Journal
NATURE PLANTS
Volume 2, Issue 12, Pages -Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1038/NPLANTS.2016.188
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Funding
- BBSRC [BB/H019278/2, G11027, P11021]
- Gatsby Foundation
- University of Leeds
- Durham University
- University of East Anglia
- Earth & Life Systems Alliance (ELSA)
- BBSRC [BB/H019278/1, BBS/E/T/000PR5885, BB/H019278/2, BBS/E/T/000PR6193] Funding Source: UKRI
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council [BB/H019278/2, BBS/E/T/000PR5885, BB/H019278/1, BBS/E/T/000PR6193] Funding Source: researchfish
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Darwin's studies on heterostyly in Primula described two floral morphs, pin and thrum, with reciprocal anther and stigma heights that promote insect-mediated cross-pollination. This key innovation evolved independently in several angiosperm families. Subsequent studies on heterostyly in Primula contributed to the foundation of modern genetic theory and the neo-Darwinian synthesis. The established genetic model for Primula heterostyly involves a diallelic S locus comprising several genes, with rare recombination events that result in self-fertile homostyle flowers with anthers and stigma at the same height. Here we reveal the S locus supergene as a tightly linked cluster of thrum-specific genes that are absent in pins. We show that thrums are hemizygous not heterozygous for the S locus, which suggests that homostyles do not arise by recombination between S locus haplotypes as previously proposed. Duplication of a floral homeotic gene 51.7 million years (Myr) ago, followed by its neofunctionalization, created the current S locus assemblage which led to floral heteromorphy in Primula. Our findings provide new insights into the structure, function and evolution of this archetypal supergene.
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