Collaborative Research: Unlocking the evolutionary history of Schiedea (carnation family, Caryophyllaceae): rapid radiation of an endemic plant genus in the Hawaiian Islands

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Plants表现出一系列不同的育种策略，但导致这种多样性的基因变化和环境条件鲜为人知。准确定位这些基因突变，了解有利于育种系统变化的环境条件，对进化生物学家和植物育种者来说都是非常感兴趣的。石竹属(石竹科，石竹科)仅发现于夏威夷群岛，是更好地了解植物繁殖策略进化的模式。在裂头虫属32个种中，有的只与同种的其他个体交配，有的只进行自交，有的还处于两者之间的过渡期。此外，不同的近亲繁殖物种使用不同的传粉者，包括最近发现的一种仅在夏威夷发现的飞蛾。该项目将应用尖端DNA测序和分析方法重建Scheidea的系谱，并调查该集团内植物育种策略的演变。该项目的数据将为植物育种策略的演变提供新的见解，这些策略可以应用于康乃馨家族的作物物种，包括苋菜、大黄、藜麦和菠菜。该项目包括多个层次的广泛教育和培训机会，包括高中教师、本科生和研究生，以及一名博士后研究员。该项目将制作关于夏威夷植物的教育视频，并将其发布在互联网上，告知公众。研究人员还将举办关于Schiedea的公开研讨会，重点介绍他们关于该类群的研究成果。该项目的主要目的是通过野外、实验室和基因组研究的综合计划，重建Schiedea(石竹科)繁育系统进化的模式。核基因组测序、靶向序列捕获和测序基因分型(GBS)方法将被用于重建高度分辨的裂片目的系统发育树，识别系统发育冲突的来源，并调查分类群之间的渗透模式。系统发育假说将被用来解释育种系统的进化，包括从两性向雌雄异株的转变，从生物授粉到非生物授粉的转变，以及与授粉生物学相关的性状(包括气味和花蜜产生)。现场研究和由GBS产生的密集分布的单核苷酸多态(SNP)标记将被用来检验关于生殖系统对基因流、杂交和种群遗传结构的影响的假设。在这个项目中获得的数据将直接应用于夏威夷的土地管理，包括建立不同Schiedea物种的野生种群。这一奖励反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Plants exhibit a diverse array of breeding strategies, but the genetic changes and environmental conditions that lead to this diversity are poorly known. Pinpointing these genetic mutations and understanding the environmental conditions that favor changes in breeding system are of great interest to both evolutionary biologists and plant breeders. The plant genus Schiedea (carnation family, Caryophyllaceae) is only found on the Hawaiian Islands and is a model to better understand the evolution of breeding strategies in plants. Among the 32 species of Schiedea, some only breed with other individuals of the same species, others only self-fertilize, and others still are transitional between the two. Additionally, different outbreeding species of Schiedea use different pollinators, including a recently discovered moth found only in Hawaii. This project will apply cutting-edge DNA sequencing and analysis methods to reconstruct the genealogy of Scheidea and investigate the evolution of plant breeding strategies within the group. Data from this project will provide new insights into the evolution of plant breeding strategies that could be applied to crop species in the carnation family, including amaranth, rhubarb, quinoa and spinach. The project incorporates extensive opportunities for education and training at multiple levels, including high school teachers, undergraduate and graduate students, and a postdoctoral researcher. The project will produce educational videos about Hawaiian plants for posting on the internet to inform the public. Researchers will also offer public seminars about Schiedea highlighting their research findings about the group.The primary aim of this project is to reconstruct the pattern of breeding system evolution in Schiedea (Caryophyllaceae) through an integrated program of field, laboratory, and genomic studies. Nuclear genome sequencing, targeted sequence capture, and Genotyping By Sequencing (GBS) methods will be used to reconstruct a highly resolved phylogenetic tree of Schiedea, identify sources of phylogenetic conflict, and investigate patterns of introgression among taxa. The phylogenetic hypotheses developed will be used to interpret the evolution of breeding systems including transitions from hermaphroditism to dioecy, shifts from biotic to abiotic pollination, and traits associated with pollination biology (including scent and nectar production). Field studies and densely distributed Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) markers generated by GBS will be used to test hypotheses concerning the influence of reproductive systems on gene flow, hybridization, and population genetic structure. Data obtained during this project will be applied directly to land management in Hawaii, including the establishment of wild populations of different Schiedea species.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.