Genetics and physiology of plant adaptation to environmental stress. Our research is focused on understanding how plants respond and adapt to a variety of environmental stresses, including heavy metals, drought and general oxidative stress. Some heavy metals, such as copper and zinc, are required for normal metabolic function while others, including cadmium and lead, are toxic.
Plants use a variety of methods to prevent heavy metals from affecting their growth.
Ligands such as phytochelatins and metallothioneins bind heavy metals within the cell thereby reducing the damage these metals would otherwise cause. We are currently examining the functions of phytochelatins and metallothioneins, in both metal tolerance and normal metal ion homeostasis. We are also using a genetic approach to understand how plants acquire heavy metals from the soil and regulate the distribution of metals among different tissues. Drought is a major cause of crop yield reduction. We are studying the genetics and physiology of drought tolerance in sorghum, one of the most drought tolerant grain crops.