Radiation, biological diversity and host-parasite interactions in wildroses, rust fungi and insects

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Roland Brandl; Professor Dr. Franz Oberwinkler (†); Professor Dr. Volker Wissemann
• Subject Area: Evolution and Systematics of Plants and Fungi
• Term: from 2002 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5362294

One of the major tasks in evolutionary biology is to explain how interspecific interactions influence the dynamics of evolutionary processes and enables radiation and genesis of biological diversity. In roses sect. Caninae, the dog-roses, the radiation process strongly depends on the genetic constitution of the pollen grain. The biological diversity to be challenged by selection is generated by a heterogamous and matroclinal reproduction system. By analyzing the genetic distance and phylogenetic relationships between rose taxa and their ability to create geno- and thus biodiversity via genetic pollen-variability, we determine a base line for the explanation of the subsequent radiation processes of the two host dependent parasite groups, the insects and rust fungi. We analyze the interaction between each host-parasite system and between the two parasite groups. The major question is: how does the radiation and diversity of the hosts translate into the radiation and diversity of the parasites and what is the role of rust-insect interactions? By an analysis of the dog-roses radiation process and the unfolding of biological diversity in this group, we will be able to understand the level of interaction (co-evolution, co-speciation, individualistic interaction) with rust fungi and insects.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1127: Radiations - Origins of Biological Diversity
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Günter Theißen