Phylogenetic analyses of Mansoa DC. (Bignonieae, Bignoniaceae)

• Grant number: 22/13613-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2023
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Plant Taxonomy
• Principal Investigator: Lúcia Garcez Lohmann
• Grantee: Jackson Xu Sun
• Supervisor: Laurentius Chatrou
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Ghent University (UGent), Belgium
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/01129-6 - Phylogeny and biogeography of Mansoa DC. (Bignonieae, Bignoniaceae), BP.IC

Abstract

Phylogenies depict evolutionary relationships among organisms, representing a key component of biodiversity studies. Indeed, phylogenetic trees provide the basic framework for sound classification systems, evolutionary, and biogeographical studies. Studies of this nature are crucial for an improved understanding about the origin and history of diversification of biotas. The plant family Bignoniaceae includes ca. 800 species and represents a conspicuous component of the Neotropical flora. Half of the species in the family belong to the tribe Bignonieae, the largest clade of Neotropical lianas. Recent phylogenetic and taxonomic studies in the tribe have established the basis for an improved understanding about the evolutionary and biogeographical history of the tribe. Nonetheless, Mansoa DC., a diverse genus of Bignonieae, still lacks a robust phylogenetic hypothesis. The limited knowledge about Mansoa prevents a comprehensive understanding of the history of diversification of Bignonieae as a whole. Mansoa includes 18 species of lianas, half of which are endemic to Brazil. This project aims to reconstruct the phylogeny of Mansoa by combining data derived from Sanger (i.e., ndhF, rpl32-trnL, and PepC) and genomic sequencing (complete or nearly complete plastomes) for all species of the genus. The results from this study will lead to a robust phylogeny of Mansoa that will provide a basis for biogeographical and evolutionary studies with this group. (AU)