Restoring Cytonuclear Harmony: Distinct Strategies in Arabidopsis Auto- and Allopolyploids

Whole-genome duplication (WGD) disrupts cytonuclear balance by doubling nuclear content, requiring compensatory responses from organelles. In Arabidopsis auto- and allopolyploids, we found dynamic, organelle-specific mechanisms (primarily increased organellar DNA copy number rather than organelle proliferation) restore stoichiometry. Mitochondria and chloroplasts adjusted differently across generations, with distinct gene expression changes depending on polyploid type. These findings reveal that cytonuclear coordination after WGD involves complex, evolving responses, advancing our understanding of genome evolution in polyploid plants.