Plant DiversityPub Date : 2025-08-05eCollection Date: 2026-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2025.07.005
Fui Ying Tsan, Louise Colville, Hugh W Pritchard
{"title":"Regeneration from seeds with physical defects: Contrasts in survival strategies in recalcitrant and orthodox seeds.","authors":"Fui Ying Tsan, Louise Colville, Hugh W Pritchard","doi":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.07.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.07.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Seeds with different desiccation tolerance and their foraging animals present unique strategies for ensuring population growth and ecological fitness in the natural environment. While some seeds minimize physical injuries by having lignified thick coats or defensive compounds, others tolerate a certain degree of mass loss, with larger seeds enduring partial animal consumption better than smaller seeds, consistent with the reserve effect hypothesis, regardless of their desiccation tolerance. In endozoochory, aerial, terrestrial and aquatic fauna with appropriate gape sizes that consume whole fruits with mostly orthodox seeds are important for longer-distance seed dispersal as long as seed viability suffers little impairment following defecation. Some seeds even gain benefits from animal consumption when physical dormancy is overcome and germination occurs earlier. Dung beetles perform secondary spread and burial of seeds, reducing plant aggregation. On the other hand, highly nutritious recalcitrant seeds of a limited number of plant species show sprouting despite partial loss of embryonic axes to browsing animals, often with damage to radicles being less critical than to plumules. Some recalcitrant seeds even possess the unique ability to regenerate roots and shoots from the cotyledonary tissues devoid of embryonic axes. Such embryonic cell development, or 'stemness', from seed tissue fraction is rare in the plant kingdom, but evidently present in at least four families. Plant regeneration despite seed predation is a multi-trait adaptation that ensures species survival and fosters resilient natural ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":20224,"journal":{"name":"Plant Diversity","volume":"48 4","pages":"641-654"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13424734/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148654392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant DiversityPub Date : 2025-08-05eCollection Date: 2026-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2025.07.004
Liang-Hai Yang, Ganesh K Jaganathan, Si-Di Liang, Si-Si Zheng, Hong-Hu Meng, Xi-Qing Sun, Xin Ning, Ru-Ning Hou, Xin Zhong, Tian-Rui Wang, Bin-Jie Ge, Gregor Kozlowski, Yi-Gang Song
{"title":"Evolution of fruit functional traits provides insights into the drivers of cycle-cup oaks (<i>Quercus</i> section <i>Cyclobalanopsis</i>) diversification in evergreen broadleaf forests.","authors":"Liang-Hai Yang, Ganesh K Jaganathan, Si-Di Liang, Si-Si Zheng, Hong-Hu Meng, Xi-Qing Sun, Xin Ning, Ru-Ning Hou, Xin Zhong, Tian-Rui Wang, Bin-Jie Ge, Gregor Kozlowski, Yi-Gang Song","doi":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.07.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.07.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The impact of key traits on lineage diversity remains a central focus in macroevolutionary research. Seeds, encapsulated within fruits, carry the complete genetic blueprint of their species, and the capacity of their adaptive evolution to diverse environmental conditions shapes species origination and extinction dynamics. However, the role of specific traits in driving species diversification under changing environmental conditions remains poorly understood, particularly among taxa that produce desiccation-sensitive seeds. In this study, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of <i>Quercus</i> section <i>Cyclobalanopsis</i> based on whole-genome resequencing data from 52 species, covering approximately 50% of the section. We investigated six fruit traits-fruit volume, shape, maturation period, cotyledonary petiole, embryonic axis position and dormancy type-through experimental observations and data collection. The influence of these traits, climatic variables, and phylogenetic signal on diversification rates, along with the effects of climatic variables on these traits were analysed. Our findings reveal substantial diversity in fruit trait states within the section <i>Cyclobalanopsis</i>. Climates characterized by hot summers and wet-cold winters provide favorable habitat conditions that promote speciation. Furthermore, ancestral fruit traits, such as small acorns, oblong ellipsoid shapes, normal cotyledonary petioles, and embryonic axes near the apex, along with the derived trait of annual fruit maturation, were associated with increased net diversification rates. These ancestral fruit traits, adapted to the subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests of East Asia, facilitated rapid evolutionary radiation during the Miocene through climatic niche innovation. In contrast, species inhabiting tropical landscapes appear to adapt to local environmental changes through fruit trait innovations, such as larger fruits and rapid germination.</p>","PeriodicalId":20224,"journal":{"name":"Plant Diversity","volume":"48 4","pages":"655-669"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13424185/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148654254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant DiversityPub Date : 2025-07-25eCollection Date: 2025-09-01DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2025.07.003
Min Li, Jing-Jing Wu, Ren-Ping Su, Ou-Yan Fang, Xiang Cai, Pei-Han Huang, Xiao-Yang Gao, Xin-Xing Fu, Xiao-Hui Ma, Lin-Yue He, Yi-Gang Song, Guo-Xiong Hu, Shi-Shun Zhou, Yun-Hong Tan, Yves Van de Peer, Jie Li, Sheng-Dan Wu, Hong-Hu Meng
{"title":"Genome analyses provide insights into <i>Engelhardia</i>'s adaptation to East Asia summer monsoon.","authors":"Min Li, Jing-Jing Wu, Ren-Ping Su, Ou-Yan Fang, Xiang Cai, Pei-Han Huang, Xiao-Yang Gao, Xin-Xing Fu, Xiao-Hui Ma, Lin-Yue He, Yi-Gang Song, Guo-Xiong Hu, Shi-Shun Zhou, Yun-Hong Tan, Yves Van de Peer, Jie Li, Sheng-Dan Wu, Hong-Hu Meng","doi":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.07.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.07.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Genetic information has been instrumental in elucidating the relationship between the East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) and subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests (EBLFs). However, how the genomic insights of EBLFs' species correspond to environmental shifts induced by the EASM remains limited. In this study, we investigated the adaptive mechanisms of evergreen <i>Engelhardia</i> species in response to the EASM through genome sequencing and comparative genomic analyses from the <i>de novo</i> genome assemblies of five closely related <i>Engelhardia</i> taxa and one <i>Rhoiptelea</i> species. Our findings revealed that the divergence of evergreen trees from their sister deciduous species is closely associated with the onset and intensification of the EASM. This genomic transition may have coincided with a significant expansion of the terpene synthase (TPS) gene family in <i>E. fenzelii</i>, driven by four distinct modes of gene duplication. This expansion enhances the biosynthesis of terpene volatiles, providing a defensive mechanism against potential herbivory in EASM affected environments. We also identified a shared whole-genome duplication (WGD) event across <i>Engelhardia</i>, along with substantial differences in transposable element (TE) composition and activity, which contributed to genome size variation between <i>E. fenzelii</i> and <i>E. roxburghiana</i>. In addition, demographic analyses revealed a continuous population decline over the past 10 million years, further exacerbated by recent human disturbance, underscoring the conservation urgency for these species. These results not only provide preliminary insights into the complex evolutionary dynamics within the <i>Engelhardia</i> genus from genomic insights (e.g., the intricate relationships between genomic variations, environmental changes, and adaptive responses driven by significant climatic events such as the EASM), but also provides valuable insights into the conservation significance of EBLFs.</p>","PeriodicalId":20224,"journal":{"name":"Plant Diversity","volume":"47 5","pages":"718-732"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12496538/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145239196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant DiversityPub Date : 2025-07-18eCollection Date: 2025-09-01DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2025.07.002
Hong Qian
{"title":"Diversification rates in large-scale moss assemblages along latitudinal and climatic gradients across the world.","authors":"Hong Qian","doi":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.07.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.07.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Species richness in any area results from the interplay of the processes of speciation, extinction, and dispersal. The relationships between species richness and climate should be considered as an outcome of the effects of climate on speciation, extinction, and dispersal. Diversification rate represents the balance of speciation and extinction rates over time. Here, I explore diversification rates in mosses across geographic and climatic gradients worldwide. Specifically, I investigate latitudinal patterns and climatic associations of the mean diversification rate of mosses at global, hemispheric, and smaller scales. I find that the mean diversification rate of mosses is positively correlated with species richness of mosses, increases with decreasing latitude and increasing mean annual temperature and annual precipitation, and is more strongly associated with mean annual temperature than with annual precipitation. These findings shed light on variation of species richness in mosses across the world. The negative relationship between species richness and latitude and the positive relationship between species richness and mean diversification rate in mosses suggest that higher moss species richness at lower latitudes might have resulted, at least to some degree, from higher moss diversification rates at lower latitudes.</p>","PeriodicalId":20224,"journal":{"name":"Plant Diversity","volume":"47 5","pages":"833-838"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12496529/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145239431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Climate warming shortens the time interval between stem-girth and wood biomass production in twelve temperate tree species.","authors":"Nipeng Qian, Linxu Wang, Gangdun Li, Chunchao Dong, Zhenzhao Xu, Qijing Liu, Guang Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.07.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.07.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Climate warming is reshaping the phenology of plants in recent decades, with potential implications for forest productivity, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem functioning. While the effects of warming on secondary growth phenology is becoming increasingly clear, the influence of environmental factors on different developmental phases of xylem remains to be quantified. In this study, we investigated the temporal dynamics of xylem cell enlargement, wall-thickening, and the interval between these events in twelve temperate tree species from Northeast China over the period 2019-2024. We found that both cell enlargement and wall-thickening advanced significantly in response to climate warming, with species-specific variations in the rate of advancement. Importantly, the advancing rate of wall-thickening was greater than that of cell enlargement, leading to a shortening of the interval between these two events. Linear mixed-effects models revealed that photoperiod, forcing temperature, and precipitation were the primary environmental drivers influencing the timing of both cell enlargement and wall-thickening, with photoperiod emerging as the most important factor. These results suggest that climate warming accelerates the heat accumulation required for the transition from xylem cell enlargement to wall-thickening, thereby shortening the time interval between these two developmental stages. Beyond contributing valuable multi-year xylem phenological data, our results provide mechanistic insights that enhance predictions of wood formation dynamics under future climate scenarios and improve the accuracy of forest carbon models.</p>","PeriodicalId":20224,"journal":{"name":"Plant Diversity","volume":"47 6","pages":"969-980"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12800767/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145990417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant DiversityPub Date : 2025-07-10eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2025.06.009
Terezie Mandáková, Milan Pouch, Petra Hloušková, Dmitry A German, Pavel Trávníček, Michael D Windham, Martin A Lysak
{"title":"<i>Boechera</i> or not? Genomic insights and taxonomic reassessment of the misclassified Asian species <i>B. calcarea</i> (Brassicaceae).","authors":"Terezie Mandáková, Milan Pouch, Petra Hloušková, Dmitry A German, Pavel Trávníček, Michael D Windham, Martin A Lysak","doi":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.06.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.06.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The genus <i>Boechera</i> (Brassicaceae) serves as a model system for studying apomictic reproduction and ecological adaptations, with most species occurring in North America. The rare occurrence of <i>Boechera</i> species outside their typical range provides unique opportunities to investigate genome evolution in extralimital environments. One such species, <i>B. calcarea</i>, has been described from the Chandalaz Mountains in northeastern Asia (Russia). This study aimed to investigate the genome structure and evolutionary history of <i>B. calcarea</i>. However, our analyses reveal that the species does not belong to <i>Boechera</i>. Instead, an integrative approach combining cytogenetic, phylogenetic and repeatome analysis identified the species as a member of one of more ancestral clades in the tribe Arabideae. The diploid <i>Parryodes calcarea</i> (2<i>n</i> = 16) exhibits Arabideae-specific chromosomal signatures, including multiple centromere repositionings. These findings clarify the misclassification of <i>P. calcarea</i> as <i>Boechera</i>, leaving <i>Boechera falcata</i> and <i>Borodinia macrophylla</i> as the only representatives of the Boechereae in the Old World. This study highlights the importance of an integrative approach in resolving taxonomic ambiguities and provides new insights into the diversification of the largest cruciferous tribe, the Arabideae.</p>","PeriodicalId":20224,"journal":{"name":"Plant Diversity","volume":"48 1","pages":"107-116"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12918183/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147271757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant DiversityPub Date : 2025-07-05eCollection Date: 2025-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2025.06.010
Xiaochun Shu, Ruisen Lu, Pat Heslop-Harrison, Trude Schwarzacher, Zhong Wang, Yalong Qin, Ning Wang, Fengjiao Zhang
{"title":"Unraveling the evolutionary complexity of <i>Lycoris</i>: Insights into chromosomal variation, genome size, and phylogenetic relationships.","authors":"Xiaochun Shu, Ruisen Lu, Pat Heslop-Harrison, Trude Schwarzacher, Zhong Wang, Yalong Qin, Ning Wang, Fengjiao Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.06.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.06.010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hybridization and polyploidy are key drivers of species diversity and genome variation in <i>Lycoris</i>, but their cytological and evolutionary consequences remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated chromosome numbers and genome sizes in 64 accessions representing the morphological diversity across the genus. Chromosome numbers ranged from 12 to 33, with seven accessions newly identified, including <i>L. chunxiaoensis</i> (2<i>n</i> = 33), two putative <i>L. guangxiensis</i> (2<i>n</i> = 19), and five natural hybrids (2<i>n</i> = 16, 18, 29, 33). Genome sizes varied from 18.03 Gb (<i>L. wulingensis</i>) to 32.62 Gb (<i>L. caldwellii</i>). Although no significant correlation was found between genome size and chromosome number across all accessions, a strong correlation within ploidy-level groups (i.e., diploid or aneuploid) suggested roles for post-polyploid diploidization, aneuploidy, and dysploidy in speciation. Phylogenetic analyses based on chloroplast genomes and nuclear DNA sequences revealed significant discordance, indicating a complex reticulate evolution and historical hybridization, which may complicate morphological classification. Chromosome number aligned more closely with morphological groups, underscoring the necessity of integrating cytological, molecular, and morphological data for accurate taxonomy, particularly in large-genome taxa. Based on this evidence, we propose a putative speciation pathway involving multiple hybridization and polyploidization events, with allopolyploidy playing a predominant role. Furthermore, our results indicate that the species <i>L. insularis</i> and <i>L. longifolia</i> are geographic populations of <i>L. sprengeri</i> and <i>L. aurea</i>, respectively, and confirmed the distribution of <i>L. traubii</i> and <i>L. albiflora</i> in mainland China. These findings offer new insights into the mechanisms underlying speciation, interspecific relationships, and the evolutionary history of <i>Lycoris</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":20224,"journal":{"name":"Plant Diversity","volume":"47 6","pages":"931-943"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12800772/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145990134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant DiversityPub Date : 2025-06-30eCollection Date: 2026-05-01DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2025.06.008
Welington L Sachetti, Vitor de A Kamimura, Juliana L S Mayer, Beatriz L Arida, Thales M de Lima, Diego S Graciano, Fábio Pinheiro
{"title":"We are not all the same: The role of intrapopulation trait variability in shaping functional strategy and performance of widespread species.","authors":"Welington L Sachetti, Vitor de A Kamimura, Juliana L S Mayer, Beatriz L Arida, Thales M de Lima, Diego S Graciano, Fábio Pinheiro","doi":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.06.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.06.008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Functional traits influence plant performance and adaptability to environmental changes, as environments select optimal phenotypes, leading to diverse functional strategies. While trait-based studies emphasize intraspecific trait variability (ITV) in response to environmental variations, the effects of phenotype-environment relationships and ITV on the performance of widely distributed species remain unclear. Here, we evaluated how intraspecific phenotypic dissimilarity (IPD) between populations, ITV within populations, and biotic and abiotic factors influence the functional strategies and performance of eight <i>Epidendrum fulgens</i> populations along a latitudinal gradient on the Brazilian coast. Data on seven functional traits (leaf and anatomical) and performance (fruit set over two years) were collected, and biotic and abiotic factors were analyzed using bioclimatic variables and phylogenetic structures of plant communities. The functional space was evaluated using PCA, and GLMs were employed to assess the impacts of environmental factors, species interactions, IPD, and ITV on performance. Populations exhibited distinct functional strategies, with warmer, wetter environments favoring acquisitive strategies and colder, drier areas favoring conservative ones. Notably, IPD and, unexpectedly, were correlated with improved performance, with IPD mitigating temperature stress. ITV within populations had significant but context-dependent effects on outcomes. In summary, our findings highlight the role of intrapopulation trait variability in driving shifts in functional strategies across environmental gradients, improving performance through increased phenotypic dissimilarity. The interplay of ITV within populations, environmental conditions, and interspecific competition shapes plant strategies and performance across diverse habitats.</p>","PeriodicalId":20224,"journal":{"name":"Plant Diversity","volume":"48 3","pages":"576-585"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13250299/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148227541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant DiversityPub Date : 2025-06-24eCollection Date: 2025-09-01DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2025.06.006
Nana Peng, Lihua Yang, Xizuo Shi, Hanghui Kong, Ming Kang
{"title":"Genomic and population genomic analyses reveal contrasting diversity and demographic histories in a critically endangered and a widespread <i>Oreocharis</i> species.","authors":"Nana Peng, Lihua Yang, Xizuo Shi, Hanghui Kong, Ming Kang","doi":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.06.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pld.2025.06.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Preserving genetic diversity is crucial for the long-term survival of wild plant species, yet many remain at risk of genetic erosion due to small population sizes and habitat fragmentation. Here, we present a comparative genomic study of the critically endangered <i>Oreocharis esquirolii</i> (Gesneriaceae) and its widespread congener <i>O. maximowiczii</i>. We assembled and annotated chromosome-level reference genomes for both species and generated whole-genome resequencing data from 28 <i>O. esquirolii</i> and 79 <i>O. maximowiczii</i> individuals. Our analyses reveal substantially lower genetic diversity and higher inbreeding in <i>O. esquirolii</i>, despite its overall reduced mutational burden. Notably, <i>O. esquirolii</i> exhibits an elevated proportion of strongly deleterious mutations relative to <i>O. maximowiczii</i>, suggesting that limited opportunities for purging have allowed these variants to accumulate. These contrasting genomic profiles likely reflect divergent demographic histories, with <i>O. esquirolii</i> having experienced severe bottlenecks and protracted population decline. Collectively, our findings highlight the critically endangered status of <i>O. esquirolii</i>, characterized by diminished genetic diversity, pronounced inbreeding, and reduced ability to eliminate deleterious alleles. This study provides valuable genomic resources for the Gesneriaceae family and underscores the urgent need for targeted conservation measures, including habitat protection and <i>ex situ</i> preservation efforts, to mitigate the extinction risk facing <i>O. esquirolii</i> and potentially other threatened congeners.</p>","PeriodicalId":20224,"journal":{"name":"Plant Diversity","volume":"47 5","pages":"746-758"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12496536/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145239157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}