Comparative Genomics of Hybrid Incompatibility in Lycopersicon

这项研究的重点是番茄-包括驯化番茄的物种组-以确定杂交花粉和种子不育的遗传基础，这是茄科番茄家族物种之间最强的生殖隔离障碍。本研究利用番茄属5个不同种的比较基因组特征图谱，结合经典遗传学和表型分析，将：1）确定导致种间花粉和种子不育的遗传区域的数量、个体效应和在基因组中的位置; 2）确定这些不同遗传区域之间相互作用的表型结果;番茄属植物种间生殖隔离障碍是农业利用野生种质资源的重要障碍，也是生物多样性起源的基础。尽管如此，人们对负责生殖隔离的基因知之甚少，特别是在植物物种中。这项研究将提供详细的洞察杂种不育的遗传基础之间的多个物种在一个经济上重要的植物群体。研究产品将包括基因组数据和资源，这些数据和资源可能会增加野生物种中发现的农业有用性状的可获得性，从而有助于开发新的作物资源。由于它们的密切关系，这项工作也可能有助于确定其他重要经济植物（包括马铃薯，茄子和辣椒）中负责杂种不育的基因。该研究还将为本科生、研究生和博士后研究人员提供植物育种、基因组学和进化生物学方面的多样化培训环境。

This research focuses on Lycopersicon - the species group that includes the domesticated tomato - to identify the genetic basis of hybrid pollen and seed sterility, two of the strongest reproductive isolating barriers among species in the Solanaceae, the tomato family. Using comparative genomic trait mapping between five different Lycopersicon species, in combination with classical genetics and phenotyping, the research will: 1) identify the number, individual effect, and location within the genome, of genetic regions that cause pollen and seed sterility among species; 2) determine the phenotypic consequences of interactions among these different genetic regions; and, 3) develop the groundwork to identify individual genes directly responsible for interspecific reproductive barriers among Lycopersicon species.Reproductive isolation barriers are a substantial obstacle to agricultural exploitation of wild germplasm and are fundamental to the origin of biodiversity. Nonetheless, very little is known about the genes responsible for reproductive isolation, especially among plant species. This research will provide detailed insight into the genetic basis of hybrid sterility among multiple species in an economically important plant group. Research products will include genomic data and resources that may increase the accessibility of agriculturally useful traits found in wild species, and thereby aid the development of new crop resources. Due to their close relationship, this work may also help in identifying genes responsible for hybrid sterility in other economically important plants, including potato, eggplant, and pepper. The research will also provide a diverse training environment for undergraduates, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers, in plant breeding, genomics, and evolutionary biology.