Houseplants improve our mental and physical well-being, productivity, and enhance the overall appearance of a space. Unfortunately foliage plants are often attacked by pests and pathogens which can negatively impact their health and appearance. As a Botany major and student worker on the Middletown campus, I began taking care of the plant maintenance in the […]
B50: The Molecular Evolution of Papain and Papain-Like Cystiene Proteases
My research area pertains to molecular genetics with the focus of this project being molecular evolution. The purpose of this research is to understand the evolutionary relationship between papain-like cysteine proteases (PLCPs) in the Carica papaya genome to establish context for further investigation into the enzymes’ functions in various C. papaya tissues at different stages […]
B51: Conservación y Canciones: Agrobiodiversity and Indigenous Knowledge in Peru
A growing population, changing climate, and constantly evolving pest pressures have for many years highlighted the importance of genetic diversity in food and crop systems. This is especially true in the Peruvian Andes, most famously known as the birthplace of the potato. Because of the harsh conditions under which the crop originated, maintaining a diverse […]
C07: The Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization on Leaf and Root Economics in Prairie Plants
The midwestern prairies of the US are in decline and restoration of native biodiversity has proven to be a difficult process. The restorative role of the below-ground microbial communities in human-disturbed landscapes is a vital one. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have coexisted with land plants for millions of years, providing a number of benefits, but […]
C42: Effects of Invasive Honeysuckle on Spring Wildflower Emergence
Invasive species, those being species that spread and thrive when outside of their native habitat, are a big issue in wildlife areas today. Amur Honeysuckle, the focus of my research, is a particular problem in the eastern United States. Compared to native plants, Honeysuckle grows its leaves out sooner and will keep them longer into […]
C76: Population Analysis of Petitioned Hymenocallis Henryae
Hymenocallis henryae is a perennial flowering plant species found only in a few counties on the Florida panhandle. It lives on the edges of wetlands in these areas. The species has been formally petitioned to be protected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act. Counts of this species have been […]
B48: Seeing Our Invisible Neighbors: Overcoming Plant Blindness at Miami and Beyond
Plant blindness may not seem like a huge problem, but a closer look at the issue reveals that it affects virtually everyone in a community. Our research addresses the question of what is plant blindness, and how can people at Miami and beyond overcome it? Never in our lifetime has the issue of plant blindness […]
C04: Physiological plasticity of Brassica rapa in soil salinity
As climate changes, the global precipitation pattern has been changing as well. Due to decreased rainfall and drought, many agricultural fields over the world have to rely more heavily on irrigation to properly care for crops. Increased soil salinity caused by agricultural runoff and drought can have adverse effects on crop growth and overall quality. […]
A02: Quantitative Genetics and Plasticity of Brassica Phenology
Soil salinity is a major challenge to agriculture, causing an estimated $27.3 billion in economic losses globally each year. Over 20% of irrigated land suffers from soil salinity, and changing precipitation patterns as well as rising sea levels associated with climate change are predicted to exacerbate these problems. Yet, in Brassica rapa, an economically important […]
A01: Genetic architecture underlying Brassica rapa morphology during salt stress
With global climate change, temperatures are expected to increase and precipitation is expected to decrease in some agricultural areas. Consequently, crops in these areas will need irrigation, but irrigation can cause higher soil salinity. As a first step towards engineering crops that are resistant to salt stress, we are studying the genetic architecture underlying salt […]