Harvey Ballard
Recent News
Education
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1996
Other Websites
Research
The collective research in our lab encompasses many diverse aspects of plant organismal biology including traditional systematics, phylogenetics, molecular ecology, population genetics and conservation genetics. Some of us also delve into more interdisciplinary investigations concerning species formation, hybridization and polyploidc evolution. I collaborate actively with Dr. Sarah Wyatt on the molecular genetic basis of the chasmogamous-cleistogamous mixed breeding system in Viola.
The element that unites most of our research efforts is the use of comparative molecular evidence to answer organism- or lineage-level questions. For research questions we employ plastid and nuclear gene regions such as DNA sequences, ISSRs (Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats) and microsatellites. Our recent research into evolutionary processes and studies of hybridization in Viola utilize microsatellite markers isolated through 454 shotgun genome sequencing--a quick and cost-effective alternative to traditional approaches. We have applied this same approach to the genus Lycopodiella and are now assisting the US National Arboretum through contract research to isolate microsatellites in the ornamental shrub genus Corylopsis.
More recently I have been working with various collaborators on using 鈥渘ext gen鈥 sequencing to isolate microsatellite loci in wild species of violets and other groups, and to develop novel ways to use this new approach in examining polyploid species formation through possible homoeologous recombination, as well as examining later-generation hybrid processes such as introgression or meiotic segregation.
On the applied (herbarium) side of things, we at the Floyd Bartley Herbarium have spearheaded the use of BRAHMS (Botanical Research and Herbarium Management Software) widely across 帝王会所 and in other states, assisting herbaria interested in starting up a databasing/imaging initiative to move forward. With a National Science Foundation grant to OU and three other regional universities in Appalachian 帝王会所, we have databased all our 帝王会所 and most of our national collections and are preparing to get our collective specimen data and images online as a regional network.
Faculty Research Focus Area: Phylogenetic Systematics
Courses
- PBIO 2010 (Plant Biology for Gardeners)
- PBIO 2010L (Plant Biology for Gardeners lab)
- PBIO 3190/5190 (帝王会所 Flora)
- PBIO 4090/5090 (Plant Systematics and Vascular Plant Family Survey)
- PBIO 4095/5095 (Field Studies in Plant Diversity)
- PBIO 4850/5850 (Global Studies in Plant Biology Capstone)
Departmental Service
- Global Studies in Plant Biology, Coordinator
- Herbarium Director and Curator of Vascular Plants
- Undergraduate Advising Coordinator
- Recruitment and Retention Committee, Chair
- Internships Committee, Chair
- Evaluation Committee
Professional Service
- 帝王会所 State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, Adjunct Faculty Member
- BRAHMS Database System International Advisory Group
- Violaceae Working Group, Species Plantarum Programme
- Editorial Board of Acta Botanica Cracoviensia
- American Society of Plant Taxonomists Program Director
- U.S. Virtual Herbarium Database Network Program
- Missouri Botanical Garden, Research Associate
- Carnegie Museum, Research Associate
- 帝王会所 Rare Plant Technical Advisory Committee
- 帝王会所 Flora Committee
Selected References
Carter, C. T., H. E. Ballard, Jr. and I. A. Ungar. 2016. Genetic variability of three annual halophyte species in an inland salt marsh through time, In: Khan, M. A., B. Bo毛r, M. 脰zturk, M. Cl眉sener-Godt, B. Gul, and S.-W. Breckle (eds.), Sabkha Ecosystems: Vol. V The Americas. Springer Publishing International, Switzerland. Pp. 105-118.
Gahagen B., M. Terbush, and H. Ballard, Jr. 2015. A Taxonomic Synthesis of the Tovomita weddelliana (Clusiaceae) Species Complex. Systematic Botany 40: 968-988.
Flicker, B. and H. E. Ballard, Jr. 2015. Afrohybanthus (Violaceae), a new genus for a distinctive and widely distributed Old World hybanthoid lineage. Phytotaxa 230: 39-53.
Wahlert, G. A., H. E. Ballard, Jr. and J. de Paula-Souza. 2015. Ixchelia, a new genus of Violaceae from Mexico and Mesoamerica. Brittonia 67: 273-283.
Donnell, A., H. E. Ballard, Jr., and P. D. Cantino. 2015. Phenetic analysis of the Bakeridesia integerrima complex (Malvaceae). Brittonia 67: 250-271.
Ballard, H. E., Jr. 2015. Violaceae. Pp. 593-611 In: Hammel, B., M. Grayum, C. Herrera & N. Zamora (eds.), Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO.
Ballard, H. E., J. de Paula-Souza, and R. Seidel. 2015 [鈥2014鈥漖. Violaceae. Pp. 1353-1356 In: J酶rgensen, P. M., M. Nee, and S. Beck (eds.), Cat谩logo de las Plantas Vasculares de Bolivia, Monographs in Systematic Botany. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO.
Paula-Souza, J. and H. E. Ballard, Jr. 2014. Re-establishment of the name Pombalia and new combinations from the polyphyletic Hybanthus (Violaceae). Phytotaxa 183: 1-15.
Ballard, H. E., Jr. and S. Zmarzty. 2014. Violaceae. Pp. 88-89 In: Utteridge, T. and G. Bramley (eds.), Tropical plant families identification handbook. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England.
Wahlert, G. A., T. Marcussen, J. de Paula-Souza, M. Feng, and H. E. Ballard, Jr. 2014. A phylogeny of the Violaceae (Malpighiales) inferred from plastid DNA sequences: Implications for generic diversity and intrafamilial taxonomy. Systematic Botany 39: 239-252.
Ballard, H. E., Jr., J. Paula Souza, and G. A. Wahlert. 2014. Violaceae. Pp. 303-322 In: Kubitzki, K. (ed.), The families and genera of vascular plants. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Wang, Y., H. E. Ballard, Jr., R. R. McNally, and S. E. Wyatt. 2013. Gibberellins are involved but not sufficient to trigger a shift between chasmogamous-cleistogamous flower types in Viola pubescens. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 140: 1-8.
McCauley, R. A. and H. E. Ballard, Jr.. 2013. Viola calcicola (Violaceae), a new endemic violet from the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico and Texas. Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 7: 9-20.
Ballard, H. E., Jr. 2013. Violaceae. Pp. 1218-1243 In: Yatskievych, G., Flora of Missouri-Fagaceae through Zygophyllaceae, vol. 3. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.
Ballard, H. E., Jr. and H. H. Iltis. 2012. Viola lilliputana sp. nov. (Viola sect. Andinium, Violaceae), one of the world鈥檚 smallest violets, from the Andes of Peru. Brittonia 64: 353-358.
Ballard, H. E., Jr. 2012. Violaceae. Pp. 913-916 In: Piedrahita, A. I., R. C. Ortiz, R. C. Posada, and M. Merello (eds.), Flora de Antioquia: Cat谩logo de la Plantas Vasculares, vol. II. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO.
Wahlert, G. A. and H. E. Ballard, Jr. 2012. A phylogeny of Rinorea (Violaceae) inferred from plastid DNA sequences with an emphasis on the African and Malagasy species. Systematic Botany 37: 964-973.
Donnell, A., P. D. Cantino, and H. E. Ballard, Jr. 2012. Callianthe (Malvaceae): A new genus of Neotropical Malveae. Systematic Botany 37: 712-722.
Keene, J., H. E. Ballard, Jr., and J. L. Clark. 2012. Two new species of Monopyle (Gesneriaceae) from northern Ecuador. Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 5: 513-520.
Marcussen, T., K. S. Jakobsen, J. Danihelka, H. E. Ballard, K. Blaxland, A. K. Brysting, and B. Oxelman. 2012 [鈥2011鈥漖. Inferring species networks from gene trees in high-polyploid North American and Hawaiian violets (Viola, Violaceae). Systematic Biology 60: 1-20.
Wahlert, G. A., T. Marcussen, J. de Paula-Souza, M. Feng, and H. E. Ballard, Jr. 2014. A phylogeny of the Violaceae (Malpighiales) inferred from plastid DNA sequences: Implications for generic diversity and intrafamilial taxonomy. Systematic Botany 39: 239-252.
Ballard, H. E., Jr., J. Paula Souza, and G. A. Wahlert. 2014. Violaceae. Pp. 303-322 In: Kubitzki, K. (ed.), The families and genera of vascular plants. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Wang, Y., H. E. Ballard, Jr., R. R. McNally, and S. E. Wyatt. 2013. Gibberellins are involved but not sufficient to trigger a shift between chasmogamous-cleistogamous flower types in Viola pubescens. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 140: 1-8.
McCauley, R. A. and H. E. Ballard, Jr.. 2013. Viola calcicola (Violaceae), a new endemic violet from the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico and Texas. Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 7: 9-20.
Ballard, H. E., Jr. 2013. Violaceae, Pp. 1218-1243 In: Flora of Missouri-Fagaceae through Zygophyllaceae, vol. 3. Yatsckievych, G. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.
Ballard, H. E., Jr. and H. H. Iltis. 2012. Viola lilliputana sp. nov. (Viola sect. Andinium, Violaceae), one of the world鈥檚 smallest violets, from the Andes of Peru. Brittonia 64: 353-358.
Wahlert, G. A. and H. E. Ballard, Jr. 2012. A chloroplast phylogeny of Rinorea (Violaceae) with an emphasis on the African and Malagasy species. Systematic Botany 37: 964-973.
Donnell, A., P. D. Cantino, and H. E. Ballard, Jr. 2012. Callianthe (Malvaceae): A new genus of Neotropical Malveae. Systematic Botany 37: 712-722.
Keene, J., H. E. Ballard, Jr., and J. L. Clark. 2012. Two new species of Monopyle (Gesneriaceae) from northern Ecuador. Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 5: 513-520.
Marcussen, T., K. S. Jakobsen, J. Danihelka, H. E. Ballard, K. Blaxland, A. K. Brysting, and B. Oxelman. 2012 [鈥2011鈥漖. Inferring species networks from gene trees in high-polyploid North American and Hawaiian violets (Viola, Violaceae). Systematic Biology 60: 1-20.
Ballard, H. E., Jr. 2012. Violaceae. Pp. 913-916 In: Piedrahita, A. I., R. C. Ortiz, R. C. Posada, and M. Merello (eds.), Flora de Antioquia: Cat谩logo de la Plantas Vasculares, vol. II. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Missouri.
Ballard, H. E., A. C. Cortes-Palomec, M. Feng, Y. Wang, and S. Wyatt. 2011. The chasmogamous/cleistogamous mixed breeding system, a widespread and evolutionarily successful reproductive strategy in angiosperms. In: Thangadurai, D., C. A. Busso, and M. Hijri (eds.), Frontiers in biodiversity studies. Bioscience Publications, Agrobios, India. Pp. 16-41.