Context-Dependent Mode of Selfing and Inbreeding Depression: Consequences for the Evolution of Dioecy

本项目通过改变开花性状、营养生长和与昆虫传粉者的相互作用，探讨资源环境在决定植物交配系统（即植物自交与异交传粉的程度）和花粉输出中的作用。这些因素反过来又有助于形成适合特定环境的最佳植物育种系统。本研究将利用植物复制群体和遗传标记来估计资源对传粉者行为、花粉运动和交配系统的影响。这项工作将大大促进我们对为什么在干旱、资源贫乏的环境中，雌雄分离的植物比雌雄结合的植物更受青睐的理解。这项工作将广泛地了解环境变化如何通过植物生长和传粉者的相互作用影响植物育种系统。因此，这项工作将有助于我们了解气候变化和全球传粉媒介减少如何影响植物繁殖。它将促进学生在分子技术和现场实验设计方面的训练。通过参与研究工作，这些学生将成为科学领域的非正式大使，而不管他们最终的职业目标是什么。这项工作的结果将通过扩大我们对交配模式的认识，从而对栽培草莓的重要野生近缘种的遗传多样性做出贡献。

This project explores the role of resource environment in determining plant mating system (i.e., the degree that plants self versus outcross pollinate) and pollen export by altering flowering traits, vegetative growth and interactions with insect pollinators. These factors, in turn, are instrumental in shaping the optimal plant breeding system for a given environment. This work will use replicated populations of plants and genetic markers to estimate the effects of resources on pollinator behavior, pollen movement and mating system. This work will significantly advance our understanding of why plants with separate genders are favored over those with combined genders in dry, resource poor environments.This work will inform broadly on how environmental change can impact plant breeding systems via plant growth and pollinator interactions. Thus, this work will contribute to our understanding of how climate change and global pollinator declines may impact plant reproduction. It will promote student training in molecular techniques and field experimental design. By participating in the research endeavor these students will act as informal ambassadors for the field of science regardless of their final professional goals. Results of this work will contribute to society by expanding our knowledge of the mating patterns and consequently the genetic diversity of an important wild relative of the cultivated strawberry.