Proposed Symposium Title: GENOMICS OF LOCAL ADAPTATION. SESSION 1
Abstract: During the evolution of a species, natural selection is expected to favour those individuals whose genes and traits best match the conditions in the local environment. Neutral processes such as changes in the demography of populations have an impact at the whole genome level, whereas selection processes only affect specific loci and associated flanking regions. Specific outlier loci, deviating from neutral expectations, can be considered to have possibly been subjected to selection imposed by environmental constraints or as physically linked to loci subject to selection. Genomic signatures of selection can also be observed by looking at significant associations between genomic polymorphisms and environmental variations. This symposium aims to highlight our current understanding of mechanisms governing local adaptation driven by spatial and temporal differences in abiotic conditions. Research topics involving the genomics of local adaptation can be population and quantitative genetics, functional genomics, landscape ecology, and ecophysiology, among others. The continuous development of massive sequencing technologies in recent years, as well as the reduction of sequencing costs, has made it possible to discover the signals left in the genomes of plants after selective processes in both model and non-model plant systems. This information is of enormous importance for predicting the risk of maladaptation in the face of the effects of anthropogenic climate change. As well as for accelerating the human-mediated adaptation of natural populations and cultivated varieties to future conditions. We encourage participation in this symposium of a diverse range of scientists from different backgrounds, career stages, and study systems with the aim to foster interdisciplinary discussions and future collaborations.
Speaker 1: Herlander Azevedo
BIOPOLIS-CIBIO, University of Porto
hazevedo@cibio.up.pt
Adaptive hybridization in Western European grapevine varieties
Speaker 2: Valérie Poncet
DIADE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France
valerie.poncet@ird.fr
The adaptive potential of wild Coffee from Uganda in response to climate change
Speaker 3: José Luis Blanco Pastor
Universidad de Sevilla
jblanco2@us.es
Genomics of local adaptation in Swiss meadow fescues
Topics (Up to three): Functional genetics
Topic 2: Population genetics
Topic 3: Ecophysiology
Justification: Identifying the genetic signature of local adaptation to abiotic conditions is of enormous importance for predicting the risk of maladaptation to the effects of anthropogenic climate change. It is also important for accelerating the adaptation of natural populations and cultivated varieties to future conditions. Studying the genomics of local adaptation is a complex task that requires the interaction of multiple disciplines, such as population and quantitative genetics, functional genomics, landscape ecology and ecophysiology. This symposium offers a unique opportunity to foster interaction between researchers with different backgrounds that could lead to collaborations of high scientific impact.
