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Abstract Detail


Systematics Section

Powell, Elizabeth [1], Durchholz, Elaine [1], Williams, Mallory [1], Gillespie, Emily [2], Evans, Rodger [3], Polashock, James [4], Rowland, Jeannie [5].

Evolutionary relationships of Vaccinium section Cyanococcus with a focus on the highbush blueberries.

Vaccinium section Cyanococcus includes the ecologically and economically important blueberry species, Vaccinium corymbosum (highbush blueberry), Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry), and Vaccinium myrtilloides (velvet-leaf blueberry). Species in section Cyanococcus are found from northern Canada, south to Florida and as far west as Illinois and are an ecologically important component of the shrub community in acidic bogs, swamps, and heathlands throughout eastern North America. The evolutionary relationships of the blueberries from section Cyanococcus have been the subject of much debate but have not been adequately assessed using DNA sequence data. This study examines the evolutionary relationships of section Cyanococcus using the nuclear DNA region granule bound starch synthase (waxy). For this study we amplified waxy from all currently recognized species from section Cyanococcus, 17 other blueberry species from the blueberry tribe, and one outgroup (Gaultheria) and we analyzed the data using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian algorithms. Results indicate that section Cyanococcus is monophyletic and closely related to V. stamineum and V. arboreum. Results also show that the highbush blueberry species are found in several lineages within section Cyanococcus. A robust and resolved phylogeny of section Cyanococcus will provide critical information about the closest relatives of the economically important blueberry species and will provide a strong foundation for breeding and crop enhancement programs.

Broader Impacts:


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1 - University of Evansville, Biology, 1800 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN, 47722, USA
2 - Wake Forest University, 226 Winston Hall, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA
3 - Acadia University, BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, 33 Westwood Avenue, WOLFVILLE, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
4 - United States Department of Agricyulture - ARS, GIVFL, Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research & Extension, 125A Lake Oswego Rd., Chatsworth, NJ, 08019, USA
5 - United States Department of Agricyulture - ARS, GIVFL, Genetic Improvement of Fruits and Vegetables Lab, BARC-West, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA

Keywords:
Vaccinium
Ericaceae
waxy
blueberry.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 19
Location: Lindell B/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 5:00 PM
Number: 19015
Abstract ID:326


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