Introgression of Abiotic Stress Response Genes across Hybrid Zones in Populus
Microsatellite-based genotype assignment of Populus species and hybrids
Results of earlier work on sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) indicate that ecological selection on plant hybrids may be strong enough to maintain/create species barriers. Within the present project we study a barrier to gene flow between two ecologically divergent Populus species using a novel approach. We aim to overcome the obstacle of long generation times through the combined use of genomic tools and natural hybrid crosses. Using this methodology, we test whether candidate genes involved in abiotic and biotic stress response, flowering phenology, and leaf development introgress more or less frequently across hybrid zones of Populus alba and P. tremula than expected under neutrality. Neutral expectations for this purpose are obtained from a genome-wide set of nuclear microsatellite markers (see related NERC- funded project).
Outputs of this one year long ‘seed grant’ from the Royal Society include: 1) a publication in a peer-reviewed journal, 2) a final project report to Royal Society, 3) information about genes of ecological interest shared with collaborators and the wider Populus genomics community. The project will be continued on a larger scale, in three 'replicate' hybrid zones.
Project Team
Project Leader: Lexer, Christian
Jodrell Laboratory
Mike Fay, Jeffrey Joseph, Christian Lexer
Project Partners and Collaborators
Austria
Federal Office for Research and Forests, Vienna
USA
University of Wyoming
Funders
UK
Royal Society