Abstract Detail

Systematics Section/ASPT

Tripp, Erin [1], McDade, Lucinda [2], Kiel, Carrie [3], Glenn, Travis [4].

Floral transcriptomics in Acanthaceae: understanding macroevolutionary constraints on color transitions.

One of the peculiar of floral evolution is the apparent bias in color transitions. Numerous studies have documented purple to red transitions, but very few have documented transitions in the reverse direction (i.e., red to purple). Similarly, transitions from pigmented flowers (e.g., red, purple) to yellow or white flowers are far more common than are those in the reverse direction. Because these macroevolutionary biases have been documented numerous times across the angiosperm tree of life, it is unlikely that they reflect a sampling artifact. Rather, they represent (1) constraints on evolvability of biochemical pathways or regulatory mechanisms and/or (2) common selective contexts through space and time. Worldwide sampling and analysis of > 170 species (of ~350) in the large genus Ruellia has revealed numerous unorthodox transitions from red to purple flowers as well as several othodox transitions (purple to red, pigmented to yellow or white). We aim to develop Ruellia as a model genus in which to reconstruct floral anthocyanin evolutionary history in an unparalleled comparative framework. As a first step towards this goal, we are generating corolla transcriptome data from five species of Ruellia (2 purple, 2 red, 1 yellow) via HiSeq Illumina sequencing. These data are being analyzed for presence/absence and relative expression levels for seven structural loci of the Anthocyanin Biosynthetic Pathway as well as regulatory elements of this pathway. We aim to use these data to understand the genetic basis for morphological evolution and evolutionary constraints, particularly with respect to novel transitions. If Illumina data are delayed in a tediously long queue, which seems to be emblematic for the 2000 teens, we promise to tell you about something else very cool and very interesting.

Broader Impacts:

1 - University of Colorado, Boulder, Museum of Natural History (COLO Herbarium), Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Boulder, Colorado, 80309, United States
2 - Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Department of Botany, 1500 N. College Avenue, Claremont, CA, 91711, USA
3 - Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 1500 North College Ave., Claremont, CA, 91711, USA
4 - University of Gerogia, Environmental Health Science, Athens, GA, 30602

Keywords:
anthocyanin
transcriptome
plant-pollinator interactions
Systematics
constraint
Acanthaceae.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 49
Location: Marlborough A/Riverside Hilton
Date: Wednesday, July 31st, 2013
Time: 4:45 PM
Number: 49013
Abstract ID:873
Candidate for Awards:None