How can the study of meiosis be helpful in understating the relation between the three?
I think there is connection between all of them as syncytes may lead to polyploidy in turn lead to evolution
Singular syncytium: plural syncytia - in plants cell fusion in endosperm-placental syncytium formation in Utricularia have been reported. They however seem to have a specific role of aiding efficiency in food absorption across the placenta. Most of the time nuclei are independent and may even have membranes separating them looking at meiosis to see if there is any relationship may not be the best way to look at this phenomena. The best thing is to look for those rare moments when nuclei actually fuse leading to polyploidy hence creation of new species and evolution.
The opportunity for irregular meiosis increases in the initial generations after a polyploid is formed. There are clear indications of bidirectional reticulated introgression between diploid and tetraploid species in genus such as betula and rhododendron. This introgression is most likely occurring due to a triploid pathway since triploids in both genus can be fertile.
Triploid rhododendron can produce diploid, triploid, tetraploid, and pentaploid offspring as well as aneuploids. Neotetraploid rhododendron can produce diploid offspring in the first generation.
In our hand crosses of 3x X 4x deciduous azaleas, triploids, tetraploids and pentaploids as well as aneuploids between 3x and 4x have resulted. The pentaploids from such crosses are often fertile.
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