POWRE: Development of Tools for the Experimental Evolution of a Floral Trait in Antirrhinum

长期以来，传粉媒介的选择一直被认为推动了艳丽花性状的进化，但传粉媒介介导的选择的作用已被证明难以在实地证明。传粉者已被证明影响植物繁殖成功和交配模式的组成部分。然而，传粉媒介的选择如何转化为多态植物群体中基因频率的变化仍然是一个主要的挑战。这项由power资助的研究的主要目的是测试传粉媒介的选择是否足以推动实验植物种群中花性特征的进化。通过使用特别合适的植物传粉者系统，提高了本研究的可行性。一种叫做硫脲的基因决定了金鱼鱼的花色。大黄蜂传粉者已被证明将这种颜色多态性与花蜜奖励联系起来。通过操纵花蜜奖励和传粉者的行为，复制实验植物种群将在许多代中受到现实选择因子不同强度的选择。有了这个模型系统，关于花性状进化的基本问题将得到直接解决。在这项研究中，将开发一种可靠的方法来确定植物基因型密切相关的多态DNA标记。此外，还将探索用于微进化预测的育性选择模型，以指导实验种群中传粉者行为数据的收集。这项研究将带来分子遗传学和计算机建模的重要工具，对植物传粉系统的进化生物学进行独特的研究。

9870405 Jones Selection by pollinators has long beeb thought to drive the evolution of showy floral characters, but the action of pollinator-mediated selection has proven difficult to demonstrate in the field. Pollinators have been shown to influence components of plant reproductive success and mating pattern. However, how pollinator selection translates into changes in gene frequencies in polymorphic plant populations remains a major challenge. The primary objective of this POWRE-funded research is to test whether selection by pollinators can be sufficient to drive the evolution of a floral character in experimental plant populations. The feasibility of this study is enhanced by the use of a particularly appropriate plant-pollinator system. A single gene, sulfurea, determines flower color in snapdragons. Bumblebee pollinators have been shown to relate this color polymorphism to nectar rewards. By manipulating nectar rewards and thus pollinator behavior, replicate experimental plant populations will be subjected to selection of varying strength by realistic selection agents over many generations. With this model system, fundamental questions about the evolution of floral traits will be addressed directly. In this research, a reliable method of determining plant genotypes will be developed using closely linked polymorphic DNA markers. Also, the fertility selection model used to generate predictions for microevolution will be explored to guide the collection of pollinator behavior data in the experimental populations. This research will bring important tools from molecular genetics and computer modeling to bear on a unique investigation in the evolutionary biology of plant-pollinator systems.