Source: OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to
DEVELOPING MYCORRHIZA SMART AGRICULTURE: LINKING CROP PRODUCTION AND NUTRITION WITH BENEFICIAL SOIL FUNGI
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1019172
Grant No.
2019-67012-29527
Cumulative Award Amt.
$164,802.00
Proposal No.
2018-07837
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 1, 2019
Project End Date
Jun 30, 2022
Grant Year
2019
Program Code
[A7201]- AFRI Post Doctoral Fellowships
Project Director
Cobb, A.
Recipient Organization
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
STILLWATER,OK 74078
Performing Department
Natural Resource Ecology & Mgm
Non Technical Summary
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi increase host-plant nutrient and water uptake while enhancing soil quality, presenting an opportunity to address food production challenges, such as resource-use efficiency. My career goals include developingMycorrhiza Smart Agricultureby examining how plant genetics, farm management, and soil amendments influence AM fungal abundance, diversity, and benefits in agroecosystems. My proposed research aims to improve our understanding and application of AM symbioses by utilizingSorghum bicolor asa model crop. My experimental design links AM symbioses, plant-gene expression, and AM fungal community composition with grain yield and nutritional quality.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
10215201102100%
Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships;

Subject Of Investigation
1520 - Grain sorghum;

Field Of Science
1102 - Mycology;
Goals / Objectives
Goals:include successful completion of the proposed research and dissemination of results. Additionally, career development for myself (aimed at academic job readiness) and for the undergraduate research scholar.Objectives: my experimental design links AM symbioses, plant-gene expression (phosphate-transport), and AM fungal community composition (molecular sequencing) with grain yield and nutritional quality. Specifically, I will (1) determine nutritional host-plant benefits from AM partnership for 28 sorghum genotypes, representing broad genetic diversity, (2&3) assess selected genotypes in relation to AM partnership across gradients of soil fertility or soil moisture, and (4) explore mechanisms of differential responses among genotypes.1. Assess AM responsiveness and AM fungal colonization in a genetically diverse panel of 28 sorghum genotypes grown with low levels of plant-available P.2 & 3. Measure PT11 expression and composition of AM fungal communities inside roots of 8 sorghum genotypes grown with low, moderate,or high soil P (soil P gradient study), or low, moderate, or high soil moisture (soil moisture gradient study). Compare AM fungal communities, PT11 gene expression, and grain quality among sorghum genotypes.4.Use structural equation models (SEMs) and other multivariate approaches to examine the complex relationships and interactions among experimental and response variables. This will allow us to explore the relative importance of resource availability (P or water) and potentially link SL profiles, PT11 expression, AM root colonization, and AM fungal communities to grain yield and quality across a range of sorghum AM responsiveness.
Project Methods
Experimental designsFirst, I will subject each of our 28 genotypes to 4 different growing conditions. Pots (22 cm x 22 cm x 22 cm; WxLxH) will be filled with soil collected at OSU range research station after being stream-pasteurized to remove all native AM fungi. Previous studies indicate there is no appreciable change in soil chemistry with our steam-pasteurization method. Half the pots will be re-inoculated with live soil, containing a suite of native soil microbes including AM fungi; the other half will remain non-inoculated to serve as a non-mycorrhizal control. All pots will be amended with non-sterile soil sievate prepared following the procedures of Johnson et al., allowing for the addition of the majority of local soil microbes while excluding AM fungi. Pots will be amended with sufficient N and K (based on sorghum recommendations), but not amended with P (baseline soil: 10 mg kg-1P), resulting in low P soil, with or without AM fungi. The experiment will be conducted as a complete randomized block design with 8 replications. I will plant two plants per pot, transplanted at the two-leaf state and grown for 60 days. This setup is based on Cobb et al.1, allowing calculation of AM responsiveness (see methods), which can be compared between genotypes. We will assess AM fungal root colonization, PT11 expression, and plant tissue production and quality (N/P ratio) of each genotype.Next, I will grow 28 sorghum genotypes in pots (28.5 cm x 23.5 cm x 11 cm; WxLxH) in a growth chamber. Experiment will be conducted as a complete randomized block design with 8 replications. Sorghum will be grown with artificial light at 450 μmol m−2s−1and controlled conditions [28°C (Day) 10 h and 25°C (Night) 14 h at 70% relative humidity] for 5 weeks. Pots will be filled with sterile low-nutrient sand and amended with modified Hoagland's nutrient solution. Plants will be maintained under P deficiency in the fifth week to increase strigolactone production. I will work with Dr. Jeff Wilson, receiving training in procedures for SL quantification based on Mohemed et al. (see methods below).During the second year, I will subject 8 genotypes (selected based on results in year one) to 6 different growing conditions: three soil P treatments will be established, 10, 20, or 30 mg kg-1plant-available P. Mycorrhizalversusnon-mycorrhizal treatments and consistent soil N and K will be established as described previously. I will plant 6 replications of each factorial combination; plants will be grown (28.5 cm x 28.5 cm x 44 cm; WxLxH) for 4 months, allowing full grain production. This P fertility gradient will allow comparison of plant response to P fertilizers; I will assess AM fungal root colonization, PT11 expression, AM fungal communities (molecular), and grain production and nutritional quality to examine potential linkages between AM responsiveness of each genotype across a gradient of soil P.During the second year, I will also subject the same 8 selected genotypes to 6 different growing conditions: three soil moisture treatments will be established, 65, 80, and 95% of field capacity (based on permanent wilting point of grasses, determined by the pressure-plate apparatus method). Mycorrhizalversusnon-mycorrhizal treatments and consistent soil N and K will be established as described previously. Soil P will be amended to moderate (20 mg kg-1) concentration in all pots. I will plant 6 replications of each factorial combination; plants will be grown (28.5 cm x 28.5 cm x 44 cm; WxLxH) for 4 months, allowing full grain production. This soil moisture gradient is based on Duell et al., allowing comparison of plant response to water-stress; I will assess AM fungal root colonization, PT11 expression, AM fungal communities (molecular), and grain production and nutritional quality to examine potential linkages between AM responsiveness of each genotype across a gradient of soil moisture.MethodsCalculation of AM Responsiveness: Responsiveness will be calculated for each genotype: AM responsiveness = [(dry mass of mycorrhizal plant) - (dry mass of non-mycorrhizal plant) / (dry mass of mycorrhizal plant)] * 100.AM fungal root colonization: Live roots will be subsampled, washed, stained with trypan blue, and scored using the magnified gridline intersect method. I will use a digital microscope (Hirox KH 7700) to measure root length colonized by hyphae, vesicles, coils, and arbuscules.Phosphate transporter genes: Phosphate transporter genes (PTGs) measure AM symbiotic activity in several grass species. Upregulation of PTGs will be measured in roots taken from all greenhouse studies. Roots will be harvested and stored in an -80º freezer. RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and RT-PCR will be performed as described in Gutjhar et al. with modifications as described in Watts-Williams and Harrison. I will perform PTG labwork at OSU/NAU and consult with Dr. Maria Harrison.Shoot tissue quality: The OSU Soil, Water, and Forage Analytical Laboratory will determine percent protein and nutrient concentrations for aboveground tissue samples.Strigolactones: This analysis will be performed at USDA-ARS in consultation with Dr. Jeff Wilson (see letter). Root exudates will be analyzed for composition and concentration of SLs. Root exudates will be collected in 1 L plastic bottles by passing 1.5 L of Hoagland's nutrient solution (without phosphate) through each pot and run through an SPE C18 column (500 mg) and SLs will be eluted with 6 mL of acetone. We will determine SL composition and concentration (peak area) in root exudates of sorghum genotypes. Analyses will be conducted on a Waters Xevo triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization source and coupled to an Acquity UPLC system (Waters, Milford, MA). Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) will be used for quantification of strigolactones. Data acquisition and analysis will be performed using Mass Lynx 4.1 (TargetLynx; Waters, Milford, MA).Grain Quality:Collaborators at USDA-ARS have extensive experience assessing grain characteristics, including total protein (LECO FP-528),total starch (Megazyme total starch analysis),protein digestibility, starch characteristics, and mineral concentrations.AM fungal taxa and bioinformatics:The AM research community utilizes several sequencing methods.Dr. Johnson's lab has been publishing AM sequencing data since 2012 and is at the forefront of advances. Genomic DNA (rhizosphere) will be amplified in triplicate PCR using universal eukaryotic primer WANDA and AM fungal-specific primer AML2 for the small subunit (SSU) of the rRNA gene. Triplicate SSU products will be sequenced on Illumina MiSeq (Illumina Inc, San Diego, CA).Operational taxonomic unit (OTU) picking and taxonomy assignments will be performed. All OTU, phylogeny, diversity, and additional bioinformatics will be performed using R statistical software.Statistical analysis: Response variables will be analyzed, accounting for block effect, using generalized linear mixed models. Residuals will be checked for normality, and Tukey's multiple comparison methods will be utilized for significant effects. All tests of significance will be performed atp< 0.05. Additional data analyses, including SEM and linear regressions, will be conducted as appropriate with Dr. Johnson using R statistical software.

Progress 07/01/21 to 06/30/22

Outputs
Target Audience:Research Scientists, Faculty, Graduate Students and Postdocs, National and International Undergraduate Students from multiple institutions, Food Producers, Public Changes/Problems:Other than the continuing disruptions related to the COVID pandemic, my primary challenges during the past year have related to my relocation. As I am not within academia, nor in regular proximity to university partner labs, I have found collaboration on bioinformatics challenges. In fact, due to funding cycles, there are some anticipated data that were not able to be sequenced within the grant timeframe. Fortunately, the extracted samples are safe, and present a future opportunity, particularly for a potential graduate student project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During this final year of the project, I successfully applied and have been on full-time staff at the Soil Food Web School, and an online regenerative agriculture education organization. The undergraduate research scholar who worked with me on my NIFA research projects has applied to a graduate program at Kansas University. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Increasingly, with my job responsibilities, my primary community of interest is the public, especially those interested in regenerative agriculture and soil restoration. As of Sept 19, 2022, my talk on mycorrhizal fungi (https://youtu.be/-t8-nWDF9-o) from the 2022 Soil Regeneration Summit has been viewed nearly 39K times on youtube, and a recent related webinar, related to the same topic (and referencing my NIFA research) is also attracting a lot of public attention and comment:https://youtu.be/258-c18Acrs What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During the past year, I gave numerous presentations related to NIFA-supported research, at professional conferences (AIAEE, ESA), producer meetings (Oregon Forage and Grasslands Council), in University classrooms (Guest lecture),and within the sphere of my work at the Soil Food Web School (Webinars, blogs, etc). I also contributed to four peer-reviewed publications and provided substantial mentoring as a graduate committee member to two Masters's students who successfully completed all requirements to graduate.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Paudel, S., Cobb, A.B., Boughton, E.H., Spiegal, S., Boughton, R.K., Silveira, M.L., Swain, H.M., Reuter, R., Goodman, L.E. and Steiner, J.L., 2021. A framework for sustainable management of ecosystem services and disservices in perennial grassland agroecosystems. Ecosphere, 12(11), p.e03837. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3837
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Liu, L., Li, S., Wilson, G.W., Cobb, A.B., Zhou, C., Li, J., Li, J., Guo, L. and Huang, D., 2021. Nematode communities indicate anthropogenic alterations to soil dynamics across diverse grasslands. Ecological Indicators, 132, p.108338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108338
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Zhou, J., Wilson, G.W., Cobb, A.B., Zhang, Y., Liu, L., Zhang, X. and Sun, F., 2022. Mycorrhizal and rhizobial interactions influence model grassland plant community structure and productivity. Mycorrhiza, 32(1), pp.15-32. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-021-01061-2
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Duell, E.B., Cobb, A.B. and Wilson, G.W., 2022. Effects of Commercial Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculants on Plant Productivity and Intra-Radical Colonization in Native Grassland: Unintentional De-Coupling of a Symbiosis?. Plants, 11(17), p.2276. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11172276
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Cobb AB, Edwards MC (2022). Soil allies for international development: Blending agroecological research with innovative community outreach. Association for International Agricultural & Extension Education 38th Conference, Thessaloniki, Greece. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG5p_UHHawA
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Haymaker, E.A., 2021. Investigating Mycorrhizal Interactions for More Efficient and Resilient Bermudagrass Cultivars (Masters Thesis, Oklahoma State University). https://shareok.org/bitstream/handle/11244/335765/Haymaker_okstate_0664M_17424.pdf?sequence=1
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Cobb AB (2021). Producer meeting presentation. Lunch with Forages, Oregon Forage and Grasslands Council. https://www.oregonforage.org/events/adam-cobb/
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Cobb AB (2022). Allies in the Soil: Mycorrhizal Fungi. Soil Regeneration Summit 2022. https://youtu.be/-t8-nWDF9-o
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Cobb AB, Paudel S, Wilson GWT (2021). Assessing Sorghum bicolor biofuel genotypes for potential mycorrhizal benefits. Ecological Society of America 106th Annual Meeting
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Cobb AB (2022). A Symbiotic Love Story: Magnificent Mycorrhizal Fungi. Soil Food Web School. https://www.soilfoodweb.com/magnificent-mycorrhizal-fungi/


Progress 07/01/19 to 06/30/22

Outputs
Target Audience:Research Scientists, Faculty, Graduate Students and Postdocs, National and International Undergraduate Students from multiple institutions, Food Producers, Public Changes/Problems:Other than the continuing disruptions related to the COVID pandemic, my primary challenges related to collaboration on bioinformatics. In fact, due to funding cycles, there are some anticipated data that were not able to be sequenced within the grant timeframe. Fortunately, the extracted samples are safe, and present a future opportunity, particularly for a potential graduate student project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Numerous professional development presentations at conferences and with producers. I successfully applied at the Soil Food Web School, an online regenerative agriculture education organization. The undergraduate research scholar who worked with me on my NIFA research projects was acceptedto a graduate program at Kansas University. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?My primary community of interest is the public, especially those interested in regenerative agriculture and soil restoration. As of Sept 19, 2022, my talk on mycorrhizal fungi (https://youtu.be/-t8-nWDF9-o) from the 2022 Soil Regeneration Summit has been viewed nearly 39K times on youtube, and a recent related webinar, related to the same topic (and referencing my NIFA research) is also attracting a lot of public attention and comment: https://youtu.be/258-c18Acrs What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Sorghum genotype panel conpleted in year 1, and responsiveness calculated. Numerous presentations (NIFA acknowledged) related to this objective. Objective 2&3: Samples collected. Fungal Taxa work completed and delivered to partner lab. Due to disruptions during project (see Problems section) gene-expression samples are stored by were not sequenced. Objective 4: Due to COVID restrictions, I was not able to visit partner lab at NAU to develop SEMs. Once data is sequenced, will revisit options for completion and publication. Goals for career development and research dessemination:I gave numerous presentations related to NIFA-supported research (preliminary finding), at professional conferences (e.g., AIAEE, ESA), producer meetings (Oregon Forage and Grasslands Council), University classrooms (Guest lectures), and Webinars, blogs, etc. I also contributed to multiple peer-reviewed publications (NIFA funding acknowledged) and provided substantial mentoring as a graduate committee member to two Masters's students who successfully completed all requirements to graduate. Undergraduate scholar associated with this resaerch project has been accepted to graduate school for science communication.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhou, J., Wilson, G.W., Cobb, A.B., Yang, G. and Zhang, Y., 2019. Phosphorus and mowing improve native alfalfa establishment, facilitating restoration of grassland productivity and diversity. Land Degradation & Development, 30(6), pp.647-657.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhou, J., Zhang, F., Huo, Y., Wilson, G.W., Cobb, A.B., Xu, X., Xiong, X., Liu, L. and Zhang, Y., 2019. Following legume establishment, microbial and chemical associations facilitate improved productivity in degraded grasslands. Plant and Soil, 443(1), pp.273-292.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Li, J., Xie, S., Wilson, G.W., Cobb, A.B., Tang, S., Guo, L., Wang, K. and Deng, B., 2020. Plantmicrobial interactions facilitate grassland species coexistence at the community level. Oikos, 129(4), pp.533-543.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2021 Citation: Cobb, A.B., Duell, E.B., Haase, K.B., Miller, R.M., Wu, Y.Q. and Wilson, G.W., 2021. Utilizing mycorrhizal responses to guide selective breeding for agricultural sustainability. Plants, People, Planet, 3(5), pp.578-587.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Paudel, S., Cobb, A.B., Boughton, E.H., Spiegal, S., Boughton, R.K., Silveira, M.L., Swain, H.M., Reuter, R., Goodman, L.E. and Steiner, J.L., 2021. A framework for sustainable management of ecosystem services and disservices in perennial grassland agroecosystems. Ecosphere, 12(11), p.e03837.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Liu, L., Li, S., Wilson, G.W., Cobb, A.B., Zhou, C., Li, J., Li, J., Guo, L. and Huang, D., 2021. Nematode communities indicate anthropogenic alterations to soil dynamics across diverse grasslands. Ecological Indicators, 132, p.108338.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Zhou, J., Wilson, G.W., Cobb, A.B., Zhang, Y., Liu, L., Zhang, X. and Sun, F., 2022. Mycorrhizal and rhizobial interactions influence model grassland plant community structure and productivity. Mycorrhiza, 32(1), pp.15-32.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Duell, E.B., Cobb, A.B. and Wilson, G.W., 2022. Effects of Commercial Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculants on Plant Productivity and Intra-Radical Colonization in Native Grassland: Unintentional De-Coupling of a Symbiosis?. Plants, 11(17), p.2276.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2022 Citation: Assessing soil microbes that drive fairy ring patterns in temperate semiarid grasslands. BMC Ecology and Evolution


Progress 07/01/20 to 06/30/21

Outputs
Target Audience:Research Scientists, Faculty, Graduate Students and Postdocs, National and International Undergraduate Students from multiple institutions, Food Producers Changes/Problems:Requested No Cost Extension of Project until June 30, 2022. Approved. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Submitted application for a non-tenure track academic job (Oregon State University Professor of Practice in Organic Pasture systems) and was selected for final interviews, which gave me the opportunity to develop and practice two professional job seminars. Successfully found employment with Soil Food Web School, a food producer outreach-oriented soil biology education program. Public presentations, development of new research collaborations (Dr. Bo Stevens, ARS), expanded professional portfolio for academia (and short-form resume for non-academic opportunities), mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, including serving on several graduate committees, and working closely with undergraduate scholars on independent research projects. Collaborated with Dr. Inman at OSU to deliver and assess student guest lectures to map the development of student capacity to understand and communicate global environmental changes. Service to OSU Environmental Science Program, including membership on the Curriculum and Steering Committee and undergraduate mentorship. 3-4 additional publications as lead author (2 in prep, 1 in review), currently with 5 additional coauthored manuscripts in review. All manuscripts will acknowledge NIFA funding. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Public and food producer outreach presentations, guest lectures and seminars - including at Langston University (Oklahoma's 1890 Land-grant), scientific conference presentations, research publications. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Complete sample sequencing and data analyses, and write all manuscripts. Attend 1 additional conference as a presenter and co-author on a graduate student presentation. Mentor 2 graduate students as they finish their degrees and submit manuscripts for publication. Continue to provide outreach and public-facing presentations on research.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Mentoring of graduate students on research design, academic presentations, and writing, as well as poster design for conference presentations (Ecology Society of America Annual Meeting). Developed my own portfolio for academic jobs (CV, Statement of Research, Statement of Teaching), and delivered multiple public presentations (guest lectures in undergraduate and graduate courses at OSU and Langston University, invited outreach event speaker, Departmental Seminars to enhance my CV for both education and engagement. Completed Greenhouse data collection and sample lab work.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Utilizing mycorrhizal responses to guide selective breeding for agricultural sustainability. 2021. Cobb, A.B., Duell, E.B., Haase, K.B., Miller, R.M., Wu, Y.Q. and Wilson, G.W.T. Plants, People, Planet. Vol 3, Issue 5. 578-587. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10200
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Assessing Sorghum bicolor biofuel genotypes for potential mycorrhizal benefits. 2021. Adam B. Cobb, Shishir Paudel, Gail W.T. Wilson. Ecological Society of America 105th Annual Meeting.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Reducing Environmental and Economic Costs of Turfgrass Management through Mycorrhizal Symbiosis. 2021. Elizabeth A. Haymaker, Adam B. Cobb, Yanqi Q. Wu, & Gail W.T Wilson. Ecological Society of America 105th Annual Meeting.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Mycorrhizal Fungi - Our Tiny Underground Allies. 2020. Cobb A.B. ECHO Asia Notes, Issue #43, http://edn.link/7gjwrn
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Invited Speaker for graduate student outreach course and website on Fungi and Society at the Technical University of Berlin, https://pilzwerkstatt.wordpress.com/wissenswert/couchtalks/ https://youtu.be/2L3NJkul1eM
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2021 Citation: A framework for sustainable management of ecosystem services and disservices in perennial grassland agroecosystems. (in press). Shishir Paudel, Adam B. Cobb, Elizabeth H. Boughton, Sheri Spiegal, Raoul K. Boughton, Maria L. Silveira, Hilary M. Swain, Ryan Reuter, Laura E. Goodman, and Jean L. Steiner. Ecosphere. Accepted (29-Jun-2021)


Progress 07/01/19 to 06/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:Research Scientists, Faculty, Graduate Students and Postdocs, Undergraduate Students, Food Producers, Visiting Fellows, Oklahoma Agricultural Leaders Changes/Problems:The key issue is my Fellowship research timeline. I will start the process of requesting a 3-month extension to my NIFA postdoc schedule, as COVID has severely limited my ability to set out another research project or finish DNA/RNA work from project 1. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Public presentations, development of new research collaborations (Dr. Sunkar, Dr. Wu, and Dr. Jilling at OSU), expanded professional portfolio for academia (and short-form resume for non-academic opportunities), mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, including serving on 7 graduate committees and working closely with 3 undergraduate scholars on independent research projects. Collaborating with Dr. Inman at OSU to deliver and assess student guest lectures to map the development of student capacity to understand and communicate global environmental changes. Successfully completed Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program (Class XIX). Service to OSU Environmental Science Program, including membership on the Curriculum and Steering Committee and undergraduate mentorship. Recently completed NSF grant proposal for $400,000 over 3 years to conduct grassland research in the US and Botswana (Ecosystem, Plant Populations, and Community Cluster). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Public and food producer outreach presentations, two talks at OSU's Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute, guest lectures and seminars - including at Langston University (Oklahoma's 1890 Land-grant), scientific conference presentations, research publications. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Adjust plans to COVID Pandemic, including a new timeline for greenhouse study 2, DNA/RNA lab workand analyses. Working with ECHO Asia on outreach article for July/August,additional conference presentations, 4 additional publications, guest lectures on campus (or online, due to COVID). Job search in 2021, additional mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Worked with Undergraduate Research Scholar (Adrian Sulivant) during setup, maintenance, and harvest of Greenhouse Project 1 on all aspects of data generation and completion. Additional mentoring of graduate students (Elizabeth Haymaker, Heath McDonald, Yixian Bi) on research design, academic presentations, and writing, as well as poster design for conference presentation (Ecology Society of America Annual Meeting). Developed my own portfolio for academic jobs (CV, Statement of Research, Statement of Teaching), and delivered 11 public presentations (guest lectures in undergraduate and graduate courses at OSU and Langston University, invited outreach event speaker, Departmental Seminars to enhance my CV for both education and engagement. Completed Greenhouse Project 1, with delayed completion of DNA/RNA data analyses due to COVID pandemic (no travel allowed to partner labs according to OSU); new plan to visit partner lab in February 2021. Delay of Greenhouse Project 2 due to COVID pandemic; new plan to set up the next project in Sept. 2021.

Publications