Transcriptome-Wide Prevalence of Selection Among Wild Populations of Helianthus Annuus (Common Sunflower)

Author

Michael Emmett Kartje

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Welch, Mark

Committee Member

Brown, Matthew

Committee Member

Counterman, Brian

Committee Member

Perkins, Andy

Date of Degree

12-8-2017

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Biological Sciences

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Biological Sciences

Abstract

In the present study, I used transcriptomic data to elucidate the role of selection in maintaining genetic cohesion and promoting divergence among wild populations of the annual sunflower Helianthus annuus. I observed that nearly half of the loci displaying high levels of population structure (44%) show allele frequency spectrum skew consistent with recent exposure to natural selection. Among transcriptomic regions at which allele frequency divergence is lowest, fewer loci maintain strong signals of selection (34%). Additionally, I find evidence supporting the maintenance of evolutionarily complex haplotype structure within populations at loci showing high levels of among-population allele frequency divergence.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/18952

Recommended Citation

Kartje, Michael Emmett, "Transcriptome-Wide Prevalence of Selection Among Wild Populations of Helianthus Annuus (Common Sunflower)" (2017). Theses and Dissertations. 4771.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/4771