冷杉属植物是北温带重要的森林树种，中国为其多样性中心。在青藏高原东部的高海拔地区形成大面积的纯林直达林线，或与云杉伴生形成的暗针叶林约占全国林分蓄积量的四分之一，是极重要的水土涵养林和经济林，有着不可替代的生态屏障作用。该属植物形态变异复杂，受取样和分子标记的限制，其基部的分支和近缘组之间缺少分辨、属下分类系统和中国物种的分类一直存在争议。本立项拟在前期工作的基础上，利用叶绿体全基因组序列，线粒体和单（低）拷贝核基因的DNA标记，应用形态学、分子系统学和生物地理学的分析方法，解决该属基部的系统发育关系，并修订属下分类系统；揭示section Balsamea的杂交起源；在对喜马拉雅地区疑难类群进行物种划分的基础上，澄清中国冷杉属植物的分类、分布和亲缘关系；综合分析多学科证据，阐明冷杉属的起源、时空演化及与地质历史和气候变化的关系。本研究将为保护和利用我国冷杉森林植物资源提供理论基础。

Abies is disjunctly distributed in temperate North Hemisphere with its diversification center in China. Species often form pure forest or mixed with Picea in high mountains in SW China along the east border of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Fir species are ecologically and economically important plants and are dominant in Taiga and mountain conifer forests which maintain water and soil, protect the ecological environment and conserve the biodiversity. The infrageneric classification and phylogeny of Abies have not been completely resolved because the complicated morphological variations and insufficient samples and molecular markers in phylogenetic analyses. Our previous research identified several major clades, generally corresponding to the recognized taxonomic sections based on morphological characters and distribution, however, the relationships of the basal clades and monophyly of some closely related groups remain largely unresolved. We will sequence the chloroplast genome, develop suitable mitochondria and single-copy or low-copy nuclear markers and apply morphological statistics, molecular systematics and biogeographical analyses with the aims to: (1) resolve the basal phylogenetic relationship and propose a complete new classification system based on phylogeny and morphology; (2) validate the hybridization hypothesis on the origin of sect. Balsamea; (3) make comprehensive species delimitation of the Himalayan species and revise the taxonomy of Chinese species; (4) explore the origin and spatio-temporal evolution of the genus Abies, and the correlation with geologic history and climatic change. This work will benefit the sustainable utilization of the nature resources of Chinese Abies and its conservation.