RUI: Phylogenetic Relationships and Character Evolution in Lycieae (Solanaceae)

[343735]米勒阿默斯特学院的吉尔·米勒博士和雷切尔·莱文博士的这项研究的重点是研究番茄科（茄科）中三个密切相关的属之间的进化关系，重点是最大的属枸杞。将利用从非洲、北美和南美收集的植物标本中积累的DNA序列数据来检验它们之间的关系。关系的知识将应用于生物地理学和水果进化的研究。枸杞种间生殖特征差异较大；例如，水果的种类从肉质的、多种子的浆果（鸟类传播）到少种子的、硬化的水果（可能由小型哺乳动物传播）。这个项目的优点也延伸到传统的系统学领域之外；拟议的工作将允许检查繁殖系统的演变枸杞。更广泛地说，该项目将促进对开花植物之间进化关系的理解，并为正在进行的全球努力做出贡献，以破译具有重要经济意义的植物家族茄科的关系。拟议工作的更广泛影响包括培养本科生；6-10名本科生将在本项目中接受分子方法、研究进化关系的技术（包括研究形态特征进化的方法）以及植物系统学和育种系统进化的强大背景的强化培训。该项目还将促进与同事之间现有的和新的国际合作，从而增强我们对世界范围内枸杞物种之间关系的理解。该项目将对现有茄科植物的收藏做出重大贡献，包括许多新的植物标本馆标本、基因组DNA和DNA序列。这些将向公众提供，从而补充和扩展其他茄科研究人员的工作。该项目还将对该群体进行新的系统处理，包括可供世界各地的植物学家使用的在线分类密钥。

0343735MillerThe focus of this research by Dr. Jill Miller and Dr. Rachel Levin of Amherst College is to examine evolutionary relationships among three closely-related genera in the tomato family (Solanaceae), with an emphasis on the largest genus Lycium (wolfberry). Relationships will be examined using DNA sequence data, accumulated from plant specimens collected in Africa and North and South America. Knowledge of relationships will be applied to the study of biogeography and fruit evolution. Wolfberry species have considerable variation in reproductive characteristics; for example, fruits range from fleshy, multi-seeded berries that are bird-dispersed, to few-seeded, hardened fruits that are likely dispersed by small mammals. The merits of this project also extend outside the traditional realm of systematics; the proposed work will permit examination of breeding system evolution in Lycium. More broadly, this project will advance understanding of evolutionary relationships among flowering plants, as well as contribute to on-going, global efforts toward deciphering relationships in the economically important plant family Solanaceae. Broader impacts of the proposed work include the training of undergraduates; 6-10 undergraduates over the course of this project will receive intensive training in molecular methods, techniques for examining evolutionary relationships (including methods to study morphological character evolution), and a strong background in plant systematics and breeding system evolution. This project will also facilitate both existing and new international collaborations with colleagues, thus enhancing our understanding of relationships among worldwide wolfberry species. This project will make a significant contribution to existing collections of Solanaceae, including many new herbarium specimens, genomic DNAs, and DNA sequences. These will be made available to the public, thus complementing and extending the work of other Solanaceae researchers. This project will also result in a new systematic treatment of the group, including on-line taxonomic keys that can be used by botanists worldwide.