Research

 

 

I am an evolutionary biologist interested in explaining patterns of diversity in flowering plants.  My research focuses on understanding the biology and evolution of apomixis, which is a unique form of reproduction by which plants make clones of themselves through seed.  Apomixis is widespread in plants but our knowledge of the origin and evolution of the trait is poor.  There is broad interest in improving our understanding of apomixis in order to facilitate agronomics, comprehend better wildtype sexual reproduction, and to elucidate processes of diversification in apomictic plant groups.

         My study system is the common daisy fleabane, Erigeron annuus, which forms a diverse species complex in eastern North America.  Specifically, I use molecular markers and gene sequence variation to investigate 1) the genetic architecture and inheritance of apomixis, 2) the relationship between sexual and apomictic populations, 3) spread of apomixis genes in sexual x apomictic hybrid zones.  For more information about research in my lab, click on ‘Projects’ or ‘Publications’ below. 

 

 

 

PROJECTS

 

GENETICS

 

GEOGRPAHY

 

PHYLOGENETICS

 

 

 

I use an evolutionary genetic approach that combines genetic, phylogenetic, and geographic analyses to produce a detailed evolutionary portrait of apomixis in natural populations.       My research focuses on the evolutionary genetics of apomixis in Erigeron annuus and E. strigosus (sunflower family — Asteraceae).  These plants are annuals, which makes them ideal for crosses and experiments.  My goal is to understand the evolutionary history of the gene regions linked to apomixis, and to study their dynamics in nature.  To that end, I use: 1) crosses and genetic mapping to explore the genetic architecture and inheritance of apomixis (Figs. 1-3), 2) analyses of gene sequence variation to investigate the phylogenetic relationships among sexual diploid and apomictic polyploid populations, and, 3) geographical analysis to explore the ecology of asexual vs. sexual reproduction.

 

 

 

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

 

RESUME