Dr. Stacey D. Smith, University of Colorado, Boulder
February 27 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
How and why flower color evolves: Lessons from the tomato family
Stacey D. Smith, Ph.D., University of Colorado-Boulder
Abstract
The anthocyanin pigment pathway that colors most flowers and fruits is known for being deeply conserved across angiosperms. Nevertheless, anthocyanin-based color is one of the most evolutionarily labile traits, with closely related species often differing in flower color and frequent convergence at the macroevolutionary scale. In this talk, I will discuss how diverse and little studied groups of Solanaceae (the tomato family) have provided insight in how new colors evolve, even as the core of the pathway is conserved. I will also describe how comparative approaches in non-model systems provide a promising avenue for connecting genetic and phenotypic variation.
The GGA Seminar Series is held In-Person and on Zoom: https://ncsu.zoom.us/j/99571426936?pwd=L2tqQjRUOWMzK1BkSFZSQXprYnRVQT09
