Cryptic diversity, polyploidy, and intraspecific divergence in Erysimum (Brassicaceae) species endemic to the western Balkans
Clicks: 5
ID: 322958
2026
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This
article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score —
reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
Reader Engagement
Emerging Content
0.6
/100
5 views
0 readers
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal
EmergingRanked #44 of 195 articles by views in Annals of botany
Most read
Least read
Bar heights use a square-root scale. Only the 120 most-read articles are drawn; the journal has 195 in total.
Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet mintedCreate a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.
5
SUSD
one-off · no wallet required
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Several evolutionary drivers have been proposed to explain the exceptional species and genetic diversity of the Balkan flora, including the moderate impact of glaciations enabling long-term in situ persistence, ecological and topographic heterogeneity promoting vicariant differentiation, and polyploidy. Despite these shared drivers, plant lineages often show contrasting evolutionary histories, suggesting lineage-specific rather than broadly generalizable responses. The genus Erysimum, notable for its high endemism, karyological variation, recent and rapid speciation, and signatures of reticulate evolution, provides an excellent model for exploring this diversity of evolutionary trajectories and speciation drivers in the Balkans. METHODS: Focusing on five Balkan endemics of the E. odoratum species complex sampled from 47 populations, we examined chromosomal and genome size variation and applied two complementary genomic approaches, target enrichment (Hyb-Seq) and RADseq, along with morphometric analyses. These datasets were used to circumscribe species, uncover intraspecific variation patterns, and assess the extent and evolutionary consequences of interspecific gene flow and polyploidy. KEY RESULTS: Genetic and morphological evidence was largely congruent, clarifying species boundaries but also revealing cryptic diversity, leading to the recognition of eight entities. Most diversity was concentrated in the southern Dinarides, where we detected multiple cytotypes, an undescribed lineage, a polyphyletic species resulting from two independent autopolyploidization events, and allotetraploids arising in a contact zone. Geographic distance and biogeographic barriers across the mountainous Balkan landscape likely shaped patterns of divergence and promoted speciation. Discrepancies between chromosome numbers and genome size indicate dynamic chromosomal evolution. CONCLUSIONS: Vicariant differentiation, auto- and allopolyploidy, genome size and chromosomal dynamics together account for the pronounced diversity of Erysimum in the Balkans, illustrating how speciation is driven within this biodiversity hotspot. Importantly, substantial evolutionary potential is retained within species, as the coexistence of multiple intraspecific genetic lineages and cytotypes can reinforce reproductive barriers and promote future diversification.
| Reference Key |
openalex_W7171858570
Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using
SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
|
|---|---|
| Authors | Richard Bačák, Marek Šlenker, Hana Majerová, Barbora Šingliarová, Adam Kantor, Katarína Skokanová, Ingrid Turisová, Peter Turis, Terezie Mandáková, Judita Zozomová‐Lihová |
| Journal | Annals of botany |
| Year | 2026 |
| DOI |
10.1093/aob/mcag229
|
| URL | |
| Keywords | Keywords not found |
Citations
No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.