Dissertation Research: Systematics and Phylogeography of Truffles (Tuber)

块菌属，通常被称为“真正的松露”，因其美味和诱人的地下果实体而受到高度重视。尽管块茎植物声名狼藉，但其分类学仍处于混乱状态。本研究将采用多位点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。本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分支中保守。本研究将整合大多数已知的块茎属植物在其自然分布范围内的种类，为其分类提供系统发育基础。许多块茎物种具有商业价值，并被大规模收获。这项研究的一个更广泛的影响将是分子工具的发展，以帮助鉴定和管理野生和栽培种质。这项研究将直接有助于博士研究生的培养，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.