Mariana Castro

Dr. Mariana Castro

Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

15Years (2012-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 January 2020 in International Journal of Plant Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
ARAdam Roddy
Adam Roddy
GTGuillaume Théroux-Rancourt
Guillaume Théroux-Rancourt
TATito Abbo
Tito Abbo
JBJoseph W. Benedetti
Joseph W. Benedetti
CBCraig R. Brodersen
Craig R. Brodersen
KSKevin A. Simonin
Kevin A. Simonin

30 September 2017 in Plant Biology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Isabel MarquesIsabel Marques
Isabel Marques
Joao LoureiroJoao Loureiro
Joao Loureiro
DDD Draper
D Draper
MCMariana Castro
Mariana Castro
Sílvia CastroSílvia Castro
Sílvia Castro
Natural hybridisation and polyploidy are currently recognised as drivers of biodiversity, despite early scepticism about their importance. The Mediterranean region is a biodiversity hotspot where geological and climatic events have created numerous opportunities for speciation through hybridisation and polyploidy. Still, our knowledge on the frequency of these mechanisms in the region is largely limited, despite both phenomena are frequently cited in studies of Mediterranean plants. We reviewed information available from biodiversity and cytogenetic databases to provide the first estimates of hybridisation and polyploidy frequency in the Mediterranean region. We also inspected the most comprehensive modern Mediterranean Flora (Flora iberica) to survey the frequency and taxonomic distribution of hybrids and polyploids in Iberian Peninsula. We found that <6% of Mediterranean plants were hybrids, although a higher frequency was estimated for the Iberian Peninsula (13%). Hybrids were concentrated in few families and in even fewer genera. The overall frequency of polyploidy (36.5%) was comparable with previous estimates in other regions; however our estimates increased when analysing the Iberian Peninsula (48.8%). A surprisingly high incidence of species harbouring two or more ploidy levels was also observed (21.7%). A review of the available literature also showed that the ecological factors driving emergence and establishment of new entities are still poorly studied in the Mediterranean flora, although geographic barriers seem to play a major role in polyploid complexes. Finally, this study reveals several gaps and limitations in our current knowledge about the frequency of hybridisation and polyploidy in the Mediterranean region. The obtained estimates might change in the future with the increasing number of studies; still, rather than setting the complete reality, we hope that this work triggers future studies on hybridisation and polyploidy in the Mediterranean region.

1 December 2021 in Scientia Horticulturae
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
HCH. Castro
H. Castro
CSC. Siopa
C. Siopa
VCVinícius Oliveira Casais
Vinícius Oliveira Casais
MCMariana Castro
Mariana Castro
Joao LoureiroJoao Loureiro
Joao Loureiro
SCS. Castro
S. Castro

1 February 2018 in Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
NPNélida Padilla-García
Nélida Padilla-García
BRBlanca María Rojas-Andrés
Blanca María Rojas-Andrés
NLNoemí López-González
Noemí López-González
MCMariana Castro
Mariana Castro
Sílvia CastroSílvia Castro
Sílvia Castro
MMM. Montserrat Martinez-Ortega
M. Montserrat Martinez-Ortega

25 July 2017 in Plant Biology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
APA. Jesus Muñoz Pajares
A. Jesus Muñoz Pajares
FPF Perfectti
F Perfectti
Joao LoureiroJoao Loureiro
Joao Loureiro
MAM Abdelaziz
M Abdelaziz
PBPaolo Biella
Paolo Biella
JGJ M Gómez
J M Gómez