Progress 08/15/07 to 08/14/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Objectives: All met. The Ecology of Grazingland Systems (UM) course was offered in June 2009 with the first day of lecture and field lab being held at UNR in Reno, NV at the Sporobolus field test site. A Functional Genomics was offered instead in 2009 (six graduate students) and 2011, which included material relevant to plant breeding. The new graduate/senior course entitled Research with Plant Stress Agents at MU was conducted in 2009, 10 and 11 with 21 graduate students taking advantage of the offering. This course gave hands-on experience with stress agents; essential training for students involved in plant breeding. These courses are designed to expose students to modern strategies that involve the triad of disciplines necessary for successful breeding efforts; genomics, physiology, and genetics/breeding. We completed three seasons of field trials for Sporobolus species under varying irrigation regimes and a manuscript is in preparation. Sporobolus species are on par with warm season grass hay as a forage crop, but require substantially less water. Results of this outreach project were presented to the Nevada Agricultural Foundation stakeholders meeting in Reno in 2010 as well as several other interested groups in the arid west. We have completed genomics resource development for resurrection plants, the foundation for the experience in genomics for students at UNR and MU. The EST sequences have been used to generate custom species-specific oligoarrays. The arrays have been constructed, and expression profiling is complete and analysis and manuscripts are in preparation. We have completed both array based and comparative digital expression profiling of S. lepidophylla and S. mollendorfii using Illumina cDNA sequencing (manuscript in preparation). We have completed comparative metabolomics studies for both S. stapfianus and S. pyrimidalis leaves (published) and S. lepidophylla and S. mollendorfii plants at various hydration states. Manuscripts are in various stages of completion. Our analysis has revealed marker molecules for breeding purposes and delivered new insights into how plants prepare for and cope with dehydration. A proteomics evaluation of dehydrated S. stapfianus leaves has been completed and has been published. A similar study for desiccated Selaginella was completed by a minority undergraduate Lina Castano and a manuscript is in preparation. We have identified several candidate tolerance genes and many are in Arabidopsis awaiting physiological characterization. Currently, 16 genes are undergoing functional evaluation. The progress we have made is exactly as outlined in the proposal. The transgenics will be used as teaching tools to explore plant water relations and drought tolerance for students in our classes. All data that was collected in the project has been disseminated to the public domain either via publication or through an accessible web-based database. We have five manuscripts that will be published in 2012 PARTICIPANTS: Graduate Students associated with the projetc: Catherine Espinoza, University of Missouri Sangho Kang, University of Nevada, Reno Abou Yobi, University of Nevada, Reno (currently a post doc at the University of Nebraska). TARGET AUDIENCES: Our primary target audience was the upcoming class of plant breeding students. Our main interaction with this group was in the second year of the grant. We provided an educational platform to enhance the general knowledge of plant biology as it relates to drought tolerance and specifically the use of genomics for crop improvement. Stakeholders were also targeted through our involvement with Extension personnel in Nevada, Missouri and Texas in our second year. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
We have brought recent advances in physiology and genomics (along with metabolomics and proteomics) into focus for a number of undergraduate and graduate students interested in careers that center on crop and forage improvements with regards to drought tolerance. We have also changed the way in which students understand the practical aspects of studying abiotic stress in plants and hopefully will ensure that the studies they partake in will at least be sound in approach. Our aim is to deliver effective learning experiences in physiology, molecular biology, and genomics/biotechnology to our up-and-coming plant breeders. However, the fruits of these endeavors have yet to ripen. We have data that has and will, when published, alter the paradigms that are currently in place with regard to how plants prepare for and tolerate cellular dehydration. Our efforts with the assessment of the tropical grasses as forage species has been successful and we hope that we can progress towards the introduction of novel germplasm into rangeland agriculture that will better survive the drying conditions of the Western U.S.
Publications
- Koster KL, Balsamo RA, Espinoza C, and Oliver MJ. (2010) Desiccation sensitivity and tolerance in the moss Physcomitrella patens: assessing limits and damage. Plant Growth Regulation. 62: 293-302
- Cushman JC, Oliver MJ. (2011) Understanding vegetative desiccation tolerance using integrated functional genomics approaches within a comparative evolutionary framework. In: Ecological Studies: Desiccation Tolerance in Plants. Eds: Ulrich Luttge, Erwin Beck, and Dorothea Bartels. Springer, Heidelberg. 215: 307-338.
- Oliver MJ, Guo L, Alexander DC, Ryals JA, Wone BWM, Cushman JC. (2011) A sister group metabolomic contrast using untargeted global metabolomic analysis delineates the biochemical regulation underlying desiccation tolerance in Sporobolus stapfianus. The Plant Cell. 23: 1231-1248.
- Oliver MJ, Jain R, Balbuena TS, Agrawal GK, Gasulla F, and Thelan JJ. (2011) Proteome analysis of leaves of the desiccation-tolerant grass, Sporobolus stapfianus , in response to dehydration. Phytochem. 72: 1273-1284.
- Oliver MJ., Cushman JC, and Koster KL. (2010) Dehydration tolerance in plants. In: R. Sunkar (ed) Plant Stress tolerance, Methods in Molecular Biology 639:3-24.
- Oliver MJ, Murdock AG, Mishler BD, Kuehl JV, Boore JL, Mandoli DF, Everett KD, Wolf PG, Duffy AM, and Karol KG. (2010) Chloroplast genome sequence of the moss Tortula ruralis: gene content, polymorphism, and structural arrangement relative to other green plant chloroplast genomes. BMC Genomics. 2010 Feb 27;11:143.
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Progress 08/15/09 to 08/14/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Objectives: To use resurrection plants for gene identification, isolation, and deployment in drought tolerance strategies; to Develop courses on Plant Breeding, Biotechnology, Propagation, and Environmental Stress Physiology and Ecology: To develop an integrated research and extension project using Sporobolus as a forage grass. The graduate level course, Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, was not offered in 2010 due to insufficient interest and the failure of the State to fund the Plant Sciences and Horticulture Program at UNR. A Functional Genomics was offered instead, which included material relavent to plant breeding. The new graduate/senior course entitled Research with Plant Stress Agents at MU was offered for a second time with seven students taking advantage of the offering. This course gave hands-on experience with stress agents; essential training for students involved in plant breeding. These courses are designed to expose students to modern strategies that involve the triad of disciplines necessary for successful breeding efforts; genomics, physiology, and genetics/breeding. We completed our third and final season of field trials for Sporobolus species under varying irrigation regimes and a manuscript is in preparation. Sporobolus species are on par with warm season grass hay as a forage crop, but require substantially less water. Results of this outreach project were presented to the Nevada Agricultural Foundation stakeholders meeting in Reno in 2010 as well as several other interested groups in the arid west. We have completed genomics resource development for resurrection plants, the foundation for the experience in genomics for students at UNR and MU by the addition of a small RNA sequence library for Sporobolus stapfianus. The EST sequences have been used to generate custom species specific oligoarrays. The arrays have been constructed, and expression profiling is complete and analysis is ongoing. We have also submitted RNA samples for comparative digital expression profiling of S. lepidophylla and S. mollendorfii using Illumina cDNA sequencing. We have completed comparative metabolomics studies for both S. stapfianus and S. pyrimidalis leaves and S. lepidophylla and S. mollendorfii plants at various hydration states. Manuscripts are in various stages of completion with the Sporobolus study having been submitted to the journal. Our analysis has revealed marker molecules for breeding purposes and delivered new insights into how plants prepare for and cope with dehydration. A proteomics evaluation of dehydrated S. stapfianus leaves has been completed and has been published. A similar study for desiccated Selaginella was completed by a minority undergraduate Lina Castano and a manuscript is in preparation. We have identified several candidate tolerance genes and many are in Arabidopsis awaiting physiological characterization. Currently, 16 genes are undergoing functional evaluation. The progress we have made is exactly as outlined in the proposal. The transgenics will be used as teaching tools to explore plant water relations and drought tolerance for students in our classes. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
As this is the end of the third year of funding (actually 33 months) and we have been granted a year no-cost extension in order to finish up the bioinformatics aspects of the research and publish. We have brought recent advances in physiology and genomics (along with metabolomics and proteomics) into focus for a number of undergraduate and graduate students interested in careers that center on crop and forage improvements with regards to drought tolerance. We have also changed the way in which students understand the practical aspects of studying abiotic stress in plants and hopefully will ensure that the studies they partake in will at least be sound in approach. Our aim is to deliver effective learning experiences in physiology, molecular biology, and genomics/biotechnology to our up-and-coming plant breeders. However, the fruits of these endeavors have yet to ripen. We have data that will, when published, alter the paradigms that are currently in place with regard to how plants prepare for and tolerate cellular dehydration. Our efforts with the assessment of the tropical grasses as forage species has been successful and we hope that we can progress towards the introduction of novel germplasm into rangeland agriculture that will better survive the drying conditions of the Western U.S.
Publications
- Publications for 2009-2010: Koster, K.L., Balsamo, R.A., Espinoza, C., and Oliver, M.J. 2010 Desiccation sensitivity and tolerance in the moss Physcomitrella patens: assessing limits and damage. Plant Growth Regulation. Vol 62: 293-302 DOI: 10.1007/s10725-010-9490-9
- Oliver, M. J., Jain, R., Balbuena, T.S., Agrawal, G., Gasulla, F., and Thelen, J.J. 2010. Proteome analysis of leaves of the desiccation-tolerant grass, Sporobolus stapfianus, in response to dehydration. Phytochemistry. DOI:10.1016/j.phytochem.2010.10.020
- Oliver, M.J., Guo, L., Alexander, D.C., Ryals, J.A., Wone, B.W.M., and Cushman, J.C. 2011. A sister group contrast delineates the biochemical regulation underlying desiccation tolerance in Sporobolus stapfianus. Submitted to The Plant Cell
- Update for pubs reported in 2008-2009 Report:
- Oliver, M.J., Cushman, J.C., and Koster, K. 2010 Dehydration tolerance in plants. (Review) In: Methods in Molecular Biology: Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance. Springer-Verlag. Vol: 639, Part 1, pp3-24, DOI: 10.1007/978-1-60761-702-0-1
- Cushman, J.C., and Oliver, M.J. 2010 Understanding vegetative desiccation tolerance using integrated functional genomics approaches within a comparative evolutionary framework. In: Plant Desiccation Tolerance Eds: Ulrich Luttge, Erwin Beck, and Dorothea Bartels. Springer, Heidelberg. Chapter 16, . In Press
- Oliver, M.J., Murdock, A.G., Mishler, B.D., Kuehl, J., Boore, J.L., Mandoli, D.F., Everett, K.D., Wolf, P.G., Duffy, A.M., Karol, K. 2010 Chloroplast genome sequence of the moss Tortula ruralis: Gene content and structural arrangement relative to other green plant chloroplast genomes. BMC Genomics Vol 11 143 DOI:10.1186/1471-2164-11-143
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Progress 08/15/08 to 08/14/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Objectives: To use resurrection plants for gene identification, isolation, and deployment in drought tolerance strategies; to develop courses on Plant Breeding, Biotechnology, and Plant Environmental Stress Physiology and Ecology at UNR and MU: To develop an integrated research and extension project using Sporobolus as a forage grass. The graduate level course Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, developed at UNR to take advantage of our genomic resources, was offered this spring. The course was enhanced by innovative teaching approaches involving problem-based learning modules and active student participation. In the summer the graduate course, Ecology of Grazingland Systems at MU included a visit to our Sporobolus field site in Reno: http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/grazinglandecology/index.htm. The visit was run as a field day for students from partnering institutions (MU, Texas Tech, U. of Tennessee, Kansas State, and Virginia Tech). A follow up to assess the impact of our new emphasis and teaching materials is underway. We developed a new graduate/senior course, Research with Plant Stress Agents, at MU giving hands-on experience with stress agents; essential training for plant breeding students. Our courses are designed to expose students to modern strategies involving the triad of disciplines needed for successful breeding efforts; genomics, physiology, and genetics. We have a test site at UNR for evaluation of Sporobolus species and have completed our third season of trials under varying irrigation regimes. Sporobolus species are on a par with warm season grass hay as a forage crop, but require substantially less water. Results of this outreach project were presented to stakeholders at the annual Ag Field Day on Sept 12th at the NAES Main Station Farm in Reno. We have expanded genomics resources for resurrections plants, the foundation for the experience in genomics for students at UNR and MU. We have added to our expressed sequence tag (EST) collections, for S. stapfianus and S. lepidophylla by 120 million bp for each collection. The sequences have been annotated and a database created for analysis by students. The sequences have been used to generate custom oligoarrays specific for S. stapfianus and S. lepidophylla. Expression profiling is underway. We have completed a comparative metabolomics study with S. stapfianus and S. pyrimidalis. Our analysis has revealed marker molecules for breeding and delivered new insights into how plants prepare for and cope with dehydration. Abou Yobi (a minority graduate student) completed a similar metabolomics study with S. lepidophlla. A proteomics evaluation of desiccated Selaginella is in progress by a minority undergraduate Lina Castano. We have identified 16 candidate tolerance genes and each is undergoing functional evaluation by overexpression in Arabidopsis. We have determined that an AP2/ERF transcription factor, improves the cellular dehydration tolerance of transgenic Physcomitrella (cellular level tolerance). The progress we have made is exactly as outlined in the proposal. The transgenics will be used as teaching tools to explore plant water relations and drought tolerance. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Our target audiance were rangeland groups in the Western U.S., in particular Nevada.Results of this outreach project were presented to stakeholders at the annual Ag Field Day on Sept 12th at the NAES Main Station Farm in Reno. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
As this is only the end of the second year of funding (actually 21 months) it is difficult to assess the actual significance of any outcomes or impact the project has generated. We have certainly brought the more recent advances in physiology and genomics (along with metabolomics and proteomics) into focus for a number of graduate students interested in careers that center on crop and forage improvements with regards to drought tolerance. We have also change the way in which students understand the practical aspects of studying abiotic stress in plants and hopefully will ensure that the studies they partake in will at least be sound in approach. Our aim is to deliver effective learning experiences in physiology, molecular biology, and geneomics/biotechnology to our up-and-coming plant breeders. The fruits of these endeavors have yet to ripen, however. We have data that will, when published, alter the paradigms that are currently in place with regard to how plants prepare for and tolerate cellular dehydration. Our efforts with the assessment of the tropical grasses as forage species has been successful and we hope that we can progress towards the introduction of novel germplasm into rangeland agriculture that will better survive the drying conditions of the Western U.S.
Publications
- Oliver, M.J., Cushman, J.C., and Koster, K. 2010 Dehydration tolerance in plants. (Review) In: Methods in Molecular Biology: Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance. Springer-Verlag. Accepted 6/20/09
- Cushman, J.C., and Oliver, M.J. 2010 Understanding vegetative desiccation tolerance using integrated functional genomics approaches within a comparative evolutionary framework. In: Plant Desiccation Tolerance Eds: Ulrich Luttge, Erwin Beck, and Dorothea Bartels. Springer, Heidelberg. Chapter 16, pp. xxx-xxx. Accepted 09/21/09
- Oliver, M.J., Murdock, A.G., Mishler, B.D., Kuehl, J., Boore, J.L., Mandoli, D.F., Everett, K.D., Wolf, P.G., Duffy, A.M., Karol, K. 2009 Chloroplast genome sequence of the moss Tortula ruralis: Gene content and structural arrangement relative to other green plant chloroplast genomes. BMC Genomics in Review 09/19
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Progress 08/15/07 to 08/14/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The objectives of the project are two fold; To use resurrection plants as models for gene identification, isolation, and deployment in drought tolerance strategies to develop/enhance courses on Plant Breeding, Biotechnology, and Propagation and Plant Environmental Stress Physiology and Ecology at the Universities of Nevada-Reno (UNR) and Missouri (UM) and to Develop an integrated research and extension project using Sporobolus as a forage grass. We have made significant progress towards both goals. A new undergraduate/graduate level course has been developed at UNR to take advantage of the genomic resources under development and will be offered in the Spring. This course will be enhanced by the development of our web-site allowing students a "hands-on" experience with genomics tools as they relate to gene discovery and plant breeding strategies. The web-site (under construction) but is available at http://maize.agron.missouri.edu/PlantasSecas/index.shtml. Summer of 2009 the graduate level course entitled the Ecology of Grazingland Systems at MU will include an on-site visit to our Sporobolus field site. Here we are investigating the forage capabilities of the grasses and establishing a breeding strategy for drought tolerance. In addition the P.I. and CoPi Sharp are developing a new graduate/senior course entitled Research with Plant Stress Agents to be offered in the Fall. This course is designed to give hands on experience with stress agents, in our case dehydration, in a scientifically sound manner and the various ways in which the stress can be controlled and measured; essential training for students involved in plant breeding for drought tolerant crops. All of these courses are designed to expose students to modern strategies that involve the triad of disciplines necessary for successful breeding efforts; genomics, physiology, and genetics/breeding. We have established a test site at the University of Nevada for the evaluation of Sporobolus species and we are now in our second season of plant growth trials under varying irrigation regimes allowing us to begin to evaluate their potential as a low water use forage crop. At this time it appears that Sporobolus species are on a par with warm season grass hay as a forage crop. We have also made significant progress on building the genomics resources for resurrections plants that will be the foundation for the experience in genomics that we will expose our students to via the courses we have developed at both UNR and MU. We have built large EST collections for both target resurrection plants Sporobolus stapfianus and Selaginella lepidophylla. The Sporobolus collection is complete and covers 27,000 unique genes. The Selaginella collection will meet this same level in the next month. The database that houses these sequences forms the backbone of the web-site access for students and the public. In addition to the genomics database we have also completed a proteomic study for dehydrating Sporobolus leaves and a metabolomic analysis of Selaginella. These new resources will add to the power of our course offerings. PARTICIPANTS: We have three graduate students working on the project besides the investigators listed in the proposal. The students are Catherine Espinoza, Sangho Kang and Abou Yobi. Two of the three students are members of underrepresented minority groups. All three, as graduate students are being trained as future independent scientists and all will participate in our regular meetings and conference calls. TARGET AUDIENCES: Our primary target audience is the upcoming class of plant breeding students. Our main interaction with this group will be in the second year of the grant. We will also target the general public, K10-12 teachers and plant biology students through our website. We hope to provide an educational platform to enhance the general knowledge of plant biology as it relates to drought tolerance and specifically the use of genomics for crop improvement. Stakeholders will also be targeted through our involvement with Extension personnel in Nevada, Missouri and Texas in our second year. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
As the project is in its early stages we cannot yet document outcomes or impacts. The new course at UNR and the new course at MU will have a major impact on the Plant Biology programs at each University and as these offerings are made our impact on future Plant Breeders will be significant.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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