The ultimate objective is to identify the loci responsible for flowering time variation in natural populations ofArabidopsis lyrata. Definitive conclusions on the involvement of a particular gene in local adaptation can only be made based on a combination of approaches. We are conducting studies of sequence variation for flowering time genes, which can be compared to patterns at neutral microsatellites (Mulleret al. 2008) or sequence variation at other loci studied by other investigators (Ross-Ibarraet al. 2008) (Anne Niittyvuopio, Esa Aalto, Tanja Pyhäjärvi, Tuomas Toivainen, Outi Savolainen). This sequence variation is also used in association studies to assess the role of individual loci and sequence variants in governing phenotypic variation (Saana Myllylä, Helmi Kuittinen). In connection with these studies, we have also started examining variation in expression patterns in collaboration with Ulf Lagercrantz (Uppsala University) (Ulla Kemi, Helmi Kuittinen).
We are also collaborating with Katri Kärkkäinen on the genetics of trichome number variation (Helmi Kuittinen, Brian Arnold).