MAJOR RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Our research in genetics and cytogenetics of soybean (Glycine max) includes developing aneuploid lines to use in linkage determinations. If soybeans are indeed polyploid, survival of novel chromosome combinations should be feasible. Genetic mutants are being isolated, and are characterized and located on a chromosome by using these aneuploids. Phenotypic and biochemical effects of individual chromosomes are being determined by using these aneuploids.
Developmental studies of microsporogenesis and megasporogenesis of various meiotic mutants involve both light and electron microscopy. These studies provide information on the meiotic process in higher plants and help in selection of sterility systems that could perhaps be used to produce hybrid soybeans for use in breeding techniques. A new method of hybrid soybean production, the Cosegregation Method, utilizes close genetic linkage between a male-sterility locus, Ms6, and a seedling marker locus, W1. This closely-linked marker system allows identification of male-sterile plants at the seedling stage and improves hybrid seed production through greater efficiency and higher yield of hybrid seed per male-sterile plant. The Cosegregation Method was could be used to facilitate S1 and half-sib (population or inbred line as tester) recurrent selection for population improvement of complex agronomic traits by improving evaluation through the elimination of male-sterile plants as seedlings, and by allowing greater control of parental contributions during intermating. Development and use of the Cosegregation Method could assist in the elucidation of the genetic control of complex traits, the identification of lines to improve these traits, the improvement of populations for these traits through the use of recurrent selection, and determination of the agronomic potential of commercial hybrid soybean.
An unstable allele affecting flower color is suspected to be the result of a transposable element. Traditional genetic tests support our views that the instability is the result of a transposon. New mutants occur at a high frequency in this genotype. Nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions between cytoplasmically-inherited yellow mutants and nuclearly-inherited mutants have been identified.
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My research is focused on three closely-linked mutations in soybean: k2, mdh1-n and y20. The k2 mutation causes the mutants to produce tan saddle seeds; the mdh1-n mutaion leads the mutants malate dehydrogenase 1 null; and the y20 mutation causes the mutants produce yellow fliage.
The chromosomal region where the three mutations cover has a realtively high-frequency of mutaion rate. So far, there are about 30 mutants reported in this region. It's suspected that the mutations might be related to a putative transposable element.
Southern blotting analysis showed that the mdh1-n and y20 mutations are caused by a deletion in this region. So what I am doing is trying to clone and analyze the deleted parts in mutants to find out what is the reason for the high-frequent mutation rate.
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I am currently working on mapping of ms1 and ms6 loci using SSRs. For my MS project, I mapped W1, St5, Y23 and Adh1 loci. All these loci are on classical linkage group 8. When this current project is completed, we'll have the classical map integrated to the molecular map.
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My research projects focus on molecular and developmental analyses of beta-1,3-glucanase. The specific goal of this project is to alter beta-1,3-glucanase expression in tobacco by genetic engineering.
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