The winner takes it all : a single genotype of Kalanchoe × houghtonii is a global invader
Pascual-Díaz, Joan Pere (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia)
Besolí, Neus (Institut Català de l'Aigua Recerca)
López-Pujol, Jordi (Institut Botànic de Barcelona)
Nualart, Neus (Institut Botànic de Barcelona)
Pérez Lorenzo, Iván (Institut Botànic de Barcelona)
Shtein, Ronen (Tel Aviv University)
Valenzuela, Laura (Institut Botànic de Barcelona)
Garcia, Sonia (Institut Botànic de Barcelona)
Vitales, Daniel (Institut Botànic de Barcelona)

Fecha:	2025
Resumen:	Background and Aims Invasive alien plant species pose a global challenge, and their impact is amplified by globalization and the accelerating pace of climate change. In regions with mild climates, drought-tolerant invasive plants showing broad environmental tolerance have a competitive advantage. One example is Kalanchoe × houghtonii (Crassulaceae), popularly known as 'mother of millions'. It is a hybrid resulting from the interploid cross between Kalanchoe daigremontiana and Kalanchoe delagoensis, both native to Madagascar. Kalanchoe × houghtonii, propagated as an ornamental plant, has emerged as a global invader in less than a century. Four morphotypes of this hybrid have been identified, with different ploidy levels and varying invasive capacities. Here, we aim to investigate the genomic variability behind the success of invasion of Kalanchoe × houghtonii. Methods We sampled 57 accessions of Kalanchoe × houghtonii, K. daigremontiana, K. delagoensis and closely related taxa, including old herbarium materials, from all over the world. We analysed the genome size and chromosome numbers, sequenced the whole genome, analysed the complete plastome sequence of each accession and studied the diversity of the ribosomal RNA genes. We also performed a detailed phylogenomic study using nuclear BUSCO genes. Key Results Our study reveals genetic and cytogenetic variability between morphotypes and shows that a single tetraploid genotype (morphotype A) dominates all populations, emerging as the first reported clonal hybrid capable of colonizing mild-climate regions worldwide. Morphotype A shows a striking genetic uniformity, high phenotypic plasticity and extremely high rates of vegetative reproduction, representing an example of a 'general-purpose genotype'. Conclusions The astonishing reproductive capacity, broad adaptability and speed at which K. × houghtonii is colonizing new regions by clonal spread highlight the importance of understanding hybridization and polyploidy in the invasion of ecosystems. Our findings underscore the need to recognize and monitor the potential invasive risks of new hybrids developed through ornamental plant breeding.
Ayudas:	Generalitat de Catalunya 2021/SGR-00315 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2020-119163GB-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PRE2021-097873
Derechos:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Lengua:	Anglès
Documento:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Materia:	Clonality ; Invasive alien plant species ; Phylogenomics ; Hybridization ; Genomics ; Ornamental plants ; Polyploidy
Publicado en:	Annals of botany, Vol. 136, Num. 1 (July 2025) , p. 179-198, ISSN 1095-8290

DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcaf076
PMID: 40273308

20 p, 2.3 MB

El registro aparece en las colecciones:
Artículos > Artículos de investigación
Artículos > Artículos publicados