The Virginia Tech genetics project being performed in the Hampden-Sydney genetics class has come to its conclusion. Different mutant lines of Arabidopsis thaliana were grown in the presence or absence of root gnat larvae for 14 days to assess how compromised plant growth would be when genes for chemical plant defenses were disrupted. Students made some interesting findings that suggest that a particular class of compounds (glucosinolates) may play a critical role in the mediation of overall plant defenses. The data has been analyzed by H-SC students and will be sent to Blacksburg for use in the research work being done there on plant defense systems.
Wild-type (left) versus glucosinolate-deficient plants after root gnat infestation
examining mutant plant growth
Wild-type (left) versus control plants deficient in overall chemical defenses following root gnat infestation