The interplay between aridity and competition determines colonization ability, exclusion and ecological segregation in the heteroploid Brachypodium distachyon species complex

What is it about?

Theory states that competitive superiority is necessary for polyploid establishment in nature after their derivation from their diploid parents. We provide first experimental evidence supporting that in natural field conditions polyploids formed by hybridization of two diploid species are competitively superior to one of its diploid parents and that this may be involved in their eco-geographical segregation.

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Why is it important?

Polyploidization plays a role in ecological segregation which is not well understood. Our findindgs show that superior competitive ability of allopolyploids may be involved both in ecological segregation and coexistence with their diploid ancestors