Intermediary floral traits between natural hybrid and its parents in the Xiquexique (Cactaceae)

When Are Cacti Found with Flowers and Fruits? Estimation of the Reproductive Phenology of the Genus Xiquexique Based on Herbarium Data

“…In addition to the interaction with environmental factors, phenological patterns can influence different biological events, such as the formation of hybrids [32]. Our data revealed an overlap in the flowering periods of X. gounellei and X. tuberculatus, providing a partial explanation for potential hybrid formation, especially when these species are close geographically and genetically [22,23]. This flowering overlap presents favorable conditions for crossbreeding and the formation of hybrids [22,23].…”

“…Xiquexique gounellei is considered one of the most emblematic Caatinga species and has a wide distribution that includes all of the northeastern Brazilian states through to the central-northern state of Minas Gerais [10,23]. It grows on stony soils as well as on rock outcrops, and often dominates in regions with low and sparse vegetation [10] (Figure 2).…”

“…Both species produce white, tubular flowers having nocturnal anthesis, and both provide nectar as the main resource. They are frequently visited by bats and moths [12,13,21,23,24], and they produce fleshy, dehiscent fruits with many small, black seeds embedded in a pink pulp that are consumed by bats, birds, and lizards [13,21,23]. Xiquexique frewenii occurs on limestone outcrops in central Minas Gerais [24] and has a more restricted distribution range.…”

Cytogenetic comparison of Cuscuta psorothamnensis and C. veatchii (Convolvulaceae), two species originated from recurrent hybridization between the same diploid parents

“…Allopolyploids are a common outcome of hybridization and may arise through the fusion of two unreduced gametes (Goulet et al 2017). Subsequent to hybridization, discernible phenotypic changes may become apparent, characterized by intermediate morphological traits between the parental species (Albuquerque-Lima et al 2024). In parallel, at the genomic level, processes such as genome homogenization or concerted evolution may occur, leading to the deletion of excess genetic copies or the fixation of genes with adaptive significance (Goulet et al 2017; Borowska-Zuchowska et al 2022).…”