ARS | Publication request: SOLANACEAE, GENOMICS MEETS BIODIVERSITY

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 21, 2005
Publication Date: September 21, 2005
Citation: Knapp, S., Bohs, L., Nee, M., Spooner, D.M. 2005. Solanaceae, genomics meets biodiversity [abstract]. European Plant Genomic Meeting. p. 25.

Technical Abstract: Recent progress in understanding the phylogeny of the economically important plant family Solanaceae makes this an ideal time to develop models for linking the new data on plant genomics with the huge diversity of naturally occurring species in the family. Phylogenetics provides the framework with which to investigate these linkages, but critically missing currently are good species level descriptive resources for the Solanaceae community. The diversity represented in the family is enormous, and is concentrated in regions where biodiversity is high and conservation is of the utmost importance. Linking genomics with biodiversity in a meaningful way is the next great challenge in biology, and requires us to think in new and different ways and to bring together communities traditionally seen as worlds apart. We will review progress on phylogeny in the family as a whole, and then specifically focus on the NSF Planetary Biodiversity Inventories project “PBI: Solanum - a worldwide treatment”. The aims of this project are to provide species level information across the global scope of the genus Solanum and to make this available over the Internet. The project will make available nomenclatural information, descriptions, keys and illustrative material for all approximately 1500 species of Solanum. For the first time, we have the opportunity of linking valid, up-to-date taxonomic information about wild species of Solanum with the genomic information being generated about the economically important species of the genus (potato, tomato and eggplant). The phylogenetic framework in which the PBI project is set is also of enormous potential benefit to other workers in Solanum. We will explore the potential linkages that can be generated using this approach, and hope to stimulate discussion on how these can best be used and stimulated to integrate the genomics and taxonomic communities for better understanding of this and other important plant groups.