RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Evidence for Multiple Teosinte Hybrid Zones in Central Mexico JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2021.02.11.430632 DO 10.1101/2021.02.11.430632 A1 David E. Hufnagel A1 Kathryn Kananen A1 Jeffrey C. Glaubitz A1 José de Jesuś Sánchez-González A1 John F. Doebley A1 Matthew B. Hufford YR 2021 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/02/12/2021.02.11.430632.abstract AB Hybrid zones provide an excellent opportunity for studying population dynamics and whether hybrid genetic architectures are locally adaptive. The genus Zea contains many diverse wild taxa collectively called teosinte. Zea mays ssp. parviglumis, the lowland progenitor of maize (Zea mays ssp. mays), and its highland relative Zea mays ssp. mexicana live parapatrically and, while putative hybrids have been identified in regions of range overlap, these have never been deeply explored.Here we use a broadly sampled SNP data set to identify and confirm 112 hybrids between Zea mays ssp. parviglumis and Zea mays ssp. mexicana, mostly clustered in three genetically and geographically distinct hybrid groups in Central Mexico.These hybrid groups inhabit intermediate environments relative to parental taxa. We demonstrate that these individuals are true hybrids and not products of isolation by distance or ancestral to parviglumis and mexicana. This work expands on previous studies, clearly identifying hybrid zones in Zea, genetically characterizing hybrid groups, and showing what appear to be unique genetic architectures of hybridization in distinct hybrid groups.With the potential for local adaptation, variable hybrid zone dynamics, and differential architectures of hybridization, we present these teosinte hybrids and parental taxa as a promising model system for studying hybridization and hybrid zones.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.