Dissertation Research: Systematics and Phylogeography of Truffles (Tuber)

块茎属，俗称“真正的松露”，因其美味和诱人的地下子实体而备受推崇。尽管块茎植物的分类臭名昭著，但它们的分类仍然处于混乱状态。这项研究将使用多位点DNA测序方法来评估亚洲、欧洲和北美块茎物种的系统发育关系和物种概念。这项研究将测试块茎的系统地理模式是否反映了替代物种的形成，以及植物寄主关联是否在块茎的分支中被保守。这项研究将整合其自然范围内大多数已知的块茎物种，为它们的分类学提供一个系统发育基础。许多块茎植物具有商业价值，并被大规模收获。这项研究的更广泛影响将是开发分子工具，以帮助鉴定和管理野生和栽培种质。这项研究将直接为博士生的研究生培训做出贡献，也将为来自美国、欧洲和亚洲的松露专家之间的合作伙伴关系提供独特的机会。

The genus Tuber, known commonly as 'the true truffles', are highly valued for their delicious and beguiling underground fruit bodies. In spite of their notoriety, taxonomy of Tuber species is still in a confused state. This research will employ multi-locus DNA sequencing approaches to assess phylogenetic relationships and species concepts of Asian, European and North American Tuber species. This research will test whether phylogeographic patterns of Tuber reflect vicariant speciation and whether plant host associations are conserved within clades of Tuber. This research will integrate the majority of known species of Tuber across its natural range, providing a phylogenetic basis for their taxonomy. Many Tuber species are commercially valued and are harvested on a large-scale. A broader impact of this research will be the development of molecular tools to aid in the identification and management of wild and cultivated germplasm. This research will directly contribute toward graduate training for a Ph.D. student, and will also provide unique opportunities for collaborative partnerships between truffle experts from US, Europe and Asia.