Incomplete reproductive isolation between Rhododendron taxa enables hybrid formation and persistence
Li-Jun Yan1,2,3,4†, Kevin S. Burgess5†, Wei Zheng1,3, Zhi-Bin Tao1,3, De-Zhu Li1,2,3* and Lian-Ming Gao1*
1Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China 2Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China 3Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China 4College of Vocational and Technical Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650092, China 5Department of Biology, College of Letters & Sciences, Columbus State University, University System of Georgia, 31907-5645 Columbus, GA, USA
†These authors contributed equally to this work. *Correspondences:
Email: Lian-Ming Gao (gaolm@mail.kib.ac.cn, Dr. Gao is fully responsible for the distribution of all materials associated with this article); De-Zhu Li (dzl@mail.kib.ac.cn)