Seminars

Genomics approaches have revolutionized the field of biology.  High throughput gene expression analyses allow us to examine genome-scale interactions between plants, and understand how the environment impacts plant growth and development. The parasitic plant, dodder, profoundly impacts growth and development of its host species. Interactions between the host and parasite involve development of novel structures not seen in either plant alone, and these structural innovations have not been studied molecularly. Genomics approaches will allow us to prospect for more candidate genes that can be used to develop biotechnological methods of control of the parasite.

We have used ILLUMINA sequencing to analyze the transcriptomes of tomato and its wild relatives.  The differing natural habitats of the wild species have allowed us to contrast evolution under domestication in tomato with natural selection in the tomato relatives.  We are also utilizing genomics on introgression lines between tomato and its wild relatives to understand better how leaf and shoot development in tomato is regulated at the genomic and network level.