Research Group - IPK Gatersleben

Abteilung Genbank/Department of Genebank
Programme:
Taxonomy and Evolution
Research Group:
Experimental Taxonomy
Head: Dr. Frank Blattner
Scientists
IPK financed
Baier, Christina (0,5 P)
Ekhvaia, Jana (0,5 Annex, 01.09.-30.11. 007)
Jakob, Sabine, Dr. (P, till 18.06. 007)
Köhnen, Ines (0,5 P, since 01.07. 007)
Grant Positions
Köhnen, Ines (0, 5 DFG, till 30.06. 007)
Nürk, Nicolay (0,5 DFG, since 01.09. 007)
Pleines, Thekla (0,5 DFG)
Visiting Scientists
Achigan-Dako, Enoch (DAAD)
Bachmann, Konrad, Prof. (self-financed)
Esfeld, Korinna (SMNC, 16.04.-11.05. 007;
University of Heidelberg, 8.08.- 8.09. 007)
Kotseruba, Violetta (DAAD, 0.09.-19.11. 007;
self-financed, 0.11.- 6.1 . 007)
Goals
Development and application of molecular marker
methods and the identification, characterisation and
phylogenetic classification of crops and their wild relatives.
Experimental studies to link molecular markers and
phylogenetic data with taxonomically and agronomically
significant characters, and to analyse plant–environment
interdependency on the species level.
Research Report
The major aim of the group is to understand mechanisms
resulting in speciation processes in specific plant groups.
This involves the study of the distribution of species, populations
and genotypes in time and space together with
the analysis of character state changes involved in environmental
adaptation and reproductive isolation. These
characters (e.g., abiotic stress tolerance) influence the eco-
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logical niches of organisms and are often also important
agronomic traits. Thus, the study of naturally occurring
genetic diversity in wild species could show ways to breed
improved crops for changing environmental conditions.
On the basis of a large data set of chloroplast haplotypes
and their relationships, we analyse monophyletic species
groups of Hordeum in a phylogeographic context. We
include climate models to infer past and present distribution
areas of species together with genetic data to
analyse the history of species and species groups. In the
Mediterranean Hordeum marinum group these analyses
revealed the existence of two good species instead of a
single species with two subspecies, and proved clear ecological
differences between the diploid and tetraploid
cytotypes of H. gussoneanum (Jakob et al. 007). Up to
now, no convincing phylogeny could be obtained for the
closely related New World species of Hordeum, as these
species evolved only during the last two million years,
resulting in minute genetic differences among the taxa.
To solve this problem, we initiated an AFLP study of all
diploid species from the Americas, which should result
in better phylogenetic hypotheses for this species group
(T. Pleines, F. Blattner).
In a greenhouse experiment, where we grow three closely
related sympatric species of Hordeum, we simulate niche
differences along salt and drought gradients. This experiment
combines a competition approach with different
soil parameters with a common garden experiment.
First results demonstrate that some species-specific differences
in their ecological niche use (salt vs. drought stress)
are inheritable and are maintained in the greenhouse
(T. Pleines, S. Jakob, F. Blattner). For these species, gene
expression experiments under different stress conditions
were also conducted to analyse the genetic response to
salt, drought and cold stress. These analyses complement
the greenhouse experiments. Thus, we get information
on niche use and the genes involved in niche adaptation
(T. Pleines, F. Blattner).
Cucurbitaceae provide an important group of crop species
in Western African countries. They are used as oil seeds,
fruits, and vegetable. In several expeditions E. Achigan-
Dako was able to collect the species diversity in the phylogeographic
regions of West Africa, ranging from the
tropical rainforest of the southern part to the Sahel zone
in the north. For this group, we are now analysing the
biodiversity present in West Africa. Morphometric analyses
and genome size measurements with flow cytometry,
in conjunction with phylogenetic and phylogeographic
analyses are currently undertaken to identify new species
and subspecies and get insights in domestication of native
crops of this region (E. Achigan-Dako, F. Blattner).
Species of the Euphorbiaceae genus Macaranga are important
Southeast Asian pioneer shrubs and trees of
areas where the rainforest was freshly logged. Many of