The Lindroth lab strives to introduce interested undergraduate students to research experiences in the field and lab by collaborating with experienced graduate students, postdocs and research scientists. This summer we have two cool new projects happening.

Defense chemistry of hybrid aspen

Postdoctoral fellow Mike Eisenring is working with an undergraduate student, Yujie (Maggie) Guo, who was awarded a Holstrom Environmental Research Fellowship.

Mike and Maggie are working on a series of experiments that aim to better understand how condensed tannin (CTs) concentrations in leaf tissue of an aspen hybrid (Populus tremuloides x tremula) affect caterpillar (left picture below) and cottonwood leaf beetle (right picture below) performance and preference as well as tree tolerance to insect damage. Condensed tannins are thought to act as defense compounds against pests and pathogens, but little is known about their effect on insect herbivores. They are using trees that produce “normal” levels of CTs (wild types) and genetically modified hybrid aspen trees (knock-down lines) that produce very low levels of CTs. The trees were engineered by Peter Constabel (University of Victoria, Canada).

Maggie is studying biology and computer sciences.

Using aspen to help clean contaminated soils

Research associate Mark Zierden is working with undergraduate Megan Johnson on a  phytoremediation project. Phytoremediation is the direct use of plants for in situ (in place) removal, degradation, or containment of contaminants in soil or water sources.  In their project, they are investigating the ability of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) to transfer metals from the soil into its biomass, as well as the chemical response of P. tremuloides that help it withstand the high soil-metal concentrations.

Megan is studying biochemistry.

This article was posted in News.