Plant Transformation Research
Plant transformation concerns the transfer of one or more genes into the genome of a plant to create novel germplasm having traits (or attributes) that were otherwise unavailable. Scientists and researchers at the Noble Foundation focus on the development of improved forage crops, grasses and legumes, as well as dedicated bioenergy crops, such as switchgrass. Programs in the Noble Foundation laboratories concern establishing efficient transformation systems for a broad spectrum of species, cloning of agronomically important genes and promoters, and generating transgenic plants having improved agronomic traits. Examples of such traits include drought tolerance, improved digestibility, improved phosphate update and production of natural compounds to improve animal or human health. While integrated and used in accordance with state and federal regulations, research outcomes are candidates for further improvement through the Noble Foundation's Forage Improvement Division.
Representative research
- Improve genetic transformation efficiency for forage and bioenergy crops (Wang)
- Genetically improve alfalfa for functional test of a large number of transgenes and promoters (Wang)
- Develop novel germplasm by somatic hybridization (Wang)
- Genetically transform forage crops, grasses and legumes to improve phosphate uptake efficiency and drought tolerance (Wang)
- Genetically transform forage crops, grasses and legumes to modify natural lignin composition and/or production to improve forage digestibility (Dixon, Wang)
- Genetically manipulate cell wall traits in switchgrass to enhance biofuels production (Wang)
- Identify and study genes involved in Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation (Mysore)
- Genetically transform guar to enhance production of galactomannan gum (Dixon)
- Genetically transform alfalfa to enable the production of condensed tannins (Dixon)
- Genetically transform alfalfa to modify natural lignin production to introduce tolerance to Phymatotrichum root rot (or cotton root rot) (Dixon, Wang)
Principal investigators
Rick Dixon, D. Phil., Plant Biology
Kirankumar Mysore, Ph.D., Plant Biology
Zeng-Yu Wang, Ph.D., Forage Improvement