Genomics of speciation: dissecting mechanisms of reproductive barriers in fungi
Informations
- Funding country
Norway- Acronym
- -
- URL
- -
- Start date
- 1/1/2018
- End date
- 12/31/2022
- Budget
- 970,347 EUR
Fundings
| Name | Role | Start | End | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRIMEDBIO - Independent projects - Medicine, Health Sciences and Biology | Grant | - | - | 970,347 EUR |
Abstract
Little is known about how fungal species evolve, although the fungal kingdom is assumed to be one of the most species-rich eukaryotic groups. Fungi have several unique features in their life cycles and life history traits, with their long-lived haploid and dikaryotic phase, high dispersal ability, and absence of obvious behavior, they may differ from animals and plants in speciation mechanisms. To obtain knowledge on how fungal species evolve, we are analyzing the evolution of reproductive barriers in the genus Trichaptum (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota) and investigate where the break-down of the life cycle occurs. Trichaptum is a widespread genus decaying dead wood in boreal and temperate regions. In the purplepore bracket fungus (Trichaptum abietinum) there are reproductive barriers between some populations, even if they are closely related. In this project we combine genome data and physiological experiments to investigate barriers to reproduction, e.g. genomic rearrangements, transposable elements, and copy number variation. We have produced genomic data of four hundred individuals of T. abietinum and its sister species Trichaptum fuscoviolaceum from all over the northern hemisphere. We have shown that 1) T. abietinum and T. fuscoviolaceum does not hybridize today, but have a complicated history of ancient introgression. 2) We have shown that balancing selection maintains high trans specific polymorphisms in the mating genes that controls mating in this genus. 3) We have found several genetic groups, that only partially fits with the reproductive barriers observed. This indicates that it is not only the genetic distance that affects reproductive barriers. We are currently investigating which genomic barriers have evolved between individuals that cannot mate. 4) We have observed that two different populations are present in Norway, indicating that there may be two different immigration paths after last glaciations. We are further investigating at what step in the life cycle reproductive barriers evolves, and how the unique life cycle alters the evolution of reproductive barriers compared to other organisms.