Solanaceae — a model for linking genomics with biodiversity

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, good species-level descriptive resources for the Solanaceae community are currently missing. Phylogeny in the family as a whole is briefly reviewed, and the new NSF Planetary Biodiversity Inventories project 'PBI: Solanum -a worldwide treatment' is described. 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 is in its infancy, but will make available nomenclatural information, descriptions, keys and illustrative material for all of the approximately 1500 species of Solanum. With this project, 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) can be realized. The phylogenetic framework in which the PBI project is set is also of enormous potential benefit to other workers on Solanum. The community of biologists working with Solanaceae has a unique opportunity to effectively link genomics and taxonomy for better understanding of this important family, taking plant biology to a new level for the next century.

A Root-Expressed l-Phenylalanine:4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Aminotransferase Is Required for Tropane Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Atropa belladonna

“…The Solanaceae is a diverse plant family of ;90 genera and 3000 species that occupy a broad geographic range and includes plants of economic importance as food, ornamental, and medicinal crops (Knapp et al, 2004). In addition, members of the Solanaceae serve as model systems for investigating fundamental processes involved in plant growth and development, including the ripening of fleshy fruit (tomato), tuber formation (potato), pollination and petal senescence (petunia), plant pathogen and pest interactions (tomato, potato, and Nicotiana spp), and the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites (tomato, pepper, Nicotiana, Hyocyamus, Datura, and Atropa spp).…”

Differences in regulation of carbohydrate metabolism during early fruit development between domesticated tomato and two wild relatives

“…Nomenclature of the tomato varieties used in this study was adopted from Knapp et al (2004). Seeds of the S. lycopersicum cv Money Maker and seeds from the S. habrochaites accession LA1777 and the S. peruvianum accession LA0385 were obtained from the Centre for Genetic Resources (CGN, Wageningen, The Netherlands).…”

Resistance mechanisms of wild tomato germplasm to infection of Oidium neolycopersici

“…The original taxonomic classification within the genus Lycopersicon described nine species (Rick 1995). Now the genus Solanum has been broadened to include according to various sources between 1,500-2,000 species (Knapp et al 2004). Cultivated tomato can be placed in the subgenus Solanum sensu stricto, section Lycopersicon, alongside 12 closely related species.…”