Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/A/S/2003/00345
The evolution of self-incompatibility (S) alleles in Senecio squalidus (Oxford Ragwort) and its Sicilian relatives.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor SJ Hiscock, University of Bristol, Biological Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr SA Harris, University of Oxford, Biology
- Grant held at:
- University of Bristol, Biological Sciences
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Population Genetics/Evolution
- Systematics & Taxonomy
- Population Ecology
- Conservation Ecology
- Abstract:
- This research is aimed at investigating the genetics and evolution of the mating system of the UK's most famous alien invader, Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus). Since its escape from the Oxford Botanic Garden 150 years ago, S. squalidus has spread to most parts of the UK via clinker beds of railway lines. During this 'invasion' it has hybridized with native groundsel (S. vulgaris) to create two new hybrid species, S. cambrensis and S. eboracensis. Interestingly, Oxford Ragwort is itself a hybrid species, the product of Sicilian S. chrysanthemifolius and S. aethnensis that hybridize freely on Mt. Etna - where the original Oxford plants were collected. S. squalidus, like its parents, is self-incompatible (SI), meaning that plants can recognize their own pollen and prevent self-fertilization. SI is controlled by a gene (5) with many different alleles and generally only plants with different S alleles can mate. Unusually for a SI plant, UK S. squalidus has very few S alleles but still manages to mate freely despite the predicted mating constraints arising from plants sharing S alleles. We believe this is because in UK S. squalidus the S alleles have evolved uniquely such that they behave in a way that allows mating even between individuals that share an S allele. Here we will test this hypothesis by investigating the origins of S. squalidus S. alleles in its Sicilian relatives to determine how these S. alleles have evolved within UK S. squalidus to promote its reproductive success.
- NERC Reference:
- NER/A/S/2003/00345
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £214,457
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs | Total - Equipment | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £111,755 | £4,004 | £45,879 | £1,410 | £51,406 |
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