Molecular Systematics of Epilobieae (Onagraceae: Myrtales)

牡丹科是开花植物中被研究得最彻底的科之一。这个家庭有可能成为适应性辐射研究的一个模型。然而，需要一个严谨、详细的系统发育，为进一步研究家庭内部的辐射提供基础。传统文字学未能很好地解决女香科内的进化模式。PI建议利用cpDNA限制性位点变异和核rDNA序列分析来探索部落内的系统发育，并从cpDNA中测序rbcL以研究整个家族内部落间的系统发育关系。他还将使用这些方法和其他方法将女香科固定在更大的桃金娘目中。最后，推断出的系统发育将用于评估家族内的特征进化。拟议的研究应允许重新审查该家庭的系统分类学以及形态和生理进化，这将允许对适应和进化进行更多层次的综合。

Onagraceae is one of the most thoroughly studied families among the flowering plants. The family has the potential to serve as a model for the study of adaptive radiation. However, a rigorous, detailed phylogeny is required to provide a foundation for additional work on radiation within the family. Traditional characters have failed to resolve adequately the evolutionary pattern wtihin Onagraceae. The PI proposes to use cpDNA restriction site variation and sequence analyses of nuclear rDNA to explore phylogeny within the tribe Epilobeae and to sequence rbcL from cpDNA to examine intertribal phylogenetic relationships within the family as a whole. He will also use these and other methods to fix Onagraceae within the larger order Myrtales. Finally, the inferred phylogeny will be used to assess character evolution within the family. The proposed research should permit the reexamination of the systematics of the family as well as morphological and physiological evolution that will permit additional levels of syntheses concerning adaptation and evolution.