Large-scale organellar genomics reveals maternal evolutionary history and dynamism in the wolfberries
8 affiliations
- 1Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Goji, Research of Institute of Wolfberry Science, NingXia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences
- 2State Key Laboratory of Tropical Crop Breeding, Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
- 3Shanxi Key Laboratory of Germplasm Resources Innovation and Utilization of Vegetable and Flower, College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University
- 4School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University
- 5Western Crop Genetics Alliance, Food Futures Institute and School of Agriculture, Murdoch University
- 6Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
- 7College of Landscape Architecture, Zhejiang A&F University
- 8Department of Agricultural Biology, College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University
Abstract
Introduction: The organellar genomic diversity and maternal evolutionary history of the Lycium complex remain incompletely understood.
Methods: We compared organellar genomes from 201 accessions, with dense sampling of L. barbarum and L. ruthenicum plus representative relatives. A single L. ruthenicum mitogenome was assembled de novo and used as the reference for comparisons of 186 LR and LB-complex accessions.
Results: Plastome analyses resolved seven maternal genetic clusters and identified patterns consistent with complex maternal ancestry within the red wolfberry complex. However, plastid data alone cannot distinguish hybridization, introgression, and incomplete lineage sorting. All 201 plastomes retained a conserved quadripartite structure and 79 unique protein-coding genes. Illumina depth profiles identified a candidate 5.5-kb structural difference with strongly reduced coverage in the LB representative. The corresponding reference interval contains orf27, orf92 , and orf93 . This depth-supported interval defines a candidate mitochondrial region but does not establish its exact molecular configuration or biological function.
Discussion: This organellar resource provides a framework for testing evolutionary hypotheses and supporting wolfberry germplasm research.
Related
- Phased Chromosome-level Genome and Organellar Assemblies of Castilleja foliolosa Provide Vital Resource for Orobanchaceae Genomics
- Evolutionary relationship between organellar DNA inheritance patterns and traits of seed plants
- Evolutionary genomics of ancient and endangered Achnatherum breviaristatum on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
- A Beginner's Guide to Structural Variants in Eco‐Evolutionary Population Genomics
- Comparative population genomics reveals evolutionary potential and conservation priorities in three Procapra species.
BibTeX
@article{yin2026largescale,
title = {{Large-scale organellar genomics reveals maternal evolutionary history and dynamism in the wolfberries}},
author = {Yue Yin and Luyao Wang and Wei An and Xiaorong Bai and Xiyan Zhang and Youlong Cao and Penghao Wang and Jun He and Xiaoya Qin and Yajun Wang and Zhibing Li and Zhigang Shi and Luke R. Tembrock and Junhu Kan},
journal = {Frontiers in Plant Science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpls.2026.1956613},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1956613/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Large-scale organellar genomics reveals maternal evolutionary history and dynamism in the wolfberries
AU - Yue Yin
AU - Luyao Wang
AU - Wei An
AU - Xiaorong Bai
AU - Xiyan Zhang
AU - Youlong Cao
AU - Penghao Wang
AU - Jun He
AU - Xiaoya Qin
AU - Yajun Wang
AU - Zhibing Li
AU - Zhigang Shi
AU - Luke R. Tembrock
AU - Junhu Kan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - Frontiers in Plant Science
DO - 10.3389/fpls.2026.1956613
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1956613/full
AB - Introduction: The organellar genomic diversity and maternal evolutionary history of the Lycium complex remain incompletely understood. Methods: We compared organellar genomes from 201 accessions, with dense sampling of L. barbarum and L. ruthenicum plus representative relatives. A single L. ruthenicum mitogenome was assembled de novo and used as the reference for comparisons of 186 LR and LB-complex accessions. Results: Plastome analyses resolved seven maternal genetic clusters and identified patterns consistent with complex maternal ancestry within the red wolfberry complex. However, plastid data alone cannot distinguish hybridization, introgression, and incomplete lineage sorting. All 201 plastomes retained a conserved quadripartite structure and 79 unique protein-coding genes. Illumina depth profiles identified a candidate 5.5-kb structural difference with strongly reduced coverage in the LB representative. The corresponding reference interval contains orf27, orf92 , and orf93 . This depth-supported interval defines a candidate mitochondrial region but does not establish its exact molecular configuration or biological function. Discussion: This organellar resource provides a framework for testing evolutionary hypotheses and supporting wolfberry germplasm research.
SN - 1664-462X
ER -