Ongoing Research
Rice experiencing drought stress at the International Rice Research Institute
(photo by Amelia Henry)
Using genotype and environment to understand drought response in rice
Rice is a water-intensive crop and the primary calorie source for many developing countries. We must increase rice yields to feed the growing human population while facing the challenges of a changing climate and reduced arable land area.
Our research discovers genetic variants that control and interact with the environment to determine how response to drought affects important traits like growth and yield. This provides vital information to breeders and may contribute to the development of new drought-tolerant rice varieties.
In this work we collaborate with researchers at the International Rice Research Institute. Ongoing work is focused on the application of high-throughput imaging to genetic discovery, predictive modeling of phenotype, polygenic adaptation in rice landraces, and genetic discovery of developmentally-dynamic phenotypic variation.
Rice is a water-intensive crop and the primary calorie source for many developing countries. We must increase rice yields to feed the growing human population while facing the challenges of a changing climate and reduced arable land area.
Our research discovers genetic variants that control and interact with the environment to determine how response to drought affects important traits like growth and yield. This provides vital information to breeders and may contribute to the development of new drought-tolerant rice varieties.
In this work we collaborate with researchers at the International Rice Research Institute. Ongoing work is focused on the application of high-throughput imaging to genetic discovery, predictive modeling of phenotype, polygenic adaptation in rice landraces, and genetic discovery of developmentally-dynamic phenotypic variation.
Diversity and local adaptation in the salt marsh plant Salicornia depressa
The beautiful fall colors of S. depressa
Salicornia are small annual salt-loving plants that grow throughout coastal New England and globally. They are edible (both fresh and for seed oil) and may be grown with saline irrigation or in saline soils. This makes Salicornia a potential food source even when fresh water is limited! At the same time, the way that they manage high levels of salt makes these plants likely phytoremediators of sites contaminated with heavy metals and petrochemicals. Of course, you would want to keep these two uses separate.
We are characterizing the genetic diversity and adaptive potential of the most common New England native species, S. depressa, about which little is currently known. To do so we are collecting tissue for DNA sequencing and compositional analysis from populations across coastal NE, along with the microbial rhizosphere (nearby soil microorganisms) and soil. We are also sequencing the S. depressa genome!
We are characterizing the genetic diversity and adaptive potential of the most common New England native species, S. depressa, about which little is currently known. To do so we are collecting tissue for DNA sequencing and compositional analysis from populations across coastal NE, along with the microbial rhizosphere (nearby soil microorganisms) and soil. We are also sequencing the S. depressa genome!
Using new technologies to understand plant traits
We are using high-throughput imaging systems to measure plant traits that were previously "invisible" to researchers, either because collecting data was impractically labor-intensive or using wavelengths of light outside of the human visible range.
Check out this video we made about collecting high-throughput imaging data in a cranberry field!
We are using high-throughput imaging systems to measure plant traits that were previously "invisible" to researchers, either because collecting data was impractically labor-intensive or using wavelengths of light outside of the human visible range.
Check out this video we made about collecting high-throughput imaging data in a cranberry field!
Research cranberry bog at the UMass Cranberry Extension Station
Sensor and sensor accessories for high-throughput imaging with a handheld system
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Handheld gimbal-mounted sensor system (light sensor & GPS on top, RGB camera and four narrow-band sensors pointed down)
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