Recurrent sex chromosome turnover mediated by distinct ARR17 and PISTILLATA duplications in willows

Key Points

• The aim is to explore how ARR17 and PISTILLATA gene duplications contribute to sex chromosome turnover in Salix species.
• Analysis of genetic structures in 15ZW clade I species
• Investigation of recombination patterns in pericentromeric regions
• Comparative genomic assessments between species
• Distinct duplications of ARR17 and PISTILLATA were identified in multiple Salix species.
• Pericentromeric regions demonstrated rare recombination events, facilitating sex chromosome changes.
• Findings indicate that these duplications influence evolutionary pathways in willows.