Senthil Subramanian. REEU trainees will participate in experiments associated with drought tolerance screening, determining the composition of root surface microbiomes through taxonomic analysis, determining functional components by analyzing metatranscriptomes, and association analyses of plant phenogroups and microbiome composition and function. In addition, they will prepare materials about the proposed work including preliminary results for presentation to soybean producers on SDSU field days. Relevant results will be shared with the producers through iGrow articles written by REEU trainees in collaboration with extension field specialists. These activities provide opportunities for interdisciplinary training of REEU trainees while advancing the research frontier of plant microbiomes.
Anne Fennell. The Fennell lab has developed grapevine genetic model systems to gain an understanding of abiotic stress tolerance and productivity. This research has resulted in the manual curation of the Vitis vinifera grapevine genome and VitisNet pathway creation, the development of V. riparia genome, and phenotyping techniques for low temperature in perennial crop systems. Currently, she is establishing a long-term study vineyard as one of four sites in cooperation with 3 other USDA and University labs of grafted grapevines to produce a systems-level understanding of how rootstocks modify scion phenotype and plasticity. This vineyard will be established in previously grass plots which were examined during site preparation for carbon turnover by Dr. Kumar’s laboratory. A baseline soil microbiome is being established for these grassy plots and biome transitions will be queried throughout to develop an understanding of the soil changes in response to a new dicot perennial crop systems. Results from ongoing studies have implications for the national and global grape industry, and woody crops in general, by advancing understanding of the total cropping system and the genomic basis and genetic architecture of the influence of the root system on shoot system phenotype.
Christopher Graham. Dr. Graham has a split research and extension appointment. Both research and extension focus is on dryland farming in a semi-arid climate exploring how genetics and environment interact with farming practices such as no-till, diverse rotations and cover cropping to affect water and nutrient use-efficiency. Moreover, his group explores how these interactions affect long-term sustainability through carbon cycling, soil microbial population dynamics, nitrogen fixation and overall soil health. Current work includes the study of how a diverse rotation with the four major agronomic crop types (cool season grass, warm season grass, cool season broadleaf and warm season broadleaf) with an integrated livestock-cover crop grazing scheme improves both nutrient cycling as well as how these practices transform the soil microbial community in a native grass pasture and a traditional wheat-fallow system; all under the context of a water-limited precipitation regime. Extension and outreach is largely integrated within this work. For example, holding regular field days to highlight various aspects of this system. Farmers, trainees, and industry members are regularly invited to work with experts to identify pests and diseases in the different cropping systems, view different cover crop mixtures during the growing season or tour one of our many variety yield trials among other activities.
David Karki. Dr. Karki is an extension agronomist and field specialist by training. Research topics that are currently being explored are directly relevant to the major crops grown in South Dakota and the surrounding regions. One of the topics that we for example initiated in the 2018 growing season focuses on the effects of mid-season foliar applications of bacterial inoculants on soybean yields and other agronomic traits. We plan to spray two strains of bacteria at v5/v6 and R2 growth stage and compare the performance with plots that did not receive any bacterial treatments. Results obtained from small plots and/or large on-farm strip trials are shared with producers and other agronomy professionals from private industry and government agencies at various extension events such as the annual summer Research Station field tours, IPM field schools, winter meetings such as ‘Watertown Crops Expo’, ‘Brookings Crops Clinic’, etc.
Paula Mazzer. As part of our 300-level genetics course (20-40 students) at Dakota Wesleyan, we are developing the lab portion of a class into a C.U.R.E (course-based undergraduate research experience) focused on agricultural soil microbiomes. The change in curriculum will shift the content of the lab away from historical genetic techniques and fits with our research-based upper-level curriculum. Each section of the lab will learn the basic techniques, and then develop a research question based on soil microbiota. To investigate the research question, students in the class will collect and prepare samples to take to the SDSU facility for sequencing. Following data collection, students will be guided through the process of data analysis and conclusions. REEU trainees will be involved in developing and testing potential protocols to be used in the course, and, if interested in education, could also participate in the development of course materials.