A phylogenomic view of functional diversification among yuccas, agaves, and their relatives

Yuccas, agaves, and their relatives are iconic components arid and semiarid plant communities in Mexico and the U.S.. Ecological drivers of diversification in Agavoideae include plant-pollinator interactions and adaptations to extreme abiotic conditions. Phylogenomic analyses across the Agavoideae reveal bursts of rapid diversification with parallel evolution of pollination syndromes and adaptations to arid environments. Physiological and gene expression analyses verify independent evolution of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) in Agave and Yucca. Future collaborative work in Mexico and the U.S. will investigate how range shifts from ancestral habitats may have contributed to transitions along a continuum of C₃ and CAM photosynthesis.