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Admixture mapping and selection scans identify genomic regions associated with stomatal patterning and disease resistance in hybrid poplars
  • Karl Fetter,
  • Stephen Keller
Karl Fetter
University of Vermont

Corresponding Author:karl.fetter@gmail.com

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Stephen Keller
University of Vermont
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Abstract

Variation in fitness components can be linked in some cases to variation of key traits. Metric traits that lie at the intersection of development, defense, and ecological interactions may be expected to experience strong environmental selection, informing our understanding of evolutionary and ecological processes. Here, we use quantitative genetic and population genomic methods to investigate disease dynamics in hybrid and non-hybrid populations. We focus our investigation on morphological and ecophysiological traits which inform our understanding of physiology, growth, and defense against a pathogen. In particular, we investigate stomata, microscopic pores on the surface of a leaf which regulate gas exhange during photosynthesis and are sites of entry for various plant pathogens. Stomatal patterning traits were highly predictive of disease risk. Admixture mapping identified a polygenic basis of disease resistance. Candidate genes for stomatal and disease resistance map to the same genomic regions, and are experienceing positive selection. Genes with functions for guard cell homeostasis, the plant immune system, components of constitutive defenses, and growth related transcription factors were identified. Our results indicate positive selection is filtering genetic variance from one of the parental species maladpated to a novel pathogen, and changing suites of stomatal traits which contribute to disease variation in natural populations.
17 May 2023Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
26 May 2023Submission Checks Completed
26 May 2023Assigned to Editor
05 Jun 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
11 Jul 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
14 Jul 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
15 Sep 20231st Revision Received
19 Sep 2023Submission Checks Completed
19 Sep 2023Assigned to Editor
19 Sep 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Sep 2023Editorial Decision: Accept