A5009405100- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Plant and animal studies
- Genomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stress
- Plant Taxonomy and Phylogenetics
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Plant Molecular Biology Research
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Plant Ecology and Taxonomy Studies
- Plant pathogens and resistance mechanisms
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Moringa oleifera research and applications
- Plant Pathogens and Resistance
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Plant tissue culture and regeneration
Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
2012-2024
Duke University
2013-2022
University of Montana
1990-2022
23andMe (United States)
2018
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
2018
North Carolina Biotechnology Center
2014
Max Planck Society
1999-2013
University of California, Davis
2002-2012
University of South Carolina
2012
United States Department of Agriculture
2011
In the early 1990s an outbreak of papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) in groves Puna district Hawaii caused severe damage to important crop. Since then, planting two transgenic cultivars resistant — called 'SunUp' and 'Rainbow' has helped maintain yields. SunUp is a red-fleshed fruit that expresses coat protein gene mild mutant PRSV, conferring resistance via post-transcriptional silencing. Rainbow yellow-fleshed (and therefore more popular) F1 hybrid bred from SunUp. Now draft genome sequence...
We analyzed sequence variation for chalcone synthase (Chs) and alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) loci in 28 species the genera Arabidopsis Arabis related taxa from tribe Arabideae. Chs was single-copy nearly all examined, while Adh duplications were found several species. Phylogenies constructed both confirmed that closest relatives of thaliana include lyrata, petraea, halleri (formerly genus Cardaminopsis). Slightly more distant are North American n = 7 (Boechera) The is polyphyletic—some...
Recent theoretical work in quantitative genetics has fueled interest measuring natural selection the wild. We discuss statistical and biological issues that may arise applications of Lande Arnold's (1983) multiple-regression approach to selection. review assumptions involved estimation hypothesis testing regression problems, we note difficulties frequently as a result violation these assumptions. In particular, multicollinearity (extreme intercorrelation characters) extrinsic, unmeasured...
Bacteria living on and in leaves roots influence many aspects of plant health, so the extent a plant's genetic control over its microbiota is great interest to crop breeders evolutionary biologists. Laboratory-based studies, because they poorly simulate true environmental heterogeneity, may misestimate or totally miss certain host genes microbiome. Here we report large-scale field experiment disentangle effects genotype, environment, age year harvest bacterial communities associated with...
Abstract Glucosinolates are biologically active secondary metabolites of the Brassicaceae and related plant families that influence plant/insect interactions. Specific glucosinolates can act as feeding deterrents or stimulants, depending upon insect species. Hence, natural selection might favor presence diverse glucosinolate profiles within a given We determined quantitative qualitative variation in leaves seeds 39 Arabidopsis ecotypes. identified 34 different glucosinolates, which majority...
Plants are attacked by a broad array of herbivores and pathogens. In response, plants deploy an arsenal defensive traits. Brassicaceae, the glucosinolate–myrosinase complex is sophisticated two-component system to ward off opponents. However, this so-called “mustard oil bomb” disarmed glucosinolate sulfatase crucifer specialist insect, diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). Sulfatase activity enzyme largely prevents formation toxic hydrolysis products arising from...
Ecological studies typically involve comparison of biological responses among a variety environmental conditions. When the response variables have continuous distributions and conditions are discrete, whether inherently or by design, then it is appropriate to analyze data using analysis variance (ANOVA). conform complete, balanced design (equal numbers observations in each experimental treatment), straightforward conduct an ANOVA, particularly with aid numerous statistical computing packages...
Plants protect themselves against herbivory with a diverse array of repellent or toxic secondary metabolites. However, many herbivorous insects have developed counteradaptations that enable them to feed on chemically defended plants without apparent negative effects. Here, we present evidence larvae the specialist insect, Pieris rapae (cabbage white butterfly, Lepidoptera: Pieridae), are biochemically adapted glucosinolate–myrosinase system, major chemical defense their host plants. The...
Anthropogenic climate change has already altered the timing of major life-history transitions, such as initiation reproduction. Both phenotypic plasticity and adaptive evolution can underlie rapid phenological shifts in response to change, but their relative contributions are poorly understood. Here, we combine a continuous 38 year field survey with quantitative genetic experiments assess adaptation context change. We focused on Boechera stricta (Brassicaeae), mustard native US Rocky...
Secondary metabolites are a diverse set of plant compounds believed to have numerous functions in plant–environment interactions. The large chemical diversity secondary undoubtedly arises from an equally enzymes responsible for their biosynthesis. However, little is known about the evolution involved metabolism. We studying biosynthesis glucosinolates, group metabolites, Arabidopsis investigate contains natural variations presence methylsulfinylalkyl, alkenyl, and hydroxyalkyl...
Glucosinolates are anionic thioglucosides that have become one of the most frequently studied groups defensive metabolites in plants. When tissue damage occurs, thioglucoside linkage is hydrolyzed by enzymes known as myrosinases, resulting formation a variety products active against herbivores and pathogens. In an effort to learn more about molecular genetic biochemical regulation glucosinolate hydrolysis product formation, we analyzed leaf samples 122 Arabidopsis ecotypes. A distinct...
Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using nucleotide sequence variation of the nuclear‐encoded chalcone synthase gene ( Chs ) and chloroplast matK for members five tribes from family Brassicaceae to analyze tribal subtribal structures. trees individual data sets are mostly in congruence with results a combined matK‐Chs analysis total 2721 base pairs, but greater resolution higher statistical support deeper branching patterns. The indicates that Lepidieae, Arabideae, Sisymbrieae not...
Abstract We examined patterns of genetic variance and covariance in two traits (i) carbon stable isotope ratio δ 13 C (dehydration avoidance) (ii) time to flowering (drought escape), both which are putative adaptations local water availability. Greenhouse screening 39 genotypes Arabidopsis thaliana native habitats spanning a wide range climatic conditions, revealed highly significant positive correlation between time. Studies 3 annuals have also reported large correlations, suggesting the...
Ehrlich and Raven formally introduced the concept of stepwise coevolution using butterfly angiosperm interactions in an attempt to account for impressive biological diversity these groups. However, many biologists currently envision butterflies evolving 50 30 million years (Myr) after major radiation thus reject coevolutionary origins biodiversity. The unresolved central tenet Raven's theory is that evolution plant chemical defenses followed closely by biochemical adaptation insect...
Abstract Plant phenology is known to depend on many different environmental variables, but soil microbial communities have rarely been acknowledged as possible drivers of flowering time. Here, we tested separately the effects four naturally occurring microbiomes and their constituent chemistries reproductive fitness Boechera stricta , a wild relative Arabidopsis. Flowering time was sensitive both microbes abiotic properties soils; varying microbiota also altered patterns selection Thus,...
Significance Improving the efficiency of root systems should result in crop varieties with better yields, requiring fewer chemical inputs, and that can grow harsher environments. Little is known about genetic factors condition growth because roots’ complex shapes, opacity soil, environmental influences. We designed a 3D imaging analysis platform used it to identify regions rice genome control several different aspects system growth. The results this study inform future efforts enhance...
Abstract Divergent natural selection promotes local adaptation and can lead to reproductive isolation of populations in contrasting environments; however, the genetic basis remains largely unresolved populations. Local might result from antagonistic pleiotropy, where alternate alleles are favoured distinct habitats, polymorphism is maintained by selection. Alternatively, under conditional neutrality some may be one environment but neutral at other locations. Antagonistic pleiotropy maintains...
The relative contribution of advantageous and neutral mutations to the evolutionary process is a central problem in biology. Current estimates suggest that whereas Drosophila, mice, bacteria have undergone extensive adaptive evolution, hominids show little or no evidence evolution protein-coding sequences. This may be consequence differences effective population size. To study matter further, we investigated whether plants using an extension McDonald–Kreitman test explicitly models slightly...
Over the past several years, Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium) has emerged as a tractable model system to study biological questions relevant grasses. To place its relevance in larger context of plant biology, we outline here expanding adoption grass and compare this early history another model, Arabidopsis thaliana. In context, followed an accelerated path which development genomic resources, most notably whole genome sequence, occurred concurrently with generation other experimental...
A halophyte refers to a plant that can naturally tolerate high concentrations of salt in the soil, and its tolerance stress may occur through various evolutionary molecular mechanisms. Eutrema salsugineum is one halophytic species Brassicaceae family multiple types abiotic stresses typically limit crop productivity, such as extreme salinity cold. It has been widely used laboratorial model for biology research plants. Here, we present reference genome sequence (241 Mb) E. at 8x coverage...