Project Number: 1230-21000-039-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Aug 05, 2003
End Date: Aug 03, 2008

Objective:
Investigate classification, systematic relationships, and genetic structure within genera and families with current or potential importance for landscape and nursery use; maintain and enhance the herbarium collection of the National Arboretum; investigate the identity and basic biological characteristics of selected invasive woody plants in the U. S.; and ensure that botanical and cultivar names in use for cultivated plants, and for wild plants that may be of relevance for breeding work, are described in accordance with the technical standards of the field and that erroneous or ambiguous usages are corrected. To develop an interactive database for 418 plant families containing fruit and seed characters and images, available via the Internet. To elucidate systematic relationships for forage crops to Lotus subgenus Pedrosia, including 20-25 species and publish a monograph of this plant group.

Approach:
Investigations will utilize a variety of different data types, primarily morphological data, DNA sequence variation, and variation in single-locus DNA markers within variable sites in the genome, analyzed using phylogenetic analyses and other multivariate statistical methods. Organisms will be studied in the field, herbarium, laboratory, and garden. A character list will be developed that incorporates data from current studies. Family names will be reconciled with those in Germplasm Resources Information Network: Illustrations of each family will be prepared as aids to and verification of identifications. Data and images will be combined in an online, interactive database available via the Internet. 3) Specific and subspecific concepts within the subgenus will be formulated by studying specimens of Lotus subgenus Pedrosia. The type and correct scientific name of each taxon will be determined. Taxa will be circumscribed by studying available characteristics of the specimens: Descriptions, illustrations, and distributions with keys to all taxa will be prepared and an interactive database with images for identification will be developed and made available on-line.