NEWS
Laboratory progress
Good news from the Lab! The DNA extraction from the roots is completed, and we could confirm the presence of mycorrhizal fungi both visually and molecularly. Stay tuned for the first results from NGS expected in the next weeks!
​
And the DNA extractions from the leaves for the genomic studies are in full steam. Soon we will have the sequencing results in hand!
Harvest
From July 11 to July 22 we worked hard in the greenhouse on our harvest, more than 4,000 pots were harvested with different types of data measured and collected.
Leaves were collected for genetic analysis, final roots for AMF analysis and root extracts for metabolomics studies, besides root and body biomass for growth and development analysis.
A huge thank you to all the interns and helpers who were with us working hard during these days!
​
​
iCONNECT workshop in USA
From August 14 to 18, 2023, we had the iCONNECT workshop at the MPG Ranch in Florence (Montana, USA). We brought together in-person and online PI's, CoPI's, samplers, and students from the project.
During these days, we analyzed and interpreted the data from the greenhouse experiment and worked on the respective publications of the different working packages.
Plant and treatment development
From March to July of 2022, we work hard to have all treatments (competition and water stress) applied equally and correctly to all our populations.
Hours were spent planting competitors and Conyzas canadesis, measuring pot weights, and watering pos pots with the required amount of water.
But in the end, it was very gratifying to see the whole experiment going well, as planned in the project
Start of the big greenhouse experiment
On 14th March we started our experiment in the greenhouse of the Martin Luther University in Halle. In total we have more than 4 thousand seeded pots, that will have 6 different types of treatment.
We are looking forward to seeing these pots full of life!
Among-population variation in the response to experimental aridity
Four coherent experiments investigate among-population variation with regard to local adaptation to drought stress across different life stages (germination, early seedling stage, juvenile plants and adults) of Conyza canadensis. To this end, 30 populations from the native range and 29 populations from the non-native range covering broad climatic gradients are under investigation. We test how the range (native vs. non-native) and the sampled local aridity regime of the populations affect the response of various functional traits to drought stress. We just finished our experiments for juvenile and adult plants. Experiments on germination and early seedling growth will be conducted shortly.
Among-population variation in absolute genome sizes
We use plant DNA flow cytometry to estimate absolute genome size of 200 populations. We conducted first measurements in June 2021 and are currently analyzing this data. Our aims are to determine whether among-population variation in genome size correlates with 1) environmental gradients across native and non-native ranges and 2) phenotypic among-population variation in drought responses and competitive ability
iCONNECT online meeting with the samplers
On August 9th and 10th we held online meetings with collaborators from all over the Northern hemisphere. It was a great pleasure to meet you all virtually. Thanks to everyone who could join.
Among-population variation pre-experiments
​
From November 2021 to January of 2022, we had an intern from Greece helping us with the pre-experiments of growing the seeds in the greenhouse using our 4 different treatments ( With drought stress + without competition/ With drought stress + with competition/ Without drought stress + without competition/ With drought stress + with competition).
We are looking forward to starting the big experiment in March.
Among-population variation in AMF interactions
We recorded field performance and collected Conyza roots in the native and nonnative ranges. In the lab, we investigated Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) colonization of root segments. We found that in both ranges, AM colonization decreased with increasing aridity and also decreased with increasing phosphorus and heavy metal concentration in the soil. However, AM colonization had different effects on performance between the ranges: AM colonization negatively affected biomass in the native ranges but positively affected biomass in the nonnative ranges.
This list is regularly updated, so check back often to know our latest news!