| Abstract Detail
Systematics Yadav, Ritu [1], Gowda, Vinita [2]. Title: Understanding the evolution of bulbils (asexual propagules) in Globba L. (Zingiberaceae) using a phylogenetic comparative methods. Globba L. is the fourth largest genus in Zingiberaceae and is one of three genera in the tribe Globbeae. It comprises at least 100 species that are distributed in Sri Lanka, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Most Globba species can reproduce both sexually and asexually (rhizomes and bulbils). Although bulbils represent efficient reproductive strategies and an important taxonomic character, very little is known of the nature of their origin. The most recent classification of Globba is based on outcomes of a molecular phylogenetic study where both ITS and matK gene regions were used and anther appendages were mapped onto the discovered clades to identify morphological synapomorphies for each clade. However, the study did not address the origin of bulbil, its role as a synapomorphic character for any clade, as well as the role of different reproductive strategies in maintaining or creating diversity within this genus. For this study, we are using Globba L. as a model system for understanding the evolution of bulbils by using a holistic approach that will combine phylogeny and ecology. To address the above-mentioned objectives, we asked the following questions: (i) Are Indian Globba spp. monophyletic? (ii) Did bulbils originate from a single mutation event, or did they originate multiple times suggesting parallel evolution as well as a product of ecological and physiological selection? We addressed these questions by using phylogenetic comparative methods. We sampled six (out of 14) Indian Globba spp. from the states of Northeast India and we used sequences from NCBI for the rest of the species. Genomic DNA from silica dried leaf material was extracted using the DNeasy Plant Mini Kit. Amplification of ITS was done using ITS4 and ITS 5a primers. A Bayesian phylogenetic analysis using MrBayes was carried out on an ITS data set with 60 (out of 100) species. Our phylogenetic analyses support the monophyly of Globba with two major clades. Indian species do not form a monophyletic group. Preliminary results also suggest that bulbils are present throughout the phylogeny thus supporting a case of multiple origin of bulbils within the genus. Our future studies, pandemic permitting will include additional phylogenetic markers (matK, trnl, rps16), additional taxonomic sampling from the Indo-Malayan region to understand the origin and biogeography of the genus Globba. We will also carry out field experiments to study the ecological and physiological relevance of bulbils as an important reproductive strategy within the genus.
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1 - Indian Institute Of Science Education And Research Bhopal, Biological Sciences, Lab No -303, Academic Building 3,, Bhauri, Bhopal, MP, 462066, India
2 - IISER Bhopal, Room 223, AB3, Dept. Of Biological Sciences,, IISER- Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhauri,, Bhopal, MP, 462066, India
Keywords:
none specified
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P3, Systematics Posters
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Wednesday, July 21st, 2021
Time: 5:00 PM(EDT)
Number: P3SY006
Abstract ID:566
Candidate for Awards:None |
