Ancient hybridization shaped the evolutionary history of vascular plants
In short: A critical review of vascular plant evolution found that hybridization has been a common force throughout much of plant history, particularly among flowering plants. While genomic data increasingly show that ancient genetic exchanges, often linked to polyploidy, are widespread, the full extent of this process remains difficult to map across deep evolutionary timescales.
The review highlights that while hybridization is a fundamental evolutionary process, distinguishing ancient genetic merging from other genomic conflicts, such as incomplete lineage sorting, remains a major challenge. The authors suggest that current plant classification systems, which often rely on chloroplast genomes, may not fully capture these complex, networked evolutionary histories.
Why it matters: Understanding the complex, networked history of plant evolution requires moving beyond simple tree models to account for ancient hybridization.
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Sources
- Source: Research: Stull et al. (2023). Deep reticulation: the long legacy of hybridization in vascular plant evolution. The Plant Journal. · cc-by-nc-nd
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