Data from: Sequential horizontal gene transfers from different hosts in a widespread Eurasian parasitic plant, Cynomorium coccineum

Premise of the study: Parasites with large geographic ranges, and
different hosts in parts of their range, might acquire
horizontally-transferred genes (HGTs), which might sometimes leave a
footprint of gradual host and range expansion. Cynomorium coccineum, the
only member of the Saxifragales family Cynomoriaceae, is a root
holoparasite that occurs in water-stressed habitats from western China to
the Canary Islands. It parasitizes at least ten angiosperm families from
different orders, some of them only in parts of its range. This parasite
therefore offers an opportunity to trace HGTs as long as parasite/host
pairs can be obtained and sequenced. Methods: By sequencing mitochondrial,
plastid, and nuclear loci from parasite/host pairs from throughout the
parasite’s range and with prior information from completely assembled
mitochondrial and plastid genomes, we detected ten HGTs of five
mitochondrial genes. Key Results: The ten HGTs appear to have occurred
sequentially as C. coccineum expanded from East to West. Molecular-clock
models yield Cynomorium stem ages between 66 and 156 Myr, with relaxed
clocks converging on 66–67 Myr. Chinese Sapindales, probably Nitraria,
were the first source of transferred genes, followed by Iranian and
Mediterranean Caryophyllales. The most recently acquired gene appears to
come from a Tamarix host in the Iberian Peninsula. Conclusion: Data on
HGTs that have accumulated over the past 15 years, along with this
discovery of multiple HGTs within a single widespread species, underline
the need for more whole-genome data from parasite/host pairs to
investigate if and how transferred copies coexist with, or replace, native
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