The evolutionary ecology of genetic conflict in plants (Visiting Scholar)

A key feature of eukaryotes is that they have both cytoplasmic and nuclear genomes. While compatibility between these genomes is necessary for eukaryotes to function, there can also be ongoing intergenomic conflict. Such conflict is thought to play a significant role in the evolution of the genes that underlie hybrid incompatibility and thus speciation. For my sabbatical research, I will focus on the most common type of intergenomic conflict in plants, between cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) genes that disrupt pollen production and nuclear genes that restore pollen production (Rf). Conflict between CMS and Rf can be resolved in two ways. In most species, Rf alleles go to fixation, resulting in hermaphroditism. In a minority of angiosperms, Rf alleles do not go to fixation, resulting in gynodioecy, a breeding system where plants produce either female flowers or hermaphrodite flowers. Most explanations for why Rf alleles do or do not go to fixation have focused on the genetics of male fertility restoration. In contrast, the ecology of restoration remains virtually unexplored. By synthesizing concepts from four different fields--breeding system evolution, phenotypic plasticity, pollination ecology, and herbivore defense--I will develop hypotheses about the role of ecology in determining the frequency of Rf alleles, and then use a phylogenetic analysis of correlated evolution to test predictions from one of my hypotheses. This work will have implications for the evolution of gender dimorphism in plants, as well as the potential for CMS/Rf to function as speciation genes.

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The evolutionary ecology of genetic conflict in plants (Visiting Scholar)

Project

Title:
The evolutionary ecology of genetic conflict in plants (Visiting Scholar)
Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/r4sh9s
Temporal:
2011-2012
Creator:
Caruso, Christina
Type:
Collection
Description:
Project
Abstract:
A key feature of eukaryotes is that they have both cytoplasmic and nuclear genomes. While compatibility between these genomes is necessary for eukaryotes to function, there can also be ongoing intergenomic conflict. Such conflict is thought to play a significant role in the evolution of the genes that underlie hybrid incompatibility and thus speciation. For my sabbatical research, I will focus on the most common type of intergenomic conflict in plants, between cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) genes that disrupt pollen production and nuclear genes that restore pollen production (Rf). Conflict between CMS and Rf can be resolved in two ways. In most species, Rf alleles go to fixation, resulting in hermaphroditism. In a minority of angiosperms, Rf alleles do not go to fixation, resulting in gynodioecy, a breeding system where plants produce either female flowers or hermaphrodite flowers. Most explanations for why Rf alleles do or do not go to fixation have focused on the genetics of male fertility restoration. In contrast, the ecology of restoration remains virtually unexplored. By synthesizing concepts from four different fields--breeding system evolution, phenotypic plasticity, pollination ecology, and herbivore defense--I will develop hypotheses about the role of ecology in determining the frequency of Rf alleles, and then use a phylogenetic analysis of correlated evolution to test predictions from one of my hypotheses. This work will have implications for the evolution of gender dimorphism in plants, as well as the potential for CMS/Rf to function as speciation genes.
Identifier:
  • 302
  • duke:278078
  • ark:/87924/r4sh9s
  • ba8eb640-6223-4c1d-9eed-8a4989ce82a5
Subject: