Smith Lab

Paving the path for genetic engineering

My lab focuses on abiotic stress and the use of biotechnology in multiple crop systems

Our research efforts study the effects of climate change and methods to improve agriculture. Some projects look at soil health and land management on the southern high plains while bigger crop projects aim to improve crop yield under drought, heat, and salt tolerance. Part of our climate change sustainability in crops also looks at basic plant physiology and exploring CEA (controlled environment agriculture). Strawberries are an important agronomic crop with high value being evaluated for transition to CEA and heat stress adaptability. We collaborate with many groups for each project.

Soybean

collaboration on transgenic soybean for drought, heat and salt tolerance

Cotton

our main cash crop in Texas and first transgenic work to continue abiotic stress tolerance

Strawberries

CEA work on transitioning strawberries to controlled environment

Hemp project

Hemp

Our work in hemp has transformed through the years to work on the basic agronomic abiotic stress to looking at mycorrhizae association of hemp roots in the southern high plains