Phylogenetic Systematics of Moraceae: Inflorescence Evolution and the Origin of a Pollination Mutualism

桑科的系统发育系统学：花序进化和授粉互利的起源

• 批准号: 0128833
• 负责人: George Weiblen
• 金额: $ 27.5万
• 依托单位: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-02-01 至 2005-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0128833&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Phylogenetic; Systematics; Moraceae; Inflorescence; Evolution

Weiblen0128833Work by Dr. George Weiblen at the University of Minnesota examines the evolutionary history of the mulberry family (Moraceae) using the DNA sequences from the living members of this ancient lineage of flowering plants. There are more than 1000 species of Moraceae worldwide, including such economically important fruits as figs, mulberries, jackfruit and breadfruit. Among the Moraceae, the figs (species of the genus Ficus) have been a major focus of research in ecology and evolution because of their complex interactions with fig wasps. Specialized wasps that feed on fig seeds are the exclusive pollinators of over 700 species of figs. The mutually beneficial relationship between figs and their wasps has stimulated much research on coevolution, the process by which two species undergo genetic change in response to each other. Ecological studies of fig pollination have advanced our understanding of coevolution, and yet the origins and evolutionary stages leading to fig pollination have remained virtually unknown. This project uses new tools of DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis to probe the early history of the mulberry family and to identify the closest relatives of the figs. Field work in the Old World tropics will focus on pollination biology of several Moraceae. Reconstructing patterns of diversification in this way makes it possible to test theories on the origin of the unique fig pollination syndrome, and to improve our understanding of general trends in floral evolution.The project will significantly expand our taxonomic and phylogenetic knowledge of an important branch of the tree of life. Economically significant members of the Moraceae include ornamental and edible figs (Ficus), breadfruit and jackfruit (Artocarpus), paperbark mulberry (Broussonetia), a source of fiber, and breadnut (Brosimum), a major tropical timber. Mulberry (Morus) also plays a key role in the production of silk as the main food source for silk moths. Understanding how these plants are related genetically is important for their sustainable use and conservation. In addition, the research provides an opportunity for advanced graduate training in state-of-the-art molecular techniques combined with museum collections-based approaches to the study of biodiversity.

明尼苏达大学的乔治·魏布伦博士的研究工作利用这一古老的开花植物谱系的活成员的DNA序列研究了桑树家族（桑科）的进化历史。 桑科植物在世界范围内有1000多种，包括无花果、桑椹、菠萝蜜和面包果等经济上重要的水果。在桑科植物中，无花果因其与榕小蜂之间复杂的相互作用而成为生态学和进化研究的主要焦点。 专门以无花果种子为食的黄蜂是700多种无花果的唯一授粉者。无花果和它们的黄蜂之间的互利关系激发了许多关于共同进化的研究，这是两个物种相互响应而发生遗传变化的过程。无花果授粉的生态学研究促进了我们对共同进化的理解，但导致无花果授粉的起源和进化阶段仍然几乎未知。本研究利用DNA序列分析和系统发育分析的新工具，探讨桑树家族的早期历史，并确定无花果的最近亲属。 在旧大陆热带地区的野外工作将集中在几个桑科的授粉生物学。以这种方式重建多样化的模式，使其有可能测试理论的起源独特的无花果授粉综合征，并提高我们的理解，在花卉进化的一般趋势。该项目将大大扩大我们的分类学和系统发育知识的一个重要的分支的生命之树。桑科经济上重要的成员包括观赏和食用无花果（Ficus），面包果和菠萝蜜（Artocarpus），纸皮桑树（Broussonetia），纤维的来源，和面包坚果（Brosimum），一种主要的热带木材。桑葚（Morus）作为蚕蛾的主要食物来源，在蚕丝生产中也起着关键作用。了解这些植物在遗传上的关系对于它们的可持续利用和保护非常重要。 此外，该研究还为先进的研究生培训提供了机会，这些培训将最先进的分子技术与基于博物馆收藏的生物多样性研究方法相结合。