Genomics Research
Plant genomics is the use of genetics and molecular biology to study plants in terms of their entire genomes. Noble Foundation genomic-related programs encompass both the creation and use of a variety of research tools to explore and decipher the complexities of plant growth, development and function. Functions important to Noble Foundation research initiatives include nutrient use, defenses against disease and pests, and responses to stimulus and stress. In 2001, the Noble Foundation helped initiate the international, multi-institutional genome sequencing of the model legume Medicago truncatula. Since then, the Noble Foundation has assembled a scientific team to leverage and advance this genome data. Complementing the sequence data, Noble scientists are creating or substantially contributing to the following resources: a publicly accessible expressed sequence tag (EST) database; a commercially available Medicago Affymetrix GeneChip®; a Medicago Gene Expression Atlas, which catalogs, characterizes and attributes function to thousands of identified genes within the Medicago genome; and two distinct, large-scale mutant plant populations that enable the identification of gene/gene function. Noble scientists are doing more than merely creating these publicly available resources; they are also engaged actively in research - functional genomics - that use these resources to identify genes and other controls. Translational genomics programs at the Noble Foundation, which apply these tools to develop new, value-added forages, create and employ additional resources, such as molecular markers and comparative linkage maps, to identify desirable traits (across related species) and accelerate trait integration through molecular breeding to yield improved forage cultivars.
Representative research
- Development of Medicago fast neutron bombardment (FNB)-induced deletion mutant resources (Chen)
- Development of Medicago genome tiling arrays for detection of deletions and genome variations in Medicago mutants and ecotypes (Chen)
- Study of the molecular and biochemical roles of root border cells in plant-microbe interactions (Sumner)
- Development of functional genomics of plant trichomes (Dixon, Sumner, Zhao)
- Development and application of genomic tools for drought tolerance enhancement for alfalfa (Monteros, Udvardi)
- Identification and mapping of QTLs for aluminum tolerance in tetraploid alfalfa (Monteros)
- Identification of molecular markers in white clover, which are associated with morphological, reproductive and ornamental traits (Monteros)
- Development and use of viruses for functional genomics studies (Nelson)
- Marker-assisted breeding of switchgrass for improved bioenergy feedstock traits (Saha and Bouton)
- Development of genomic tools for the cool-season perennial grass species tall fescue (Saha)
- Marker-assisted breeding of tall fescue for improved forage digestibility, stem rust resistance and other morphological traits (Saha)
- Comparative genomics of secretory trichomes (Sumner)
- Development and use of novel tools for functional genomic analysis of seed storage metabolism in the model legume Medicago truncatula (Udvardi)
- Functional characterization of root nodule transporters and enzymes involved in symbiotic nitrogen fixation (Udvardi)
- Development and use of genetic resources to dissect the regulatory networks governing nodule development and differentiation in Medicago (Udvardi)
- Development of bioinformatics to enable comparative genomics for model legumes (Zhao)
- Development of novel computational algorithms for plant genome annotation (Zhao)
- Development of bioinformatics for functional genomics of plant trichomes (Zhao)
Principal investigators
Joe Bouton, Ph.D., Forage Improvement
Rujin Chen, Ph.D., Plant Biology
Rick Dixon, D. Phil., Plant Biology
Maria Monteros, Ph.D., Forage Improvement
Kirankumar Mysore, Ph.D., Plant Biology
Rick Nelson, Ph.D., Plant Biology
Malay Saha, Ph.D., Forage Improvement
Lloyd Sumner, Ph.D., Plant Biology
Michael Udvardi, Ph.D., Plant Biology
Patrick Zhao, Ph.D., Plant Biology