Candidate Genes for Loci Affecting Tolerance of Precipitation Extremes in Arabidopsis Thaliana
Level of Education of Students Involved
Undergraduate
Faculty Sponsor
Jane Kenney-hunt
College
College of Arts & Sciences (CAS)
Discipline(s)
Biology
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Symposium Date
Spring 4-30-2026
Abstract
The Great Lakes region of the Midwest is an important region for agriculture, contributing about 30% of the corn and soybeans grown worldwide. However, in recent years, climate change has resulted in unpredictable weather patterns including spring flooding and summer extreme heat and drought. We conducted a study using recombinant inbred lines in the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana. The plants were subjected to simulated Midwestern precipitation extremes to determine if there were significant effects on various stages of plant growth. A quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was run to identify gene x environment interactions. Three QTL for time to flower and two QTL for time to bolt were identified, and their locations were compared to known Arabidopsis genes through a literature search to determine possible candidate genes. Our next step is to plant seeds with mutations in those candidate genes to assess the effect of the precipitation extremes on different genetic backgrounds.
Recommended Citation
Swierc, Ashlee; Cukurtepe, Duru; and Kenney-Hunt, Jane Dr., "Candidate Genes for Loci Affecting Tolerance of Precipitation Extremes in Arabidopsis Thaliana" (2026). Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE). 1507.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/cus/1507
