The Brassicaceae is a large plant family (338 genera and 3,700 species) of major scientific and economic importance. The taxonomy of this group has been plagued by convergent evolution in nearly every morphological feature used to define tribes and genera. Phylogenetic analysis of 746 nrDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, representing 24 of the 25 currently recognized tribes, 146 genera, and 461 species of Brassicaceae, produced the most comprehensive, single-locus-based phylogenetic analysis of the family published to date. Novel approaches to nrDNA ITS analysis and extensive taxonomic sampling offered a test of monophyly for a large complement of the currently recognized tribes and genera of Brassicaceae. In the most comprehensive analysis, tribes Alysseae, Anchonieae plus Hesperideae, Boechereae, Cardamineae, Eutremeae, Halimolobeae, Iberideae, Noccaeeae, Physarieae, Schizopetaleae, Smelowskieae, and Thlaspideae were all monophyletic. Several broadly defined genera (e.g., Draba and Smelowskia) were supported as monophyletic, whereas others (e.g., Sisymbrium and Alyssum) were clearly polyphyletic. Analyses of ITS data identified several problematic sequences attributable to errors in sample identification or database submission. Results from parsimony ratchet and Bayesian analyses recovered little support for the backbone of the phylogeny, suggesting that many lineages of Brassicaceae have undergone rapid radiations that may ultimately be difficult to resolve with any single locus. However, the development of a preliminary supermatrix including the combination of 10 loci for 65 species provides an initial estimate of intertribal relations and suggests that broad application of such a method will provide greater understanding of relationships in the family.

Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum Schlechtend.:Fr. f. sp. ciceris (Padwick) Matuo & K. Sato is the most widely spread soilborne disease of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). To advance our understanding of the genetics of wilt resistance and aid chickpea breeding programs, we developed a set of F6 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) between Fusarium wilt susceptible (C‐104) and resistant 315) parents. Prior screening of selected F3 plants identified two primers (UBC‐170 and CS‐27) that produced random amplified polymorphic DNA {RAPD) markers associated with Fusarium wilt race 1 resistance. Analysis of the RILs with these primers yielded an estimate of 7% recombination between the two markers and the locus for wilt resistance, and 6% recombination between the loci corresponding to the two RAPD markers. The DNA fragments were cloned and sequenced in order to construct primers that would amplify only the markers of interest. Primer pair CS‐27F/CS‐27R amplified a fragment linked to the allele for susceptibility to race 1 of Fusarium wilt and thus constitute allele specific associated primers (ASAPs), whereas UBC‐170FFLIBC‐170R produced a single band for both resistant and susceptible genotypes, thus demonstrating locus specificity rather than allele specificity. The use of markers generated by the RAPD or ASAP approaches can facilitate the introgression of resistance genes into susceptible lines and expedite the screening of chickpea germplasm resources and will be useful in extending the genetic map of chickpea.

The present study included all hospital medical staff and covered all the available clinical biochemistry tests. This rather simple and low-cost intervention resulted in significant reductions in clinical biochemistry test orders as well as in the ordering of hematological blood tests.

An analysis of the levels and distribution of allozyme variation in the Streptanthus g/andu/osus species complex was undertaken to test paradigms of speciation processes in the context of serpentine endemism. Electrophoretic analysis of 21 putative enzyme loci in 1,224 individuals representing 56 populations revealed extensive intrapopulational variation and interpopulational divergence. Estimates of gene flow among populations within taxa are typically lower than is theoretically needed to counteract the effects of genetic drift (i.e., Nm values are below 0.5), suggesting that drift may playa significant role in the evolution ofthe complex. A cluster analysis of genetic identities between populations using UPGMA demonstrates geographically structured groupings, some of which include neighboring populations of different taxa. Moreover, the genetic identity between two populations is correlated with the distance by which they are separated. The results are consistent with a hypothesis ofa paleoendemic origin of the complex. The ancestor of the complex (perhaps S. g/andu/osus ssp. g/andu/osus) probably was formerly distributed more continuously across serpentine and nonserpentine habitat throughout its range. Elimination of the nonserpentine populations allowed regional and population-level divergence, following a model of geographic speciation.

Sequence data from the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and plastid gene ndhF of 95 species, represented by 147 accessions, were used to determine the tribal limits, monophyly status, and phylogenetic intra-tribal relationships of genera within the New World tribe Schizopetaleae (formerly Thelypodieae; Brassicaceae). Maximum parsimony, Bayesian, and maximum-likelihood analyses all support the separate recognition of three distinct and generally well-supported clades. The largest corresponds to the North–South American Thelypodieae (27 genera: Catadysia , Caulanthus , Chaunanthus , Chilocardamum , Chlorocrambe , Coelophragmus , Dictyophragmus , Dryopetalon , Englerocharis , Hesperidanthus , Mostacillastrum , Neuontobotrys , Polypsecadium , Pringlea , Pterygiosperma , Romanschulzia , Sibara , Sibaropsis , Stanleya , Streptanthella , Streptanthus , Thelypodiopsis , Thelypodium , Thysanocarpus , Warea , Weberbauera , and Werdermannia ). The remaining six South American Schizopetaleae genera were divided into two clades: SCHIZ I of four genera ( Aschersoniodoxa , Brayopsis , Eudema , and Onuris ) and SCHIZ II Schizopetaleae s. str.: Mathewsia , and Schizopetalon ). Resolution within the Thelypodieae clade was limited in both the ITS- and ndhF-based phylogenies. Based on ITS sequence data, elements of the Old World tribe Brassiceae were sister to the Thelypodieae, whereas the ndhF data strongly supported the Sisymbrieae as sister to the Thelypodieae, and the Brassiceae as sister to both tribes. Sister groups to the Schizopetaleae clades I and II were not clearly resolved. Morphological and cytological data support the separation of these three clades. In SCHIZ II, the sepals are always erect to form a closed tube, and the trichomes are mostly dendritic, although other types also occur. In both the Thelypodieae and SCHIZ I clades, the sepals are variously oriented but never form a closed tube, whereas the trichomes are either absent, or simple, forked, or rarely dendritic. The latter clade differs from both SCHIZ II and Thelypodieae by lacking trichomes or rarely having forked ones and by having exclusively basal, entire leaves. Thelypodieae circumscription should be restricted in future to the Thelypodieae clade, Schizopetaleae circumscription to the SCHIZ II clade, while a new tribe is needed for the SCHIZ I clade.