桑寄生科植物的系统发育与性状演化研究

Loranthaceae (Santalales) mainly consists of obligate aerial hemiparasites, which are keystones in forest ecosystem. There have been controversies on the phylogenetic relationships and the evolution of parasitism-related characters in this family. In order to determine the circumscription and monophyly of those debatable genera, we will increase the taxon sampling density, especially those in East and Southeast Asia, and reconstruct phylogenetic tree for the family by using six nuclear and chloroplast DNA markers. In our phylogenetic framework, the evolutionary patterns of aerial parasitism-related characters within mistletoes will be further explored. This proposal is significant for deeply understanding the evolutionary history of Loranthaceae, and will provide theoretical foundation for protection of parasitic plant resources and control of detrimental effects caused by pathogenic parasites in forests.

桑寄生科是檀香目中具茎寄生习性的一类专性半寄生植物，是森林生态系统动态变化的指示类群之一，其科内属间的系统发育关系和性状演化至今仍未得到解决。本项目拟结合GenBank中的数据和自测序列，尤其增大东亚和东南亚的类群取样密度，利用来自核基因组和叶绿体基因组的六个分子标记重建桑寄生科的系统发育关系，确定疑难属的界线和单系性，并在此框架下探讨与茎寄生习性相关的重要性状在茎寄生支系内的演化式样。本项目的实施将有助于深入理解桑寄生科植物的演化历史，并为寄生植物资源的保护和利用，控制有害寄生植物对森林生态系统的危害等方面提供理论基础。