Abstract Detail

Systematics Section/ASPT

Teisher, Jordan [1], Kellogg, Elizabeth [2].

A Scanning Electron Survey of the Arundinoideae (Poaceae).

The subfamily Arundinoideae is one of the most systematically difficult groups within the grass family (Poaceae). The main reason for this difficulty is the lack of available material of most of the genera, which are frequently narrowly endemic in geographically remote or politically unstable areas of the tropics. Another, perhaps more biologically interesting, reason for the taxonomic uncertainty in the Arundinoideae is its high morphological diversity clustered among a small number of species (about 60 species assigned to 19 genera). To date, no synapomorphies for the subfamily or any substantial grouping within it have been discovered, and the gross morphology of the species shows virtually no phylogenetic signal. Molecular data could potentially resolve the relationships within the group, but many genera are only represented by a relatively sparse collection of specimens, and DNA extractions from this material tend to be unsuccessful. Even when DNA is successfully isolated, the sequence quality obtained is extremely poor, making phylogenetic inferences difficult or impossible. A potential source of data that has not yet been explored for the Arundinoideae is available through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of leaf and spikelet surfaces. The major advantage of this approach is that very little material is needed, and this material can be taken from herbarium specimens. The current study explores the epidermal characters of representatives from 17 genera of the Arundinoideae using scanning electron microscopy in order to clarify the phylogenetic relationships in this highly problematic grass subfamily. 

1 - Washington University in St. Louis, Biology, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1137, St. Louis, MO, 631303, USA
2 - Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Department Of Biology, 975 North Warson Road, St. Louis, MO, 63132, USA

Keywords:
none specified

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Eyrie/Boise Centre
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2014
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PSY010
Abstract ID:454
Candidate for Awards:None