Dissertation Research: Phylogeny of Tribe Trichocereeae and Resolution of a Thorny History of Reticulate Evolution and Polyploidy in Haageocereus (Cactaceae)

仙人掌科（Cactaceae）是一个约有2000种的大科，仅限于美洲大陆，但现在在世界各地种植。虽然大多数仙人掌都生长在沙漠中，但它们也可以在潮湿的地方作为附生植物生长。该地区包括秘鲁和玻利维亚有第二高的物种多样性仙人掌科在世界上，也可能代表一个可能的网站的起源家庭。尽管仙人掌科的大尺寸和生态的重要性，很少有研究已经检查家庭的关系。大多数南美仙人掌属植物属于Trichocereae族，其中约80%为各自国家的特有种。Trichocereae成员之间的关系和物种边界知之甚少。Trichocereae具有很大的形态变异性和复杂的繁殖模式，传统上归因于杂交，多倍体（或基因组加倍）和营养繁殖等现象。Trichocereae，特别是Haageocereus，越来越容易受到人类干扰，因为大多数南美国家最大和人口最多的城市都位于这些仙人掌的自然栖息地。生物发生学是更好地了解这些生物的生物学并促进随后的生态和/或保护研究的关键第一步。族Trichocereeae的系统发育将被用作一个框架：1）解决Trichocereeae属之间的关系; 2）解决Haageocereus物种之间的关系; 3）确定Haageocereus和其他Trichocereeae中杂交和多倍体的存在和重要性; 4）检查组中的地理模式; 5）检查Haageocereus濒危物种的遗传多样性。Haageocereus，也许是形态上最多样化的属Trichocereeae，将作为一个模型系统，并将详细研究在物种和人口水平采用DNA测序和微卫星技术。对Trichocereae的研究将继续通过出版物、Trichocereae网站、会议、研讨会和在位于仙人掌丰富地区的大学和植物机构提供的课程传播结果，产生教育影响。重要的是，政府机构INRENA（国家自然资源研究所）将利用这项关于特有仙人掌科保护状况的工作和相关数据库（Arakaki和Ostolaza，2005年出版）来制定秘鲁仙人掌的管理政策。该项目还将与玻利维亚和智利的植物学家合作。

The cactus family (Cactaceae) is a large family of approximately 2000 species restricted to the American continent, but now cultivated all over the world. Although most cacti are found in deserts, they can also prosper as epiphytes in humid places. The region comprising Peru and Bolivia has the second highest species diversity for Cactaceae in the world and also may represent a possible site of origin for the family. In spite of the large size and ecological importance of Cactaceae, few studies have examined relationships in the family. Most South American species of cacti belong to tribe Trichocereeae, with about 80% of them endemic to their respective countries. Relationships and species boundaries among members of Trichocereeae are poorly understood. Trichocereeae show great morphological variability and complex reproductive patterns, traditionally attributed to phenomena such as hybridization, polyploidy (or genome doubling), and vegetative propagation. The Trichocereeae, and Haageocereus in particular, are becoming more and more vulnerable to human disturbance given that the largest and most populated cities in most South American countries are located in the natural habitats of these cacti. A phylogeny is a crucial first step to obtain a better understanding of the biology of these organisms and to facilitate subsequent ecological and/or conservation studies. The phylogeny of tribe Trichocereeae will be used as a framework for: 1) resolving relationships among genera in Trichocereeae; 2) resolving relationships among species of Haageocereus; 3) determining the presence and importance of hybridization and polyploidy in Haageocereus and other Trichocereeae; 4) examination of biogeographic patterns in the group; 5) examination of genetic diversity in endangered species of Haageocereus. Haageocereus, perhaps the most morphologically diverse genus in Trichocereeae, will serve as a model system and will be investigated in detail at the species and population level employing DNA sequencing and microsatellite techniques. Studies on Trichocereeae will continue to have educational impact through dissemination of the results through publications, the Trichocereeae website, conferences, seminars and courses offered at universities and botanical institutions located in cacti-rich areas. Importantly, the governmental institution INRENA (National Institute of Natural Resources) will use this work on the conservation status of endemic Cactaceae and accompanying database (Arakaki and Ostolaza 2005 in press) to establish management policies for Peruvian cacti. The project will also involve collaboration with botanists in Bolivia and Chile.