofEntosthodon hungaricus, and the allopolyploid origin ofP. eurystomumand of one population ofP. collenchymatum. We also reveal that hybridization gave rise toP. immersum, as well as to yet unrecognized lineages sharing the phenotype ofP. pyriforme, andP. sphaericum.Our findings demonstrate the utility of a novel approach to phasing homeologs within loci and phasing loci across subgenomes, or subgenome assignment, called homologizer, when working with polyploid genomes, and its value in identifying progenitor species using target capture data.