Genetic diversity of Aneura mirabilis and relatives

My project investigates the genetic diversity of Aneura mirabilis, a plant that lost the ability to photosynthesize, and instead depends entirely on fungal networks to meet its energy requirements. This is the sole bryophyte lineage that made this major nutritional transition. The mycoheterotrophic lifestyle is at one end of a spectrum of plant-fungal relationships that also includes ancient, widespread mycorrhizal mutualisms important for survival in most plants, including crop plants. Research into the function, diversity, and close relatives of mycoheterotrophic plants will provide insights into plant-fungal associations in general, and into how mycoheterotrophy evolved in particular. I will additionally infer phylogenetic relationships and species boundaries in Aneura by incorporating a new phylogenomic approach. This aligns with ongoing work and expertise in plant taxonomy, diversity, and applications of new phylogenomic techniques at the University of Edinburgh and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. This work will reveal the closest relatives of Aneura mirabilis and broadly resolve relationships throughout the genus, important information for future genomic comparisons and establishing conservation priorities. My research will expand and accelerate ongoing projects at UoE, RBGE and UBC, facilitate knowledge exchange of lab, field, and bioinformatic techniques, and provide a foundation for future collaborative research between our institutes.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sean Graham

Student:

Partner:

University of Edinburgh

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: