Genesis, Evolution, and Genetic Diversity of the Hexaploid, Narrow Endemic Centaurea tentudaica

Within the genus Centaurea L., polyploidy is very common, and it believed that, as to all angiosperms, was key in history of its diversification evolution. tentudaica a hexaploid from subsect. Chamaecyanus unknown origin. In this study, we examined possible autopolyploid or allopolyploid origin using allozymes sequences three molecular markers: nuclear-ribosomic region ETS, low-copy genes AGT1 PgiC. We also included species geographically morphologically close C. tentudaica: amblensis, galianoi, ornata. Neighbor-Net Bayesian analyses show relationship between amblensis no any other species, which suggest that an amblensis. Allozyme banding pattern supports autopolyploidy hypothesis shows high levels genetic diversity polyploid, could multiple origins by recurrent crosses tetraploid diploid cytotypes Environmental niche modeling used analyze distribution parental during present, Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), Interglacial Period (LIG), Penultimate (PGM) environmental conditions. Supporting suggestions originated confirms past overlapped with tentudaica.