DISSERTATION RESEARCH: An integrative genomic study of multiple domestication events in squash and pumpkin (Cucurbita, Cucurbitaceae)

驯化从根本上改变了野生物种，以满足人类的需求，产生了与野生动物截然不同的特征。 本研究将利用遗传学和基因组学的方法，以获得新的见解南瓜和南瓜（葫芦）驯化，并确定可能参与驯化过程中的基因。 南瓜是独一无二的，因为在这个单一的属中，有来自不同野生祖先的多个驯化事件。 这些多驯化事件使南瓜一个特别有价值的系统，在其中研究作物进化。 尖端的DNA测序技术将被用来解决几十年来一直困扰研究人员的物种关系。 这一框架将为研究西葫芦驯化的遗传基础提供背景。潜在的驯化基因将推断从DNA多样性分析的所有表达的基因在不同的野生和栽培种群的两个南瓜物种。 迫切需要进行基础植物研究，解决植物研究与农业实践之间的联系，因为仅靠育种计划无法充分提高作物产量，以满足预计人口增长的需求。 研究，如这里所描述的，以确定具体的基因驯化性状将使有效的作物改良技术的发展，需要满足这一不断增长的需求。 这项研究还将提供合作PI凯特在不同的分子和分析技术的重要培训机会。此外，该项目采用的创新技术组合将为在植物关系背景下研究植物适应遗传学提供新的廉价方法。因此，本研究将有助于更广泛地理解归化和适应。

Domestication has radically altered wild species to meet human needs, producing traits dramatically different from those seen in the wild. This study will use genetic and genomic approaches to obtain new insights into squash and pumpkin (Cucurbita) domestication and identify genes that may have been involved in the domestication process. Cucurbita is unique in that there have been multiple domestication events from diverse wild ancestors in just this single genus. These multiple domestication events make Cucurbita an especially valuable system in which to study crop evolution. Cutting-edge DNA sequencing technologies will be used to resolve species relationships within Curcubita that have eluded researchers for decades. This framework will provide the context for investigating the genetic basis of domestication in squashes. The genes underlying domestication will be inferred from analyses of DNA diversity in all expressed genes across diverse wild and cultivated populations of two squash species. There is an urgent need for basic plant research that addresses the connection between the study of plants and the practice of agriculture, as breeding programs alone are not increasing crop yield sufficiently to meet the demands of projected population increase. Research, such as that described here, to identify specific genes underlying domestication traits will enable the development of efficient crop improvement techniques needed to meet this rising demand. This research will also provide co-PI Kates with significant training opportunities in diverse molecular and analytical techniques. In addition, the innovative combinations of techniques employed in this project will model new, inexpensive ways to study the genetics of plant adaptation in the context of plant relationships. Thus, the study will contribute to a broader understanding of domestication and adaptation.