Phylogeny and character evolution in the genus Oxalis

大型植物属酢浆草拥有惊人的多样性的形式，包括小灌木，肉质草本植物，长藤，高山垫形式。 许多物种通过各种储存结构在地下的寒冷或干旱季节生存：块茎，块根，肉质鳞片的根茎，木质树冠和两种不同的鳞茎。这种多样性使Oxalis成为研究植物形态进化的一个引人注目的主题，特别是这些存储结构。 该项目使用DNA序列和形态学比较来研究酢浆草属物种之间的进化关系，以帮助了解储存结构（如鳞茎）如何进化，以及来自什么样的前体。 该项目将建立一个国际研究小组，包括巴西、德国、荷兰、南非和乌拉圭的合作伙伴，共同研究酢浆草属植物。 它将为至少一名研究生和众多本科生提供研究经验和培训。 该项目通过支持由一名女性PI领导的研究来扩大研究的参与，并将招募科学领域代表性不足的目标群体的本科生。 PI实验室的成员将把研究过程和结果纳入许多正在进行的教育和推广活动。 此外，研究结果最终可能有助于改善种植可食用鳞茎或从鳞茎中生长的作物的潜力。

The large plant genus Oxalis holds an amazing diversity of forms, including small shrubs, succulent herbs, long vines, and alpine cushion forms. Many species survive cold or dry seasons underground by means of various kinds of storage structures: tubers, tuberous roots, rhizomes with fleshy scales, woody crowns, and two different kinds of bulbs. This diversity makes Oxalis a compelling subject for studying the evolution of plant form, especially of these storage structures. This project uses DNA sequences and comparisons with morphology to study the evolutionary relationships among species of Oxalis, to help understand how storage structures such as bulbs evolve, and from what precursors. The results will also shed light on the evolution of plant breeding systems, chromosome numbers, and biogeography.This project will build an international group of researchers to collaborate on Oxalis research, including partners in Brazil, Germany, Holland, South Africa, and Uruguay. It will provide research experience and training to at least one graduate student and numerous undergraduate students. The project broadens participation in research by supporting research led by a female PI, and undergraduates of targeted underrepresented groups in the sciences will be recruited. Members of the PI's lab will incorporate the research process and results into many ongoing educational and outreach activities. In addition, the research results may eventually help in potential improvement of crops grown for edible bulbs, or grown from bulbs.