GOETHEOME. The genome of Goethe's palm, the phylogeography and genomics of adaptation in Chamaerops humilis

The plant known as Goethe’s Palm (Chamaerops humilis) is the oldest (1585) of Padua Botanical Garden, and one of the highlights of the tour for visitors. This project aims to build the genome of Goethe’s Palm and to compare its genetic diversity with that of natural populations of the species. Using methods at the leading edge of technology, researchers will explore the mechanisms that have contributed to the current distribution of the species, for example the key elements controlling growth traits, and other processes such as ageing. Expanding these areas of knowledge, it will be possible to shed light on processes involved in the responses of long-living plants to environmental stimuli, and their capacity for survival in different conditions, a key element in evaluating susceptibility to the changes now taking place. The data collected will allow researchers to identify the plant's geographical region of origin, currently unknown, while serving also as an aid to further searches of a historical nature conducted in libraries and archives (e.g. the State Archive of Venice), aimed at obtaining confirmation and further information on how the plant came to Padua.