Next generation molecular ecology of contrasting adaptive strategies in flowering plants

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24247005
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: YAHARA Tetsukazu 九州大学, 理学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (90158048)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SUYAMA Yoshihisa 東北大学, 農学研究科, 准教授 (60282315) ; TACHIDA Hidenori 九州大学, 大学院理学研究院, 教授 (70216985) ; TESHIMA Kosuke 九州大学, 大学院理学研究院, 助教 (20447593) ; MIMURA Makiko 玉川大学, 農学部, 准教授 (60451689)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 分子生態学 / 次世代シークエンサー / ゲノム / 花色 / 葉の寿命 / Hemerocallis / Rubus / Taraxacum

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using Next Generation Sequencer, we analyzed genetic backgrounds of evolutionary changes between two pairs of sister species with contrasting adaptive strategies: Hemerocallis fulva and H. citrina having swallowtail-pollinated red flowers and hawkmoth-pollinated yellow flowers, and Rubus palmaus and R. grayanus having deciduous and evergreen leaves. In the Hemerocallis pair, we identified a group of genes of Anthocyanin color-pigments biosynthesis in which expression levels are correlated with the amounts of Anthocyanin color-pigments. This finding supported that changes in a regulatory system of Anthocyanin biosynthesis caused the evolution of flower color. In the Rubus pair, we found that a gene suppressing the receptor of red light (phytochrome) is highly differentiated between species. This finding suggests that divergence of evergreen/deciduous leaves were driven by regulatory changes of a light receptor.

Free Research Field

生態学