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Chunmiao Feng

Ph.D. student
Advisor: Dr. Jenny Xiang

Alangium chinense

My dissertation research involves three areas:

1. Evolution of developmental mechanisms of inflorescence diversity in the dogwood genus (Cornus). This genus contains four major lineages that are divergent in inflorescence architectures, from large compound cymes with rudimentary bracts to umbellate cymes subtended by modified, non-petaloid bracts, heads subtended by large petaloid bracts, and reduced compound cymes (appearing to be a dichasium) subtended by petaloid bracts. Through detailed SEM and histological analysis, I characterize and compare the inflorescence developmental pathways and examine the expression of key candidate genes involving in inflorescence development and bract petaloidy including LFY,PI, and AP3 using in-situ hybridization With both morphological and molecular date, we are hoping to uncover the developmental and molecular basis underlying the evolution of inflorescence architecture in dogwoods.

2. Developing an effective regeneration and transformation system for Cornus canadensis to permit future direct validation of candidate gene functions.

3. Phylogenetic and biogeographic study of a tropical tree family Alangiaceae. In this study, I integrated data from DNA sequences, morphology, and fossils to elucidate relationships of species, date the phylogeny and reconstruct the biogeographic history of the family.

Presentations and awards:

2009 the Forth Annual Plant Biology Graduate Student Research Symposium Diversity and development of Cornus inflorescence (second prize)

2008 Botanical Society of America Conference Comparative developmental study of inflorescences in Cornus (supported by Developmental and Structural Section Student Travel Award)

2008 the Third North Carolina State University Graduate Student Symposium Phylogenetic Relationships and Biogeography of Alangiaceae (second award)

2008 the Third Plant Biology Graduate Student Symposium Developmental Evolutionary Genetics of Dogwood Inflorescence Architecture Developing a transformation system

2007 Botanical Society of America Conference Genome duplication and origin of polyploid species in the herbaceous dogwoods (supported by Deep Time Travel Grant)

2007 the Second Plant Biology Graduate Student Symposium Phylogenetic Relationships and Biogeography of Alangiaceae and Evolutionary Developmental Genetics of Dogwood Inflorescence Architectures (third prize)

2006 Botanical Society of America Conference Phylogenetic Relationships and Biogeography of Alangiaceae (supported by Deep Time Travel Grant)

Publications:

Feng, CH., S.R. Manchester, QY(J) Xiang 2009 Phylogeny and biogeography of Alangiaceae (Cornales) inferred from DNA sequences, morphology and fossils. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 51(2): 201-214.

Feng, CH., R. Qu, L‐L Zhou, DY Xie, QY(J) Xiang 2009 Plant Regeneration of suffrutex Cornus canadensis and morphological characterization of regenerated plants. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture. 97(1): 27‐37.



	Chunmiao Feng
	Ph.D. student Advisor: Dr. Jenny Xiang

		Alangium chinense
My dissertation research involves three areas: 1. Evolution of developmental mechanisms of inflorescence diversity in the dogwood genus (Cornus). This genus contains four major lineages that are divergent in inflorescence architectures, from large compound cymes with rudimentary bracts to umbellate cymes subtended by modified, non-petaloid bracts, heads subtended by large petaloid bracts, and reduced compound cymes (appearing to be a dichasium) subtended by petaloid bracts. Through detailed SEM and histological analysis, I characterize and compare the inflorescence developmental pathways and examine the expression of key candidate genes involving in inflorescence development and bract petaloidy including LFY,PI, and AP3 using in-situ hybridization With both morphological and molecular date, we are hoping to uncover the developmental and molecular basis underlying the evolution of inflorescence architecture in dogwoods. 2. Developing an effective regeneration and transformation system for Cornus canadensis to permit future direct validation of candidate gene functions. 3. Phylogenetic and biogeographic study of a tropical tree family Alangiaceae. In this study, I integrated data from DNA sequences, morphology, and fossils to elucidate relationships of species, date the phylogeny and reconstruct the biogeographic history of the family. Presentations and awards: 2009 the Forth Annual Plant Biology Graduate Student Research Symposium Diversity and development of Cornus inflorescence (second prize) 2008 Botanical Society of America Conference Comparative developmental study of inflorescences in Cornus (supported by Developmental and Structural Section Student Travel Award) 2008 the Third North Carolina State University Graduate Student Symposium Phylogenetic Relationships and Biogeography of Alangiaceae (second award) 2008 the Third Plant Biology Graduate Student Symposium Developmental Evolutionary Genetics of Dogwood Inflorescence Architecture Developing a transformation system 2007 Botanical Society of America Conference Genome duplication and origin of polyploid species in the herbaceous dogwoods (supported by Deep Time Travel Grant) 2007 the Second Plant Biology Graduate Student Symposium Phylogenetic Relationships and Biogeography of Alangiaceae and Evolutionary Developmental Genetics of Dogwood Inflorescence Architectures (third prize) 2006 Botanical Society of America Conference Phylogenetic Relationships and Biogeography of Alangiaceae (supported by Deep Time Travel Grant) Publications: Feng, CH., S.R. Manchester, QY(J) Xiang 2009 Phylogeny and biogeography of Alangiaceae (Cornales) inferred from DNA sequences, morphology and fossils. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 51(2): 201-214. Feng, CH., R. Qu, L‐L Zhou, DY Xie, QY(J) Xiang 2009 Plant Regeneration of suffrutex Cornus canadensis and morphological characterization of regenerated plants. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture. 97(1): 27‐37.