Nano-Strainer: A workflow for the identification of single-copy nuclear loci for plant systematic studies, using target capture kits and Oxford Nanopore long reads.

In modern plant systematics, target enrichment enables simultaneous analysis of hundreds of genes. However, when dealing with reticulate or polyploidization histories, few markers may suffice, but often are required to be single-copy, a condition that is not necessarily met with commercial capture kits. Also, large genome sizes can render target capture ineffective, so that amplicon sequencing would be preferable; however, knowledge about suitable loci is often missing.

Restoration of species-rich grasslands by transfer of local plant material and its impact on species diversity and genetic variation-Findings of a practical restoration project in southeastern Germany.

Restoration of species-rich grasslands is a key issue of conservation. The transfer of seed-containing local plant material is a proven technique to restore species-rich grassland, since it potentially allows to establish genetically variable and locally adapted populations. In our study, we tested how the transfer of local plant material affected the species diversity and composition of restored grasslands and the genetic variation of the typical grassland plant species and .

The importance of small natural features in forests-How the overgrowth of forest gaps affects indigenous flower supply and flower-visiting insects and seed sets of six species.

The abandonment of historical land-use forms within forests, such as grazing or coppicing, and atmospheric nitrogen deposition, has led to an increasing overgrowth of forest gaps and canopy closure in forest ecosystems of Central Europe. From 1945 to 2015, 81% of the forest gaps greater than 150 m within the study area transitioned into a closed forest.This study investigated how the overgrowth process affects flower supply, flower visitors, and reproduction of species.

Habitat matters - Strong genetic and epigenetic differentiation in from dry and wet grasslands.

Plant species differ in their ecological amplitude, with some species occurring in very different habitats under strongly differentiated environmental conditions. We were interested in to what extent the occurrence of in dry calcareous grasslands (Bromion) and wet litter meadows (Molinion), two habitats on opposing ends concerning, for example, moisture level, is reflected on the genetic and epigenetic level. Using AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphisms) and MSAP (methylation sensitive amplification polymorphisms) analyses, we studied the genetic and epigenetic variation of from calcareous grasslands and litter meadows.

Effects of polyploidy on the coordination of gene expression between organellar and nuclear genomes in Mill. (Compositae, Anthemideae).

Whole-genome duplications (WGD) through polyploid speciation are associated with disruptions of well-tuned relationships among the three plant cell genomes. Key metabolic processes comprising multi-subunit enzyme complexes, for which partner proteins are both nuclear- and plastid-encoded, are dependent on maintenance of stoichiometric ratios among the subunits to avoid cytonuclear imbalances after WGDs. By using qPCR for gene copy and transcript number quantification, we have studied the relationship of subunit expression in the two gene pairs / (the two subunits of RuBisCO) and / (two members of photosystem II) in closely related members of (Compositae, Anthemideae), comprising a diploid, a tetraploid, and a hexaploid species.

Species and genetic diversity are not congruent in fragmented dry grasslands.

Biological diversity comprises both species diversity (SD) and genetic diversity (GD), and it has been postulated that both levels of diversity depend on similar mechanisms. Species-genetic diversity correlations (SGDC) are therefore supposed to be generally positive. However, in contrast to theory, empirical data are contradictory.

Are there morphological and life-history traits under climate-dependent differential selection in S Tunesian (Forssk.) Boiss. (Brassicaceae) populations?

Adaptation of morphological, physiological, or life-history traits of a plant species to heterogeneous habitats through the process of natural selection is a paramount process in evolutionary biology. We have used a population genomic approach to disentangle selection-based and demography-based variation in morphological and life-history traits in the crucifer (Forssk.) Boiss.

Species distribution modeling and molecular markers suggest longitudinal range shifts and cryptic northern refugia of the typical calcareous grassland species (horseshoe vetch).

Calcareous grasslands belong to the most diverse, endangered habitats in Europe, but there is still insufficient information about the origin of the plant species related to these grasslands. In order to illuminate this question, we chose for our study the representative grassland species (Horseshoe vetch). Based on species distribution modeling and molecular markers, we identified the glacial refugia and the postglacial migration routes of the species to Central Europe.

Glacial refugia and postglacial expansion of the alpine-prealpine plant species .

The shrubby milkwort ( L.) is widely distributed in the Alps, but occurs also in the lower mountain ranges of Central Europe such as the Franconian Jura or the Bohemian uplands. Populations in these regions may either originate from glacial survival or from postglacial recolonization.