Phylogeny and biogeography of Mansoa DC. (Bignonieae, Bignoniaceae)

• Grant number: 22/01129-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2022
• End date: July 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Plant Taxonomy
• Principal Investigator: Lúcia Garcez Lohmann
• Grantee: Jackson Xu Sun
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/23899-2 - Trans-Amazon Drilling Project: origin and evolution of the forests, climate, and hydrology of the South American tropics, AP.PFPMCG.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/13613-0 - Phylogenetic analyses of Mansoa DC. (Bignonieae, Bignoniaceae), BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Phylogenies describe the relationships among organisms, representing a key tool for evolutionary and biogeographical studies. Studies of this nature are essential for improved knowledge of the origin and history of diversification of the Neotropical biota. The plant family Bignoniaceae represents an iconic group of the Brazilian flora, broadly known due to the conspicuous flowers of the Tabebuias and Jacarandas. The family includes ca. 800 species, half of which belong to the tribe Bignonieae, the largest clade of neotropical lianas. Phylogenetic and taxonomic studies of Bignonieae are contributing to improved knowledge of the evolutionary and biogeographical history of the tribe. However, the knowledge of relationships among species of Mansoa remains limited, preventing the understanding of the history of diversification of the tribe Bignoniaceae as a whole. Mansoa is a genus of lianas, with 18 species, approximately half of which are endemic to Brazil. This project aims to: (1) reconstruct the phylogeny of Mansoa by combining data from Sanger sequencing (ndhF, rpl32-trnL, and PepC) and genomic data (complete or nearly complete plastomes) for all the species of the genus, and (2) reconstruct the biogeographical history of the genus. The results of this study will contribute to improved knowledge of the biogeographical and evolutionary history of an important genus of neotropical plants. (AU)