COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: Polyploidy in Phlox and its effects on diversity

一个由来自堪萨斯州立大学、密歇根州立大学和沙漠植物园的三名科学家组成的团队将研究Phlox(Polemoniaceae)植物的多倍体(具有一组以上染色体的情况)和多样性。在美国西南部，福禄克斯(P.ambilis)、南福禄(P.nana)和福禄(P.wood house i)均表现为二倍体(两组染色体，2X)、四倍体(4X)和六倍体(6X)种群。将使用流式细胞仪和染色体计数数据记录这些群体倍性水平变化的地理模式。通过结合系统发育、种群遗传、形态和生态分析，研究人员将推断种群之间的关系，重建它们的起源，估计基因流动模式，调查多倍体对表型的影响，并确定特定的倍性类型是否更常见地与不同的生态位有关。这些方法的数据也将被用来修订该种群的分类。虽然多倍体被认为在植物进化中发挥着重要作用，但我们目前对倍性水平变化与多样性的了解是有限的。这个项目调查了人们对多倍体和多样性普遍感兴趣的问题，并综合了研究结果，以促进对多倍体在植物多样性中的作用的更广泛的理解。将为公立学校和植物园受众开发与这项研究相关的教育模块，从本科生到博士后水平的参与者将从培训和合作中受益。

A team of three scientists from Kansas State University, Michigan State University and the Desert Botanical Garden will investigate polyploidy (the condition of having more than one set of chromosomes) and diversity in the plant genus Phlox (Polemoniaceae). The Phlox species P. amabilis, P. nana and P. woodhousei all exhibit variation in ploidy level and occur as diploid (two sets of chromosomes, 2X), tetraploid (4X) and hexaploid (6X) populations in the southwestern United States. Geographic patterns of ploidy level variation will be documented for these groups using flow cytometry and chromosome count data. By combining phylogenetic, population genetic, morphological, and ecological analyses the researchers will infer relationships among populations, reconstruct their origins, estimate patterns of gene flow, investigate the affect of polyploidy on phenotypes, and identify whether particular ploidy types are more commonly associated with different ecological niches. Data from these approaches will also be used to revise the taxonomy of the group.While polyploidy is considered to play an important role in plant evolution, our current knowledge of ploidy level variation relative to diversity is limited. This project investigates questions of general interest on polyploidy and diversity and integrates findings to advance a broader understanding of the role of polyploidy in the diversification of plants. Educational modules relating incorporating this research will be developed for public school and botanical garden audiences, and participants from the undergraduate to postdoctoral level will benefit from training and collaboration.