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Corrigendum to “The evolution of glandularity as a defense against herbivores in the tarweed clade” Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-03-15
Pearse, I. S., E. LoPresti, B. G. Baldwin, and B. Krimmel. 2024. The evolution of glandularity as a defense against herbivores in the tarweed clade. American Journal of Botany. e16281. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.16281 In Figure 1, a redundant and inadvertently mislabeled panel of Madia glomerata was removed. Figure 1 Open in figure viewerPowerPoint We apologize for this error.
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A comparative analysis of plastome evolution in autotrophic Piperales Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Matthias Jost, Stefan Wanke
PremiseMany plastomes of autotrophic Piperales have been reported to date, describing a variety of differences. Most studies focused only on a few species or a single genus, and extensive, comparative analyses have not been done. Here, we reviewed publicly available plastome reconstructions for autotrophic Piperales, reanalyzed publicly available raw data, and provided new sequence data for all previously
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Neopolyploidy‐induced changes in giant duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) alter herbivore preference and performance and plant population performance Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Hannah R. Assour, Tia‐Lynn Ashman, Martin M. Turcotte
PremisePolyploidy is a widespread mutational process in angiosperms that may alter population performance of not only plants but also their interacting species. Yet, knowledge of whether polyploidy affects plant–herbivore dynamics is scarce. Here, we tested whether aphid herbivores exhibit preference for diploid or neopolyploid plants, whether polyploidy impacts plant and herbivore performance, and
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Defining autopolyploidy: Cytology, genetics, and taxonomy Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-03-05 Zhenling Lv, Charles Addo Nyarko, Vinita Ramtekey, Helen Behn, Annaliese S. Mason
Autopolyploidy is taxonomically defined as the presence of more than two copies of each genome within an organism or species, where the genomes present must all originate within the same species. Alternatively, “genetic” or “cytological” autopolyploidy is defined by polysomic inheritance: random pairing and segregation of the four (or more) homologous chromosomes present, with no preferential pairing
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Friends without benefits: Extensive cytotype sympatry and polyploid persistence in an African geophyte Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-03-05 Damian Vaz de Sousa, Michelle Greve, Kenneth C. Oberlander
PremisePolyploidy is a major factor in plant adaptation and speciation. Multiple mechanisms contribute to autopolyploid frequency within populations, but uncertainties remain regarding mechanisms that facilitate polyploid establishment and persistence. Here we aimed to document and predict cytotype distributions of Oxalis obliquifolia Steud. ex A. Rich. across Gauteng, South Africa, and test for evidence
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Plant–soil microbe feedbacks depend on distance and ploidy in a mixed cytotype population of Larrea tridentata Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-03-04 Benjamin P. Gerstner, Robert G. Laport, Jennifer A. Rudgers, Kenneth D. Whitney
PremiseTheory predicts that mixed ploidy populations should be short‐lived due to strong fitness disadvantages for the rare ploidy. However, mixed ploidy populations are common, suggesting that the fitness costs for rare ploidies are counterbalanced by ecological benefits that emerge when rare. We investigated whether differences in ecological interactions with soil microbes help to maintain a tetraploid–hexaploid
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Anatomy of a mega‐radiation: Biogeography and niche evolution in Astragalus Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-29 Ryan A. Folk, Joseph L. M. Charboneau, Michael Belitz, Tajinder Singh, Heather R. Kates, Douglas E. Soltis, Pamela S. Soltis, Robert P. Guralnick, Carolina M. Siniscalchi
PremiseAstragalus (Fabaceae), with more than 3000 species, represents a globally successful radiation of morphologically highly similar species predominant across the northern hemisphere. It has attracted attention from systematists and biogeographers, who have asked what factors might be behind the extraordinary diversity of this important arid‐adapted clade and what sets it apart from close relatives
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The contribution of carbon budget to masting intervals in Veratrum album populations inhabiting different elevations Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-26 Yohei Ito, Gaku Kudo
PremiseMast flowering/seeding is often more extreme in lower‐resource environments, such as alpine compared to lowland habitats. We studied a masting herb that had less extreme masting at higher elevations, and tested if this difference could be explained by higher photosynthetic productivity and/or lower reproductive investment at the higher‐elevation sites.MethodsWe examined the relationship between
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Moss functional trait ecology: Trends, gaps, and biases in the current literature Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-17 Kirsten Coe, Benjamin Carter, Mandy Slate, Daniel Stanton
Functional traits are critical tools in plant ecology for capturing organism–environment interactions based on trade-offs and making links between organismal and ecosystem processes. While broad frameworks for functional traits have been developed for vascular plants, we lack the same for bryophytes, despite an escalation in the number of studies on bryophyte functional trait in the last 45 years and
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Smut fungus (Langdonia walkerae) incidence is lower in two bunchgrass species (Aristida stricta and A. beyrichiana) after fires early in the year Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-17 Jennifer M. Fill, Inga Meadows, Joan L. Walker, Raelene M. Crandall, Julia L. Kerrigan
In frequently burned southeastern USA pine-grassland communities, wiregrass (Aristida stricta and A. beyrichiana) are dominant bunchgrasses whose flowers are infected during flowering by a smut fungus (Langdonia walkerae). We hypothesized that because prescribed fire timing affects wiregrass flowering patterns, it could affect smut incidence (occurrence of smut on plants) and severity of infection
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Ontogenetic changes in ecophysiology are an understudied yet important component of plant adaptation Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-22 Erica H. Lawrence‐Paul, Jesse R. Lasky
Plants rely on adjustments in growth and development to respond to environmental stimuli. Developmental transitions, including germination, vegetative phase change, reproductive transition, and senescence, modify the growth patterns of plants and their requirements for survival. Consequently, the timing of developmental transitions and the developmental stage at which a plant encounters environmental
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Is experimental evolution relevant for botanical research? Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-22 Florian P. Schiestl
Most researchers in botany acknowledge the importance of evolution in shaping plant traits, communities, or interactions with other organisms, but nevertheless implicitly assume that ongoing evolutionary change is not fast enough to impact the outcome or repeatability of their research. Although this may be true for some studies, especially those focusing on macroevolution, for others it is less clear
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Linkages among stem xylem transport, biomechanics, and storage in lianas and trees across three contrasting environments Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-21 Ke‐Yan Zhang, Da Yang, Yun‐Bing Zhang, Xun‐Ru Ai, Lan Yao, Zhi‐Jun Deng, Jiao‐Lin Zhang
PremiseStem xylem transports water and nutrients, mechanically supports aboveground tissues, and stores water and nonstructural carbohydrates. These three functions are associated with three types of cells—vessel, fiber, and parenchyma, respectively.MethodsWe measured stem theoretical hydraulic conductivity (Kt), modulus of elasticity (MOE), tissue water content, starch, soluble sugars, cellulose,
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Correction to “Fruit and seed structure in the ANA‐grade angiosperms: Ancestral traits and specializations” Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-21
Romanov, M. S., A. V. F. Ch. Bobrov, P. S. Iovlev, M. S. Roslov, N. S. Zdravchev, A. N. Sorokin, E. S. Romanova, and M. V. Kandidov. 2024. Fruit and seed structure in the ANA-grade angiosperms: Ancestral traits and specializations. American Journal of Botany e16264. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.16264 An older version of Appendix 2 was published. Here we provide the updated corrected version of Appendix
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Genetic relatedness can alter the strength of plant–soil interactions Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-20 Kelly M. Clark, Marci J. Gallagher, Thomas Canam, Scott J. Meiners
PremiseIntraspecific variation may play a key role in shaping the relationships between plants and their interactions with soil microbial communities. The soil microbes of individual plants can generate intraspecific variation in the responsiveness of the plant offspring, yet have been much less studied. To address this need, we explored how the relatedness of seedlings from established clones of Solidago
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Neopolyploidy has variable effects on the diversity and composition of the wild strawberry microbiome Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-17 Thomas J. Anneberg, Nevin P. Cullen, Elizabeth M. O'Neill, Na Wei, Tia-Lynn Ashman
Whole-genome duplication (neopolyploidy) can instantly differentiate the phenotype of neopolyploids from their diploid progenitors. These phenotypic shifts in organs such as roots and leaves could also differentiate the way neopolyploids interact with microbial species. While some studies have addressed how specific microbial interactions are affected by neopolyploidy, we lack an understanding of how
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Arabidopsis response to copper is mediated by density and root exudates: Evidence that plant density and toxic soils can shape plant communities Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-14 Abigail Dingus, Marja I. Roslund, Soren Brauner, Aki Sinkkonen, Jeffrey D. Weidenhamer
Plants grown at high densities show increased tolerance to heavy metals for reasons that are not clear. A potential explanation is the release of citrate by plant roots, which binds metals and prevents uptake. Thus, pooled exudates at high plant densities might increase tolerance. We tested this exclusion facilitation hypothesis using mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana defective in citrate exudation.
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Amphistomy increases leaf photosynthesis more in coastal than montane plants of Hawaiian ʻilima (Sida fallax) Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-13 Genevieve Triplett, Thomas N. Buckley, Christopher D. Muir
The adaptive significance of amphistomy (stomata on both upper and lower leaf surfaces) is unresolved. A widespread association between amphistomy and open, sunny habitats suggests the adaptive benefit of amphistomy may be greatest in these contexts, but this hypothesis has not been tested experimentally. Understanding amphistomy informs its potential as a target for crop improvement and paleoenvironment
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Embracing uncertainty: The way forward in plant fossil phylogenetics Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-09 Mario Coiro
Although molecular phylogenetics remains the most widely used method of inferring the evolutionary history of living groups, the last decade has seen a renewed interest in morphological phylogenetics, mostly driven by the promises that integrating the fossil record in phylogenetic trees offers to our understanding of macroevolutionary processes and dynamics and the possibility that the inclusion of
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The evolution of glandularity as a defense against herbivores in the tarweed clade Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-09 Ian S. Pearse, Eric LoPresti, Bruce G. Baldwin, Billy Krimmel
Glandular trichomes are implicated in direct and indirect defense of plants. However, the degree to which glandular and non-glandular trichomes have evolved as a consequence of herbivory remains unclear, because their heritability, their association with herbivore resistance, their trade-offs with one another, and their association with other functions are rarely quantified.
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Morphological and genetic evidence suggest gene flow among native and naturalized mint species Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-09 Jill K. Olofsson, Torbjörn Tyler, Luke T. Dunning, Mats Hjertson, Åke Rühling, Anders J. Hansen
Cultivation and naturalization of plants beyond their natural range can bring previously geographically isolated taxa together, increasing the opportunity for hybridization, the outcomes of which are not predictable. Here, we explored the phenotypic and genomic effects of interspecific gene flow following the widespread cultivation of Mentha spicata (spearmint), M. longifolia, and M. suaveolens.
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Quantifying various aspects of chemical diversity in hybrid plants can help understanding ecological consequences of hybridization Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-08 Martin Volf, Sofian A. Renoult, Shristee Panthee, Nicole M. van Dam
Plants produce an enormous diversity of specialized metabolites that help them cope with various environmental stressors (Wetzel and Whitehead, 2020). The effects and ecological roles of chemical diversity in plants have been explored at various levels, from macroevolutionary studies to experiments exploring real-time changes in chemical composition between conspecific plants (Walker et al., 2022;
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Genetic consequences of Last Glacial–Holocene changes in snowfall regime in Arnica mallotopus populations: A plant confined to heavy-snow areas of Japan Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-02-02 Kazutoshi Masuda, Hiroaki Setoguchi, Koki Nagasawa, Shun K. Hirota, Yoshihisa Suyama, Kazuhiro Sawa, Shigeru Fukumoto, Masae I. Ishihara, Harue Abe, Hayato Tsuboi, Tsuguoki Tango, Sayoko Mori, Shota Sakaguchi
Snow is an important environmental factor affecting plant distribution. Past changes in snowfall regimes may have controlled the demographies of snow-dependent plants. However, our knowledge of changes in the distribution and demographies of such plants is limited because of the lack of fossil records.
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Young evolutionary origins of dioecy in the genus Asparagus Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-01-31 Philip C. Bentz, Zhengjie Liu, Jun-Bo Yang, Le Zhang, Sandra Burrows, John Burrows, Akira Kanno, Zichao Mao, Jim Leebens-Mack
Dioecy (separate sexes) has independently evolved numerous times across the angiosperm phylogeny and is recently derived in many lineages. However, our understanding is limited regarding the evolutionary mechanisms that drive the origins of dioecy in plants. The recent and repeated evolution of dioecy across angiosperms offers an opportunity to make strong inferences about the ecological, developmental
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As prey and pollinators, insects increase reproduction and allow for outcrossing in the carnivorous plant Dionaea muscipula Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-01-30 Laura E. Hamon, Elsa Youngsteadt, Rebecca E. Irwin, Clyde E. Sorenson
Understanding the factors that limit reproductive success is a key component of plant biology. Carnivorous plants rely on insects as both nutrient sources and pollinators, providing a unique system for studying the effects of both resource and pollen limitation on plant reproduction.
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Fine-scale genetic structure in the orchid Gymnadenia conopsea is not associated with local density of flowering plants Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-01-30 Nina Sletvold, Nina Joffard, Linus Söderquist
Density-dependent pollinator visitation can lead to density-dependent mating patterns and within-population genetic structure. In Gymnadenia conopsea, individuals in low-density patches receive more self pollen than individuals in high-density patches, suggesting higher relatedness at low density. Ongoing fragmentation is also expected to cause more local matings, potentially leading to biparental
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Erratum to Repeated domestication of melon (Cucumis melo) in Africa and Asia and a new close relative from India Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-01-29
Endl, J., E. G. Achigan-Dako, A. K. Pandey, A. J. Monforte, B. Pico, and H. Schaefer. 2018. Repeated domestication of melon (Cucumis melo) in Africa and Asia and a new close relative from India. American Journal of Botany 105(10): 1662–1671. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.1172 The name Cucumis melo L. subsp. meloides Endl & H.Schaef. was published in Endl et al. (2018) as Appendix S4 in a word document
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Fruit wings accelerate germination in Anacyclus clavatus Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-01-21 Rubén Torices, Lucía DeSoto, José Cerca, Lucie Mota, Ana Afonso, Cristina Poyatos
The lateral membranous expansions of fruits, commonly referred to as wings, have long been theorized to serve only dispersal functions. Alternatively, because winged fruits typically have earlier seed germination than unwinged fruits, we hypothesized that wings could increase the contact surface with water, ultimately triggering earlier germination.
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Thanks to our Valued Reviewers—2023 Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-01-24
The Editors gratefully acknowledge all reviewers who have generously given their time and expertise to review manuscripts submitted to the American Journal of Botany from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023. Thank you for helping AJB maintain a rigorous and fair peer-review process. Abdelaziz Mohamed, Mohamed Abley, Katie Adroit, Benjamin Afonso, Ana Ågren, Jon Ainouche, Malika Lily Aizen, Marcelo
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CYCLOIDEA paralogs function partially redundantly to specify dorsal flower development in Mimulus lewisii Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2024-01-24 Taryn S. Dunivant, Vibhuti Singh, Kaylee E. Livingston, Jack D. Ross, Lena C. Hileman
Duplicated genes (paralogs) are abundant in plant genomes, and their retention may influence the function of genetic programs and contribute to evolutionary novelty. How gene duplication affects genetic modules and what forces contribute to paralog retention are outstanding questions. The CYCLOIDEA(CYC)-dependent flower symmetry program is a model for understanding the evolution of gene duplication
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The role of genotypic and climatic variation at the range edge: A case study in winegrapes Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-12-29 Faith A. M. Jones, Carl Bogdanoff, E. M. Wolkovich
Changes in habitat suitability due to climate change are causing range shifts, with new habitat potentially available at cold range edges. We must predict these range shifts, but forecasters have limited knowledge of how genetic differences in plant physiological tolerances influence range shifts. Here, we focus on a major determinant of species ranges—physiological tolerance to extreme cold—to ask
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Among-individual variation in flowering phenology affects flowering synchrony and mating opportunity Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-12-21 Wendy R. Shelton, Randall J. Mitchell, Dorothy A. Christopher, Loretha P. Jack, Jeffrey D. Karron
The timing and pattern of a plant's flowering can have important consequences for reproductive success. Variation in flowering phenology may influence the number of prospective mates, the risk of mating with lower quality individuals, and the likelihood of self-pollination. Here we use a common garden experiment to explore within- and among-population variation in phenology. Our work provides new insights
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Resurrected seeds from herbarium specimens reveal rapid evolution of drought resistance in a selfing annual Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-12-15 Kyle Christie, Natalie R. Pierson, Liza M. Holeski, David B. Lowry
Increased aridity and drought associated with climate change are exerting unprecedented selection pressures on plant populations. Whether populations can rapidly adapt, and which life history traits might confer increased fitness under drought, remain outstanding questions.
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What explains the high island endemicity of Philippine Rafflesia? A species distribution modeling analysis of three threatened parasitic plant species and their hosts Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-12-07 Jasper J. A. Obico, R. Sedricke C. Lapuz, Julie F. Barcelona, Pieter B. Pelser
Rafflesia are rare holoparasitic plants. In the Philippines, all but one species are found only on single islands. This study aimed to better understand the factors contributing to this distributional pattern. Specifically, we sought to determine whether narrow environmental tolerances of host and/or parasite species might explain their island endemicity.
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Mongolitria: A new Early Cretaceous three-valved seed from Northeast Asia Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-12-05 Maya A. Bickner, Fabiany Herrera, Gongle Shi, Niiden Ichinnorov, Peter R. Crane, Patrick S. Herendeen
Fossil seeds recovered from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia and Inner Mongolia, China, are described and assigned to Mongolitria gen. nov., a new genus of gymnosperm seed.
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Modelling the carbon balance in bryophytes and lichens: Presentation of PoiCarb 1.0, a new model for explaining distribution patterns and predicting climate-change effects Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-12-01 Nada Nikolić, Gerhard Zotz, Maaike Y. Bader
Bryophytes and lichens have important functional roles in many ecosystems. Insight into their CO2-exchange responses to climatic conditions is essential for understanding current and predicting future productivity and biomass patterns, but responses are hard to quantify at time scales beyond instantaneous measurements. We present PoiCarb 1.0, a model to study how CO2-exchange rates of these poikilohydric
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Gamete sex and elevation affect genetically based variation for unreduced gamete production in a mixed-ploidy plant Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Sarah DeVries, Paul Kron, Brian C. Husband
Unreduced gametes are the primary mechanism of neopolyploid formation. Their production in diploid populations is arguably maladaptive, but the magnitude and patterns of genetically based variation maintained in natural populations are poorly understood.
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First fossil woods and palm stems from the mid-Paleocene of Myanmar and implications for biogeography and wood anatomy Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-29 Nicolas Gentis, Alexis Licht, Dario De Franceschi, Zaw Win, Day Wa Aung, Guillaume Dupont-Nivet, Anaïs Boura
The rise of angiosperm-dominated tropical rainforests has been proposed to have occurred shortly after the Cretaceous–Paleogene transition. Paleocene fossil wood assemblages are rare yet provide important data for understanding these forests and whether their wood anatomical features can be used to document the changes that occurred during this transition.
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Plant physical defenses contribute to a latitudinal gradient in resistance to insect herbivory within a widespread perennial grass Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-29 Kevin C. Headrick, Thomas E. Juenger, Robert W. Heckman
Herbivore pressure can vary across the range of a species, resulting in different defensive strategies. If herbivory is greater at lower latitudes, plants may be better defended there, potentially driving a latitudinal gradient in defense. However, relationships that manifest across the entire range of a species may be confounded by differences within genetic subpopulations, which may obscure the drivers
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Fruit and seed structure in the ANA-grade angiosperms: Ancestral traits and specializations Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-29 Mikhail S. Romanov, Alexey V. F. Ch. Bobrov, Peter S. Iovlev, Maxim S. Roslov, Nikita S. Zdravchev, Alexey N. Sorokin, Ekaterina S. Romanova, Maxim V. Kandidov
The representatives of the ANA-grade angiosperms demonstrate a diverse pattern of morphological characters, but their apocarpous gynoecium (except in Nymphaeaceae), composed of at least partly ascidiate carpels, the four-nucleate and four-celled female gametophyte, and the diploid endosperm (except in Amborella) are inferred to be plesiomorphies. Since the structure of fruits in Austrobaileyales is
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Hybridization in agricultural weeds: A review from ecological, evolutionary, and management perspectives Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-29 Anna S. Westbrook, Antonio DiTommaso
Agricultural weeds frequently hybridize with each other or with related crop species. Some hybrid weeds exhibit heterosis (hybrid vigor), which may be stabilized through mechanisms like genome duplication or vegetative reproduction. Even when heterosis is not stabilized, hybridization events diversify weed gene pools and often enable adaptive introgression. Consequently, hybridization may promote weed
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Long-term biocrust responses to wildfires in Washington, USA Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-29 Heather T. Root, Julian Chan, Jeanne Ponzetti, David A. Pyke, Bruce McCune
Dryland ecosystems in the western United States are affected by invasive species, wildfires, livestock grazing, and climate change in ways that are difficult to distinguish. Biocrusts perform important ecological roles in these systems and are sensitive to all of these pressures.
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Not just females and males: Unravelling the complex sex determinism of the hemp palm, Trachycarpus fortunei Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-28 Antoine Jousson, Yamama Naciri, Camille Christe, Brigitte Marazzi, Fred Stauffer
The ornamental Asian palm Trachycarpus fortunei (Arecaceae: Coryphoideae) is widely planted in temperate regions. In Europe, it has spread outside of gardens, particularly on the southern side of the Alps. Sexual expression in the species is complex, varying from dioecy to polygamy. This study investigated (1) sexual floral development and (2) genetic markers implicated in sex determinism.
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Leaf traits linked to structure and palatability drive plant–insect interactions within three forested ecosystems Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-28 Lauren Azevedo-Schmidt, Ellen D. Currano
Plant traits and insect herbivory have been highly studied within the modern record but only to a limited extent within the paleontological. Preservation influences what can be measured within the fossil record, but modern methods are also not compatible with paleobotanical methods. To remedy this knowledge gap, a comparable framework was created here using modern and paleobotanical methods, allowing
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Taxonomic insights from floral scents of western North American sessile-flowered Trillium Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-08 Kjirsten A. Wayman, Matthew J. Reilly, Alaina R. Petlewski
Chemical composition of floral volatiles can be an important complement to morphological characters in describing and identifying species. Four of the five species of western sessile-flowered Trillium are challenging to distinguish morphologically due to wide intraspecific variation and overlapping characters among taxa. Characterizing their floral volatile compositions could aid future taxonomic,
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Herbarium specimen label transcription reimagined with large language models: Capabilities, productivity, and risks Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-08 William N. Weaver, Brad R. Ruhfel, Kyle J. Lough, Stephen A. Smith
Natural history collections balance immense scientific value with financial constraints. Despite their key role in biodiversity research, they often face resource and staffing shortages. Within this complex landscape, the rise of large language models (LLMs; see Table 1 for definitions of italicized terms), particularly ChatGPT, is notable (OpenAI, San Francisco, California). LLMs have quickly gained
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Relationships among sporophytic and gametophytic traits of 27 subtropical montane moss species Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-08 Yunyu He, Maaike Y. Bader, Dandan Li, Lloyd R. Stark, Xiaoming Li, Xin Liu, Qizhang Yuan, Shuiliang Guo, Zhiqiang Fang, Zhe Wang
Moss sporophytes differ strongly in size and biomass partitioning, potentially reflecting reproductive and dispersal strategies. Understanding how sporophyte traits are coordinated is essential for understanding moss functioning and evolution. This study aimed to answer: (1) how the size and proportions of the sporophyte differ between moss species with and without a prominent central strand in the
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Molecular phylogeography and historical demography of a widespread herbaceous species from eastern North America, Podophyllum peltatum Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-11-08 Chenxi Wang, Zhao-Yan Yap, Penglei Wan, Kuangqi Chen, Ryan A. Folk, Dixie Z. Damrel, Wayne Barger, Alvin Diamond, Charles Horn, Garrie P. Landry, Tharanga Samarakoon, Stephanie Harvey, David R. Morgan, Yingxiong Qiu, Pan Li
Glacial/interglacial cycles and topographic complexity are both considered to have shaped today's diverse phylogeographic patterns of taxa from unglaciated eastern North America (ENA). However, few studies have focused on the phylogeography and population dynamics of wide-ranging ENA herbaceous species occurring in forest understory habitat. We examined the phylogeographic pattern and evolutionary
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The consequences of winter climate change for plant performance Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-26 Jill T. Anderson
With continually increasing summer temperatures and intense heat waves, it can be easy to neglect the ecological effects of winter climate change. However, shifts in the climate during winter can have profound consequences for eco-evolutionary dynamics in extratropical latitudes and high-elevation locales. Climate change has increased winter temperatures, disrupted snowpack, and reduced ice cover (Rixen
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Nuclear and chloroplast DNA phylogeography reveals high genetic diversity and postglacial range expansion in Quercus mexicana Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-16 Vanessa Sánchez-Acevedo, Antonio González-Rodríguez, César Andrés Torres-Miranda, Hernando Rodríguez-Correa, Susana Valencia-Á., Ivan M. De-la-Cruz, Ken Oyama
Phylogeographical studies are fundamental for understanding factors that influence the spatial distribution of genetic lineages within species. Population expansions and contractions, distribution shifts, and climate changes are among the most important factors shaping the genetic compositions of populations.
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The 141-year period for Dr. Beal's seed viability experiment: A hybrid surprise Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-09 Margaret B. Fleming, Lauren Stanley, Robyn Zallen, Matthew T. Chansler, Lars A. Brudvig, David B. Lowry, Marjorie Weber, Frank W. Telewski
In 1879, Dr. William Beal buried 20 glass bottles filled with seeds and sand at a single site at Michigan State University. The goal of the experiment was to understand seed longevity in the soil, a topic of general importance in ecology, restoration, conservation, and agriculture, by periodically assaying germinability of these seeds over 100 years. The interval between germination assays has been
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Replicated radiations in the South American marsh pitcher plants (Heliamphora) lead to convergent carnivorous trap morphologies Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-08 Sukuan Liu, Stacey D. Smith
The evolution of carnivorous pitcher traps across multiple angiosperm lineages represents a classic example of morphological convergence. Nevertheless, no comparative study to-date has examined pitcher evolution from a quantitative morphometric perspective.
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Comprehensive phylogenomic time tree of bryophytes reveals deep relationships and uncovers gene incongruences in the last 500 million years of diversification Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-04 Julia Bechteler, Gabriel Peñaloza-Bojacá, David Bell, J. Gordon Burleigh, Stuart F. McDaniel, E. Christine Davis, Emily B. Sessa, Alexander Bippus, D. Christine Cargill, Sahut Chantanoarrapint, Isabel Draper, Lorena Endara, Laura L. Forrest, Ricardo Garilleti, Sean W. Graham, Sanna Huttunen, Javier Jauregui Lazo, Francisco Lara, Juan Larraín, Lily R. Lewis, David G. Long, Dietmar Quandt, Karen Renzaglia
Bryophytes form a major component of terrestrial plant biomass, structuring ecological communities in all biomes. Our understanding of the evolutionary history of hornworts, liverworts, and mosses has been significantly reshaped by inferences from molecular data, which have highlighted extensive homoplasy in various traits and repeated bursts of diversification. However, the timing of key events in
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Neither lysigenous nor just oil: Demystifying myrtaceous secretory cavities Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-04 José F. Richit, Shirley V. N. Díaz, Luís F. P. Dick, Jorge E. A. Mariath
Leaf subepidermal secretory cavities are a notable trait in Myrtaceae, but their formation is still controversial because of the lack of consensus on their ontogeny among authors. Knowledge about the compounds present in these cavities has grown over the last few years, demonstrating that terpenoid-rich oils are not their unique content. These two points are the focus of this study on the ontogeny
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Aging varies greatly within a single genus: A demographic study of Rhododendron spp. in botanic gardens Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-10-04 H. Maria Baden, Fernando Colchero, Rob Cubey, Johan P. Dahlgren
There is mounting evidence that age matters in plant demography, but also indications that relationships between age and demographic rates may vary significantly among species. Age-based plant demographic data, however, are time-consuming to collect and still lacking for most species, and little is known about general patterns across species or what may drive differences.
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“Ectopic Cambia: Connections Between Natural and Experimental Vascular Mutants” Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-09-26 Israel L. Cunha Neto, Joyce G. Onyenedum
One of the most remarkable innovations in the evolution of vascular plants is secondary growth: the developmental process by which plants grow thicker. The textbook illustration of secondary growth––a core of secondary xylem surrounded by a sheath of secondary phloem––is generated through a cylindrical meristem called the vascular cambium (Fig. 1A). This modality is conserved across thousands of species
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The oldest known clones of Salix herbacea growing in the Northern Apennines, Italy are at least 2000 years old Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-09-27 Giada Centenaro, Alessandro Petraglia, Michele Carbognani, Andrea Piotti, Csilla Hudek, Ulf Büntgen, Alan Crivellaro
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Where to draw the boundaries? Using landscape genomics to disentangle the scribbly gum species complex Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-09-25 Susan Rutherford, Maurizio Rossetto, Jason G. Bragg, Justin S. H. Wan
Species delimitation is an integral part of evolution and ecology and is vital in conservation science. However, in some groups, species delimitation is difficult, especially where ancestral relationships inferred from morphological or genetic characters are discordant, possibly due to a complicated demographic history (e.g., recent divergences between lineages). Modern genetic techniques can take
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No end in sight: Mysteries of the telomeric variation in plants Am. J. Bot. (IF 3.0) Pub Date : 2023-09-21 Surbhi Kumawat, Jae Young Choi
THE TELOMERE PARADOX: CONSERVED FUNCTION BUT RAPID MOLECULAR EVOLUTION One of the most fascinating phenomena in evolutionary biology is the rapid evolution of genes with conserved functions across the tree of life. Because cellular and organismal development processes are highly conserved across eukaryotes, a naive evolutionary expectation is that the genes involved in those processes would also be