Genome size and polyploids
Variation in genome size arises as a consequence of the
amplification/deletion of transposable elements (Lee & Kim 2014) or
polyploidy (i.e., whole-genome duplication), the latter often being
accompanied by interspecific hybridization (allopolyploidy) (Leitchet al. 2008). Polyploidy usually affects species characteristics
in environmental tolerance, adaptation, and plant-microbe interactions
(Van de Peer et al. 2021). However, our current study lacks
ploidy information for most species and additional studies are needed to
determine whether observed effects of genome size in driving β-diversity
arise from polyploidization or changes of transposable elements (Shethet al. 2020).