DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The role of pathogen resistance in the establishment and persistence of polyploid lineages

植物经常复制它们的整个基因组，在一个称为多倍体的过程中，它们的染色体数量翻倍。值得注意的是，这些多倍体不仅经常茁壮成长，而且对开花植物的生物多样性做出了重大贡献。然而，由于新形成的多倍体谱系遭受了广泛的生态代价，它们的普遍存在令人困惑。这项研究评估的一种可能性是，多倍体植物的成功源于对寄生虫和病原体的抵抗力增强。这一假设将通过数学模型和对合成多倍体植物的实地研究来验证。初步的数学结果表明，多倍体植物最初的抗性应该比二倍体更强。结合本研究提出的实地研究，本研究将探讨多倍体如何形成病原体抗性，并可能为植物基因组复制的意外流行提供一般解释。此外，这项研究将提供一个独特的机会，本科生接受训练，在生物学和数学的界面。该学生将参与拟议研究的数学建模和现场组成部分，使他们能够看到相关的数学理论是如何发展的，然后在现场进行测试。最后，这项研究可能为确定宿主对病原体抗性的遗传基础提供一种新的方法。

Plants frequently duplicate their entire genomes, doubling their chromosome number in a process called polyploidization. Remarkably, not only do these polyploids often thrive, but also make significant contributions to the biodiversity of flowering plants. However, because newly formed polyploid lineages suffer a broad range of ecological costs, their ubiquity is puzzling. One possibility, which is evaluated by this research, is that the success of polyploid plants stems from increased resistance to parasites and pathogens. This hypothesis will be tested using mathematical models and field studies of synthetic polyploid plants. Preliminary mathematical results demonstrate that polyploid plants should be initially more resistant than diploids. Combined with the proposed field studies, this research will investigate how polyploidy shapes pathogen resistance, and may provide a general explanation for the unexpected prevalence of genome duplication within plants. In addition, this research will provide a unique opportunity for an undergraduate student to receive training at the interface of biology and mathematics. This student will participate in both the mathematical modeling and field components of the proposed research, allowing them to see how relevant mathematical theory is developed and then tested in the field. Finally, this research may provide a novel approach to determining the genetic basis of host resistance to pathogens.