MOPGA-GRI

Genomics and Epigenomics of Plant Invasion

01.01.2019 bis 31.12.2022

Biological invasions are an important part of global environmental change, and a major threat to biodiversity. They also present excellent opportunities for studying the biology of range range expansions, and how species rapidly adapt to changing environments. However, the genomic processes accompanying global plant invasions are generally still not well understood. One of the most successful and yet least understood global plant invasion is that of the Asian knotweeds (Fallopia japonica, Fallopia sachalinensis and their hybrid F. x bohemica. Intriguingly, F. japonica has rapidly and successfully colonized entire continents as a single genetic clone, leading to interesting questions about the possible role of epigenetic processes in this invasion. In our project we use the Fallopia species complex as a model system for understanding the genomics and epigenomics of a global species invasion. We will perform a global (epi)genetic survey of native and introduced populations, grow plants from different origins unders standardized conditions to assess their phenotypic variation, and conduct also experiments to study stress responses of different species and ecotypes. Our project will be in close collaboration with several partners in China (in particular the Institute of Biodiversity Science at Fudan University and XTBG-Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden in the Yunann province) and Japan, and with several colleagues across Europe and the US.