The genetic basis of adaptation to serpentine soils in Mimulus guttatus

Winnie Biwott

Duke University

Trinity ’15

• Plant Evolutionary work

• Willis Lab at Duke University

• Mentors:1. Dr. John Willis2. Jessica Selby ( Graduate

Student)3. Ben Blackman ( postdoc

Student)

Goals before project

• Conduct a study to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying serpentine adaptation across populations of the wildflower M. guttatus

• Understand the molecular basis of these molecular mechanisms that adapt M. guttatus to its present day environment.

• Get insight into how plants may respond to future shifts in these conditions

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• Acquire solid foundational information on plant adaptation and genetics.

• Immerse myself in intense plant reserch with professional in the field

• Improve my research skills, for example, teamwork, concentration, critical thinking,problem solving, analysis, communication

Why is this project important?

• Results are useful for crop breeding to improve plants’ tolerance to poor or stressful soils and alter plant nutrient uptake to produce enriched foods

• A characterization of the genetic/ mechanistic bases of plant growth on heavy metal soils can be applied to the treatment of environmental soil problems like salinization

Tasks during project

• Breeding M.guttatus in the greenhouse

• Tissue collection

• Genotype plants by conducting PCR (Polymerase Chain Reactions) to find genes responsible for serpentine adaptations

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• Conducting plate experiments to narrow speculations on genes responsible and to study differences in different serpentile soils

Findings/final product

• Higher survivorship in serpentine plants than non- serpentine plants

• Genotyping results for our PCR experiment for analysis

Acknowledgements

• My mentors were Dr. John Willis, Jessica Selby and Ben Blackman

• Funding for the summer research was by Karsh International Scholarship