Current projects
Evolution of genome size – a new role for the centromere drive
20-15989S Czech Science Foundation, 2020–2022
Project leader: Petr Bureš
Maintaining the size ratio of chromosomes (“luggage”) and their kinetochores (“handles”) should mean that the kinetochore size divergence caused by centromere drive is reflected in the divergence of the chromosome size in animals and seed plants and, conversely, in chromosome size stasis in fungi, ferns, lycophytes and bryophytes, where the drive is absent. This so far unrecognized effect of centromere drive on the size evolution of chromosomes and entire genomes is to be tested by comparing the divergence and rates of chromosome size evolution in these eukaryotes. We will test the correlation of kinetochore and chromosome sizes across species and within karyotypes in selected angiosperm lineages by measuring immunostained kinetochores on mitotic chromosomes and flow-cytometrically in interphase nuclei (new method) in combination with advanced techniques of chromosome painting. In angiosperm lineages with high and low rates of chromosome size evolution, we will compare the selection regimens acting on the kinetochore protein/gene CENH3 to test a direct link to the centromere drive.
The main goal of the project is to test impact of centromere drive on divergence and rates in chromosome size evolution in animals, seed plants and on stasis of chromosome size in fungi, bryophytes, lycophytes and ferns. Direct causality and chromosome/kinetochore size correlation will be test in selected angiosperms.
Eko-geografická limitace rostlinných polyploidů: experimentální testování nových hypotéz souvisejících s velikostí buněk
GAČR: GA19-18545S, 2019–2021
Vedoucí projektu: Petr Šmarda
Tým: Petr Bureš, Lucie Horová, Ondřej Knápek, Alexandra Šilerová, Kristýna Veselá
Polyploidy has far-reaching consequences for plant evolution and ecology. One of the stable polyploidy effects is the increased cell size. Though this anatomical effect is known for more than a century, its consequences for ecology and distribution of plant polyploids remain obscure. With my colleagues from Israel we have recently prepared the first worldwide map of polyploids distribution and identified most important environmental factors determining their regional success or failure. Here I come with several ideas how these factors may promote or limit polyploids through their effect on cell-size based physiological properties and aim to test these ideas in a series of cultivation experiments using large set of 23 diploid-polyploid taxa pairs. Specifically I aim to test that due to larger cells (particularly stomata) polyploids will perform worse at higher temperatures, under drought, at low, ice age CO2 concentrations, and that despite much phosphorus allocated in their bigger nuclei, their tissue formed with larger cells will be no more phosphorus demanding than in diploids.
Růstové strategie trvalek: od buněk k celým rostlinám
GAČR: GA19-13231S, 2019–2021
Vedoucí projektu: Petr Šmarda
Tým: Lucie Horová, Ondřej Knápek, Jakub Šmerda, Kristýna Veselá, Jitka Klimešová, Tomáš Herben, Jana Martínková, Renáta Schnablová, Martin Weiser , Adam Klimeš, Tomáš Koubek
Perennial herbs are the most species-rich and phylogenetically diverse group of temperate floras. They are unique by discarding their aboveground structures every year and building them anew from belowground organs. Their success is achieved by optimizing belowground nutrient storage, bud number and size, growth rate and its timing, organ preformation and cell sizes. They have developed diverse growth strategies in different ecological regimes. This complexity exceeds that of annuals or trees and makes perennial herbs the least understood life form of temperate plants. Here we joined together three leading Czech groups working on different aspects of growth of perennial herbs to address growth mechanisms of perennials from cellular to whole plant levels and their response to environment. We will perform novel data collection with a combination of phylogenetic, anatomical/cytometric, experimental and modelling approaches. This will make possible to uncover mechanisms of growth strategies of perennials, of their environmental response and to understand their function in vegetation.
Success of holocentric chromosomes: natural competitive experiment on a global evolutionary scale
20-15989S Czech Science Foundation, 2017–2019
Project leader: Petr Bureš
Team: František Zedek, Petr Šmarda, Jakub Šmerda, Pavel Veselý, Lucie Horová, Ondřej Hájek, Jana Kocmanová
Holocentric chromosomes, as a structural alternative to monocentric chromosomes, have evolved independently many times in Eukaryotes. Since only advantageous traits originate repeatedly in evolution, the aim of our project is to reveal such an advantage of holocentrism which is only possible by comparing holo- to monocentrics. We will analyze species and phylogenetic diversity of the largest holocentric clade of flowering plants (Cyperaceae+
Juncaceae) relative to very similar, but monocentric Poaceae on a global latitudinal gradient of UV-B radiation, whose increased tolerance should be the key to the success of holocentrism. We will also analyze their competition, reaction to UV-B stress (endopolyploidy, flavonoids content), germination and survival on altitudinal UV-B gradients in nature and controlled experiments in climatic chambers. Using GBIF data, we also intend to compare the largest
holocentric clade of animals (Lepidoptera) to related insect monocentric lineages. Finally, we will screen for holocentrism across plant phylogeny employing our newly developed cytometric method.
The main goal of the project is to assess the conditions under which holocentric species better germinate, survive and compete with their monocentric relatives and to what extent such an advantage at individual or population level affects evolutionary success of whole holocentric clades compared to related monocentric clades.
Finished projects
Environmental constraints on the evolution of plant genome architecture – regional and community scales perspectives
14-30313S Czech Science Foundation, 2014–2018
Project leader: Petr Šmarda
Team: Lucie Horová, Alexandra Březinová, Petr Bureš, Pavel Veselý, Ondřej Knápek, Jana Výhodová
In the project we aim to produce simple genomic data (monoploid genome size, genomic GC content and ploidy level) for complete vascular plant flora of the Czech Republic (> 2000 species). These data will be compared with available data on plant traits and their environments using phylogeny comparative methods. Contrary to previous studies, we aim to work with environments delimited with local species communities and by species pools of regional habitats. This will enable us to consider effect of species interactions and of different spatial scales. We hope that our project significantly improves understanding the role of the environment in shaping evolution of plant genomes as well as understanding the role of plant genome architecture in determining species’ ecology. The main objectives are (i) to detect and to estimate role of the environment in the evolution of plant genomes and by selection of species with different genomic architecture, (ii) to detect functional traits through that this selection operates and (iii) to find environmental factors that are forcing this selection.
Detection of Interspecific Gene Flow in the Genus Cirsium
13-29362S Czech Science Foundation, 2014–2015
Project leader: Ester Lajkepová
Horizontal gene flow and genetic diversity are important determinants of evolutionary and speciation processes in higher plants, however they cannot be assumed to be general characteristics of all phylogenetic lineages. These determinants will be studied using a model genus Cirsium (thistle), which includes species with various intensity of recent hybridization in natural populations. For this purpose, nine species covering three model groups, were sampled: (a) frequently hybridising and widely distributed (C. oleraceum, C. palustre and C. rivulare); (b) limitedly hybridising and rarer (C. heterophyllum, C. acaule and C. canum) and (c) very rarely hybridising or non-hybridising (C. arvense, C. vulgare and C. eriophorum). The sampling was done in three eco-geographically diverse regions (White Carpathians, Brno and its surroundings and Žďárské vrchy Highlands). This project´s aim is to enrich the analysis of morphologically pure plants with a limited amount of hybrid plants. Based on AFLP method 780 samples will be analysed to detect: (i) presence/absence of gene flow within morphologically pure individuals, (ii) genetic diversity within the nine observed species and their populations, (iii) geographical structure of genetic diversity including local absence of some species and (iv) participation of hybrid plant types (F1, F2, BF1, ...) within the hybrid individuals of this unique model genus.
Evolution of holocentric chromosomes
13-29362S Czech Science Foundation, 2013–2016
Project leader: Petr Bureš
Team: František Zedek, Lucie Horová, Pavel Veselý, Olga Rotreklová
An adaptive origin of holocentric chromosomes (without localized centromere) as a defense against centromere drive will be analyzed using selection regimes acting on kinetochore proteins. To explain surprisingly negative 2C/2n correlation and extreme divergences in holocentric chromosome sizes and numbers we propose a new evolutionary mechanism of “holokinetic drive” that will be tested by the study of segregation ratio of fragmented/non-fragmented homologs in the progeny of structural heterozygotes prepared via x-irradiation. Genome size, genomic GC%, portions and rates of particular modes of karyotype evolution (aneuploidy, polyploidy, chromosomal fusion/fission and repetitive DNA proliferation/removal) will be analyzed in holocentrics (Cyperaceae+Juncaceae, Chionographideae, Cuscuta subg. Cuscuta and Grammica, Drosera) and their sister monocentric clades using flow cytometry, chromosome counting and newly developed phylogenetic algorithm. A new detection technique combining irradiation and flow cytometry will be developed for an effective screening for holocentrism in plants.
Eco-geographical limitation of large genomes in angiosperms: a role of phosphorus
GAP505/11/0881 Czech Science Foundation, 2011–2014
Project leader: Petr Šmarda
Team: Lucie Horová, Alexandra Březinová, Jana Výhodová, Ondřej Knápek, Adam Veleba, Pavel Veselý
This project is aimed to test several hypotheses explaining the controversy in the worldwide distribution pattern of angiosperm genome sizes. This project will namely revise formerly observed patterns taking in to the account phylogenetic dependence of observed characters in the design and statistical analyses of experiments, and will test possible limitation of polyploids and larger genomes in phosphorus deficient environments hypothesized recently by Leitch & Leitch (2008) in Science. Seven careful observational and manipulative experiments are designed to test the (i) suspected negative effect large genome size across tropical, temperate and high arctic flora, and in nutrient deficiency adapted groups of carnivorous plants; (ii) phosphorus limitation of larger genomes and polyploids in local floras (subarctic Svalbard, radiating flora of Cape region); and (iii) differences in growth performances of plants with different genome sizes (including comparison of diploid and tetraploid counterparts) in deficient sites using manipulative experiments.
Evolution of base composition in land plants
GAP506/11/0890 Czech Science Foundation, 2011–2014
Project leader: Petr Šmarda
Team: Lucie Horová, Alexandra Březinová, Jana Výhodová
DNA base composition (GC content) is an important genomic and systematic character describing the proportion of nucleotides in the genome. GC content may vary with various structural and functional properties of genomes as shown namely in bacteria and vertebrates. The knowledge of GC content in plants in plants are still very poor in this respect and estimates of GC content are lacking in numerous groups such as in mosses and ferns. The main goal of this project is to detect differences and major trends in base composition among and within the five major evolutionary lineages of land plants (i.e., mosses, club mosses, ferns s.l., gymnosperms, angiosperms). A special interest is aimed to be paid to the ecological and evolutionary significance of being GC-poor or GC-poor not being tested in plants up to date, and to standardization of GC content measurements in plants.
Phylogeny of subtribe Hieraciinae (Asteraceae) – a model example of contrasting evolutionary strategies in closely related lineages
P506/10/1363 Czech Science Foundation, 2010–2013
Project leader: Jindřich Chrtek
MU Investigator: Petr Bureš
Team: Olga Rotreklová, Jakub Šmerda
The tempo and mode of evolution in closely related sister lineages with contrasting ploidy levels and modes of reproduction is a timely topic of evolutionary biology. However, many studies are still confined to sequence data of a few gene regions only, to limited sampling, or to morphological characters. We offer a complex study of evolutionary trends in the subtribe Hieraciinae (which includes purely diploid sexual lineages as well as lineages with various proportions of polyploids with a versatility of breeding systems from sexuality to nearly obligate apomixis) using multigene sequencing, genome size, and other overall genomic attributes (GC content; amount, diversity, and physical localization of transposable elements)
Eco-geographical and genetic limitation of natural hybridization intensity
GA206/07/0859 Czech Science Foundation, 2007–2009
Project leader: Petr Bureš
Team: Karel Fajmon, Petr Šmarda, Olga Rotreklová, Shanju Sankar, Ondřej Hájek, Lubomír Tichý, Jakub Šmerda, Petra Blizňáková, Jiří Konečný, Jiří Žák
The main goal of the project is to explain the considerable differences in intensity of natural interspecific hybridization among the Central European Cirsium taxa, i.e. identification of the principal eco-geographic reproductive isolating barriers and estimation of their importance. The genus Cirsium was chosen as a model because the geographical distribution of its hybrids and intensity differences in interspecific hybridization are, compared to other frequently hybridizing genera (Viola, Carex, Verbascum, Epilobium, Salix), the best documented in natural conditions in the Central Europe. Additionally, Cirsium hybrids are easily morphologically determinable, and there are no serious taxonomic problems in this area. Natural interspecific hybridization intensity, expressed by numbers of specimens of hybrids in Czech herbaria, will be correlated with various models of geographical distribution similarities, flowering period overlap, reciprocal ecological affinities, genetic divergence (genome size, AT/GC genomic ratio, sequence of non-coding nrDNA and cpDNA) and hybrid success (pollen viability, seed fertility) of parental taxa in the relatively small but ecologically diversified area of the Czech Republic.
Biodiversity Research Center
LC06073 Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR (LC – Basic Research Center) 2006–2010
Project Manager: Pavel Kindlmann (Institute of System Biology and Ecology, Academy of Sciences Czech Rep.)
Deputy manager for Masaryk University: Petr Bureš
Team (Masaryk University): Petr Šmarda, Jakub Šmerda, František Zedek, Jiří Žák, Karel Fajmon, Olga Rotreklová, Vít Grulich, Jiří Danihelka, Luboš Tichý, Petra Blizňáková, Ondřej Hájek, Pavel Veselý, Samuel Lvončík
The main aim of the center is (i) create an effective network of research institutions involved in biodiversity studies in the Czech Republic; (ii) publish results in scientific journals (at least 100 papers in journals with IF>1); (iii) educate at least 40 young researchers in the field; (iv) become involved in at least 8 international projects or centers of excellence. Project involves the following institutions: Institute of System Biology and Ecology, Academy of Sciences Czech Rep. (leader P. Kindlmann); Charles University, Faculty of Science (leader D. Storch); Masaryk University, Working group for Plant biosystematics (leader P. Bureš); University of South Bohemia České Budějovice (leader O. Linhart); Institute of Entomology, Academy of Sciences Czech Rep. (leader V. Novotný); Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences Czech Rep. (leader P. Ráb), Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences Czech Rep. (leader J. Danihelka); Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences Czech Rep. (leader J. Zima)
Karyotype and genome size evolution in Cyperaceae
GA206/09/1405 Czech Science Foundation, 2009–2012
Project Leader: Petr Bureš
Team: František Zedek, Jakub Šmerda, Petr Šmarda, Olga Rotreklová, Ivana Hralová, Vít Grulich, Radomír Řepka, Jaroslav Mráček
Karyotype and genome size changes are one of the key mechanisms of evolution either below or above species level. In plants, where polyploidization is one of the main evolutionary forces, the knowledge of these processes is useful to correct interpretation of the molecular data in phylogeny reconstruction. While in the groups of organisms with monocentric chromosomes, the chromosome numbers are sufficient for the determination of ploidy level, in Cyperaceae is role of polyploidization on chromosome number change completely hidden by chromosomal fusion and fragmentation (symploidy and agmatoploidy) due to holokinetic nature of chromosomes. Because the polyploidy is not evaluated in this family, also the evolution of genome size remains poorly understood. Thus we offer to combine (i) molecular, (ii) flow cytometry and classical chromosome counting applied to particular species of two most contrasting model genera Carex and Eleocharis representing well this family. The main goal of the project is an analysis of patterns of genomic parameters: (i) genome size, (ii) chromosome number, (iii) chromosome size, (iv) genomic AT/GC composition, (v–vi) retrotransposon diversity and invasion in these models. Evolutionary dynamics of these species-specific genomic parameters in the framework of the phylogeny based on molecular sequence markers will be used for the evaluation of the role of key mechanisms in genome size and karyotype evolution: (i) polyploidy; (ii) agmatoploidy, (iii) symploidy, (iv–v) retrotransposon amplification or removal in the main evolutionary lineages of taxa studied. Therefore in our project, the model is not a concrete species as in classical genomic studies but the group of species connected by the net of their evolutionary relationships. The models Eleocharis and Carex are contrasting in (i) number of species, (ii) evolutionary centers, (iii) ecological diversification, but mainly in (iv) chromosome and genome size variation ranges, which is in Eleocharis one of the largest known among angiosperms genera.
GC content and genome evolution of grasses
Grant Agency of the Czech Republic No. 206/08/P222, 2008–2010
Project Leader: Petr Šmarda
Marie Holčáková, Lucie Horová, Jiří Rozehnal, Věra Slezáková, Jakub Šmerda
The main goal of this project is to survey of variability in GC bases content (guanine and cytosine) related to species phylogeny and global genome evolution. The study will be devoted to model family Poaceae (grasses), typical of highest and most variable GC content within higher plants, and will concern all hierarchical levels, from inter-family, inter-generic, inter-specific, to intra-specific differences. Particular studies are devoted to (i) map the origin and consecutive evolution of high GC content of grass genomes and genes within Monocots, (ii) survey variability of GC content and chromosome size among main grass evolutionary lineages, (iii) test evolutionary significance of high GC content and thus higher DNA thermostability for plants from extreme climatic conditions, (iv) prove relation of GC content variability with transposable elements-driven genome expansions and contractions (on inter-specific level in genus Oryza, on intra-specific in Festuca pallens), and (v) to prove possible application of GC content and genome size measurements in the mapping of these processes.
Microevolutionary aspects of residual sexuality in apomictic plants: detection, rate and manifestation in populations of Hieracium subgen. Pilosella
Grant Agency of the Czech Republic 206/07/0059, 2007–2009
Leader: Anna Krahulcová (Botanical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences)
Member: Olga Rotreklová
Facultative apomixis combines usually dominant asexual seed production and occasional hybridization of maternal plants (residual sexuality). Advantages of both apomixis (fixation and spread of adapted genotypes) and sexuality (increase of progeny variation by recombination and segregation) often contribute to invasion of such biotypes to new habitats. Besides sexual biotypes, also facultative apomicts do hybridize (as seed or pollen parents) in our model system of Hieracium subgenus Pilosella. Thus, both recent hybrids and already stabilized hybridogenous taxa occur in nature. The project is aimed at 1) detection and quantification of hybrid progeny of apomitic mothers after experimental crosses and open pollination in the field, and 2) evaluation of progeny variation generated by apomictic versus sexual mothers in selected mixed populations. Comparison to actual population structures in the wild will provide an estimate of establishment of new biotypes originated in the same way and elucidate the role of natural selection.
Herbarium, vivae icones – electronic learning tool for plant identification
Ministry of education, Czech Republic, 2006
Leader: Petr Bureš
Member: Pavel Veselý
The main goal of project Herbarium, vivae icones is reinforcement of the teaching of botany of students focused on scientific specializations and particularly students of the education of biology – future teachers of secondary schools. Project is based on using of multi-medial instruments as (i) electronic herbarium in both web and CD-ROM version containing photos of 361 live plants (scans and detail photos of habitus, flowers, leaves, and other structural features important from the determination viewpoint; – (ii) communicative interface offering various forms of learning, testing in both web and CD forms based on programming script PHP in combination with JavaScript in Macromedia Flash; – (iii) two complete series of herbarium specimens of these species protected by lamination; – (iv) electronic version of herbarium used for examination. The financial resources cover purchase of A3 scanner, digital photo camera; external HDD, CD-ROMs, and costs for lamination of herbarium specimens. The project particularity is based on (i) species selection: the most frequent and most typical species for the area of the Czech Republic; – (ii) style of figures: scanning of live plants; – (iii) stimulating communicative interface.
Phylogeography of polyploid complexes in Europe
Grant Agency of the Czech Republic 206/03/0228, 2003–2005
Leader: Petr Bureš
Members: Karol Marhold (Botanical institute of Slovak Academy of Science); Lucie Horová and Petr Šmarda
The main goal of the project is an analysis of patterns of genetic variation in polyploid complexes representing different groups of vascular plants in connection with their evolution and geographical distributions. Groups with known aneuploidy and with holocentric chromosomes are included, as are groups with no chromosome number variation at given ploidy levels. Model species groups or groups with infraspecific variation include Eleocharis uniglumis, Festuca pallens, Cardamine amara, Cardamine raphanifolia and Cardaminopsis arenosa. This research will be conducted by comparing non-coding chloroplast trnL(UAA) intron and trnL(UAA)-trnF(GAA) intergenic spacer DNA sequences and by studying the absolute and relative DNA content variation within and between populations.
Vascular plants of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Pálava
Czech Science Foundation 206/01/P115, 2000–2003
Leader: Jiří Danihelka
The Pálava Biosphere Reserve (BR), designated in 1986, is situated in the southern part of the Czech Republic, close to the border with Austria and Slovakia. It consists of limestone hills covered by dry grasslands, a gently rolling hill country with thermophilous oak forests and oak-hornbeam forests, floodplain of the Morava and Dyje Rivers with alluvial forests and meadows, as well as urban habitats and agricultural land. It is the warmest and driest part of Czechia, with many Pontic-Pannonian and Submediterranean species present in its flora. In 1992, J. Danihelka, V. Grulich and K. Šumberová, all Masaryk University, started grid mapping Pálava's vascular plants. The grid is based on geographical coordinates and is derived from the Central European grid system with fields 10 x 6 geographical minutes further divided in to 10 x 10 elementary fields (EF; each about 1.36 km2). The area mapped is about 300 km2 in extent and consists of 261 partly or fully covered EFs. For each EF at least one recording form exists, and each area is visited in all three seasons. The records have been stored in a recently developed database SurveyPro (with a simple geographic information system built in; http://janitor.cenia.cz). January 2004, the database contained 127.500 records. Recent data is supplemented with a survey of literature sources, and records are stored into the database MABFlora. In January 2004, about 580 sources were searched for relevant data, and records for about 1949 taxa are now held in the database. A catalogue of BR's vascular plants is being compiled.
Phylogenetic analysis of Poa L. on the basis of non-coding cpDNA sequences
Ministry of education, Czech Republic, 2003
Leader: Sierra Dawn Stoneberg Holt
The aim of this project is to study the infrageneric variability within the sequences of the non-coding chloroplast DNA regions of the trnL intron and trnL-trnF IGS within the genus Poa L. These sequences will also serve as an expanded outgroup for the phylogeographic analysis of European and North American populations of Poa pratensis agg.
Molecular taxonomy of Lemanea in the Czech Republic
Ministry of education, Czech Republic, 2003
Leader: Pavel Kučera
The main aim of project was isolation of 18S rDNA gene sequences from the nature populations in the Czech Republic and construct the phylogenetic hypothesis. The results show Lemaneaceae as a monophyletic group among the other rhodophytes and confirmed the clear difference between Lemanea and Paralemanea with high bootstrap values. On the other hand no differences at the species level were found. The results correspond with morphological investigation of Paralemanea species, whereas Lemanea fluviatilis and L. torulosa appear to be morphologically well-defined species.
We also participate
Diversity of Biotic Communities and Populations: Causal Analysis of Variation in Space and Time
Long-term Research Plan MSM 0021622416 (2005–2011)
Funded by Ministry Of Education, Youth and Sports of Czech Republic
Research Plan Coordinator: Milan Chytrý
Spatial and Temporal Biodiversity Dynamics in Ecosystems of Central Europe
Long-term Research Plan MSM 143100010 (Formerly CEZ: J07/98:143100010) – VZ MU 0429 (2000–2004)
Funded by Ministry Of Education, Youth and Sports of Czech Republic
Research Plan Coordinator: Jaromír Vaňhara
Identification key of ferns and flowering plants of the Slovak Republic
Grant Agency VEGA no. APVT-51-026404 (2005–200?)
Scientific person in charge at the IB SAS: Karol Marhold
Editorial Committee (alphabetically): Viera Feráková, Vít Grulich, Iva Hodálová, Lubomír Hrouda, Judita Kochjarová, Karol Marhold, Pavol Mártonfi, Pavol Mereďa
The goal of the project is a preparation and publication of the Identification Key of Ferns and Flowering Plants of Slovakia. The key will provide a tool for determination of all the vascular taxa given in the Checklist of Non-vascular and Vascular Plants of Slovakia (Marhold & Hindák 1998). It will be based on the published volumes of Flora of Slovakia, taking into account the most recent knowledge about the particular taxa. For taxa not covered by the published volumes of Flora of Slovakia new identification keys will be prepared. The introductory chapters will contain brief morphological glossary, brief history of botanical research in Slovakia, survey of phytocoenological units (at the level of alliance), and of families, phytogeographic survey of Slovakia, instruction for use and list of references. The Identification Key will also contain brief characteristics of species and subspecies (+ review of hybrids), including data on discriminant characters, flowering period, chromosome numbers, category of threat, ecology, phytocoenology, and distribution in Slovakia. The most common synonyms will be listed as well. Diagnostic features of plants will be shown by the illustrations. It is expected that a group of specialists in phytocoenology will closely cooperate on this project.
Flora of the Czech Republic – finalization
Grant Agency of the Czech Republic No. 206/07/0706 (2007–2009, GA0/GA)
Participant: Vít Grulich
Among the basic works of the Czech botanical literature, the nine-volume Flora of the Czech Republic represents the most extensive and comprehensive encyclopaedia. The seven volumes published since 1988 to 2004 include the treatment of 2576 numbered species. This project aims to finalize this compendium. Particular objectives are: to finalize editorial work on vols. 8 and 9; to make Supplement to previously published volumes. This Supplement will effectively synthesize the most important floristic and taxonomic information published since 1988. It will include all taxa of territory of the Czech Republic discovered as new since the original treatment, data on changes in distribution, up-to-date lists of endemic taxa and taxa described from the territory of CR, lists of additional chromosome numbers and bibliography, statistical tables and an index to vols. 1–9. Such completed Flora will be indispensable as a source of information for the width scientific community, managements of resources.
Flora of the Czech Republic, Vol. 8/2
(Grant Agency of the Czech Republic No. 206/98/1545, 2004–2006, project leader Bohumil Slavík)
Flora of the Czech Republic, Vol. 8/1
(Grant Agency of the Czech Republic No. 206/01/1115, 2001–2003, project leader Bohumil Slavík)
Flora of the Czech Republic, Vol. 7
(Grant Agency of the Czech Republic No. 206/98/1545, 1998–2000, project leader Bohumil Slavík)
List of all participants and treated genera from all volumes
Vegetation diversity along a continentality gradient in southern Siberia: a key to understanding Early Postglacial History of Central Europe
(Grant Agency of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 2003–2007).
Participants: Petr Šmarda and Jiří Danihelka
