DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Genetic consequences of the shift to asexuality in bryophytes: Insights from the hornwort <I>Megaceros aenigmaticus</I>

论文研究：苔藓植物向无性转变的遗传后果：来自金鱼藻<I>Megaceros aenigmaticus</I>的见解

• 批准号: 0910258
• 负责人: Bernard Goffinet
• 金额: $ 0.96万
• 依托单位: University of Connecticut
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-06-01 至 2012-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0910258&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Genetic; consequences; shift

Hornworts are primitive plants growing in damp, humid habitats that lack seeds and vascular tissue. These simple plants exhibit a complex variety of breeding systems, with some species engaging in sexual reproduction and others propagating asexually. The reasons for the evolution of asexuality and its effects on genetic variation in plants are important issues in plant evolution. This project will examine the loss of sexual reproducing in a species of hornwort growing in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. These asexual hornworts were thought to be an endemic species restricted to the Appalachians. But recently other members of the species were found in Costa Rica, and in that locale the species reproduces sexually. Using gene sequence data the researchers will determine the relationships of the Appalachian and Costa Rican hornwort populations and the effect of the loss of sex on genetic variation in natural populations. The work will address broad issues in the evolution of plant sexuality and genetic variation in natural populations.The research will provide scientific data relevant to the conservation of this unusual hornwort in North America. The graduate student will participate in local biodiversity activities such as BioBlitz, a citizen science activity involving the general public in making a census of species in an area, and he will present public lectures at the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and other venues. The research will support several international collaborative projects with researchers in Central America.

霍恩沃尔特（Hornworts）是在缺乏种子和血管组织的潮湿，潮湿的栖息地中生长的原始植物。 这些简单的植物表现出各种复杂的繁殖系统，有些物种参与有性繁殖，而另一些物种则无性繁殖。 无性无性发展及其对植物遗传变异的影响的原因是植物进化的重要问题。该项目将研究在阿巴拉契亚南部山区种植的霍恩沃特种类中的性繁殖丧失。 这些无性饥饿者被认为是限于阿巴拉契亚人的地方性物种。 但是最近在哥斯达黎加发现了该物种的其他成员，在该地区，该物种会在性行为中重现。 使用基因序列数据，研究人员将确定阿巴拉契亚和哥斯达黎加霍恩沃特人群的关系，以及性别丧失对自然种群遗传变异的影响。 这项工作将解决植物性发展和自然种群遗传变异的广泛问题。该研究将提供与北美这种不寻常霍恩沃特的保护有关的科学数据。 研究生将参加当地的生物多样性活动，例如Bioblitz，Bioblitz是一项公民科学活动，涉及公众在某个地区进行物种人口普查，他将在Great Smoky Mountain National Park和其他场所介绍公开演讲。 该研究将支持与中美洲研究人员的几个国际合作项目。