- Friday, October 26, 2018
- 1:30 PM–2:20 PM
- Science Building Lecture Hall 010
How Obscurity Could Feed the World: A Study of Aluminum Toxicity in Plants - Paul Larsen, University of California - Riverside
Aluminum (Al) toxicity severely limits agriculture in acid soil environments, which comprise upwards of 50% of the world’s agriculturally available land. Extensive efforts have been made to determine the biological consequences of internalized Al as well as develop strategies to improve crop growth in Al toxic environments. Work showing the mechanisms underlying how Al activates the DNA damage response and subsequently halts cell cycle progression and root growth will be presented. Additionally, a discussion of the implications of mutations in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase for improved growth in Al containing soils will be presented showcasing how increased oxaloacetate production may be a solution to persistent agricultural problems that are key to feeding our growing population.
