Characterization of "peanut" a PME knockout with irregular silique development and non-sloughing root caps

Egle will be conducting a developmental characterization of peanut plants.  Special attention will be directed to root development, leaf development, and silique development.  peanut's name is derived from the peanut characteristic of the siliques.  In these plants the leaves and stature is much smaller than wild type.  General microscopy techniques will be employed.

Hormone response of the delayed abscission mutant dab4

Brad will conduct hormone assays on seedlings  and developing flowers to  identify differences in the responses of dab4 to any of the hormones .  These treatments were selected  in part due to gene expression which was determined using RT PCR.

Gene expression of several hormone regulated genes in tfa (things fall apart)

Cory will look at gene expression in seedlings of tfa using of a variety of hormone response genes using RT PCR.

Characterization of 5 Pectin methylesterase knockouts from Arabidopsis

Tiffany will conduct hormone, nutrient and light assays on seedlings to  identify changes in response in any of the mutants.  These lines were selected due to microarray gene expression which will be confirmed using RT PCR.  In addition, whole plants will be observed for changes in phenotype.  Standard light microscopy, SEM, nucleic acid isolation and analysis and PCR are some of the techniques that will be used.

Characterization of B, 1-4 endoglucanase knockouts from Arabidopsis

Tiffany and Becky will conduct hormone, nutrient and light assays on seedlings to  identify changes in response in any of the mutants.  These lines were selected due to microarray gene expression which will be confirmed using RT PCR.  In addition, whole plants will be observed for changes in phenotype.  Standard light microscopy, SEM, nucleic acid isolation and analysis and PCR are some of the techniques that will be used.