Uncovering the genomic basis of an extraordinary plant invasion.

Bieker VC, Battlay P, Petersen B, Sun X, Wilson J, Brealey JC, Bretagnolle F, Nurkowski K, Lee C, Barreiro FS, Owens GL, Lee JY, Kellner FL, van Boheeman L, Gopalakrishnan S, Gaudeul M, Mueller-Schaerer H, Lommen S, Karrer G, Chauvel B, Sun Y, Kostantinovic B, Dalén L, Poczai P, Rieseberg LH, Gilbert MTP, Hodgins KA, Martin MD

Sci Adv 8 (34) eabo5115 [2022-08-26; online 2022-08-24]

Invasive species are a key driver of the global biodiversity crisis, but the drivers of invasiveness, including the role of pathogens, remain debated. We investigated the genomic basis of invasiveness in Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed), introduced to Europe in the late 19th century, by resequencing 655 ragweed genomes, including 308 herbarium specimens collected up to 190 years ago. In invasive European populations, we found selection signatures in defense genes and lower prevalence of disease-inducing plant pathogens. Together with temporal changes in population structure associated with introgression from closely related Ambrosia species, escape from specific microbial enemies likely favored the plant's remarkable success as an invasive species.

NGI Short read [Service]

NGI Stockholm (Genomics Production) [Service]

National Genomics Infrastructure [Service]

PubMed 36001672

DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abo5115

Crossref 10.1126/sciadv.abo5115

pmc: PMC9401624


Publications 9.5.1