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Updated: Jun 1, 2026

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Evolution of genome size in the angiosperms
Douglas E Soltis1, Pamela S Soltis, Michael D Bennett
1Department of Botany and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-5826 USA;
The ancestral genome size for flowering plants is very small, less than or equal to 1.4 picograms. This small genome size is ancestral across most major flowering plant groups, including monocots and eudicots.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Evolutionary biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Genome size (C-value) exhibits extensive variation across flowering plants (angiosperms).
- Understanding ancestral genome size and evolutionary trends is crucial for plant biology.
- Previous analyses lacked C-value data for critical basal angiosperms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolution of C-values across angiosperms.
- To reconstruct ancestral genome size using a molecular phylogenetic framework.
- To incorporate new C-value data from basal angiosperms like Amborella.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a molecular phylogenetic framework to analyze genome size evolution.
- Incorporated C-values from basal angiosperms (Amborella, Illiciaceae, Austrobaileya).
- Reconstructed genome size trends across angiosperms and extant gymnosperms.
Main Results:
- Reconstructions indicate a very small ancestral angiosperm genome size (1C ≤ 1.4 pg).
- This small genome size is ancestral for major clades, including monocots and eudicots.
- Derived positions within monocots and Santalales show very large genomes.
Conclusions:
- The ancestral genome size for angiosperms is very small.
- A small genome size is ancestral for most major flowering plant clades.
- Large genomes are characteristic of derived clades in monocots and Santalales.
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