Rapid evolution of weedy traits during sunflower de-domestication: the importance of hybridization and standing genetic variation

Abstract

Hybridization between crops and their wild relatives may promote the evolution of de-domesticated (feral) weeds. Wild sunflower is typically found in ruderal environments, but crop-wild hybridization may facilitate the evolution of weedy biotypes. Using one crop-specific mitochondrial marker (CMS-PET1) and 14 nuclear SSR markers, we studied the origin and genetic diversity of BRW, a recently discovered weedy biotype. Then, using a resurrection approach, we tested for rapid evolution of weedy traits (seed dormancy, herbicide resistance, and competitive ability) by sampling weedy and wild biotypes 10 years apart (2007 and 2017). All the weedy plants present the CMS-PET1 cytotype, confirming their feral origin. At the nuclear markers, BRW showed higher genetic diversity than the cultivated lines, as high genetic diversity as the most diverse wild biotypes, and low differentiation with one wild biotype, suggesting that wild hybridization increased the genetic diversity of the feral BRW. Regarding weedy trait evolution, we found support for rapid evolution towards higher seed dormancy, but not for higher competitive ability or herbicide resistance. Standing genetic variation probably facilitated the evolution of seed dormancy and limited the evolution of herbicide resistance, as no resistant alleles were found in the ancestral biotype. Our results demonstrate that natural crop-wild hybrids can evolve quickly in farmers? fields, leading to the establishment of weedy biotypes of cultivated origin. Although herbicide resistance did not evolve in BRW, management strategies aimed at preventing the evolution of resistance should be a priority in order to avoid the emergence and spread of herbicide resistant biotypes in Argentina.