爵床科恋岩花属植物对中越喀斯特地貌的适应性进化研究

生物的适应性进化一直是生态学和进化生物学的热点问题。中越喀斯特地区具有复杂的地理环境，植物多样性特有性突出，是研究植物适应性进化的天然实验室。爵床科恋岩花属有7种，间断分布于中越边界及西喜马拉雅地区，前期的研究表明中越喀斯特地区的恋岩花属植物为单系类群，物种形态及微生境分化明显、分布区相对独立、群体遗传分化强烈，是研究喀斯特植物适应性进化的典型材料。本项目以中越喀斯特地区特有的六种恋岩花属植物为材料，利用新一代高通量测序技术开展非模式植物的适应性进化研究：（1）基于群体基因组学探讨其适应喀斯特地貌的遗传进化机制；（2）分析恋岩花属植物根际微生物群落多样性；（3）结合根际微生物宏基因组与根系转录组数据，探究植物与根际微生物互作对喀斯特特殊土壤的适应模式。本研究将推动爵床科的研究向更深层次发展，同时为探索植物适应特殊生境提供范例，也为理解喀斯特植物起源演化及特有现象奠定理论基础。

Adaptive evolution to natural environment has always been a core scientific problem in the field of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Because of the complicated geographical environments, Sino-Vietnamese karst region provides a natural laboratory for researching on adaptive evolution of plants. Among the seven species of Echinacanthus (Acanthaceae), one was distributed in the West Himalayan region and six were restricted to the Sino-Vietnamese karst region. Previous studies showed that Sino-Vietnamese karst group of Echinacanthus was a natural group and had obvious differentiation among species. Hence, it provided an important model for understanding the adaptive evolution in Sino-Viernamese karst region. In this study, Sino-Vietnamese karst group of Echinacanthus was a model system and the next-generation sequencing technique was employed to study adaptive evolution of non-model plants. Firstly, the genetic mechanisms of adaptive evolution will be investigated based on population genomics. Secondly, diversity of rhizosphere microorganisms will be analyzed. Thirdly, co-evolutionary associations between rhizosphere microorganisms and root transcriptomes will be discussed to infer the adaptation to the soil environment. This study is of great significance to further study of Acanthaceae. It will provide a good example of adaptation to special habitats and will be helpful for research work of limestone karst in origin, evolution and endemism.