Molecular Characterization Of A Basal Angiosperm Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase (Cad) Homolog

School Name

South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Botany

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Haiying Liang, Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University

Abstract

Liriodendron tulipifera L., commonly known as yellow-poplar, is a member of the Magnoliaceae family. It is a fast-growing hardwood tree species with great ecological and economic value. Liriodendron also occupies an important phylogenetic position as a basal angiosperm and has been used in studies of the evolution of flowering plants. Genomic resources, such as EST databases and BAC libraries, have been developed for this species. In this project, we mined available EST databases for CAD markers with the goal of developing informative EST CAD markers that would help us discover a link between lignin biosynthesis and CAD genes. These markers will be used to construct the first framework genetic linkage map of L. tulipifera with 380 full-sib seedlings. Such a linkage map is essential for future molecular breeding and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, and as a framework for sequencing the Liriodendron genome in the future. When analyzed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), informative markers were obtained from screening of EST-CAD markers. These markers are being utilized to tell us where certain CAD genes are located that will allow us to increase the biomass in the yellow poplar, leading to greater profit from each tree.

Start Date

4-11-2015 9:15 AM

End Date

4-11-2015 9:30 AM

COinS
 
Apr 11th, 9:15 AM Apr 11th, 9:30 AM

Molecular Characterization Of A Basal Angiosperm Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase (Cad) Homolog

Liriodendron tulipifera L., commonly known as yellow-poplar, is a member of the Magnoliaceae family. It is a fast-growing hardwood tree species with great ecological and economic value. Liriodendron also occupies an important phylogenetic position as a basal angiosperm and has been used in studies of the evolution of flowering plants. Genomic resources, such as EST databases and BAC libraries, have been developed for this species. In this project, we mined available EST databases for CAD markers with the goal of developing informative EST CAD markers that would help us discover a link between lignin biosynthesis and CAD genes. These markers will be used to construct the first framework genetic linkage map of L. tulipifera with 380 full-sib seedlings. Such a linkage map is essential for future molecular breeding and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, and as a framework for sequencing the Liriodendron genome in the future. When analyzed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), informative markers were obtained from screening of EST-CAD markers. These markers are being utilized to tell us where certain CAD genes are located that will allow us to increase the biomass in the yellow poplar, leading to greater profit from each tree.