DISSERTATION RESEARCH: A Multi-Level Study of the Origins and Distribution of Self-Incompatibility Alleles in Lycopersion chilense

自交不亲和性（SI）基因座已成为研究选择在维持遗传多样性中的作用的模型系统。SI是一种在许多植物物种中防止近亲繁殖的遗传系统。由该奖项资助的研究将通过检查这些系统如何在分子、表型和种群水平上组织，推进对自交不亲和的遗传学知识。分子变异与不亲和型表达的关系将通过对照育种实验确定。这些关系将提供将复杂表型与DNA序列变异联系起来的宝贵信息，增加我们对复杂生物机制如何在DNA中编码的了解。将对几个野生种群的研究结果进行综合分析，以了解该物种遗传多样性的起源和分布。这项工作将利用野生番茄品种Lycopersicon chilense来完成。智利番茄是驯化番茄的近亲，是这一重要作物潜在种质资源的宝贵来源。本研究鉴定的基因可直接用于调控国产番茄的育种体系和授粉机制。

962359 Abstract Self-incompatibility (SI) loci have become model systems for studying the role of selection in maintaining genetic diversity. SI is a genetic system which prevents inbreeding in many plant species. Research funded by this award will advance knowledge on the genetics of self- incompatibility through examination of how these systems are organized at molecular, phenotypic and, populational levels. The relationship of molecular variation to the expression of incompatibility types will be determined through controlled breeding experiments. These relationships will provide invaluable information linking complex phenotypes to DNA sequence variation, increasing our knowledge of how complex biological mechanisms are coded in the DNA. Findings from several wild populations will be integrated analytically to understand the origins and distribution of genetic diversity within the species. This work will be accomplished using the wild tomato species, Lycopersicon chilense. Lycopersicon chilense represents a close relative to domesticated tomatoes and a valuable source of potential germplasm for this important crop. Genes identified in this research could be of direct utility in manipulating the breeding system and pollination mechanism of domestic tomatoes.