9407350 Kron The blueberry or heath family (Ericaceae) is a remarkably diverse group of horticulturally and agriculturally important plants. It has a broad geographic distribution that spans both the temperate and tropical regions of the world. Many of the patterns of diversity seen throughout the flowering plants as a whole can be seen within the blueberry family alone. For example, whereas most of the members of the family are woody shrubs and trees, several are herbs; most members are green and photosynthetic, but several lack chlorophyll and are essentially parasitic; many are insect pollinated but some are wind pollinated or pollinated by birds. This diversity presents questions about the relationships among the members of the family. Using both morphology and DNA sequence data, Dr. Kathleen Kron of Wake Forest University will provide an assessment of the phylogenetic relationships of species of Ericaceae. DNA data are being collected from both chloroplast and nuclear sources, and will in turn be integrated with morphological characters used in traditional taxonomies of these plants. The determination of phylogenetic or genealogical groupings within the family will provide a framework for future studies in such areas as biogeography, fungal host/parasite specificity, and pollination biology, as well as provide reference data for detailed taxonomic studies at genus and species levels.
