Genome-Wide Analysis of Horizontal Transfer in Non-Model Wild Species from a Natural Ecosystem Reveals New Insights into Genetic Exchange in Plants

"Horizontal transfer (HT) refers to the exchange of genetic material between distantly related species by mechanisms other than reproduction. In recent years, several studies have demonstrated the existence of horizontal transfer in eukaryotes, particularly in the context of host-parasite relationships.

However, little is known about horizontal transfers in natural ecosystems, particularly those involving non-parasitic species. In this work, we carried out a pilot study on horizontal transfers by sequencing 17 wild species sampled in the Massane forest in southern France.

Analysis of the genomes of these species revealed 12 horizontal transfer events exclusively involving transposable elements belonging to the large LTR retrotransposon family. Remarkably, half of these transfers occurred between lianas and trees, revealing a new pathway for horizontal transfers in plants."