Life Sciences Commons^™

Extensive Admixture Among Karst-Obligate Salamanders Reveals Evidence Of Recent Divergence And Gene Exchange Through Aquifers, Chris C. Nice, Katherine L. Bell, Zachariah Gompert, Lauren K. Lucas, James R. Ott, Ruben U. Tovar, Paul Crump, Peter H. Diaz

Biology Faculty Publications

Karst ecosystems often contain extraordinary biodiversity, but the complex underground aquifers of karst regions present challenges for assessing and conserving stygobiont diversity and investigating their evolutionary history. We examined the karst-obligate salamanders of the Eurycea neotenes species complex in the Edwards Plateau region of central Texas using population genomics data to address questions about population connectivity and the potential for gene exchange within the underlying aquifer system. The E. neotenes species complex has historically been divided into three nominal species, but their status, and spatial extent of species ranges, have remained uncertain. We discovered evidence of extensive admixture among species …

Effects Of Pericarp Removal And Different Germination Conditions On Seed Germination And Saline-Alkali Tolerance Of Amorpha Fruticosa, Zhan-Wu Gao, Yong-Guang Mu, Feng Chen, Li-Jie He, Xin-Ning Li, Jia-Tong Li, Ke-Jia Ding, Yan-Hui Cu, Chun-Sheng Mu, Adnan Rasheed

Turkish Journal of Botany

In this paper, neutral salt NaCl and basic salt Na2CO3 were used to simulate salt stress and alkali stress respectively, and the effects of salt stress and alkali stress on seed germination and growth changes in natural saline-alkali soil were studied, in order to provide theoretical basis for making full use of plant resources and improving production efficiency. The fruit peel of Amorpha fruticosa contains a lot of lipids, which has a significant effect on seed germination. Under salt stress, removal of pericarp significantly increased germination rate, germination potential and germination index (P< 0.05), and significantly shortened germination time of seeds (p< 0.05), which accelerated the establishment of seedlings, reduced the stress time during germination, and advanced the transition from heterotrophic to autotrophic, accumulating more anions and organic solutes to adapt to salt stress. Therefore, when planting in neutral salt soil, it can be used to remove the peel for sowing to improve the planting effect. However, under alkali stress, the growth is inhibited by the absorption of a large amount of Na+ and high pH value, so it is not suitable for removing the peel for sowing. Different germination conditions had significant effects on seed germination. The length and biomass of radicle and germ in sand culture were significantly higher than those in paper culture (P< 0.05). Under the condition of sand culture, the concentration of the treatment solution can be well maintained, which is conducive to fixing the seedlings and reducing the interference of other mineral elements. Therefore, sand culture method is recommended for seed germination experiments under stress, especially for plants with developed roots.

A Review Of The Early Miocene Pinuxylon Species Of Türkiye With A New Species, Ünal Akkemi̇k, Dimitra Mantzouka

Turkish Journal of Botany

Many Pinuxylon W.Gothan 1905 (formerly described as Lesbosoxylon Süss & Velitzelos 2010) fossil woods were identified from different parts of Türkiye. After five species had been described from Lesbos Island and one new species from Eastern Anatolia, more recent studies showed that this fossil-genus comprises more species and had a wider range in the Early Miocene through the Aegean Islands and Anatolia. The purpose of the present study is to summarize the state-of-the-art of the fossil-species of this genus from the Early Miocene of Türkiye. The thin sections housed in the fossil collections of the Department of Forest Botany, Faculty …

Impact Of Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria On The Growth Of Arabidopsis Thaliana Under Salt Stress, Behi̇ye Nur Aksoy, Hamza Ettadili, Caner Vural

Turkish Journal of Botany

The effect of a microbial mixture containing anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (APB) on the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Col-0 under salt stress was investigated. To induce salt stress, 150 mM NaCl was applied to A. thaliana. Four treatments were employed to assess the impact of APB: (1) control plants, (2) plants inoculated with a mixture of enriched photosynthetic bacteria, (3) plants inoculated with a mixture of enriched photosynthetic bacteria and irrigated with 150 mM NaCl solution, and (4) plants irrigated with 150 mM NaCl solution. The analysis demonstrated that the inoculated plants exhibited increased leaf formation and leafsize. Furthermore, an …

A Β-Hydroxybutyrate Shunt Pathway Generates Anti-Obesity Ketone Metabolites, Maria Dolores Moya-Garzon, Mengjie Wang, Veronica L Li, Xuchao Lyu, Wei Wei, Alan Sheng-Hwa Tung, Steffen H Raun, Meng Zhao, Laetitia Coassolo, Hashim Islam, Barbara Oliveira, Yuqin Dai, Jan Spaas, Antonio Delgado-Gonzalez, Kenyi Donoso, Aurora Alvarez-Buylla, Francisco Franco-Montalban, Anudari Letian, Catherine P Ward, Lichao Liu, Katrin J Svensson, Emily L Goldberg, Christopher D Gardner, Jonathan P Little, Steven M Banik, Yong Xu, Jonathan Z Long

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is an abundant ketone body. To date, all known pathways of BHB metabolism involve the interconversion of BHB and primary energy intermediates. Here, we identify a previously undescribed BHB secondary metabolic pathway via CNDP2-dependent enzymatic conjugation of BHB and free amino acids. This BHB shunt pathway generates a family of anti-obesity ketone metabolites, the BHB-amino acids. Genetic ablation of CNDP2 in mice eliminates tissue amino acid BHB-ylation activity and reduces BHB-amino acid levels. The most abundant BHB-amino acid, BHB-Phe, is a ketosis-inducible congener of Lac-Phe that activates hypothalamic and brainstem neurons and suppresses feeding. Conversely, CNDP2-KO mice exhibit …

A Review And Meta-Analysis Of The Efficacy Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi In Remediating Toxic Metals In Mine-Affected Soil, Sonali Banerjee, Jajati Mandal, Dibyendu Sarkar, Rupali Datta, Pradip Bhattacharyya

Michigan Tech Publications

Mines are natural reservoirs of various minerals, metals, and metalloids. Several heavy metals (HMs), such as Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Ni, are major anthropogenic pollutants that cause severe environmental pollution. The accumulation of these toxic HMs in soils has raised several concerns for crop growth, food safety, and marketing. Physiological and biochemical processes in plants are severely impacted by HMs, disrupting normal metabolic activities and reducing biomass production. Phytoremediation plays a pivotal role in addressing HM contamination by offering an eco-friendly, economical, and holistic solution. Similarly, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a significant role by forming a symbiotic relationship …

Molecular Identification And Functional Characterization Of A Stilbene Synthase Gene In Rheum Officinale, Gaoxin Hao, Mengmeng Liu, Qiao Du, Xia Zhao, Feng Yan, Xiaochen Hu, Jing Gao, Liang Peng, Yimin Li, Gang Zhang

Turkish Journal of Botany

Stilbene synthase (STS), is a pivotal gene involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of stilbenes compounds, playing a crucial role in plant growth, development and stress adaptation. Meantime, stilbene compounds hold promising prospects of the wide-ranging clinical applications. Rheum officinale contains abundant stilbene compounds, yet the precise regulatory genes governing their biosynthesis remain elusive. In this study, the ORF of RoSTS gene was amplified, yielding a length of 1,140 bp and encoding a protein consisting of 379 amino acids with a relative molecular mass of 41 640.25 Da. The RoSTS protein contained the conserved residues (Cys 164, His 303, and …

Acetylcholine Treatments Enhance Growth, Photosynthesis Efficiency And Stress Resilience In Maize Seedlings Exposed To Arsenic, Büşra Arikan-Abdulveli

Turkish Journal of Botany

Arsenic (As) is a widespread and highly toxic metalloid that adversely affects plant health, leading to reduced yields, impaired photosynthesis, and compromised root structures. Although acetylcholine (ACh), a neurotransmitter implicated in plant growth and stress responses, has shown potential in mitigating heavy metal stress, its effects on As stress in maize (Zea mays L.) remain largely unexplored. This study investigated the impact of ACh treatments on maize seedlings exposed to As stress (100 µM), focusing on physiological responses, growth rates, photosynthesis, and the antioxidant system. Our findings revealed that ACh treatments conferred differential protective effects against As stress. The lowest …

Ghost Fishing Due To Derelict Crab Traps In Louisiana’S Barataria Basin, Emma C. Villemarette

LSU Master's Theses

Ghost fishing, the unintentional entrapment of sea life by derelict fishing gear, is an ecologic and socioeconomic concern in Louisiana's crabbing industry (blue crab, Callinectes sapidus). These ghost fishing traps cause unknown and unaccounted for mortality in blue crab and bycatch species. I aimed to track changes to derelict crab trap catch and trap deterioration over seasons and between habitats. I set and monitored 33 simulated derelict crab traps over 367 soak days in three varying habitats along Barataria Bay, Louisiana. Traps were checked once every two weeks and an additional daily check for five days per season. Blue …

Health Coaching Intervention Retained Anu-Adri Scores Over A 2-Year Period In Apoe E4 Carriers Among Older Adults At Risk For Alzheimer’S Disease, Michelle Gray, Anthony Campitelli, Ray G. Urbina, Megan Jones

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: The Apolipoprotein epsilon 4 allele (APOE ε4) gene is known as the most prevalent genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, many lifestyle risk factors that are modifiable influence the development of AD. Reducing the prevalence of risk factors can prevent or delay up to 33% of AD cases. Health coaching is known to improve health over time in older adults by using a motivational interviewing technique resulting in positive behavior modification. The purpose of this study was to determine if a 2-year health coaching intervention improves AD risk score among older adults at risk for AD aged …

Virus Association With Bacteria And Bacterial Cell Components Enhance Virus Infectivity, Wenjun Deng, Giselle Almeida, Kristen E. Gibson

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The transmission and infection of enteric viruses can be influenced by co-existing bacteria within the environment and host. However, the viral binding ligands on bacteria and the underlying interaction mechanisms remain unclear. This study characterized the association of norovirus surrogate Tulane virus (TuV) and murine norovirus (MNV) as well as the human enteric virus Aichi virus (AiV) with six bacteria strains (Pantoea agglomerans, Pantoea ananatis, Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter cloacae, Exiguobacterium sibiricum, Pseudomonas spp.). At room temperature, the viruses bound to all bacteria in strain-dependent rates and remained bound for at least 2 h. The virus association with two gram-positive bacteria …

Bridging Taste And Health: The Role Of Machine Learning In Consumer Food Selection, Saroj Adhikari, Brandon R. Mcfadden

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Navigating the modern food landscape is complex, often leading consumers to make suboptimal dietary choices due to information, time constraints, and psychological vulnerabilities. Machine learning (ML) presents a promising solution to enhance the contemporary grocery shopping experience by providing personalized dietary recommendations tailored to individual preferences and characteristics. Traditional methods of dietary guidance cannot account for nuanced consumer characteristics and preferences. In contrast, ML algorithms can incorporate specific information about individuals and continuously adapt to provide personalized recommendations, considering factors like historical eating habits, socio-demographics, nutritional requirements, etc. This paper explores the potential value of ML in enhancing personalized dietary …

Improving Fertilizer Efficiency In Containerized Nursery Production Through Substrate Temperature Management Techniques, Ashley R. Edwards

LSU Master's Theses

Resource efficiency, particularly regarding mineral nutrients, is a critical factor in the long-term success of the nursery industry. Fertilizer release is controlled by water and temperature in container-grown ornamental nursery production systems. Thus, it was hypothesized that pragmatic management of substrate temperature and moisture could extend the longevity of controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) in a container system. This study was conducted to determine the effect of irrigation scheduling, container color, and stratified substrates on substrate temperature and the subsequent use and longevity of CRF in a crop production setting. ‘Limelight’ Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) liners were planted in either black …

Brain Delivery Of Erythropoietin Results In A Significant Reduction Of Brain Aβ And Spatial Memory Deficits In The App Knock-In Mouse Model, Rudy Tieu Chang, Devaraj V. Chandrashekar, Grace-Ann Chuli Roules, Emi Iwasaki, Nataraj Jagadeesan, Rachita K. Sumbria

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Although novel treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have begun to show modest therapeutic effects, agents that target hallmark AD pathology and offer neuroprotection are desired. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone with neuroprotective effects but is faced with challenges including limited brain uptake and increased hematopoietic side effects with long-term dosing. Therefore, EPO has been modified and bound to a chimeric transferrin receptor monoclonal antibody (cTfRMAb); the latter shuttles EPO past the blood-brain barrier (BBB) into brain parenchyma and reduces its plasma exposure and potential for side effects. Our study sought to characterize the safety and pharmacokinetics (PK) of …

Utah Producers And Soil Health: Statewide Survey Results, Peggy Petrzelka, Jessica Ulrich-Schad, Matt Yost, Jenae Dean, Earl Creech, Linda Schott, Tony Richards, Kristy Davis

All Current Publications

To gain soil health perspectives and actions from a representative sample of Utah farmers and ranchers, a mail and online survey of Utah producers was conducted in 2024, focused on those who indicated they produced crops in 2023. In this report, we provide an overview of the survey results, with a specific focus on producers’ views on soil health, indicators used for soil health, factors that influence soil health adoption, and information sources used for soil health.

Functional Characterization Of Qt Interval Associated Scn5a Enhancer Variants Identify Combined Additive Effects, Lavanya Gunamalai, Parul Singh, Brian Berg, Leilei Shi, Ernesto Sanchez, Ghislain Breton, Darius Balciunas, Ashish Kapoor

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Several empirical and theoretical studies suggest the presence of multiple enhancers per gene that collectively regulate gene expression, and that common sequence variation impacting on the activities of these enhancers is a major source of inter-individual gene expression variability. However, for the vast majority of genes, enhancers and the underlying regulatory variation remains unknown. Even for the genes with well-characterized enhancers, the nature of the combined effects from multiple enhancers and their variants, when known, on gene expression regulation remains unexplored. Here, we have evaluated the combined effects from five SCN5A enhancers and their regulatory variants that are known to …

Alleviation Of Liver Fibrosis By Inhibiting A Non-Canonical Atf4-Regulated Enhancer Program In Hepatic Stellate Cells, Li-Xian Yang, Chuangye Qi, Si Lu, Xiang-Shi Ye, Parnaz Merikhian, Tao Yao, Ying Wu, Yongshi Jia, Bo Shan, Jinghai Chen, Xiaozhou Mou, Jia You, Wenbo Li, Yu-Xiong Feng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Liver fibrosis is a critical liver disease that can progress to more severe manifestations, such as cirrhosis, yet no effective targeted therapies are available. Here, we identify that ATF4, a master transcription factor in ER stress response, promotes liver fibrosis by facilitating a stress response-independent epigenetic program in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Unlike its canonical role in regulating UPR genes during ER stress, ATF4 activates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) gene transcription under fibrogenic conditions. HSC-specific depletion of ATF4 suppresses liver fibrosis in vivo. Mechanistically, TGFβ resets ATF4 to orchestrate a unique enhancer program for the transcriptional activation of pro-fibrotic EMT genes. …

A Phase Ia Study Of A Novel Anti-Her2 Antibody-Drug Conjugate Gq1001 In Patients With Previously Treated Her2 Positive Advanced Solid Tumors, Chenfei Zhou, Bin Wang, Christina Teng, Hui Yang, Sarina A Piha-Paul, Ashanya Malalasekera, Wei Wang, Jieqiong Liu, Yan Shi, Xianbao Zhan, Charlotte Lemech

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: A novel anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) GQ1001 was assessed in patients with previously treated HER2 positive advanced solid tumors in a global multi-center phase Ia dose escalation trial.

Methods: In this phase Ia trial, a modified 3 + 3 study design was adopted during dose escalation phase. Eligible patients were enrolled, and GQ1001 monotherapy was administered intravenously every 3 weeks. The starting dose was 1.2 mg/kg, followed by 2.4, 3.6, 4.8, 6.0, 7.2 and 8.4 mg/kg. Extra patients were enrolled into 6.0, 7.2, and 8.4 mg/kg cohorts as dose expansion phase. The primary …

Full Issue, Volume 12, Number 3, Donna J. Peterson, Scott Cummings, Elizabeth Gregory North

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Neurofilament Light (Nfl) And Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (Gfap) In Ms And Aqp4-Nmosd: Advancing Clinical Applications., Sara Samadzadeh, Roy D. Sleator

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Fluid biomarkers such as Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) and Neurofilament Light (NfL) play important roles in the diagnosis, monitoring, and evaluation of therapeutic responses in conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Aquaporin-4 Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (AQP4-NMOSD). These biomarkers offer key insights into the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of these diseases, enabling effective follow-up and personalized treatment approaches, which are essential for improving patient outcomes. Herein, we synthesize the structural attributes, functional roles, and clinical significance of GFAP and NfL in the context of MS and AQP4-NMOSD. We explore the critical implications of these biomarkers in disease manifestation and …

Effects Of Sex, Mating Status, And Genetic Background On Circadian Behavior In Drosophila, Oghenerukevwe Akpoghiran, Alexandra K. Strich, Kyunghee Koh

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Circadian rhythms play a crucial role in regulating behavior, physiology, and health. Sexual dimorphism, a widespread phenomenon across species, influences circadian behaviors. Additionally, post-mating physiological changes in females are known to modulate various behaviors, yet their effects on circadian rhythms remain underexplored. Here, using Drosophila melanogaster, a powerful model for studying circadian mechanisms, we systematically assessed the impact of sex and mating status on circadian behavior. We measured circadian period length and rhythm strength in virgin and mated males and females, including females mated to males lacking Sex Peptide (SP), a key mediator of post-mating changes. Across four wild-type and …

Evaluating Elk Distribution And Conflict Under Proposed Management Alternatives At The National Elk Refuge In Jackson, Wyoming, Gavin G. Cotterill, Paul C. Cross, Eric K. Cole, Jonathan D. Cook, Margaret C. Mceachran, Tabitha A. Graves

Aspen Bibliography

We evaluated measurable attributes describing the current and future distribution of Cervus elaphus canadensis (elk) across a region surrounding Jackson, Wyoming, for five feedground management alternatives proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a revision to 2007 "Bison and Elk Management Plan" of the National Elk Refuge. A resource selection function evaluated measurable attributes of interest to managers, including elk use of private property and sensitive habitat types at monthly timesteps and varying winter conditions. The study area boundaries were created through an expert elicitation process and consist of the Jackson Elk Herd Unit, Grand Teton National Park, …

Agri-Technology Transforming Farms And Ranches Across Nebraska, Shannon Sand

Cornhusker Economics

In summary, agri-tech is reducing the demand for traditional farm and ranch labor in Nebraska while creating new opportunities in technical, analytical, and management roles. As Nebraska maintains its leadership in agri-tech, there will be a growing need for a tech-savvy and versatile agricultural workforce.

Characterization Of Vaccine-Enhanced Humoral Immune Responses Against Emergent Sars-Cov-2 Variants In A Convalescent Cohort, Jared Sheehan, Amber J. Trauth, Michael E. Hagensee, Alistair J. Ramsay

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Vaccination of COVID-19–convalescent individuals may generate ‘hybrid’ immunity of enhanced magnitude, durability, and cross-reactive breadth. Our primary goal was to characterize hybrid antibody (Ab) responses in a patient cohort infected with ancestral Wuhan-Hu-1 virus and vaccinated between 6 and 10 months later with the Wuhan-Hu-1–based BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. We were particularly interested in determining the efficacy of neutralizing Ab responses against subsequently emergent SARS-CoV-2 variants. Sera collected at 3-monthly intervals over a period of 12 months were analyzed by ELISA for SARS-CoV-2 RBD–specific Ab responses, and also for neutralizing Ab activity using pseudovirus-based neutralization assays. We found that convalescent RBD-reactive …

Measures Of Joint Kinematic Reliability During Repeated Softball Pitching, Erin Pletcher, Mita Lovalakar, Takashi Nagai, Chris Connaboy

Department of Exercise Science Faculty Papers

Background/Objectives: Three-dimensional motion analysis is often used to evaluate improvements or decrements in movement patterns in athletes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of joint flexion/extension angles of the pitching elbow and bilateral knees and hips in softball pitchers. Methods: Fourteen softball pitchers (17.9 ± 2.3 years) were tested in one session consisting of four sets of five consecutive fastballs and a second session of two sets of five fastballs. The magnitude of systematic bias and within-subject variation was calculated between pitches. An iterative intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) process was used to determine intra- and inter-session …

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Western Marsh-Rosemary (Limonium Californicum), Nora Dunkirk, Gabriel E. Campbell

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for western marsh-rosemary (Limonium californicum) using NatureServe methodology, 2025.

Enhancing In Vitro Digestibility And Volatile Profile Of Sorghum Proteins Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Drying, Nafisa Sadaf, Arda Tuhanioglu, Safoura Ahmadzadeh, Ali Ubeyitogullari

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The goal of this research was to use supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) drying as a novel approach to generate sorghum protein concentrates with enhanced functional characteristics. Sorghum protein concentrates were extracted from white whole-grain sorghum flour and dried in two ways: freeze-drying and SC-CO2 drying. The dried proteins were characterized for their volatile compound content, in vitro digestibility, and amino acid composition. A more porous structure was observed for the SC-CO2-dried sorghum proteins compared with their freeze-dried counterparts. In the SC-CO2-dried samples, the levels of alcohols, esters, and organic acids were significantly lower than those in the freeze-dried ones, whereas …

Exploring The Role Of Brain Angiogenesis Inhibitor 3 (Bai3) In Regulating Body Weight, Haifa Alsahrif

All ETDs from UAB

Obesity is a significant public health issue, strongly associated with various metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Understanding the mechanisms that contribute to obesity is essential for developing effective interventions. One critical area of interest involves G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which are important in regulating metabolic health. These receptors are known to be involved in critical metabolic functions such as insulin secretion, lipid metabolism, and glucose uptake. The role of the GPCR, brain angiogenesis inhibitor-3 (BAI3), in metabolic regulation has not been fully explored. This dissertation focuses on the known functions of the BAI isoforms (BAI1-3) and presents …

Remodeling Pedagogical Evaluation Tools To Incorporate Student Self-Efficacy And Sense Of Belonging In Scientific Research, Richelle L. Tanner, Nicholas P. Burnett, Emily E. King, Anne E. Todgham

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Curated undergraduate research experiences have been widely used at colleges and universities for decades to build student interest, technical preparation, and confidence in the pursuit of scientific careers. Educators often employ standardized survey instruments to evaluate learning outcomes for research experiences, but many of these assessments consider only technical skill development and career interests and are not rooted in discrete pedagogical theories. As higher education aims to create inclusive and equitable learning experiences for students, we argue that pedagogical assessment tools for undergraduate research experiences need to expand to consider outcomes such as increased science literacy, confidence in relational “soft” …

Using Phylogenetics And Floral Evolution Of Sicklebill Hummingbird-Pollinated Centropogon Subgenus Centropogon To Support Undergraduate Research, Janet Mansaray

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The genus Centropogon subgenus Centropogon, offers an ideal system for studying macroevolutionary patterns due to its diverse floral morphologies and specialized pollinator interactions. This subgenus comprises 55 species, mostly found in mid-elevation Andean forests, where many species exhibit abruptly curved flowers, often associated with pollination by sicklebill hummingbirds. Using phylogenomic approaches, we conducted the first densely sampled analysis of this group, confirming the monophyly of two sections. Our study highlighted extensive gene tree discordance, likely driven by incomplete lineage sorting. Floral curvature and inflorescence structure evolved in a correlated fashion, leading to multiple independent losses of traits linked to …