Format: ORAL

Lalita Simpson1, Darren M. Crayn1, Theodore R. Allnutt2, William J. Baker3, Matt Barrett1, Gillian Brown4, Flix Forest3, Chris Jackson2, Paul J. Kersey3, Mabel Lum5, Olivier Maurin3, Todd G.B. McLay6, Daniel J. Murphy2, Katharina Nargar1, Herv Sauquet7, Alexander Schmidt-Lebuhn8, Kelly A. Shepherd9, Michelle Waycott10

1 Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University, Smithfield, Australia 2 Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne, Australia 3 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom 4 Queensland Herbarium, Toowong, Australia 5 Bioplatforms Australia, Sydney, Australia 6 National Biodiversity DNA Library, CSIRO, Parkville, Australia 7 Botanic Gardens of Sydney, Mt Annan, Australia 8 Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Canberra, Australia 9 Western Australian Herbarium, Perth, Australia 10 State Herbarium of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia

The Genomics for Australian Plants (GAP) Initiative, catalysed by Bioplatforms Australia in partnership with researchers from the Australian State and National Herbaria and Botanic Gardens, aims to develop genomics resources to enhance our understanding of the evolution of the Australian flora and support its conservation. GAP Phylogenomics, one of three GAP projects, has the long-term goal of resolving the Australian Angiosperm (flowering plant) Tree of Life (AAToL) to species level. To date, this inclusive project has brought together over 70 Australian researchers and herbarium staff and partnered with the global Plant and Fungal Trees of Life project (PAFTOL) to complete AAToL Stage 1 a phylogenetic tree including at least one species exemplar of nearly 95% of Australian native angiosperm genera sequenced for a common set of hundreds of nuclear markers (using the Angiosperms353 target capture baits). From the outset, data quality and reusability have been a priority, ensured through mandating rigorous documentation of comprehensive sample metadata (e.g. identity, voucher, Nagoya compliance, etc.). We show, through discussion of its successes and challenges, the value of a multi-institutional consortium approach and the enablers such as well-curated collections and national collaborative research infrastructure, leading to substantial increase in capacity and delivery of biodiversity knowledge outcomes. Future directions for the AAToL project will be discussed.