Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre SAS
Topic
Tracing the effects of whole-genome multiplication on clonal reproduction in plants: from genes to distributional patterns
PhD. program
botany
Name of the supervisor
RNDr. Barbora Šingliarová, PhD.
Contact:
Receiving school
Faculty of Natural Sciences of Comenius University
Annotation
Neopolyploids originating via whole genome multiplication within one species – autopolyploids –
suffer from reduced fitness compared to diploid ancestors due to disturbed meiosis and the negative
effect of majority-minority cytotype interaction. Enhanced clonal reproduction might promote the
successful establishment of neopolyploids. However, it is unknown if the increased clonal growth is
directly caused by polyploidization, what are its underlying genetic and physiological factors, and
finally what is the ecological impact of such reproduction shift between closely related cytotypes.
Student will investigate these questions in the diploid-autopolyploid Pilosella rhodopea model by
combining observational, experimental, anatomical, biochemical phytohormones) and molecular
(microsatellites, transcriptomics) approaches. Our principal objective is to determine the
consequences of whole genome multiplication on multiple phenotypic, phytohormonal and genomic
traits that alter the reproduction strategies of autopolyploids and determine their evolutionary success.
suffer from reduced fitness compared to diploid ancestors due to disturbed meiosis and the negative
effect of majority-minority cytotype interaction. Enhanced clonal reproduction might promote the
successful establishment of neopolyploids. However, it is unknown if the increased clonal growth is
directly caused by polyploidization, what are its underlying genetic and physiological factors, and
finally what is the ecological impact of such reproduction shift between closely related cytotypes.
Student will investigate these questions in the diploid-autopolyploid Pilosella rhodopea model by
combining observational, experimental, anatomical, biochemical phytohormones) and molecular
(microsatellites, transcriptomics) approaches. Our principal objective is to determine the
consequences of whole genome multiplication on multiple phenotypic, phytohormonal and genomic
traits that alter the reproduction strategies of autopolyploids and determine their evolutionary success.