Scalesia leaf transcriptomics

Species within the genus Scalesia display a large variation in leaf morphology, especially the lobed leaf phenotype that evolved several times in the phylogeny. Lobed leaves are believed to be an adaptation to the hot and dry climate. To investigate selection on the lobed leaf phenotype, we examined transcriptomic data from different leaf development stages. Selection of the lobed leaf phenotype occurred through divergent evolution on ancestral genetic variation in key regulators in the KNOX-I leaf development pathway, elucidating the importance of high genetic diversity in founder populations.