In yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis, B chromosomes are present in almost all populations in a wide range of frequencies that are often stable from year to year, but contribution of Bs to genetic and phenetic structure and their maintenance in the absence of accumulation mechanism, are poorly explored in general. Therefore, we intend to analyse population structure across ecologically different habitats and those situated at the altitude edges of species distribution. Genetic profile of populations will be obtained using molecular markers while phenetic structure will be attained from skull shape analyses, as well as from life-history traits.

Adaptive variation will be investigated by measuring variation at highly polymorphic molecular markers. In the context of genetic structure and presence of Bs, prevalence and intensity of macro parasites dominant for this species, as well as virus's presence, will be monitored. We suppose that obtained data, together with data from analysis of Bs transmission from cages, will allow understanding the contribution of B chromosome polymorphism to genetic diversity and adaptability of species across different environments. Further understanding of mechanism of Bs maintenance in populations is also expected.

This project comprises a group of research tasks centered around the common use of in vitro culture techniques. They include:

Morphogenesis in vitro: Research on shoot regeneration and multiplication, rhyzogenesis, somatic embriogenesis and androgenesis are done on Allium schoenoprassum, Frittilaria meleagris, Iris reichenbachii, Arabidopsis thaliana, Pinus peuce, Pinus heldreichii and wheat, birds-foot trefoil and cabbage subspecies. Protocols designed for specific organogenesis pathways are elaborated and confirmed with cytological and histological studies. Effect of GA3 are studied in regeneration of spinach and bird-foot trefoil. Interaction of GA3 with other hormones is studied by use of light and scanning electron microscopy an in situ hybridization. Following the expression of genes for GA20 oxidase, KNOX/STM and LAS orthologues. Senescence and apoptosis are studied on tobacco leaves.