Science in Developing Countries Program: The Systematics andEvolution of the Genus Coreopsis (Asteraceae) in South America

该项目将支持俄亥俄州立大学的Daniel J. Crawford博士、阿肯萨斯大学的Edwin B. Smith博士和秘鲁Orrego de Trujillo大学的Aundio Sagastegui博士在系统生物学方面的合作研究。该项目将开始研究菊苣属（菊科）南美代表植物的系统学和进化。来自南美洲的34种被描述，绝大多数发生在秘鲁的安第斯山脉北部，所有被分配到Pseudoagarista节。在阿尔法水平之外的物种知之甚少，大多数分类群主要描述叶片形态。合作将包括以下方法：实地研究以评估所述物种内部和物种之间的形态变化，收集标本以记录这种变化，收集花蕾并收集种子和干叶材料；测定每个物种的染色体数目；利用酶电泳估计种内遗传变异和种间遗传差异；以及利用形态学和叶绿体DNA限制性位点变异来构建南美洲和所有Coreopsis的系统发育假说。该项目将提供对Coreopsis属的系统进化方面的见解，并将允许在三位合格的研究人员之间发展协同关系。该项目将提供秘鲁首席研究员目前无法获得的资源和研究机会，并将涉及秘鲁学生。由于这种类型的研究还提供了知识的快速交流和传播，因此该项目将实现发展中国家科学计划的目标。

This project will support collaborative studies in systematic biology by Dr. Daniel J. Crawford of Ohio State University, Dr. Edwin B. Smith of the University of Arkansas and Dr. Aundio Sagastegui of the Universidad Antenor Orrego de Trujillo, Peru. The project will initiate studies of the systematics and evolution of South American representatives of the Genus Coreopsis (Asteraceae). Thirty four species are described from South America with the vast majority occurring in the northern Andes of Peru and all assigned to the sect. Pseudoagarista. Little is known about the species beyond the alpha-level, with most of the taxa described primarily on leaf morphology. The collaborative effort will involve the following methods: field studies to assess morphological variation within and among the described species, specimen collection to document this variation, gathering of floral buds and collecting seeds and dried leaf material; determination of chromosome numbers for each species; the use of enzyme electrophoresis to estimate genetic variation within and divergence among species; and the use of morphology and chloroplast DNA restriction site variation to construct phylogenic hypotheses for South American Coreopsis and for all of Coreopsis. The project will provide insight into systematic-evolutionary aspects of the genus Coreopsis and will allow a synergistic relationship to develop among the three well- qualified investigators. The project will present resources and research opportunities currently unavailable to the Peruvian principal investigator and will involve Peruvian students. Since this type of research also provides for the rapid exchange and dissemination of knowledge, the project will fulfill the goals of the Science in Developing Countries Program.