作物驯化极大地促进了人类文明的发展，其栽培起源和时空演化一直是科学研究的焦点。然而，很多作物的驯化过程和基本的演化格局尚不清楚，亟待研究，具有“中国草”之称的重要纤维原料植物——苎麻就是一个典型案例。本项目将通过耦合不同学科数据来探讨苎麻的栽培起源和时空演化格局。首先，我们将基于叶绿体基因组和多个低拷贝核基因数据重建苎麻属完整的系统发育框架，理清苎麻属种间系统发育关系，明确栽培苎麻的野生近缘种；进而利用生物地理分析，结合化石证据，阐明苎麻属起源和多样化过程，明确苎麻的起源时间、地点及成因；此外，将对苎麻及最近野生近缘种开展群体基因组学分析，揭示栽培苎麻可能的起源地、起源时间和起源模式；最后，借助模型模拟预测不同时期苎麻潜在分布格局的变迁过程，探讨苎麻资源的保护策略。本项目将为苎麻栽培起源和演化过程提供新的认识，并将为苎麻资源的充分挖掘、合理利用及有效保护提供决策依据。

The domestication of plants was a key transition in human history, and is currently a hot spot of scientific research. However, for many crops little or nothing is known about the process of domestication; one such case is Boehmeria nivea, which is cultivated as “ramie” or “Chinese grass”. The proposed research will examine the domestication and evolution of ramie using a multidisciplinary approach. First, we will reconstruct the comprehensive phylogenetic relationships of genus Boehmeria based on cpDNA genomes and many low copy nuclear genes, in order to identify the closest wild relatives of B. nivea. Second, we will be combined with fossil evidence in a biogeographic analysis to explore the originate time, place and reasons of B. nivea. Third, we will use population genomic analysis of B. nivea and its closest wild relatives to determine the location, time and pattern of domestication for this species. Finally, we will predict potential range shifts of ramie from past to future, in response to climatic changes, using species distribution modeling. The project will not only help us to understand how ramie was domesticated, but also will provide valuable insights into the standing genetic variation within this species, with practical implications for germplasm conservation and the utilization of ramie.