For the last 10 years the interest of the group has increasingly shifted towards studies on abiotic stress responses in higher plants. In the process the lab strives to utilize techniques as appropriate, often in collaborations. Abiotic stress tolerance responses have been described, mechanisms have been hypothesized and some of these have been identified. The question then arises about the importance of particular mechanisms in different species. Another question for which we wish to contribute answers is about the distinction that makes halophytes or xerophytes better under stress conditions than glycophytes.
Some focus is on plant water relations - in the form of aquaporin analysis.
Our work is supported by NSF, DOE, USDA and stipends to visitors of the laboratory.