People
Prenner, Gerhard
| Job Title | Research Associate |
|---|---|
| Department | Jodrell |
| Section | Micromorphology |
| Science Teams |
Malpighiales |
| Joined Kew | |
| Foreign Language(s) | German (mother tongue) |
Qualifications & Appointments
MSc, Botany, Karl-Franzens Univ. Graz, 1998
PhD, Karl-Franzens Univ. Graz, 2003.
Role
Evolution of the cyathium in Euphorbieae (Malpighiales).
Main scientific interests are the application of floral morphology, anatomy and ontogeny to plant systematics and the resulting questions regarding organ identity and the impact in floral ecology. A comparative study of floral ontogeny in Fabales revealed hitherto unrecognised characters that shed light on the relationships within the order. An ongoing cooperation with Paula Rudall, financed by an Erwin Schroedinger Fellowship from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), focuses on the evolution of the cyathium in Euphorbieae (Euphorbiaceae sensu stricto). Methods applied will include Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and microtome sections studies with light microscopy to investigate the floral and cyathium morphology, anatomy and ontogeny of selected members of all three subtribes as well as of related taxa within the family. The resulting hypotheses can ultimately be tested using molecular developmental-genetic methodology. Molecular phylogenetic methods will be used to clarify the genetic background of the formation of cyathia as well as the formation of the strongly reduced flowers. Morphological and molecular data will be combined to synthesize our understanding of cyathium evolution.
Projects
Cyathium Evolution in Euphorbieae (Euphorbiaceae)
Selected Publications 2001-2005
Prenner, G. (2004). New aspects in floral development of Papilionoideae: Initiated but suppressed bracteoles and variable initiation of sepals. Annals of Botany 93(5): 537-545.
Prenner, G. (2004). The asymmetric androecium in Papilionoideae - definition, occurrence, and possible systematic value. International Journal of Plant Sciences 165(4): 499-510.
Prenner, G. (2004). Floral development in Daviesia cordata (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae: Mirbelieae) and its systematicimplications. Australian Journal of Botany 52(3): 285-291.
Prenner, G. (2004). Floral ontogeny in Calliandra angustifolia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae: Ingeae) and its systematic implications. International Journal of Plant Sciences 165(3): 417-426.
Prenner, G. (2004). Floral development in Polygala myrtifolia (Polygalaceae) and its similarities with Leguminosae. Plant Systematics and Evolution 249: 67-76.