An award is made to Sarah Mathews (Lead PI), Jianhua Li (Co-PI), Harvard University; Reed S. Beaman (PI), Nico Cellinese (Co-PI), Yale University; Christopher S. Campbell (PI), University of Maine; Richard C. Cronn (Collaborator), USDA Forest Service; Sean W. Graham (Co-PI), University of British Columbia; Stefanie M. Ickert-Bond (PI), University of Alaska; Dean G. Kelch (PI), University of California-Berkeley and California State Herbarium; Aaron I. Liston (PI), Oregon State University; Linda A. Raubeson (PI), Central Washington University; Gar W. Rothwell (PI), Gene Mapes (Co-PI), Ohio University; Andrea E. Schwarzbach (PI), University of Texas-Brownsville; Dennis W. Stevenson (PI), New York Botanical Garden; Ruth A. Stockey (Co-PI), University of Alberta to construct sequence-based phylogenetic hypotheses for all living gymnosperms and for seed plants overall, and morphology-based hypotheses to include ALL living species of gymnosperms (conifers, cycads, Gingko, and Gnetales) including examples from the fossil record, along with exemplar angiosperms (flowering plants). Nuclear, plastid and mitochondrial sequences will be utilized in the analysis along with the morphological characters to allow the rich record of fossil gymnosperms to be included. All of the data (molecular, morphological, voucher, etc.) will be submitted to standardized and accessible databases through an enhanced version of the web-based informatics tool TOLKIN (Tree Of Life Knowledge and Information Network, www.tolkin.org). The evolution of the seed marks one of the most important innovations in the history of land plants and led to greater mating control and to enhanced survival and dispersal capabilities. Seed bearing plants dominate the landscape; today, forests and grasslands are among our most important resources. Understanding the origin(s) of seeds is basic to understanding seed plant phylogeny. Obtaining the needed phylogenetic framework is not a trivial undertaking and the multi-faceted approach is designed to address the inherent complexity of the problem, incorporating approaches not considered by all projects (e.g., including all gymnosperms, serious attention to the fossil data). While phylogenetic inference will be the main focus of the project, data will bear significantly on the understanding of historic patterns of biotic change at the global level, and will provide insight into the origins of many important plant traits, including those that are the basis of breeding programs in horticulture and forestry. In addition to training students, workshops for K-12 teachers will be held at several botanic gardens.
This grant supported the reconstruction of the Tree of Life of the cypress family (Cupressaceae) and its largest genus Juniperus (junipers) as a part of a larger collaborative study of the Tree of Life of gymnosperms. The study group is an economically important group of organisms containing many plant species important to ecology, forestry, medicine, and the ornamental plant industry. This study employed DNA sequencing techniques to reconstruct the relationships of these plants. Several new species were discovered and described in the course of this research. The knowledge of detailed relationships within the cypress family found in our study are and will be used to better understand the variation and evolution of important characteristics such as morphology and anatomy of cypresses, geographical distribution patterns, the evolution of pollen allergens causing cedar allergies, and secondary plant compounds that are used both in the fragrance industry as well as for medicinal purposes. In the course of this study one post-doctoral associate, one graduate student, ten undergraduate students and two middle-school teachers were trained in molecular laboratory techniques and bioinformatic data analysis. Support from the grant has allowed those students to graduate in a timely manner, enter graduate or medical school, find jobs as science teacher or in industry or being well on the way to graduation in the near future. Several teaching modules for teaching plant genomics were developed during this grant and implemented into the curriculum. The PI will continue to use those teaching units for training undergraduate students.
