Evolutionary Mechanism of Genetic Diversity of Cypripedium tibeticum and its Mycorhizal Fungi

Cypripedium tibeticum belongs to the family Orchidaceae. It is a perennial herb, which is endemic and widespread in China. C. tibeticum forms specific mycorrhizae with Tulasnellaceae. During pre-experiment, we found that C.tibeticum and Tulasnellaceae had genetic diversity at genotype and type level, respectively, and the formation of their genetic diversity was associated with coevolution and geographic isolation. This project will clarify the evolutonary mechanism of genetic diversity formation drived by coevolution and geographic isolation of C. tibeticum and Tulasnellaceae. The process are as follows: Widely collect C. tibeticum plant samples and isolate its mycorrhizal fungi; Amplify DNA fragments with suitable molecular markers to analyse genetic diversity and construct phylogenetic relationship of C. tibeticum and Tulasnellaceae, respectively; Use coevolution analysis to illuminate the coevolution relationship between C. tibeticum and Tulasnellaceae; Use correlation analysis to reveal the effect of geographic isolation on the formation of genetic diversity. As a result, this project will elucidate the evolutionary mechanism of genetic diversity formation of C. tibeticum and Tulasnellaceae. This research will provide theory evidence for resource protection, propogation and sustainable utilization of C. tibeticum, and raise a new approach to study the coevolution between orchids and its mycorrhiza.