GRASS PANGENOMICS AND PHYLOGENOMICS: EVOLUTION OF GENOMES AND TRAITS (POLYPLOIDY, PERENNIALITY, ECOLOGICAL ADAPTATION) IN TEMPERATE GRASSES
Our understanding of the evolution of genomes and traits, and their associated biological
processes, is strongly influenced by current model annual plants, which constitute nearly all
reference genomes. By contrast, flowering plants are predominantly perennial. Genomic
resources have been developed for several annual Brachypodium species, most notably B.
distachyon. We propose to develop similar resources for perennial Brachypodium species to
elucidate the genetic control of transitions to perenniality and its interaction with the
environment, and the origin and mechanisms of allopolyploidy in the genus Brachypodium.
Variation in life history strategy, hybridizations and environmental tolerances in this genus
represents an untapped resource for deepening our understanding of these key biological
and evolutionary aspects. The differences in annual and perennial lifestyle may also lead to
significant differences in other areas, including stress response/tolerance. Comparative
genomics between closely related annual and perennial species will elucidate the genetic
control of perennial/annual switches, the evolutionary dynamics of the hybrid genomes in
annual and perennial allopolyploid species, and how differences in growth habit modify plant
interaction with the environment. Progress is currently limited, however, by the lack of
genomic resources in the genus beyond B. distachyon. Developing B. sylvaticum as a
perennial model and sequencing other perennial species as comparators will help to gain
insight into all these areas. Our project also seek to translate the genomic resources gained
in Brachypodium to other non-model temperate grasses that show broader diversification,
ecology and geographical distributions (Loliinae, Anthoxanthiinae) than Brachypodium, and
to comparatively investigate the evolution of polyploidy, perenniality and ecological
adaptation traits in these model and non-model plants.
Acronym:
GRASSPAN
Author:
Contreras Moreira (on leave since 30/09/2018) , Bruno
Our understanding of the evolution of genomes and traits, and their associated biological
processes, is strongly influenced by current model annual plants, which constitute nearly all
reference genomes. By contrast, flowering plants are predominantly perennial. Genomic
resources have been developed for several annual Brachypodium species, most notably B.
distachyon. We propose to develop similar resources for perennial Brachypodium species to
elucidate the genetic control of transitions to perenniality and its interaction with the
environment, and the origin and mechanisms of allopolyploidy in the genus Brachypodium.
Variation in life history strategy, hybridizations and environmental tolerances in this genus
represents an untapped resource for deepening our understanding of these key biological
and evolutionary aspects. The differences in annual and perennial lifestyle may also lead to
significant differences in other areas, including stress response/tolerance. Comparative
genomics between closely related annual and perennial species will elucidate the genetic
control of perennial/annual switches, the evolutionary dynamics of the hybrid genomes in
annual and perennial allopolyploid species, and how differences in growth habit modify plant
interaction with the environment. Progress is currently limited, however, by the lack of
genomic resources in the genus beyond B. distachyon. Developing B. sylvaticum as a
perennial model and sequencing other perennial species as comparators will help to gain
insight into all these areas. Our project also seek to translate the genomic resources gained
in Brachypodium to other non-model temperate grasses that show broader diversification,
ecology and geographical distributions (Loliinae, Anthoxanthiinae) than Brachypodium, and
to comparatively investigate the evolution of polyploidy, perenniality and ecological
adaptation traits in these model and non-model plants.