BIOL 537 2012-13
Dr. S. Regan

*2. Functional genomic investigation of the role of microRNAs in the Rosewood mutant of poplar.* We would use a wide range of physiological, molecular and genomic techniques to better understand how a mutant of poplar affected in the expression of a single microRNA can cause such dramatic differences in the wood for the tree. Understanding the genes that regulate wood quality will provide important information for tree breeders focused on developing this tree as a bioenergy crop.
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3.* *Ethylene catabolism and its impact on plant stress responses. *We recently identified a new gene responsible for decreasing the amounts of the stress hormone ethylene. This project will study classic plant stress responses such as cold, drought and temperature and evaluate the impact of up or down-regulating this gene. This research will add to our knowledge of the genes responsible for these responses and may lead to plant improvement strategies.

*4. Investigating the role of ethylene perception on the formation of wood.* The plant hormone ethylene has long been known to be important for wood formation in trees, but the mechanism of action is largely unknown. In this project you will investigate how the individual receptors for this hormone are differentially regulating this process.

*5. Hormonal crosstalk between ethylene, ABA and GA during seed development. *There are 5 major hormones that are responsible for the development of plants, and despite this small number they control an enormous array of plant responses. We have focused on the interaction of three of these hormones and will further this research by investigating their interactions (crosstalk) during the germination of seeds.

*6. Expression of cell cycle genes in a cyclin D1 mutant of poplar.* We have recently identified a mutant of poplar with a striking phenotype that is causes by the activation of cyclin D1. To begin to understand how this activation could cause such a profound effect on plant development, we will evaluate whether other cell cycle genes are affected in the mutant.