The study of diversity within the UMR DIADE meets several objectives.

Studies of phylogeny and evolutionary biogeography concern:

• Cases of radiative speciation and evolutionary disparities according to environnmental regions (island vs. continental, palaeo-neo-tropical);
• Adaptive patterns in phylogenies;
• Comparative molecular evolution;
• The role of hybridization in evolution

Another part of the research focuses on conservation issues regarding genetic resources:

• use of biotechnology (in vitro culture, cryopreservation) for long-term ex situ conservation;
• study of certain biological and physical mechanisms in relation to cryopreservation;
• study of the processes of domestication and conservation in situ / on farm.