Plant
Sciences Faculty and Biological Sciences Faculty who teach Plant Related
Courses
| Professor |
Research
Interest |
| 
Jozef Bujarski
plant
virology, plant-microbe interactions
|
Study
of the mechanisms of RNA-RNA recombination (homologous and non-homologous)
that occur in RNA viruses by using Brome Mosaic Bromovirus (BMV) as
a model system, from both the virus and the host stand points. The
main subjects under study include the determination of viral RNA sequences
supporting crossover events, the role of viral replicase (RdRp) complex
in recombination and the involvement of host cellular genes and the
cellular pathways (such as RNAi/PTGS) in recombination. Also, evaluation
of the risk of recombination associated with the use of transgenic
plants that carry viral transgenes is another area of interest |
Ana Calvo
plant
biology, yeast, microbiology
|
My
research interest focuses on the identification of common regulatory
elements governing morphological development and mycotoxin production
in two fungal genera, Aspergillus and Fusarium. Contamination of the
worlds crops (corn, peanut, cotton sorghum, tree nuts etc.) by Aspergillus
and Fusarium mycotoxins is estimated to cost billions of dollars annually.
The discovery of new regulatory elements will contribute to a better
understanding of these signaling pathways and to the establishment
of a global strategy to control dissemination and/or mycotoxin contamination
by Aspergillus and Fusarium spp., and possibly by other fungal plant
pathogens. |
| 
Melvin Duvall
plant
molecular evolutionary biology
|
I
study broad and narrow aspects of molecular evolution. I am exploring
major systematic issues, such as the phylogenetic position of monocots
among the angiosperms and family-wide relationships of grasses.
I also study population level issues of biogeography and diversity.
Finally, I seek to understand how patterns of mutation in plastid,
mitochondrial and nuclear loci are interpreted. |
Gabriel Holbrook
plant physiology, plant biochemistry
|
I'm
interested in photosynthetic carbon metabolism. Specifically, the
regulation of carbon fixation via control of the Rubisco enzyme
is being investigated, as well as inherent limitations on photosynthesis,
and the effects of different types of stresses. |
Michael
Hudspeth
molecular mycology; organellar genomes
|
Our
laboratory's research focuses on the systematics and molecular biology
of the Peronosporomycetes (Oomycetes) - fungal-like heterotrophs
related to the chromophytic algae in an assemblage referred to as
the "stramenopiles". We are especially interested in this
group because of their diverse pathogenicity which includes hosts
of significant economic importance in both agriculture and aquaculture.
Our primary research efforts rely upon data derived from the investigation
of mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA). For
our systematics studies we primarily use DNA sequences from the
mitochondrial cox2 locus to infer evolutionary relationships among
the 70 or so established oomycete genera. Our resulting analyses
are subsequently compared with those derived from the more traditional
morphological and biochemical characters. For very closely related
genera we rely on combinations of molecular data from both additional
mitochondrial genes and SSU-rDNA sequences. |
 Mitrick
Johns
plant
molecular genetics |
My
research work involves computer-based analyses of DNA sequence information.
I am interested in the genetic mechanisms that affect plant genomes,
including tandem duplications, transposable element-mediated gene
duplications, and intron loss through reverse transcription. My primary
work at present involves comparing the genomic sequences of the japonica
and indica subspecies of rice. |
Peter Meserve
plant
food-predator interactions, population ecology |
I
have been conducting research in areas of population and community
ecology and biogeography with a variety of terrestrial vertebrates
since 1965. My research has been directed towards evaluating the role
of population processes and species interactions in determining patterns
of vertebrate distribution and coexistence. Areas that I have been
interested in include small mammal population dynamics, resource partitioning,
plant-small mammal interactions, predator-prey relationships, and
the role of historical, environmental, and ecological factors in biogeography.
Starting from a largely descriptive approach, I have gradually incorporated
more experimental tests of major ecological questions and processes
in field situations. Projects conducted in the 1980's included studies
of microtine population dynamics and plant-herbivore interactions
in the Illinois tallgrass prairie, and of small mammal assemblage
structure, microhabitat use, and altitudinal distributions in the
southern temperate rainforests of Chile. Since 1989, I have been involved
in a long-term study of the role of predator-prey and plant-small
mammal interactions in the northern semiarid scrub zone of north-central
Chile. Now in its 16th year, this is one of the longest running experimental
manipulations in temperate South America. |
| 
Neil Polans
plant
molecular genetics
|
Current
research centers on three interrelated projects:
1. The construction of highly-detailed pea linkage maps using classical
and molecular markers;
2. The use of marker systems to dissect complex genetic traits, including
quantitative trait loci (QTLs); and
3. The study of the relationships among wild species and cultivars
of Pisum using a variety of morphological, biochemical, and molecular
characters. |
|
Thomas Sims
plant
development, plant molecular biology
|
My
research combines molecular and classical genetics to investigate
cell-cell interactions during the gametophytic self-incompatibility
response of Petunia hybrida. Self-incompatibility, a genetic barrier
to inbreeding in higher plants, represents a distinct case of cell-cell
interaction that is amenable to molecular dissection. The essence
of this barrier is the ability--mediated by the S, or self-incompatibility
locus--to discriminate self pollen from non-self pollen. Pollen tubes
expressing an S-allele recognition specificity identical to that expressed
in the style cease growth in the upper third of the style, whereas
pollen tubes lacking S-alleles in common with the style grow normally
and effect fertilization. According to current models of gametophytic
self-incompatibility, pollen tubes expressing (presumed) S-linked
proteins are recognized as incompatible by stylar-expressed S-alleles.
Following recognition, an inhibition response involving ribonuclease
activity of the stylar-expressed S-RNase acts to retard further growth
of incompatible pollen tubes. As yet, neither the molecular basis
of S-allele recognition, nor the nature of developmental programming
governing S-locus expression in pollen and styles is understood. The
long term goal of our research is to understand the molecular basis
for recognition events functioning in self-incompatibility. Our approach
has been to clone S-locus genes encoding style and pollen recognition
factors, then seek to understand how these factors interact. |
|
Joel Stafstrom
plant
developmental biology, molecular biology
|
The
major focus of research in my lab is a small family of GTP binding
proteins called DRGs. All eukaryotes contain DRG1
and DRG2 orthologs. The sequences of orthologous proteins from plants,
animals and fungi are about 65-70% identical. Other G proteins play
diverse and important roles in cellular physiology, including signal
transduction (Ras, Ga), protein translation (eIF2, eEF1), and vesicle
transport (Rab's, ARF1, SAR1). Activity of these proteins is controlled
by the GTPase cycle, a type of binary switch. Despite their high level
of conservation and the important activities of other G proteins,
the cellular function of DRGs is not well understood. DRG mRNAs and
proteins appear to be present in most cells, suggesting regulation
at the post-translational level. Recent work from several laboratories
indicates a role in regulating translation, possibly in response to
environmental stress. We are using a variety of approaches to understand
the function and activity of Arabidopsis DRGs, including gene expression
studies, knockout mutations, identification of interacting proteins,
and subcellular localization. |
Ron Toth
general
and economic botany
|
- General
Botany
- Economic
Plants
- Creation/Evolution
Debate
- Undergraduate
Curriculm Development
- Assessment
of General Education Curriculm
- Creation/Evolution
Debate
- CD of plant
images from my slide collection for teaching
|
| 
Carl von Ende
plant
aquatic ecology, population ecology
|
General
research interests are in the processes that determine the dynamics
and structure of populations and communities. Current research focuses
on aquatic insects and wetland plants. Investigations are underway
in the laboratory and in the field examining phenotypic plasticity
in the life history characteristics of the phantom midge, Chaoborus,
as well as using experimental and mathematical modeling approaches
to understand the superior competitive ability of the invasive wetland
grass, Phalaris arundinacea. Other ongoing topics of investigation
are habitat selection and activity patterns of the riverine damselfly,
Calopteryx maculata, and the clonal biology of pitcher plants (Sarracenia). |
For more
information, contact:
Jozef
J. Bujarski, Ph. D., Director, Plant Molecular Biology Center
Northern
Illinois University
342 Montgomery Hall
DeKalb, IL 60115-2861
815-753-7841 telephone
815-753-7855 FAX
|
