Speaker: Pamela Scheiber
Candidate for Bachelor of Science in Biology
Time: 2:45 PM
Place: Trustee Hall 113
Supervisor: Dr. Allan Hook
Title: Elucidation of Glyphosate Resistant Conyza canadensis in Tissue Culture to Examine the Mechanisms Conferring Resistance

Abstract: Glyphosate resistance crops have transformed the technology of the agricultural industry; however, the onset of glyphosate resistant weeds has created growing concern about the future utility of these crops. Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist (marestail or horseweed) is one such glyphosate resistant weed that has yet to be fully analyzed or established in tissue culture. Tissue culture is used as a valuable tool for examining characteristics of a plant by providing, in an aseptic and controlled environment, plant tissue usable for bioassays. For the present study, marestail was cultured and transformed on a Murashigi and Skoog based medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine, and a-naphthalenacetic acid. Plant regeneration was accomplished on the same basal medium supplemented with gibberellic acid. Glyphosate resistance could be demonstrated in tissue culture. The cultures could be transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens without the need for chemically inducing the bacterium with phenolics or glucose with a transformation rate of about 13%. The optimal growing conditions observed and preliminary data gathered provide the means for further study of the mode of resistance expressed by marestail.