Research in the Purrington lab Research overview Research in my lab is focused on the evolutionary ecology of plant pests, with emphasis on physiological interactions, evolution of virulence, and fitness costs of host resistance mechanisms. Other interests include plant-insect interactions, pollen competition, biotechnology risk assessment, and testing adaptation with genetically modifed plants.
Stipends are available for research that spans summer months.
Parasitic Cuscuta Most projects in my laboratory involve plants in the genus Cuscuta . Commonly called dodder, mature vines of dodder are typically yellow or bright orange and superficially resemble spaghetti. Despite their almost complete lack of chlorophyll and leaves, dodders are true flowering plants, and are closely related to morning glory. These haustoria are powerful enough to puncture tinfoil, and also have the ability to enzymatically degrade host stem tissue. They differ, however, in their geographic distributation and also in their host preferences.