integrative CONyza NEtwork for Contemporary Trait evolution
WHAT IS iCONNECT?
iCONNECT, the integrative CONyza NEtwork for Contemporary Trait evolution, is an interdisciplinary network dedicated to investigating the mechanisms driving contemporary evolution. The headquarter of iCONNECT is located at the Plant Ecology lab at the Martin Luther University Halle (Germany) where the network was founded in 2021. Our collaborative network collected seeds and field data for a greenhouse experiment to test for the among-population variation (APV) in competitive ability of the species in a multi-omics study (i.e., the “main project”) which was performed in 2022.
Based on this extensive sampling, iCONNECT currently operates as a collaboration of researchers who investigate APV in their particular research fields using the sampled populations and the so-far collected field and common garden data. As such, our research includes several add-on studies from different institutions that aim to deepen our understanding of Conyza canadensis’ evolution on a global scale. We welcome your new collaboration, input, and any project ideas you may have. If you want to make use of our outstanding sampling efforts and lead your own iCONNECT add-on, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
Conyza canadensis is an annual weed known for its prolific seed production, pronounced drought tolerance, and high plasticity. These traits make this species a successful invader and an economically significant agricultural weed, and as such, an important model species for both invasion biology and weed science. The species is native to North America and non-native to large parts of the rest of the temperate and subtropical world. This cosmopolitan distribution allows studying among-population variation in biotic interactions across extensive climatic gradients.Conyza canadensis has demonstrated a high capacity for rapid evolution, as evidenced by its status as the first eudicot to evolve glyphosate resistance. The capacity for rapid evolution is likely facilitated by its genome architecture, which includes a small genome with a large number of genes. Additionally, its annual life cycle and self-pollinating reproduction accelerate the selection process for advantageous alleles, further promoting rapid evolution.
