MANHATTAN, KAN. -- A Kansas State University researcher's plant
genetic work is rooted in the sunflower state. Mark Ungerer,
associate professor of biology, has two major research projects
that involve evolutionary change in sunflowers, the state flower
of Kansas. "What we do in the lab is referred to as ecological
or evolutionary genetics," Ungerer said. "We study naturally
occurring species and try to understand the genetic basis or
genetic underpinnings of natural variation." There are more than
50 species of sunflowers. Some are annual plants -- meaning they
germinate, flower and die in one year -- and some are perennial
plants that grow and bloom every year and live longer. Ungerer's
first project focuses on five species of annual sunflowers: two
parent species and three hybrid derivative species. All three
hybrid species arose from ancient hybridization events between
the same two parents -- an unusual way for new species to
develop, Ungerer said. "What also makes the system unique is
that the hybrid sp