Abstract Detail

Systematics Section

Estep , Matt C [1], Vela Diaz, Dilys [2], Kellogg, Elizabeth [3].

Harvesting the cereals in search of phylogenetic signal.

Some phylogenetic problems are difficult to resolve. Often adding more data can solve the problem, but which markers should be chosen remains as a critical question. While next generation sequencing and whole chloroplast genomes are being used increasingly, in some groups, particularly the grasses, chloroplast data is not sufficient to resolve complex patterns of polyploidy or rapid radiations.Alternatives to whole chloroplast genome sequencing are nuclear encoded loci,which have historically been difficult and expensive to identify and amplify.Over the last decade, extensive genetic and genomic resources have been developed to study agriculturally important plants. Teams of plant scientists have dissected many molecular pathways that influence plant architecture using the most sophisticated forward and reverse genetic screens. As a result, there is a plethora of nuclear encoded genes with known mutant phenotypes, many of which resemble the diverse morphological variation observed in natural groups of species and are the focus of our current research. In order to reduce the hurdles of employing nuclear loci in hard phylogenetic problems, we have developed a fast primer design methodology using Phytozome and Primaclade and have converted the amplification, cloning, and transformation steps to a 96-well format. In less than 6 months, we have developed primers and successfully amplified 10 novel nuclear encoded loci and are working to sequence these from ~120 species in the grass tribe Andropogoneae.

Broader Impacts:

1 - University of Missouri-St. Louis, Depatrment of Biology, R223 Research building, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA
2 - University Of Missouri - St. Louis, Biology. 223 Research Building, One University Blvd., Saint Louis, MO, 63121-4499, USA
3 - University Of Missouri - St. Louis, Department Of Biology, One University Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63121-4499, USA

Keywords:
Marker development.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Khorassan Ballroom/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PSY055
Abstract ID:164