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Research Programs in Photomorphogenesis and Strawberry Genomics
Our laboratory has a unique multifaceted approach to a series of important questions in basic and applied plant science. We are interested in how plants interact with their environment, particularly with light. Light controls many aspects of plant growth and development. Projects in our lab study the physiological effects of specific wavebands and their contribution to seedling development, plant stature, and photoperiodic control of flowering. We implement novel strategies including computer controlled LED light arrays and high-resolution image capture and analysis supported by the Phytomorph project.
Another major focus examines structural, functional and translational genomics in strawberry. Our structural interests examine the genome composition-- from basic sequence and gene structure in the diploid species, from gene organization and subgenome composition in the cultivated polyploids. Functional genomics efforts examine the roles of novel genes specific to strawberry. Translational efforts leverage our command of strawberry transformation and regeneration to answer questions about photoperiodic flowering, disease resistance, and fruit flavor. All of our work in strawberry has an emphasis on deliverables. We hope to add additional resolution to basic biological paradigms as well as help develop molecular markers and tools to speed the development of new cultivars.
Our work progresses with rich collaborations and the efforts of a talented staff of undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs and visiting scientists. Our work would not be possible without support from the National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the University of Florida Experiment Station.
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