DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The Genetics of Adaptation to a Novel Stressful Environment in Mimulus

密切相关的种群或物种往往占据着生态上不同的栖息地。适应新的栖息地最终会导致物种形成。对不同环境的局部适应在植物和动物身上得到了反复的证明；然而，这种适应背后的特征和基因却知之甚少。这项研究的重点是寻找两种猴花的特征和基因，使它们能够在一个独特的栖息地生存下来，这两种猴花分别是Mimulus laciniatus和Bald Rock Mimulus。其他亲缘关系密切的Mimulus物种也出现在溪流和渗漏中，但M.laciniatus和BR已经独立地在恶劣的花岗岩露头环境中定居。这两个物种共有的另一个独特特征是裂叶形状。由于裂叶的生理特性，它们被预测为适应干燥、暴露的花岗岩露头环境。PI将使用基因组图谱、遗传操作、田间实验和环境操作来评估裂叶在新的花岗岩露头环境中的适应意义。了解植物如何适应恶劣环境对于农业改良和保护至关重要，特别是在气候变化的情况下。如果裂叶形状对于适应干旱环境很重要，那么它可以被纳入农业育种计划。该项目还将通过杜克大学和达勒姆公立学校的项目，提供许多机会指导本科生和高中生，包括妇女和代表性不足的少数族裔。

Closely related populations or species often occupy ecologically disparate habitats. Adaptation to new habitats can eventually lead to speciation. Local adaptation to different environments has been repeatedly demonstrated in plants and animals; however, the traits and genes that underlie this adaptation are poorly understood. This study focuses on finding the traits and genes that allow two species of Monkeyflower, Mimulus laciniatus and the as yet unnamed Bald Rock Mimulus (BR), to survive in a unique habitat. Other closely related Mimulus species occur in streams and seeps, but M. laciniatus and BR have independently colonized a harsh granite outcrop environment. Another unique characteristic that both these species share is a lobed leaf shape. Because of the physiological properties of lobed leaves they are predicted to be adaptive in the dry, exposed granite outcrop environment. The PIs will use genome mapping, genetic manipulation, field experiments, and environmental manipulations to assess the adaptive significance of lobed leaves in the novel granite outcrop environment. Understanding how plants adapt to harsh environments is essential for agricultural improvement and conservation, especially in light of climate change. If lobed leaf shape is important for adaptation to a dry environment then it could be incorporated into agricultural breeding programs. This project will also provide many opportunities to mentor undergraduates and high school students, including women and under-represented minorities, through programs at Duke and the Durham public schools.