Depart. B.E.&B.Ch. > PD (2013-2015) “ Establishing the taxonomic rank of the endemic Romanian species Onobrychis transsilvanica through molecular methods”

Project title: “Establishing the taxonomic rank of the endemic Romanian species Onobrychis transsilvanica through molecular methods”

UEFISCDI record no. 15/26.04.2013

Program Name in PNII: Resurse Umane

Project type: Post-doctoral research project

Project manager: dr. Ioan Bacila; ioan.bacila@icbcluj.ro

Summary. A major problem which appears in taxonomic studies in our country and beyond is represented by the problematic species, with overlapping characters and serious problems in their classification. This is the case for the species Onobrychis transsilvanica. Our aim is to establish its taxonomical relationship with the taxon O. montana. Based on previous studies and because the interpretation of taxonomic position of O. transsilvanica is supported solely on morphological characters that proved to be inadequate, we believe the application of current molecular methods such as: microsatellites and DNA sequencing data from the plastid genom (cpDNA) is important in order to elucidate the taxonomic status of the species O. transsilvanica. The main goal of this project is to investigate whether there is a genetically sound basis for supporting Onobrychis transsilvanica as a distinct taxonomic unit. We also aim to identify molecular markers which are polymorphic enough to discriminate between Onobrychis transsilvanica and O. montana and to investigate taxonomic boundaries within the O. montana-O. transsilvanica group in the SE Carpathians. The molecular studies proposed in this project fit into the present approach which is currently used in the modern studies of taxonomy and phylogeny.

More information about the project can be found here.