| Abstract Detail
Systematics Section Ingram, Amanda [1]. Phylogenetics of Australian Eragrostis (Poaceae) using DNA sequence data. Eragrostis is a genus of chloridoid grasses with approximately 350 species distributed worldwide, with the greatest concentration of diversity in the Old World tropics. This study employs phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequence data from two plastid regions (rps16 and the trnL-F spacer) and the nuclear gene granule-bound starch synthase I to assess the evolutionary history of the genus. In addition to understanding the diversification of Australian Eragrostis, this analysis also explores the phylogenetic placement of a variety of Eragrostis segregates and putatively closely related small genera, including Eragrostiella, Thellungia, Diandrochloa, Ectrosia, and Heterachne. These data suggest that Eragrostiella and Thellungia are in fact distant relatives of Eragrostis, while the remaining genera are nested within Eragrostis. The resulting phylogenies will be used to assess the evolution of taxonomically important characters, including spikelet disarticulation and leaf anatomy.
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1 - Wabash College, Department of Biology, PO Box 352, Crawfordsville, IN, 47933, USA
Keywords:
Eragrostis
Poaceae
Chloridoideae
phylogenetics.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for BSA Sections
Session: 68
Location: Cottonwood D/Snowbird Center
Date: Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
Time: 4:15 PM
Number: 68013
Abstract ID:266 |
