CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS IN THE LAB

  • Role of polyamines in regulation of somatic embryogenesis (carrot, red spruce) (Collaborator - Rakesh Minocha)
    • Biochemical analysis of polyamines and their biosynthetic enzymes
    • Modulation of polyamine biosynthesis through gene transfer and its effects on ethylene biosynthesis
    • Isolation of genes involved in polyamine biosynthesis
    • Antisense expression of polyamine biosynthetic genes (ADC, ODC, SAMDC)

·        Genetic manipulation of forest trees to alter stress response; NH Agricultural Experiment Station - (salt, Al, heavy metal, osmotic stress in Red spruce, Catharanthus roseus, Populus) (Collaborator - Rakesh Minocha)

    • Biochemical analysis of polyamines and their biosynthetic enzymes
    • Biochemical analysis of antioxidants and related enzymes
    • Stress response of transgenic cells expressing ODC and SAMDC cDNAs

·        Biochemical and molecular profiling of polyamine metabolism and related pathways; USDA NRI – (Populus - Collaborator - Rakesh Minocha)

  • Molecular biology and genetic engineering of marine macro algae
    • Isolation and characterization of developmentally regulated genes in Porphyra
    • Method development for protoplast regeneration and transformation
    • Cloning and characterization of promoters of highly expressed genes in Porphyra
  • Heavy metal accumulation by plants – (in collaboration with Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Almaty, Kazakhstan)
  • Cloning of seed coat proteins in Cucurbita (NH Agricultural Experiment Station Collaborators - J. Brent Loy, Dennis Mathews)
    • Analysis of gene expression in wild-type and hull-less genotypes of C. pepo

·        Development of Biochemical Markers of Environmental Stress in Forest Trees; in collaboration with USDA Forest Service

·        Effects of silvicultural treatments on physiological stress, carbon and nitrogen metabolism in trees and their relationship to forest productivity; in collaboration with USDA Forest Service 

·        Foliar biochemical indicators of stress: Forest health monitoring tools; in collaboration with USDA Forest Service

·        Towards the production of a decaffeinated tea plant

·        Towards the production of fluorescent flowers