Mission:
The mission of this research group is to identify molecular,biochemical and genetic determinants of photosynthate production and distribution in crop plants and to utilize this new information to address specific agricultural problems of national importance including those associated with global climate change. Research is focused in three major areas: 1) Define the key regulatory elements controlling photosynthate production and partitioning and determining silk strength; 2)Determine the mechanistic bases for limitations on photosynthetic performance/productivity imposed by agriculturally significant stresses; 3) Establish the major features limiting the response of photosynthetic productivity of soybean at elevated atmospheric CO2 and test potential transgenic amelioration strategies; 4) Indentify photosynthetic components that limit the production of perennial C4 grass biofuel feedstocks.