The alpine Edelweiss genome reveals a recent allotetraploid origin and localized subgenome dominance
- 1Technical University of Munich
Abstract
Few plants symbolize the European Alps as profoundly as Edelweiss (Leontopodium nivale subsp. alpinum), yet its evolutionary origin and genomic constitution has remained elusive. We present a haplotype-resolved, chromosome-scale assembly of an L. n. alpinum accession from the Central Alps. The 3.15-Gb genome resolved 48 chromosomes in four phased sets with balanced gene and repeat landscapes. Phylogenomics partitioned these sets into two progenitor-derived subgenomes, DE and FG, demonstrating an allotetraploid origin. Comparison with the diploid subspecies L. n. nivale from Southern European Mountains (Appennines) linked DE to this sampled southern lineage, whereas FG derives from another distinct, unresolved diploid progenitor. Chloroplast genomes placed the plastid split between central Alps and Apennine samples in the recent Pleistocene, approximately 20,000 years ago, and LTR insertion-age profiles revealed recent retrotransposon activity consistent with genome shock following allopolyploidization. Although the subgenomes are broadly balanced,large inversions and elevated divergence concentrate on three chromosome groups. On Chromosome 3, structural complexity coincides with FG hypermethylation and DE-biased expression, revealing localized subgenome dominance. Together, these results support previous studies that suggested a westward expansion from the Asian centre of Leontopodium diversity, followed by differentiation and hybridization of closely related European lineages. Our assembly positions Edelweiss as an alpine model for recent allotetraploidy and enables genomic studies of demography, selection and high-alpine adaptation.
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BibTeX
@misc{bhardwaj2026alpine,
title = {{The alpine Edelweiss genome reveals a recent allotetraploid origin and localized subgenome dominance}},
author = {R. Bhardwaj and J. Grimwood and C. Plott and S. Amar and F. D. Nardi and B. T. Vo and J. W. Jenkins and K. Schneeberger and J. Schmutz and H. Schaefer and A. Tribsch and F. Johannes},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.25.761678},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.25.761678v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - The alpine Edelweiss genome reveals a recent allotetraploid origin and localized subgenome dominance
AU - R. Bhardwaj
AU - J. Grimwood
AU - C. Plott
AU - S. Amar
AU - F. D. Nardi
AU - B. T. Vo
AU - J. W. Jenkins
AU - K. Schneeberger
AU - J. Schmutz
AU - H. Schaefer
AU - A. Tribsch
AU - F. Johannes
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/25
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.25.761678
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.25.761678v1
AB - Few plants symbolize the European Alps as profoundly as Edelweiss (Leontopodium nivale subsp. alpinum), yet its evolutionary origin and genomic constitution has remained elusive. We present a haplotype-resolved, chromosome-scale assembly of an L. n. alpinum accession from the Central Alps. The 3.15-Gb genome resolved 48 chromosomes in four phased sets with balanced gene and repeat landscapes. Phylogenomics partitioned these sets into two progenitor-derived subgenomes, DE and FG, demonstrating an allotetraploid origin. Comparison with the diploid subspecies L. n. nivale from Southern European Mountains (Appennines) linked DE to this sampled southern lineage, whereas FG derives from another distinct, unresolved diploid progenitor. Chloroplast genomes placed the plastid split between central Alps and Apennine samples in the recent Pleistocene, approximately 20,000 years ago, and LTR insertion-age profiles revealed recent retrotransposon activity consistent with genome shock following allopolyploidization. Although the subgenomes are broadly balanced,large inversions and elevated divergence concentrate on three chromosome groups. On Chromosome 3, structural complexity coincides with FG hypermethylation and DE-biased expression, revealing localized subgenome dominance. Together, these results support previous studies that suggested a westward expansion from the Asian centre of Leontopodium diversity, followed by differentiation and hybridization of closely related European lineages. Our assembly positions Edelweiss as an alpine model for recent allotetraploidy and enables genomic studies of demography, selection and high-alpine adaptation.
ER -