| External Collaborators / Partners | University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, University of Pretoria, South Africa, University Catolica de Brasília, Brazil, Diversity Arrays Technology Pty Ltd, Canberra |
|---|---|
| UTAS Collaborators | School of Plant Science |
| Funding Source | ARC Discovery |
| Project Status | Current |
This research project aims to unravel the genetic mechanism responsible for the variation in the timing of the distinctive and often rapid transition from juvenile to adult leaf types that occurs during the life of many of the 700+ species of Eucalyptus in Australia.
The developmental (ontogenetic) trajectories of animals and plants are usually under strong genetic control, and involve not only a transition to the reproductive state, but changes in somatic or vegetative phenotype. This ontogenetic change in phenotype can be rapid and dramatic, as exemplified by animal metamorphosis or plant heteroblasty, or more subtle and unsynchronised across multiple traits. Evolutionary changes in developmental trajectories or timing of phase changes, is a major mechanism of adaptation in animals and plants.
Our research is focusing on one of the most well-studied tree species, Eucalyptus globulus. This ecologically and economically important tree species exhibits marked variation in the timing of the onset of reproductive and vegetative maturity. We are using diverse molecular genetics approaches, combined with experimental field trials, QTL analysis and studies of diverse native populations to: (i) identify the genes/ alleles causing variation in reproductive and vegetative phase change, and (ii) determine if the same genes/alleles are involved in the evolution of different precocious populations.
Figure. Eucalyptus globulus is one of the most well-known heteroblastic species showing a dramatic transition from juvenile to adult leaves during its ontogeny. The juvenile leaves are the glaucous, opposite and sessile whereas the adult leaves are green, alternate and petiolate. These differences are so marked that juvenile and adult forms of the same species are often mistaken for different species.
Hamilton MG, Tilyard PA, Williams DR, Vaillancourt RE, Wardlaw TJ, Potts, BM (2011) The genetic variation in the timing of heteroblastic transition in Eucalyptus globulus is stable across environments. Australian Journal of Botany 59: 170–175.
Hudson CJ, Kullan ARK, Freeman JS, Faria DA, Grattapaglia D, Kilian A, Myburg AA, Potts BM, Vaillancourt RE. (2012) High synteny and colinearity among Eucalyptus genomes revealed by high-density comparative genetic mapping. Tree Genetics and Genomes 8: 339-352.
Jones RC, Vaillancourt RE, Gore PL and Potts BM (2011) Genetic and environmental control of flowering time in Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus. Tree Genetics and Genomes 7, 1209-1218.
Jones RC, Hecht VFG, Potts BM, Vaillancourt RE, Weller JL (2011) Expression of a FLOWERING LOCUS T homologue is temporally associated with annual flower bud initiation in Eucalyptus globulus. Australian Journal of Botany 59, 756–769.
Members (External)
Assoc. Prof. René Vaillancourt R.Vaillancourt@utas.edu.au (UTAS School of Plant Science)
Prof. Brad Potts B.M.Potts@utas.edu.au (UTAS School of Plant Science)
Dr Jules Freeman (UTAS School of Plant Science and CRN Research Fellow University of Sunshine Coast)
Dr Corey Hudson (UTAS School of Plant Science)
Dr Rebecca Jones (UTAS School of Plant Science)
Dr Jim Weller (UTAS School of Plant Science)
Dr. Valerie Hecht (UTAS School of Plant Science)
Prof. Scott Poethig ( University of Pennsylvania, USA)
Dr Andrzej Kilian (Director, Diversity Arrays Technology Pty Ltd, Canberra)
Prof. Zander Myburg (University of Pretoria, South Africa)
Prof. Dario Grattapaglia (University Catolica de Brasília, Brazil)