Chromosomal-Level Genome Assemblies for Endangered Dyckia Species: A Pathway to Understanding Local Adaptation and Conservation

• Grant number: 25/03280-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: June 20, 2025
• End date: December 19, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Plant Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Maria Imaculada Zucchi
• Grantee: João Victor da Silva Rabelo Araujo
• Supervisor: Ovidiu Paun
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Vienna, Austria
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/00765-9 - Phylogenomics, population genomics and identification via CRISPR SHERLOCK of Dyckia's complex of species from the quadrilátero ferrífero of Minas Gerais, BP.DD

Abstract

We are experiencing unprecedented mass extinctions, with anthropogenic expansion into nonforested areas driving the silent loss of species adapted to extreme environments. Investigating genetic diversity and genomic adaptation in poorly described taxa can help clarify diversification patterns and support conservation efforts. Dyckia Schult. & Schult.f., a genus of xeromorphic bromeliads, shows its highest diversity in the southern Espinhaço Mountain Range, specifically in the "Quadrilátero Ferrífero" (QF) region, which is under intense mining pressure. Dyckia consimilis and D. rariflora are two endangered species with small populations restricted to nutrient-poor, iron-rich soils in high-altitude rocky outcrops known as "canga." Due to the high demand for iron ore, these species are at constant risk of extinction, as most of their populations are unprotected and located near active mining sites. Phylogenetic studies suggest that D. consimilis and D. rariflora, although closely related, represent distinct evolutionary lineages with unique adaptations to iron-rich, oligotrophic soils, including differential resistance to fire and extreme environmental conditions. The BEPE project aims to lay the ground for the conservation genomics studies for these endangered species from the QF region by generating genome assemblies and annotations for Dyckia, in collaboration with the Plant Ecological Genomics group at the University of Vienna. Using advanced sequencing technologies such as PacBio and Hi-C, high-quality genome assemblies will be produced to understand the recent evolutionary radiation of Dyckia in the Espinhaço Mountain Range. The project will offer training in genomic analysis, focusing on genome assembly and gene annotation, and initiate a longer-term collaboration covering comparative genomics, species delimitation, and conservation genomics.