The angiosperm phylogeny Website ‐ a tool for reference and teaching in a time of change

Abstract

Repositories of biological information should include up-to-date, cumulative research as well as address issues affecting the scholarly community at-large. Because of the dynamic and interdisciplinary nature of research in today's biological "infosphere," it is becoming increasingly difficult to produce stable and useful monographic treatments with the timeliness and impact that biodiversity issues deserve.The Angiosperm Phylogeny Website ("APweb") is a biological information resource that has had farreaching impact in the botanical community. The APweb represents a culmination of information developed by botanical researchers, presented in a user-friendly, hierarchical and intuitive format meant for all levels of interest in the botanical sciences. It is innovative in its field in that the content is dynamic, reflecting up-to-date research in the evolutionary relationships of flowering plants.This poster will discuss the significance, use and function of the APweb in its role as a teaching and reference tool as well as design, collaboration and technical issues encountered in its development. Of particular relevance to library and information science practitioners, the APweb may serve as an example of how a simple design can be used to present a wealth of information for plant bioinformatics and education.

An introduction to plant phylogenomics with a focus on palms

“…In recent years, systematists have become increasingly interested in building phylogenetic trees using genomic data. This is certainly the case in plant systematics, as evidenced by growing numbers of references to phylogenomic studies on the Angiosperm Phylogeny Website (http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb; Stevens, ; onwards) and in published papers (Stevens & Davis, ; APG III, ). One recent example of such a study is the analysis of 360 complete plastid genomes (protein‐coding regions) from public databases across the green plants (Ruhfel et al ., ), which at that time represented the largest plastid dataset yet analysed.…”

Resurrected protein interaction networks reveal the innovation potential of ancient whole genome duplication

“…The origin of core eudicots marks an important event in plant evolution as today this lineage comprises approximately 75% of all species of flowering plants (Willis and McElwain, 2013;Soltis et al, 2003). Aside from the γ triplication and the presence of ellagic and gallic acid, the group shares few unique characteristics (Stevens and Davis, 2006). However, the Pentapetalae, which comprise most core eudicots but originated a few million years later, are morphologically more distinct and are characterized by the 'canalization' or a more clear definition of flower development (Theißen et al, 2016a;Waddington, 1942;Melzer et al, 2016;Soltis et al, 2003).…”

“…However, the Pentapetalae, which comprise most core eudicots but originated a few million years later, are morphologically more distinct and are characterized by the 'canalization' or a more clear definition of flower development (Theißen et al, 2016a;Waddington, 1942;Melzer et al, 2016;Soltis et al, 2003). In this group, floral organs are in pentamerous whorls and a clear separation of sepal and petal identity exists (Soltis et al, 2003;Stevens and Davis, 2006). Therefore, while core eudicots share the γ triplication, it appears that the morphological consequences of this genomic event were established only somewhat later in evolution and are more apparent from Pentapetalae onwards (Vekemans et al, 2012;Schranz et al, 2012).…”

Flavanones from aerial parts of Cordia globosa (Jacq.) Kunth, Boraginaceae

“…The Boraginaceae family comprises about 2740 species distributed in 148 genera (Stevens, 2001). The genus Cordia is one of the most representatives of this family and the chemical characteristic in this genus is the presence of quinones known as cordiaquinones.…”