Source: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM submitted to
PHOTOSYNTHETIC ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENT FOR UNDERSTANDING CROP PLANT RESPONSES TO CLIMATIC STRESSES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1031483
Grant No.
2023-70410-41182
Cumulative Award Amt.
$71,300.00
Proposal No.
2023-05447
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2023
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2027
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[EGP]- Equipment Grants Program
Project Director
Khan, A.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
4800 CALHOUN ST STE 316
HOUSTON,TX 770042610
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Climate change is an unprecedented threat to agricultural production systems and natural ecosystems. There is a dire need to understand plant responses to climate-based stressors, such as heat, drought, and salinity. Photosynthesis is a fundamental plant process, influencing critical ecosystem functions such as primary productivity (including crop yield) and carbon sequestration. However, photosynthesis is sensitive to climate stress, resulting in negative effects for managed and natural ecosystems. To mitigate the consequences of climate change more research on the fundamental mechanisms underlying plant responses and solutions to climate-induced stress are necessary. This grant supports the purchase of a portable photosynthesis meter which will be used for lab and field-based climate change research. The instrument will establish new resources for research, improve research capacity across several partner institutions (University of Houston, Prairie View A&M University, and Texas Southern University), and help train undergraduate and graduate students from underrepresented communities. Specific projects that will benefit from the photosynthesis meter include (1) the development of microbial consortiums to alleviate climate-based crop stress, (2) testing the utility of biostimulants to improve carbon sequestration in agricultural ecosystems, (3) developing a mechanistic understanding of the role of metabolites in crop stress tolerance, and (4) understanding how plant functional traits influence plant responses to soil microbiomes.
Animal Health Component
40%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
40%
Applied
40%
Developmental
20%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1022499102080%
2030430100020%
Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 203 - Plant Biological Efficiency and Abiotic Stresses Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
0430 - Climate; 2499 - Plant research, general;

Field Of Science
1000 - Biochemistry and biophysics; 1020 - Physiology;
Goals / Objectives
To achieve the goal of a sustainable agricultural production system, there is a dire need to understand plant growth, development, production, and responses to climate-based stress conditions. In this case, photosynthesis is one of the major energy synthesis processes for crop plants, leading to plant biomass and improving the food production system. To monitor the photosynthetic processes in the plant during harsh climatic conditions, we propose proposinga portable photosynthesis meter (LI-6800P).The objectives of the project are: (i) understanding crop plant growth and impacts on photosynthesis during variable climatic stress events, (ii) exploring the role of microbial communities in plant biomass and stress tolerance, and (ii) building knowledge and skills of underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students in research projects related to Agri-Biotechnology. Thus, utilizing this instrument will help to understandC4 photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, eco-physiological surveys, gas exchange & fluorescence, agriculture field photosynthesis, and respiration. This instrument is currently unavailable from any University of Houston (UH) labs, and it will help several collaborating faculties from neighboring Universities in the Houston area. In addition, collaborating partners from Prairie View A&M University and Texas Southern University will utilize it for their research.
Project Methods
Experimental Methods:We will use manufacturer protocols and guidelines to use the instrument for research purposes. The troubleshooting will be handled with the help of an in-house engineer and technical representative of the manufacturer.Experimental data obtained through the proposed instrument will be analyzed using the in-built software and lab-based analytical platforms.Research methods:To undertake the proposed projects, we will adopt follow the existing protocols in the lab and published methodology.The target audience will be involved by practically using the instrument for a specific research project on plant stress and molecular physiologyTraining:The manufacturer will provide a training manual and tutorials to operate and use the equipment for research use in the proposed projects. For this purpose, the graduate students will be master trainers.The master trainers will provide the knowledge and skills required to operate the instrument to related target audiences (undergraduate and high school students).Efforts:Most of the efforts will involvelaboratory instruction or practicum experiencesThe knowledge and skills will be transferred to the targeted audience via experiential learning approaches.Evaluation:The training levels will be assessed at the beginning and end of each program year.A survey-style post-test will then be used to determine changes in the participants' attitudes that result from the project experience.

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience: Two MSstudents from underrepresentation communities were trained on Li-COR 6800 at the manufacturer's facilities inNebraska (Lincoln). The students spent two days learning how to operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and record data usingthe instrument. The student also implemented the knowledge from this training using ongoing experimental plants (soybean, corn, and sorghum) in the greenhouse at the University of Houston. Also, the same students worked as master trainers for teaching and demonstration to undergraduate and graduate students in the lab. Eight graduate students (PhD and MS) from UH's biotechnology and ecology departments were trained in using these instruments. These students were mostly from labs where plant and agriculture research isperformed. The students learned using the instrument by recording data on soybean plants from ongoing experiments on Soybean plants and heat stress. 3 undergraduate students performing capstone research on a project related to understanding the effect of plant growth-promoting bacteria on soybean plants during environmental stress conditions had the opportunity to use this instrument for their research. As part of the UH college's high school students' visit to campus from Fortbend and Houston ISD, we exhibited the instrumental at the Biotechnology Booth to demonstrate how photosynthesis is recorded in plants. For MS and PhD thesis-related research, three students used this instrument to record data during the completion of their experiments. The students mimicked climate change conditions (drought, heat, and salinity) to monitor the growth of plants by measuring the photosynthesis process. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?i. Undergraduate (03), high school (~12), and graduate (08) students were given an opportunity to learn about photosynthesis instruments and develop skills for recording plant physiological data. ii. 02graduate students fromunderrepresented communities obtained official training at the manufacturer's facility on the instruments' operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. These students were master trainers for several students at UH, delivering the skills on how instruments should be used and maintained. iii. The data obtained through this instrument is helping 03 graduate students (twoMS and one PhD) with thesis research work in plant biology and climate change. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?(i) We used social media, lab, and university websites to disseminate information about the instrument and its uses. We acknowledge the support of USDA at all forums. One example is here:https://www.egr.uh.edu/news/202311/khan-using-new-instruments-real-time-photosynthesis-monitoring. (ii) In year 2, we will disseminate research data via research articles in reputed journals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?(i) We will be using the instrument in the following research project: Phytohormone-producing microbial consortium influences Sorghum photosynthesis during climatic stresses Unraveling epigenome during flooding episodes to Sorghum and soybean Silicon improves plant biomass, soil microbiome health, and CO2 sequestration process in sorghum Assess the impact of elevated CO2 on Carbon capture and storage in the rhizosphere of sorghum plants (ii) We will also involve more undergraduate students in learning more about using photosynthesis meters for plant biology and climate change research. (iii) As a crucial part of our project's outcomes, we are currently in the process of drafting two research articles. These articles, which will be submitted in the next reporting cycle, will contribute to the body of knowledge in plant biology.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The following were the main activities were performed: i. Purchased instrument, installed, and used during year 1 of the project. ii. Used the instrument for four research projects: (i) Melatonin application influencing the plant growth and microbial communities in soybean plants during drought stress conditions, (ii) Algae pallet application to sequester CO2 and improve plant and soil health in C3 and C4 crop plants, (iii) Microbial inoculum and its secretome improve plant growth and photosynthetic efficiencies during salinity stress, and (iv) Impact of nano plastics on soybean root growth. iii. During the execution of the research projects, we used the instrument for recording photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence and stomatal conductance. The data obtained was analyzed through statistical approaches to identify the significant impacts of environmental changes on plant growth conditions. The data will help to improve the experimental and analytical skills of students in food and agrisciences.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Coffman, Lauryn, Hector D. Mejia, Yelinska Alicea, Raneem Mustafa, Waqar Ahmad, Kerri Crawford, and Abdul Latif Khan. "Microbiome structure variation and soybeans defense responses during flooding stress and elevated CO2." Frontiers in Plant Science 14 (2024): 1295674.