Fine scale relatedness, dispersal, pedigree reconstruction, and genetic basis for productivity.

In this project, we want to characterize the fine-scale patterns of relatedness. Although the dispersal capability of EMF are thought to be huge, previous genetic studies of our study site (see Individual-based fruiting INLA models project) conducted by my advisor in 2020 with microsatellites suggested a high degree of relatedness.

Since we sampled every mushroom for 9 years and noticed some turn-over with new individuals fruiting, we want to look at the geographical distribution of relatedness, how rapidly it declines, if it declines, and see with what resolution can we recover relatives. If we capture new colonization or mating events, perhaps we could reconstruct a preliminary pedigree?

In addition, since we have the productivity data for every genet (see Individual-based fruiting INLA models project), we want to test the genetic basis of this trait, looking for genes of interest, using GWAS and/or their bayesian equivalent, genomic predictions. This could represent a major step towards the cultivation of this protein-rich carbon-negative food source.