DDEP: The clusioid clade (Malpighiales): Systematics, biogeography, and horizontal gene transfer; Brazil

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This DDEP proposal is to support PhD candidate Brad Ruhfel working under PI Dr. Charles Davis to conduct research in Brazil. Mr. Ruhfel will collaborate with two Brazilian mentors conducting field work, Professors Maria Amaral and Claudia Bove from the Campinas State University and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro respectively. Mr. Ruhfel?s proposed research will study the evolutionary relatedness among various groups of plants including four families representing 87 genera and approximately 2,000 species, among them such economically important plants as St. John Wort and tropical fruits such as the Mammey apples. These families have an ancient fossil record, and are especially diverse in Brazil. The research will provide an excellent opportunity to understand better the assembly of modern tropical plants through molecular and bio-geographical studies.