Genomic footprints of selfing, introduction history, and long-distance dispersal in an invasive alien plant

Biological invasions are natural experiments for studying the evolutionary and ecological processes underlying colonization success and range expansion. Using genome-wide data—generated via genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) from 30 populations spanning Europe and South Africa—we investigated the colonization history and successful spread of the invasive buttonweed Cotula coronopifolia, an annual plant introduced into Europe from South Africa about 300 years ago. Our analyses identified three major lineages in Europe distributed across the continent, often co-occurring without evidence of admixture. Phylogenomic dating revealed that these lineages diverged > 2,000 years ago—well before the earliest European records—suggesting divergence within the native range and either multiple introductions or a single introduction with multiple lineages. Mating-system inference shows that reproduction occurs primarily via self-fertilization (∼70% on average), although outcrossing predominates in some populations, revealing a facultative mating system. This high selfing rate has led to extremely low heterozygosity in most populations and a strong genetic structure. Genetic clustering also revealed admixed individuals resulting from rare inter-lineage outcrossing; comparisons of empirical and simulated data indicate that increased diversity after sporadic admixture events decays rapidly under subsequent selfing. Both the introduction history and long-distance dispersal facilitated by waterbirds likely explain the scattered distribution of lineages across Europe. Altogether, these results illustrate Baker’s “ideal weed” concept, highlighting the role of a flexible mating system in providing reproductive assurance during colonization and showing how predominant selfing can shape the genomic landscape of an invasive species.