Transposable element contribution and biological consequence of genome size variation among wild sunflower species

Abstract

Nuclear genome size varies immensely across flowering plants, spanning nearly 2400-fold. The causes and consequences of this vast amount of variation have intrigued biologists since it became clear that nuclear DNA amount did not reflect organismal complexity (the so-called C-value paradox). In my dissertation I utilize wild sunflower species in the genus Helianthus to examine the role of transposable elements (TEs), and in particular, long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons, in generating genome size variation and whether variation in genome size influences aspects of plant growth and development across multiple organizational levels. The genus Helianthus provides an excellent system for studying these questions given four-fold variation in nuclear DNA content among diploid species and well-resolved phylogenetic relationships. Utilizing short-read Illumina data and sequence information from a diverse panel of Helianthus annuus (common sunflower) full-length LTR retrotransposons, I found that nuclear genome size in Helianthus species is positively correlated with repetitive DNA, and LTR retrotransposon subtypes generally show similar patterns in genomic abundance across taxa. Helianthus species with the largest genomes, however, exhibit large-scale amplification of a small number of LTR retrotransposon subtypes. Measuring aspects of plant growth and development at cell-, organ- and whole plant-levels in a panel of diploid Helianthus species that vary 4-fold in nuclear genome size, I found that genome size is negatively correlated with cell production rate, but that this negative correlation does not persist at higher organizational levels. Taken together, these results provide insights into the mechanisms contributing to genome size evolution in plants and the organizational level at which genome size may impact growth patterns and developmental rates. Genome expansion in wild sunflowers is influenced most significantly by amplification of a small number of TEs and not necessarily by a greater diversity of TEs. Genome size is strongly negatively correlated with cell production rate but this relationship weakens at higher organizational levels, such as that of organ and whole-plant development.