We are mostly focusing on the systematics and evolution of the families Leguminosae, Rubiaceae, Zingiberaceae, Rutaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Compositae, Ranunculaceae, Palmaceae, Graminae, and several fern families. Combining disciplines from taxonomy, morphology, palynology, cytology, to molecular phylogenetics and molecular phylogeography, we aim at reconstruction of temporal/spatial evolution of these groups. We are also using the reconstructed phylogenies of particular groups in studying the evolution of vegetative and reproductive structures, the evolution and adaptation of pollination mechanisms, sexual systems, and the co-evolutionary relationship between plants and pollinating animals.
The main research directions are:
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Surveying and inventorying the plant biodiversity in southern China; taxonomic revision and monographic studies of tropical and subtropical groups; floristics at the regional and national levels.
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Utilizing modern molecular methods and techniques to sequence the coding or non-coding regions of plasmid genes of plant nuclear, chloroplast, and mitochondrion or the integrate genome of cpDNA. Combined these molecular data with the morphological, anatomical, palynological, and cytological data of the target plant group (order, family, genus, species), an evolutionary pathway will be simulated to show the origin, dispersal, and speciation processes, and the phylogenetic relationships between species.
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l Evolution of pollination mechanisms and breeding systems in tropical and subtropical angiosperms;the co-evolutionary relationships between flowering plants and their pollinating and seed dispersing animals.
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l The form, development, function, adaptation, and the genetic mechanisms of reproductive structures of plants.
Research groups:
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