Extinction (optical mineralogy)

Gene

Abiotic component

Genome

Biotic component

Business

Biotic stress

Paleontology

Marketing

Diversification (marketing strategy)

Ecology

Polyploid

Genetics

Plant evolution

Evolutionary biology

Biology

Abiotic stress

The Plant Cell

Polyploidy has been hypothesized to be both an evolutionary dead-end and a source for evolutionary innovation and species diversification. Although polyploid organisms, especially plants, abound, the apparent nonrandom long-term establishment of genome duplications suggests a link with environmental conditions. Whole-genome duplications seem to correlate with periods of extinction or global change, while polyploids often thrive in harsh or disturbed environments. Evidence is also accumulating that biotic interactions, for instance, with pathogens or mutualists, affect polyploids differently than nonpolyploids. Here, we review recent findings and insights on the effect of both abiotic and biotic stress on polyploids versus nonpolyploids and propose that stress response in general is an important and even determining factor in the establishment and success of polyploidy.

Polyploidy: an evolutionary and ecological force in stressful times