Population genomics in Pilocarpus spp. (Rutaceae)

• Grant number: 16/10308-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: July 01, 2016
• End date: November 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Plant Taxonomy
• Principal Investigator: Pedro Dias de Oliveira
• Grantee: Jucelene Fernandes Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/18002-2 - Sapindales: phylogeny and diversification in the Neotropical Region, AP.TEM

Abstract

The genus Pilocarpus Vahl has 17 species and its distribution is restricted to the Neotropics. Economically, it is noteworthy by being the only natural source of the alkaloid pilocarpine, which is the key element commercialised by the pharmaceutical industry for glaucoma treatment. This project will focus on the four closely related, commercially exploited, and pilocarpine-producingspecies: P. alatus, P. jaborandi, P. microphyllus and P. trachylophus. This project will use Illumina and Oxford Nanopore sequencing technologies, and the RAD-seq technique as well. (AU)