Research

Project 1: Nectar microbiomes impact on introgression in milkweed

This research emerges from three observations. First, milkweed pollen germinates in a sugar rich nectar solution. Second, microbes growing in this nectar can alter pollen germination ability. And finally, the nectar microbiome differs between closely related species of milkweed. 

Building off these results, we are testing whether the stigmatic nectar microbiome can asymmetrically impact sexual reproduction and introgression in a pair of milkweed species (A. syriaca and A. exaltata) known to hybridize. Preliminary results from this study indicate that plants can have sexually transmitted infections that alter reproductive success.

Project 2: The Genetic Origins of Floral Patterning in monkeyflowers (Mimulus)

Our research investigates how genetic interactions lead to new and complex traits, focusing on the intricate floral pigmentation patterns in Mimulus. 

Using genomic analysis and mathematical modeling, including Turing instabilities, we explore how their genomes interact to produce new traits. This work sheds light on plant color pattern evolution and enhances our understanding of the origin of novel traits in nature.

Genetics and Sustainability of Traditional Taro Farming 

Our lab studies the population genetics of taro and how cultivation methods impact plant and soil microbiomes. In collaboration with anthropologists, we focus on traditional taro farming on Rurutu in French Polynesia. This project explores the sustainability of these ancient practices and their effects on genetic diversity and the soil microbiome, comparing traditional and modern methods. This project, by integrating biological and cultural perspectives, aims to support sustainable agriculture and the preservation of indigenous knowledge. This project highlights the deep connections between human communities and their agricultural environments.

Exploring Hybridization as a Driver of Rapid Adaptation in Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata)

This study aims to uncover the mechanisms behind rapid plant adaptation to novel environments. We are investigating whether hybridization between poke milkweed (Asclepias exaltata), an understory plant thriving in moist, shaded forests, and common milkweed (A. syriaca), which prefers sunny, well-drained fields, has enabled poke milkweed to adapt quickly to new habitats. The discovery of a stable population of poke milkweed in sunny field environments within the Virginia mountains presents a unique opportunity to study how hybridization may facilitate adaptation to novel conditions.