Sam R. Zwenger

My educational background is a unique combination of microbiology, plant taxonomy, and molecular plant biology. Our lab uses a bacterium (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) to deliver heat stress-associated genes to thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana). Choosing our genes of interest relies on a novel approach, which is described elsewhere (floraldip.com). After generating and establishing transgenic lines a series of heat stress assays are performed on transgenic and nontransgenic plants to help determine if the transgene enhances thermotolerance.

Although we prefer to work with Arabidopsis for simplicity, one of the goals of our research is to identify candidate genes that regulate the heat stress response and overexpress them in purple false brome (Brachypodium distachyon) and wheat (Triticum aestivum). Since climate change is expected to lower crop yields, generating heat tolerant food crops might help mitigate the loss. Secondary research interests include detecting novel antimicrobials from plants and fungi. There are many plants and fungi native to the Central Great Plains that await such investigation.