TODDMICHAEL
Research Professor
Plant Molecular andCellular Biology Laboratory

THE CHALLENGE
Plants perform a myriad of extraordinary biochemical functions,
including capturing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis as
well as extracting and concentrating essential elements, suchas nitrogen. Underlying these biochemical abilities are the mostdiverse genetic codes (genomes) on the planet. Plants have highly
complex genomes that result from mixing, reorganizing andrestructuring to adapt to diverse and changing environments. For
example, the complex genome of bread wheat is six times thesize of the human genome due to three wheat relatives’ genomes
fusing over time. Scientists have only recently been able to read(sequence) these complex genomes, which is opening the door
for understanding the genetic basis of plant biochemistry andadaptation. This information will help researchers develop plantsthat can survive in harsh environments, to grow more food, fiberand fuel for a burgeoning population, as well as to potentiallymitigate the negative effects of climate change.

THE APPROACH
Todd Michael leverages sequencing technology andcomputational biology to uncover how genomic differences
enable plants to better respond to and exploit their environment.
Michael’s team is developing a multi-genome framework tobetter understand the underlying genetic networks that govern
how plant populations interact with their surroundings.
His lab examines plants with unique physical forms, carbon
and nitrogen acquisition strategies, and growth patterns
to better understand plant genomes. For example, his teampioneered the use of the fastest growing (~1 day to multiply)
and smallest (1 mm) flowering plant, Spirodela polyrhiza, as a
research model to study a diverse array of plant functions. The

group uses carnivorous and parasitic plants to examine novel
nitrogen acquisition strategies. They also study plants thatperform alternative photosynthesis such as crassulacean acidmetabolism (CAM) to uncover how a genome is rewired to takein carbon dioxide at night and conserve water during the day.
As a member of Salk’s Harnessing Plants™ Initiative leadershipteam, Michael is providing genome sequencing support tocreate Salk Ideal Plants™, which could store excess amountsof atmospheric carbon deep in the ground. His team isinvestigating the genetic architecture controlling specific traits,
such as deeper rooting, in order to take a “genome-informed”
breeding approach to help plants store more carbon and adapt
to climate change.

THE INNOVATIONS AND DISCOVERIES• Plant genomics: Michael published the first near-complete
plant genome of Oropetium thomaeum, a type of grass thatcan survive extreme drought, by pioneering the use of new
sequencing technologies and genome analysis tools.
• Time of Day (TOD) expression: Using the model plant Arabidopsis
thaliana, Michael provided molecular evidence that thecircadian clock enables plants to anticipate changes in theirenvironment such as daily light-dark cycles as well as seasonalchanges. His group also showed that TOD gene expression
networks are conserved by evolution across higher plants,
which enables advanced breeding for next-generation crops.
• New plant models: Michael’s team has been instrumental
in introducing several key model plant systems, such as
Brachypodium distachyon and Spirodela polyrhiza, to theresearch community, which can help further reveal details intoa diverse array of plant functions.

For more information, please visit:WWW.SALK.EDU/SCIENTIST/TODD-MICHAELPLANT BIOLOGY | CLIMATE CHANGE | GENETICS | AGRICULTURE | SYSTEMS BIOLOGY