Dissertation Research: Phylogeny and Character Evolution in the Genus Sphaerocardamum (Brassicaceae)

在康奈尔大学Jeff Doyle教授的指导下，研究生Carl Bailey正在对墨西哥的芥菜属Sphaerocardamum进行研究，以完善该属的分类学分类，构建8个左右已知物种的系统发育，并探索花发育基因的变异。在墨西哥额外的野外收集将增加从野外和植物标本室收集的材料。核和叶绿体基因DNA测序的新分子数据将为系统发育分析提供证据，这些数据可与传统形态学特征相结合，用于物种划分、同属区杂交评估和类群历史生物地理学研究。来自拟南芥模型系统的基因探针将用于探索影响花发育的基因变异和区分相关物种的其他特征。该项目的重要意义包括：对芸苔科（芥菜）科植物的分类和系统发育作出贡献；评价芸苔属（Sphaerocardamum）及其近缘植物关键形态特征的可靠性和稳定性；为系统发育重建开发新的DNA数据来源；利用拟南芥模型系统的探针探索影响花发育的基因变异。

9701007 Doyle Graduate student Carl Bailey, under the direction of Professor Jeff Doyle at Cornell University, is studying the mustard-family genus Sphaerocardamum of Mexico, to improve taxonomic classification of the group, construct a phylogeny of the eight or so known species, and explore variation in floral development genes. Additional field collecting in Mexico will augment materials assembled from the field and herbarium. New molecular data from DNA sequencing of both nuclear and chloroplast genes will provide evidence for phylogenetic analyses, and these data can be combined with traditional morphological characters in delimiting species, assessing hybridization in areas of sympatry, and studying the historical biogeography of the group. Gene probes from the Arabidopsis model system, a related plant in the family, will be used to explore variation in genes affecting floral development and other features distinguishing related species. The significance of the project includes contributions to the taxonomy and phylogeny of the Brassicaceae (mustard) family, evaluation of the reliability and stability of key morphological characters in the genus Sphaerocardamum and close relatives, the development of new sources of DNA data for phylogenetic reconstruction, and the exploration of variation in genes affecting flower development, making use of probes from the Arabidopsis model system.