U.S.-Ethiopia Cooperative Research: Systematic Studies of Bidens and Coreopsis (Asteraceae)

该项目支持埃塞俄比亚阿迪斯大学的Tadesse Mesfin博士继续参与由俄亥俄州州立大学的丹尼尔·克劳福德博士领导的植物分子遗传学研究（NSF Grant INT-9025030），研究金鸡菊属（菊科）的系统学和进化。 南美洲和东非都是金鸡菊多样性的中心，与北美洲的数量相当或超过北美洲。 与埃塞俄比亚合作伙伴的合作部分正在调查北美金鸡菊与非洲植物的关系，这些植物被不同地分配给鬼针草或金鸡菊。 埃塞俄比亚科学家在俄亥俄州继续开展研究合作期间，将致力于实现以下目标：（1）对特别是南美洲的金鸡菊属物种和北美和南美洲的鬼针草属物种进行进一步的形态和解剖学研究;（2）继续从特别是生殖特征中寻找鬼针草和金鸡菊属的诊断特征;（3）进一步研究非洲和非洲的一些物种。（3）完成对北美金鸡菊属其余种的描述（迄今为止已描述和描绘了44种中的27种）;（4）提出一个方案，揭示在旧大陆与新大陆分类群中鬼针草和金鸡菊属之间的关系。访问科学家正在熟悉其他技术和方法，如酶电泳，如何研究DNA的系统目的，使用分支系统学产生系统发育等，当他回到埃塞俄比亚，他将能够指导学生在这些方面的系统学。对这一大而广布的属的进一步了解与非洲项目对生物多样性研究合作的重视是一致的，并有望使合作伙伴及其上级机构受益。 此外，该项目将有助于建立一个长期的研究网络，将三大洲的科学家联系起来，即非洲、北美和南美。 *** ***

INT-9412801 Crawford This project supports the continued participation of Dr. Tadesse Mesfin of Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, in an ongoing study in plant molecular phylogenetics, led by Dr. Daniel Crawford of Ohio State University, (NSF Grant INT-9025030), of the systematics and evolution of the genus Coreopsis (Asteraceae). Both South America and Eastern Africa represent centers of diversity for Coreopsis that equal or surpass that found in North America. The collaborative component with the Ethiopian partner is investigating the relationship of North American Coreopsis to African plants that have been variously assigned to Bidens or Coreopsis. During this extension of his research cooperation at Ohio State, the Ethiopian scientist will pursue the following goals: (1) make further morphological and anatomical studies on particularly South American species of Coreopsis and selected North and South American species of Bidens; (2) continue the search for diagnostic features in Bidens and Coreopsis from particularly reproductive features; (3) complete the description of the remaining species of North American species of Coreopsis (27 of the 44 species have been described and sketched so far); (4) produce a scheme that reveals the relationships between Bidens and Coreopsis in the Old versus the New World taxa. The visiting scientist is gaining familiarity with additional techniques and methods, such as enzyme electrophoresis, how to study DNA for systematic purposes, using cladistics for generating phylogenies, etc. When he returns to Ethiopia, he will be able to instruct students in these aspects of systematics. Improved understanding of this large, widespread genus is consistent with the Africa program's emphasis on biodiversity research cooperation, and promises benefits to both partners and to their parent institutions. Moreover, this project will contribute to the establishment of a longterm research network linking scientists on three continents, Af rica, North America, and South America. *** ***