Institution

Abstract:

Wild tomato species, which originated in western South America and the Galapagos Islands, are found in a wide range of habitats, and have thus to cope with various abiotic (e.g. temperature fluctuations, drought) and biotic stresses (e.g. attack by pathogens and herbivores). In order to study the genetic basis of such adaptations, we pursue the following specific aims: First, we derive new methods for estimating parameters of the speciation process, namely recurrent gene flow between the incipient species, taking into account the specific metapopulation structure of wild tomato species. Second, we develop methods to study in detail the population history of the tomato species, including seed banks, population subdivision, and population size expansion. The results of these studies are key theoretical requirements for detecting selection in genes underlying adaptation in tomatoes.