RAD-seq reveals genetic structure of the F2-generation of natural willow hybrids (Salix L.) and a great potential for interspecific introgression

Abstract Background Hybridization of species with porous genomes can eventually lead to introgression via repeated backcrossing. The potential for introgression between species is reflected by the extent of segregation distortion in later generation hybrids. Here we studied a population of hybrids between Salix purpurea and S. helvetica that has emerged within the last 30 years on a glacier forefield in the European Alps due to secondary contact of the parental species. We used 5758 biallelic SNPs produced by RAD sequencing with the aim to ascertain the predominance of backcrosses (F1 hybrid x parent) or F2 hybrids (F1 hybrid x F1 hybrid) among hybrid offspring. Further, the SNPs were used to study segregation distortion in the second hybrid generation. Results The analyses in structure and NewHybrids revealed that the population consisted of parents and F1 hybrids, whereas hybrid offspring consisted mainly of backcrosses to either parental species, but also some F2 hybrids. Although there was a clear genetic differentiation between S. purpurea and S. helvetica (FST = 0.24), there was no significant segregation distortion in the backcrosses or the F2 hybrids. Plant height of the backcrosses resembled the respective parental species, whereas F2 hybrids were more similar to the subalpine S. helvetica. Conclusions The co-occurrence of the parental species and the hybrids on the glacier forefield, the high frequency of backcrossing, and the low resistance to gene flow via backcrossing make a scenario of introgression in this young hybrid population highly likely, potentially leading to the transfer of adaptive traits. We further suggest that this willow hybrid population may serve as a model for the evolutionary processes initiated by recent global warming

STRUCTURE_input_Salix

This file contains the dataset generated for the population genetic analysis of Salix purpurea (Sp1-Sp10), S. helvetica (Sh1-Sh10) and their first (Hybrid1-45) and second generation hybrids (Hyb+nr). The genotype data is arranged in STRUCTURE format. The alleles at the 5758 loci are coded by numbers (1=A, 2=C, 3=G, 4=T). The loci names are arbitrary numbers assigned by STACKS. For more information on the hybrids see also BioProject ID PRJNA429746

Data from: RAD-seq reveals genetic structure of the F2-generation of natural willow hybrids (Salix L.) and a great potential for interspecific introgression

Background: Hybridization of species with porous genomes can eventually lead to introgression via repeated backcrossing. The potential for introgression between species is reflected by the extent of segregation distortion in later generation hybrids. Here we studied a population of hybrids between Salix purpurea and S. helvetica that has emerged within the last 30 years on a glacier forefield in the European Alps due to secondary contact of the parental species. We used 5,758 biallelic SNPs produced by RAD sequencing with the aim to ascertain the predominance of backcrosses (F1 hybrid x parent) or F2 hybrids (F1 hybrid x F1 hybrid) among hybrid offspring. Further, the SNPs were used to study segregation distortion in the second hybrid generation. Results: The analyses in STRUCTURE and NewHybrids revealed that the population consisted of parents and F1 hybrids, whereas hybrid offspring consisted mainly of backcrosses to either parental species, but also some F2 hybrids. Although there was a clear genetic differentiation between S. purpurea and S. helvetica (FST = 0.24), there was no significant segregation distortion in the backcrosses or the F2 hybrids. Plant height of the backcrosses resembled the respective parental species, whereas F2 hybrids were more similar to the subalpine S. helvetica. Conclusions: The co-occurrence of the parental species and the hybrids on the glacier forefield, the high frequency of backcrossing, and the low resistance to gene flow via backcrossing make a scenario of introgression in this young hybrid population highly likely, potentially leading to the transfer of adaptive traits. We further suggest that this willow hybrid population may serve as a model for the evolutionary processes initiated by recent global warming