Research Grants

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Reconstructing evolutionary relationships within Tribe Semecarpeae (Anacardiaceae) of native Indian species using molecular phylogeny and morphological analysis

Project summary:

The tribe Semecarpeae (Anacardiaceae) is represented by 25 species in India of which many are endemic. Studies carried out in molecular phylogeny do not include Indian species comprehensively. This project aims to extensively study the Indian taxa with morphological and molecular approach to carry out a comprehensive phylogeny to map morphological features which would reveal further evolutionary insights in Anacaardiaceae.

First Name:

Highest degree:

M.Sc. Botany

Year obtained:

2022

Applicant Status:

Current student

India

Flowering plants

Relevant publications (minimum 1, maximum 4):

Kangana S, Kambale SS, Kasana S. Nomenclatural Note on Holigarna grahamii and Holigarna albicans. National Academy Science Letters. 2025. doi:10.1007/s40009-025-01888-9

Kangana, S.. Anishya, Kasana S. Lectotypification of some names in Melanochyla Hook.f. (Anacardiaceae). Pleione. 2025;19:291-294. doi:10.26679/Pleione.19.2.2025.291-294

Ranking

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The proposed project would address outstanding taxonomic issues in Semecarpeae (Anacardiaceae) in India. Ca. 25 species are known from the country (ca. 50 percent being endemic), but these have not been studied carefully since older treatments, and there are outstanding problems such as unclear species boundaries, erroneous typification, and limited recent collections which could help clarify species concepts and provide more complete characterizations of morphological variation. Singhal proposes to address these issues through field work, morphological study, and the generation of new molecular data.

While I understand the taxonomic focus on Semecarpeae in India, for the phylogenetic component, it seems like it would be very valuable to sample the group more broadly, beyond India, as this would help clarify the evolutionary origins of the Indian species and the nature of the endemism present in India. This is perhaps beyond the scope of what is possible, but it would make the project more compelling. Also some of the taxonomic problems might require looking beyond the boarders of Indian for resolution.

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Notes and justification

Applicant Details

Country:

Target organism/s:

Previous publications

Applicant's CV

Proposal

Budget

Budget: $

2000

Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, UP, 250002, India

Affiliation:

Grant Assessment

kanganasinghal8@gmail.com

email:

Last Name:

Kangana

Singhal