Genetic Architecture and Introgression in Louisiana Iris Hybrid Zones

这项研究将遗传学和生态学结合起来，研究路易斯安那州蝴蝶花和短蝴蝶花之间的天然基因交换。我们将测试：i)影响不同微生境中生长、存活和繁殖的遗传因素的数量和基因组位置；ii)花卉和微生境特征对不同环境中不同基因型的肥力和繁殖力的相对贡献；以及iii)花卉性状、雄性可育性和微生境组合的遗传因素对黄粉菌和短毛麦冬之间基因自然转移的影响。我们拟议的研究也对农业和保护生物学都有意义。历史上，作物改良是通过我们正在研究的过程--渐进式杂交(即杂交形式之间的基因交换)实现的。因此，这项工作将辨别一些影响作物改良的遗传和生态特征。此外，我们的研究将回答有关转基因作物与其野生近亲意外交换基因的可能性的问题。这些研究在确定如何管理稀有物种方面也至少有两个应用。首先，环境变化正在通过与更常见和更多的形式(如家犬的野生犬科动物)进行自然杂交而导致稀有物种的丧失。其次，人们担心转基因物种将与野生近亲杂交，产生能够竞争性地取代野生物种的杂交类型。我们的研究将提供数据，以确定如何最好地预防这两种情况的发生。

The studies described in this proposal integrate genetics and ecology to investigate natural gene exchange between the Louisiana Iris species, Iris fulva and I. brevicaulis. We will test for: i) the number and genomic location of genetic elements that affect growth, survivorship and reproduction in different microhabitats; ii) the relative contribution of floral and microhabitat characters on the fertility and fecundity of different genotypes in different environments; and iii) the effect of genetic elements for floral traits, male fertility and microhabitat associations on the natural transfer of genes between I. fulva and I. brevicaulis.Our proposed research also has implications for both agriculture and conservation biology. Crop improvement has historically been accomplished using the process we are studying - introgressive hybridization (i.e., the exchange of genes between hybridizing forms). This work will thus discern some of the genetic and ecological traits that affect crop improvement. Further, our studies will answer questions concerning the likelihood that genetically modified (GM) crops will accidentally exchange genes with their wild relatives. These studies also have at least two applications for determining how to manage rare species. First, environmental changes are resulting in the loss of rare species through natural hybridization with more common and prolific forms (e.g., wild canids by domestic dogs). Second, there is concern that GM species will hybridize with wild relatives, producing hybrid types capable of competitively replacing the wild species. Our studies will provide data to determine how best to prevent both of these occurrences.