NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2021: Uncovering the Genomic Basis of Adaptation in Quercus alba, a Model for Forest Trees

本行动资助2021财年美国国家科学基金会植物基因组生物学博士后研究奖学金。该奖学金支持奖学金获得者在主办实验室的研究和培训计划，该奖学金获得者还提出了扩大生物学参与的计划。德鲁·拉尔森获得的这项研究和培训计划的标题是“揭示白栎树适应的基因组基础，一种森林树木的模型”。该奖学金的主办机构是印第安纳大学、莫顿植物园和肯塔基大学，赞助科学家是马修·w·哈恩博士、安德鲁·l·希普博士和c·达纳·纳尔逊博士。森林树木是宝贵的作物物种，对许多自然和管理生态系统的功能至关重要。特别是橡树是北美最丰富和生态最重要的树木之一。它们为野生动物提供食物和栖息地，并为各种建筑和合作社提供原料。了解橡树种群如何适应当地和区域尺度，将有助于了解未来几十年这些物种和其他物种将如何受到气候变化和害虫压力的影响。众所周知，橡树物种之间会产生杂交，从而允许基因在物种之间传播。然而，对于这种基因共享如何影响橡树种群如何适应当地环境，人们知之甚少。本研究将探讨适应和杂交如何相互作用以影响美国东部橡树的基因组。它还将揭示提供抗病基因的进化，这可能对这些具有经济价值的物种的遗传改良工作有用。该研究员将指导本科生进行与该项目的科学目标相关的研究项目。他还将与莫顿植物园（Morton Arboretum）合作开展一系列年度外展活动，参与者将在活动中了解树木（和其他植物）、基因组学，以及如何在STEM领域发展事业。种群基因组学和比较基因组学方法将用于揭示塑造橡树（栎属）基因组的适应性力量，特别是白栎（栎属）。本研究将对白桦种群在局部和区域适应气候的基因组区域和基因功能分类进行研究，以期对白桦适应气候的基因组基础有一个基本的认识。待测序的自然种群的采样将集中在目前阿尔巴氏菌范围的南北两极，以便在环境之间提供最大的对比，并最大限度地检测适应差异。该项目将研究白僵菌在其分布范围内的基因组渗入情况，并检查同类物种是否贡献了具有适应意义的等位基因。该项目还将从系统发育的角度研究栎属植物抗病基因的进化。项目期间产生的数据将高度可重复使用，并可扩展用于未来的研究，并将在线提供，以促进科学界继续使用。研究成果将在学术会议和面向公众的研讨会上广泛分享。关键词：比较基因组学，林木，基因家族进化，植物基因组学，种群基因组学，自然选择，R基因该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This action funds an NSF Plant Genome Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2021. The fellowship supports a research and training plan in a host laboratory for the Fellow who also presents a plan to broaden participation in biology. The title of the research and training plan for this fellowship to Drew A. Larson is “Uncovering the genomic basis of adaptation in Quercus alba, a model for forest trees”. The host institutions for the fellowship are Indiana University, the Morton Arboretum, and the University of Kentucky, and the sponsoring scientists are Dr. Matthew W. Hahn, Dr. Andrew L. Hipp, and Dr. C. Dana Nelson. Forest trees are valuable crop species and are central to the functioning of many natural and managed ecosystems. Oaks in particular are some of the most abundant and ecologically important trees in North America. They provide food and habitat for wildlife and raw materials for a variety of construction and cooperage industries. Understanding how populations of oak trees adapt at local and regional scales will provide insight into how these and other species will be affected by climate change and pest pressure in the coming decades. Oak species are known to produce hybrids with one another, allowing genes to move among species. However, much less is known about how this sharing of genes impacts how oak populations adapt to their local environments. This research will address how adaptation and hybridization interact to affect the genomes of oaks in the Eastern United States. It will also shed light on the evolution of genes that provide resistance to disease, which may prove useful for genetic improvement efforts in these economically valuable species. The Fellow will mentor undergraduates in research projects related to the scientific goals of the project. He will also develop an annual series of outreach events in collaboration with the Morton Arboretum in which participants will learn about trees (and other plants), genomics, and how to pursue a career in STEM.Population genomic and comparative genomic methods will be used to uncover the adaptive forces that shape the genomes of oaks (Quercus spp.), and the white oak (Quercus alba) in particular. The genomic regions and functional classes of genes involved in local and regional adaptation to climate in Q. alba populations will be investigated, with the goal of developing a fundamental understanding of the genomic basis of adaptation in Q. alba. Sampling of natural populations to be sequenced will be focused at the northern and southern extremes of the current range of Q. alba, in order to provide the greatest contrast between environments and to maximize power to detect adaptive differences. The project will investigate genomic introgression into Q. alba across its range and examine whether congeneric species have contributed alleles of adaptive significance. The project will also investigate the evolution of disease resistance genes across Quercus in a phylogenetic context. Data generated during the project will be highly reusable and extendable for future research and will be available online to facilitate its continued use by the scientific community. Research outcomes will be shared broadly, both at academic conferences and public-facing seminars throughout the Fellowship. Keywords: comparative genomics, forest trees, gene family evolution, plant genomes, population genomics, natural selection, R genes.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.