Dissertation Research: The Systematics and Evolution of Jaltomata (Solanaceae)

作者提出了一种新的植物分类、系统发育关系模式和进化过程的研究。茄科的一种新热带草本到具绒毛的属。这种知之甚少且分类学混乱的属的一种特别令人感兴趣，因为它正在墨西哥作为一种水果作物进行逐步驯化；一些其他物种的果实和根茎也被人类食用。pi将构建一个基于叶绿体dna的系统发育。基于这种严格构建的系统发育，独立衍生的形态和核型进化模式和生物地理学将进行测试。他们还将探索繁殖系统的进化。Jaltomata特别适合研究进化过程和模式，原因有几个。通用边界是一个具有挑战性的问题；一些工蜂保留管状花的Jaltomata种为Hebecladus，而Saracha和Physalis种已被视为Jaltomata。种间的形态差异很大（习性、花冠形态、花冠颜色等）。因此，这个群体适合于形态学进化的研究，因为它与系统发育、染色体进化、海拔/栖息地偏好的进化和繁殖系统的进化有关。该属包括多种繁殖系统，如自交配、兼性自交配和专性异交。

The PIs proposed a study of the taxonomy, pattern of phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary processes in Jaltomata. A neotropical, herbaceous to suffrutescent genus of the Solanaceae. One species of this poorly understood and taxonomically confused genus is of particular interest because it is undergoing progressive domestication in Mexico as a fruit crop; fruits and root-stocks of several other species are also consumed by humans. The PIs will construct a chloroplast DNA-based phylogeny. Based on this rigorously constructed phylogeny, independently derived patterns of morphological and karyotypical evolution and biogeography will be tested. They will also explore evolution of breeding systems. Jaltomata is especially suitable for the study of evolutionary process and pattern for several reasons. Generic boundaries present a challenging problem; some workers retain the tubular flowered Jaltomata species as Hebecladus, and species of Saracha and Physalis have been treated as Jaltomata. There is much morphological diversity among species (habit, vestiture, corolla shape and color, etc.). The group, therefore, lends itself to the study of morphological evolution as it relates to phylogeny, chromosomal evolution, the evolution of altitude / habitat preference and breeding system evolution. The genus includes a diversity of breeding systems such as autogamy, facultative autogamy, and obligate outcrossing.