POWRE: Phylogenetic study of Andropogoneae (Poaceae)

University Of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha WI

Investigators

Abstract

ABSTRACT PI:Skendzic, Elizabeth INSTITUTION: Univ of Wisconsin - Parkside PROPOSAL: DEB 0074777 The P.I. proposes a project to study the phylogeny of the grass tribe, Andropogoneae. Which includes 85 genera. Past work supports monophyly of the tribe based on spike morphology, leaf blade anatomy, and to some extent molecular data. Recent molecular studies, however, seem discrepant: recent work suggests the tribe is polyphyletic. She would like to investigate this hypothesis by reconsidering the taxa analyzes, the type of molecular marker used, and the addition of novel developmental and morphological characteristics. She will study species of the core genera Andropogoneae and use data from nuclear ribsomal DNA sequences, floral development and seedling morphology in order to obtain a more robust phylogeny.