Adaptive potential of temperature mediated plasticity in Cardamine hirsuta (A03)

• Subject Area: Plant Genetics and Genomics
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 456082119

Leaves are of considerable ecophysiological significance because they fix carbon via photosynthesis but also release water through evapotranspiration. Consequently, leaf shape can influence both plant growth and abiotic stress responses. Although differences in leaf form show high heritability, the environment, too, can influence leaf form, resulting in phenotypic plasticity in this trait. We will study the genetic basis for this plasticity and its physiological consequences in the small ruderal plant species Cardamine hirsuta, an emerging model for comparative ecological genetics.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 341: Plant Ecological Genetics
• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Project Heads: Dr. Stefan Laurent, Ph.D., from 7/2022 until 6/2023; Professor Dr. Miltos Tsiantis, since 7/2022