A molecular phylogeny of the genus Melica (Poaceae: Pooidae)
Conference Year
2023
Abstract
The grass family (Poaceae) is one of the largest and most economically important among angiosperms, which makes it an ideal group for comparative studies of evolution and development in plants. In subfamily Pooideae, the genus Melica (~90 species) is missing a well-supported phylogenetic framework to contextualize further study. Preliminary investigations of Melica phylogeny using open-sourced ITS data have yielded support for three clades, all exhibiting meaningful patterns in trait variation. The goal of this study will be to develop a rigorous molecular phylogeny of Melica using high-throughput sequencing techniques. This will facilitate future studies in the evolution of grasses.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Jill Preston
Status
Graduate
Student College
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Second Student College
Graduate College
Program/Major
Plant Biology
Primary Research Category
Life Sciences
A molecular phylogeny of the genus Melica (Poaceae: Pooidae)
The grass family (Poaceae) is one of the largest and most economically important among angiosperms, which makes it an ideal group for comparative studies of evolution and development in plants. In subfamily Pooideae, the genus Melica (~90 species) is missing a well-supported phylogenetic framework to contextualize further study. Preliminary investigations of Melica phylogeny using open-sourced ITS data have yielded support for three clades, all exhibiting meaningful patterns in trait variation. The goal of this study will be to develop a rigorous molecular phylogeny of Melica using high-throughput sequencing techniques. This will facilitate future studies in the evolution of grasses.