Collaborative Research: An investigation of the evolution and taxonomy of the true blueberries (Vaccinium section Cyanococcus)

北美蓝莓是起源于美国的一种罕见的驯化木本物种，由于其作为粮食作物的经济重要性，农学家对其进行了深入研究。然而，该群体的进化历史仍然不确定。特别是，关于自然界中存在多少物种的清晰观点仍然难以捉摸：目前的估计在9到24之间。其中一个原因是物种内广泛的形态变异。此外，蓝莓物种杂交（杂交）的能力进一步混淆了物种鉴定。这些杂交事件偶尔也会导致通过亲本基因组的复制形成全新的物种，这种现象称为多倍性。然而，这些多倍体往往很难与亲本区分开来，导致未被识别的多样性。这项研究将试图通过对蓝莓物种边界和多样性进行全面评估来弥补这一点，同时考虑进化历史。该项目将导致生物多样性的发现，蓝莓命名惯例的修订，以及对多倍体及其在塑造这一生态和经济重要群体的进化历史和物种组成方面的作用的详细了解。该项目还将包括许多培训机会，一本图文并茂的故事书将教育孩子们关于基本植物学和蓝莓的自然历史。广泛的实地和基于标本馆的研究将与各种分子技术和分析方法相结合，以提供一个全面的系统和进化的研究越橘节。将从目标富集数据组装一个基因组数据集，以推断该组的进化关系和地理历史。将设计一个定制的管道，允许从多倍体中识别等位基因，填补了天然存在的非模型多倍体复合体研究中的一个重要空白。等位基因将用于检验关于多倍体化的起源和模式以及二倍体祖细胞鉴定的假设。这项研究将结束一个彻底的分类修订蓝球藻的基础上，广泛的形态学研究的标本馆和现场收集的材料和常见的花园研究。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

North American blueberries, a rare example of domesticated woody species with origins in the US, have been intensively studied by agronomists because of their economic importance as a food crop. However, the evolutionary history of the group is still uncertain. In particular, a clear view of how many species exist in nature remains elusive: current estimates range between nine and 24. One reason for this is extensive morphological variation within species. Additionally, the ability of blueberry species to hybridize (cross-breed) further confounds species identification. These hybridization events also occasionally result in the formation of completely new species via duplication of the parent genomes, a phenomenon known as polyploidy. These polyploids, however, are often difficult to distinguish from the parents, resulting in unrecognized diversity. This study will attempt to remedy this by providing a thorough assessment of blueberry species boundaries and diversity while accounting for evolutionary history. The project will result in biodiversity discovery, a revision of the naming convention in blueberries, and a detailed understanding of polyploidy and its role in shaping the evolutionary history and species composition of this ecologically and economically important group. The project will also include many training opportunities, and an illustrated storybook will educate children about basic botany and the natural history of blueberries. Extensive field- and herbarium-based research will be integrated with a variety of molecular techniques and analytical approaches to provide a comprehensive systematic and evolutionary study of Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus. A phylogenomic dataset will be assembled from target enrichment data to infer evolutionary relationships and biogeographic history of the group. A custom pipeline will be designed that allows for the identification of alleles from polyploids, filling an important gap in the study of naturally occurring, non-model polyploid complexes. Alleles will be used to test hypotheses regarding the origins and mode of polyploidization and identification of diploid progenitors. The study will conclude with a thorough taxonomic revision of Cyanococcus based on extensive morphological study of herbarium and field-collected material and common garden studies. This will comprise dichotomous and interactive keys, species descriptions, and geographic distribution maps.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.