Snapdragon color genetics study reveals natural selection in Pyrenees

Researchers from the John Innes Centre in the United Kingdom, together with collaborators from Austria, China and Australia, examined the flower colour variation of snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) in the Pyrenees, where two natural varieties meet. The study identified four interacting genes that control yellow pigment and three that control purple pigment, creating a range of colour patterns including orange and white hybrids.

The hybrids, while visually appealing to humans, are less attractive to pollinating insects, reducing their reproductive success. Natural selection therefore limits the spread of these mixed‑colour plants, confining the hybrid zone to a narrow strip about one kilometre wide. The research provides detailed insight into how subtle genetic changes influence pollinator behaviour and plant evolution.