Project Detail

The role of hybridization in plant evolution – In situ hybridization technique

Name:	The role of hybridization in plant evolution – In situ hybridization technique
Researchers:	Mandák Bohumil (researcher)
Provider:	GA ČR
Number:	GA206/09/1126
Realization from:	2009
Realization to:	2012
Summary:	In some groups of species, hybridization is considered to be a potent evolutionary force that creates opportunities for adaptive evolution and speciation. In particular, we focus on interspecific hybridization that can lead to the origin of stabilized introgressants and homoploid or allopolyploid hybrid species. The project is focused on particular hypotheses on the origin and evolution of selected model organisms in various species groups (i.e., Chenopodium, Elytrigia, Allium, Taraxacum, Hieracium, Potamogeton) using in situ hybridization technique. Since the model organisms of the species groups have already been studied by other approaches, diverse hypotheses on their origin emerged. Establishment of in situ technique, which represents a unique tool for understanding the physical organization of particular genes and genomes, incl. detection of alien/introgressed genetic material within the model organisms, not only enables us to evaluate the existing hypotheses, but could also significantly extend our knowledge about the origin and evolution of the respective polyploid complexes.