plant fungus
July 5, 2017
The Necessity of Fungi
Graduate Researcher Sarah Unruh explores the essential role of fungi in orchid germination By Emily Kummerfeld | Bond LSC Graduate Researcher Sarah Unruh | photo by Emily Kummerfeld, Bond LSC The blooms of orchids are unmistakably beautiful, and how they reproduce has fascinated biologists for centuries. But, orchids might not even exist if not for the help of fungus. Up to 30,000 species of orchids require the intervention of fungi since their seeds do not contain the necessary nutrients to sprout. Sarah Unruh, a fifth-year biological sciences PhD student in the lab of Bond LSC’s Chris…
April 25, 2014
Frogs help researchers find genetic mechanism for mildew susceptibility in grapevine
Powdery mildew on a cabernet sauvignon grapevine leaf. | USDA Grape genetics publications and research A princess kisses a frog and it turns into a prince, but when a scientist uses a frog to find out more information about a grapevine disease, it turns into the perfect tool narrowing in on the cause of crop loss of Vitis vinifera, the world’s favorite connoisseur wine-producing varietal. MU researchers recently published a study that uncovered a specific gene in the Vitis vinifera varietal Cabernet Sauvingon, that contributes to its susceptibility to a widespread plant disease, powdery mildew.