Biodiversity, wellbeing and colour: wildflower genomics to inform the creation of new habitats

Sowing wildflower seeds is an essential part of our efforts to rewild urban landscapes and restore biodiversity, but how can we make sure that our efforts are not in vain? The commercial wildflower seedstock that is sown in environmental and urban restoration projects may suffer from a narrow genetic base and reduced adaptive potential because of limited founders and unconscious selection during multiplication.

We will compare the genetic diversity in wildflower seedstock and some of the original sites it was sourced, and test how these wildflower populations perform in different environments and soils in controlled conditions. We will explore phenotypic and transcriptional differences between selected wildflower species in variable environmental conditions, focusing on a "warmer and drier" future scenario.