Collaborative Research: Effects of Genetic Diversity, Epigenetic Change, and Root-associated Fungal Colonization on Trait Variation in the Foundation plant Spartina alterniflora

诸如诊断人类健康问题和理解生物体对环境的反应等各种问题都依赖于破译DNA序列如何转化为重要特征。该项目的重点是盐沼，这是重要的沿海栖息地，通过支持主要渔业和保护免受大海洋风暴的影响而造福人类。它利用新型DNA测序方法来研究关键盐沼植物的不同株系如何对应激环境变化做出反应，以及如何通过与未充分研究的耐应激真菌的相互作用来促进对应激的反应。除了有利于盐沼，这种类型的理解是至关重要的预测对不断变化的环境，管理生物多样性，发展可持续作物，并改善疾病的治疗。该项目将在多个层次上支持学生的教育和培训，包括来自不同群体和服务不足群体的本科生。此外，该项目将由三名女性研究人员领导，作为女性在科学领域的榜样。本研究将研究在潮间带基础植物互花米草中，在洪水梯度上植物遗传和表观遗传多样性、根相关真菌以及植物结构和生理性状变异（形态、营养含量、耐盐性）之间的关系。具体而言，该项目将基因组学方法与温室和田间的实地调查和实验相结合，以解决以下问题：（1）植物遗传和表观遗传变异、根相关真菌以及植物结构和生理性状在潮间带梯度上是如何相关的？(2)根相关真菌的存在和菌株是否影响植物对非生物变量的结构和生理性状反应，这种影响是否由表观遗传变化介导？以及（3）候选基因或基因网络如何参与对生物和非生物环境的结构和生理反应，以及它们是否受到表观遗传学调控？这项工作利用了一种新的减少代表性DNA测序epiGBS协议与亚硫酸氢盐处理的DNA来测量S.互花此外，下一代测序的真菌分离株将允许记录的作用，黑暗分隔内生菌在响应这个关键的基础物种，其动态盐沼栖息地。

Issues as diverse as diagnosing human health problems and understanding organismal response to the environment rely on deciphering how DNA sequences are translated into important traits. This project focuses on salt marshes, important coastal habitats that benefit humans by supporting key fisheries and providing protection from large oceanic storms. It takes advantage of novel DNA sequencing approaches to examine how different strains of a critical salt marsh plant react to stressful environmental variation, and how responses to stress may be facilitated by interactions with an understudied stress-tolerant fungus. In addition to benefiting salt marshes, this type of understanding is critical for predicting response to changing environments, managing biodiversity, developing sustainable crops, and improving treatments for disease. The project will support the education and training of students at multiple levels, including undergraduate students from diverse and under-served populations. Additionally, the project will be led by three female investigators, serving as role models for women in science.This research will examine the relationships among plant genetic and epigenetic diversity, root-associated fungi, and plant structural and physiological trait variation (morphology, nutrient content, salt tolerance) across an inundation gradient in the intertidal foundation plant species Spartina alterniflora. Specifically, the project combines genomic approaches with field surveys and experiments in the greenhouse and the field to address the following questions: (1) How are plant genetic and epigenetic variation, root-associated fungi, and plant structural and physiological traits related across an intertidal gradient?; (2) Does the presence and strain of root-associated fungi affect plant structural and physiological trait response to abiotic variables, and is this effect mediated by epigenetic change?; and (3) How are candidate genes or gene networks involved in the structural and physiological response to the biotic and abiotic environment, and are they epigenetically regulated? The work takes advantage of a novel reduced representation DNA sequencing epiGBS protocol with bisulphite treated DNA to measure genetic and epigenetic diversity in S. alterniflora. Additionally, next generation sequencing of fungal isolates will allow for documentation of the role of dark septate endophytes in the response of this critical foundation species to its dynamic salt marsh habitat.