Publications on hybridisation between pine species
Two recent articles by Prof. Wachowiak’s team (Molecular Ecology and BMC Plant Biology) provide complementary evidence on the repeatability of hybridization between Pinus sylvestris and Pinus mugo. Analyses of thousands of individuals from multiple contact zones show that, despite environmental differences, early stages of hybrid speciation follow a similar pattern. The studies document widespread, asymmetric gene flow and strong selection favoring hybrids, particularly those with more P. mugo ancestry. Signatures of adaptive introgression, including genes linked to water-stress and pathogen response, occur across different contact zones, with some local exceptions. These findings underscore the role of hybridization in generating adaptive diversity, the value of contact zones as natural evolutionary laboratories, and offer new insights into the origin of Pinus uliginosa.
Whole articles can be found here: : https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.70137