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Adaptation in ecologically diverse Hordeum species: a comparative intra- and inter-species approach 

Understanding how adaptive genetic variation in wild species works will help us assess species’ vulnerability to climate change. Although the genetic architecture of adaptive traits and local adaptation has been studied in a limited spectrum of wild species (model species), for which extensive genetic and genomic resources are available, these represent only a limited variety of ecological strategies and traits. Information about the genetic underpinnings of local adaptation is missing for many ecologically diverse species or species groups, including the grasses. The aim of this project is to identify intra- and inter-specific trait and genetic variation underlying the ecological diversification, local adaptation, and differences in geographic range of wild Hordeum species, with the special focus on Hordeum murinum (University Marburg).

We will score and collect natural populations of H. murinum in situ across different habitats in Europe. In common gardens, the wild accessions of H. murinum will be scored together with representative accessions of 20 Hordeum species under water and nutrient limitations and subjected to reduced-representation sequencing. We will quantify intra- (H. murinum) and inter-specific genetic trait-variation and trait-plasticity (G*E) in traits related to biomass investments, growth rate, reproduction, and survival in response to resource limitations. We will link trait-variation in H. murinum observed in situ and in common garden experiments to environmental parameters at the collection sites and to genetic differentiation. This project makes use of the ample genetic resources available for barley to advance our understanding of genetic adaptation in wild species and might in turn reveal novel adaptive variation in wild Hordeum species to help crop improvement.

Part of TRR Ecological genetics , in cooperation with the group of Maria von Korff 

Involved in Marburg: Helene Villhauer, Sascha Liepelt, Anna Bucharova

Funded by DFG