The University of georgia franklin college of arts and sciences

A Department of Plant Biology Newsletter JUNE 2010 Monocot Tree of Life The yucca flower is Not Your Grandfather’s Plant Systematics insect pollinated by the yucca moth. ystematists have tried to understand nuclear genes for over fifty species. These how species are related to each data should allow us to resolve relation- other since Theophrastus, the father ships among all monocot families and Sof botany, lived between the third and gain new insights into the evolution of ing. “As a postdoc I started studying the second century BC. Down through the morphological characteristics, life history amazing obligate pollination mutualism ages, they have depended on comparing traits and genome structure throughout between yuccas and yucca moths. Yucca flower structure, stems and leaves to sort monocot history.” moths have specialized mouthparts they out relationships. Both Wendy Zomlefer, another Plant use to collect yucca pollen and actively In the last 20 years plant system- Biology faculty member participating in deposit it on yucca stigmas. This is not atists have added a dynamic tool to their the Monocot Tree of Life project, and your typical insect pollination sys- toolkit—DNA sequencing. Thanks to the Jim, got hooked on studying non-grass tem! Female yucca moths place their egg recent development of powerful high- monocot species, in the orders Liliales in yucca ovaries before walking up the through put technologies, also known as and Asparagales, respectively. Wendy’s pistil and actively jamming pollen into “next generation” technologies, research- undergraduate days in Vermont helped the bowl-shaped yucca stigmas. In doing ers now have access to much more forge her love of the liliaceous plants. so, a yucca moth is promoting seed set sequence data. After a long winter she would dream of in the pollinated flower and ensuring a According to Plant Biology faculty spring and trilliums, Solomon seal and food source for her seed-eating larvae.” In member Jim Leebens-Mack, “the field lily of the valley. For her these plants sym- his lab Ph.D students Jeremy Rentch and of molecular systematics is taking full bolized spring. Wendy, classically trained Michael McKain are continuing to inves- advantage of next generation sequencing in plant systematics, has funding for tigate yucca evolution and diversification technologies. In our Monocot Tree of Life student training in both molecular and across the Agavaceae. project we are using these new technolo- morphological systematics. For Jim, the “As much as I love the Asparagales, gies to sequence whole plastid genomes Asparagales, which include the orchids, we can’t ignore the cereals in the Poa- for a few hundred strategically chosen irises, amaryllids, onion, agaves, yuccas ceae and their close relatives. Due in species and thousands of expressed and of course, asparagus, were fascinat- part to the work of Sue Wessler, Andy Paterson, Kelly Dawe, Katrien Devos, Jeff Bennetzen and others at UGA, the Poaceae has become the premier model for understanding plant genome evolu- Jim and tion. In addition to resolving family- Wendy admire the level relationships, the Monocot Tree of century plant Life project is estimating the timing of in the PBIO genome duplications and changes in gene greenhouse. content within the Poales and throughout monocot history,” Jim said. The Monocot Tree of Life project involves plant systematists around the world in developing a comprehensive understanding of relationships among all plant species from algae to angiosperms.

TheMonocot Tree of Life project is part of the iPlant Collaborative. For more information visit, www.iplantcollaborative.org. Jenny Cruse- Sanders is the director of research and conservation at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Of Plants, Cocktails and a Frog Seranata A Visit with Jenny Cruse-Sanders

ur alum Jenny Cruse-Sanders orchid Hexalectris spicata. Jenny’s Ph.D. in Winston-Salem, NC and directed the is now the director of research was directed by Jim Hamrick and in- Salem College Herbarium (listed by Index and conservation for the Atlanta volved the study of evolutionary impacts Herbariorum as the oldest herbarium in OBotanical Garden (ABG) and we couldn’t of ginseng harvesting in the mountains the U.S.). Her graduate work and post- be prouder. I recently visited Jenny at the of the Southern U.S. During her gradu- doctoral experience made the perfect fit ABG and got a behind-the-scenes tour. ate student days she also worked with for her position at the ABG. Jenny directs conservation research Jim Affolter, Director of Research at the Keeping the PBIO UGA connection, on rare plants and amphibians. This is State Botanical Garden of Georgia, as an Jenny is currently working on a project a team effort that includes amphibian intern for the Georgia Plant Conservation with Russell Malmberg and Will Rogers. scientist Dante Fenolio, and amphibian Alliance (GPCA). Her training with the “It’s really nice to have UGA and ABG col- specialists Mark Mandica and Robert GPCA and graduate research gave Jenny laborating on research. The project focuses Hill. They focus on both in situ and ex an opportunity to work with multiple on recovering rare species of Sarracenia, situ approaches to conservation as well state and federal agencies, partnerships insect-eating pitcher plants,” said Jenny. as developing training opportunities for which are important for her current posi- On my tour of the ABG Jenny took me undergraduate interns. tion. As a graduate student she also began to see a greenhouse full of pitcher plants. Jenny was quick to credit the educa- researching evolutionary patterns within She also showed me a new research lab, tion and mentoring she received at UGA a semi-domesticated cactus in Central the library and the tissue culture facility. A for providing the foundation for her job. Mexico. This project was later funded by highlight of any trip to ABG is the Fuqua Her M.S. in 1997 was with David Giannasi NSF and became a collaboration with Orchid Center (FOC), an astounding doing a floristic survey of Currahee Kathy Parker in the Geography Depart- showplace where orchids are safe­‑guarded, and Soapstone mountains near Toccoa, ment at UGA. From Athens, Jenny moved grown from seeds and shared with other Georgia. The unusual plant communi- to Claremont, CA where she did a post- institutions. In the FOC, lush habitats have ties in this area included rare species like doc in the molecular biology laboratory at also been created to display the frogs. The federally endangered Echinacea laevigata Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. Next, search for the tiny creatures is especially (smooth purple coneflower) and the rare Jenny joined the faculty at Salem College fun for children. During graduate school days Jenny taught plant taxonomy to undergraduate students.

Part of the tour included a trip to the We share frogs with other gardens and Tavern in Virginia Highlands where one Frog Pod, a cargo-shipping container conservation groups but do not reintro- Saturday a month they bring in a scientist modified into a laboratory for raising duce them into the wild.” They hope the to speak. The place is packed and people frogs at a cost of only $50,000, much less Frog Pod systems can be set up in other are listening and asking good questions. than building a laboratory from scratch. locations around the world. Creating a culture of science is a huge In this nursery space, the amphibian team Jenny plans to add a Science Café to part of our mission”, said Jenny. is working hard to advance the science of the list of events at ABG. “It will be a Jenny’s life outside the garden is shared captive species but getting the conditions monthly program that features a local with her husband Darby Sanders who just right has been a challenge. Jenny scientist speaking informally about their works for Georgia Public Broadcasting, explained, “We’ve had to figure out the work. It will be modeled on the popular five-year-old daughter Tallulah Rose, who best foods, nutrients, and climate control. Science Café that happens at Manuel’s loves school, visiting the Garden and the High Museum, and new twin daughters Estella Fay and Luna Dorothy. Jenny, Darby and Tullulah enjoy the events and exhibits at the Garden. “I encourage ev- eryone to attend Cocktails in the Garden, a social event that happens every Thurs- day night from May 6 – September 30. The garden looks different at night and the frogs in the conservatory are loud,” Jenny said smiling, “and be sure to say hello if you’re visiting the Garden.”

To learn more about the garden visit www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org

Jenny working with Will Rogers in Russell Malmberg’s lab at UGA.

The climate controlled Frog Pod is a nursery for rare and endangered species. California Dreaming Saying Goodbye to Sue Wessler and Catching Up with Her Former Student, Dawn Holligan Nagel Interviewed by Beth Richardson

I was actually “hired” into a position Athat was given to Joe Key when he stepped down as head of the Biology Divi- sion. I interviewed in three departments (Genetics, Biochemistry and Botany) and chose Botany. Gary was the department head and I still remember seeing him standing there when I got off the plane with a sign that said “Waxy Locus”. This was when you could still go to the gate, and I remember thinking that people getting off the plane must have been thinking what poor person had a name like Waxy Locus! I was not the first woman in the de- Sue Wessler (seated fifth from the left) shares a serious moment with her class. partment – Judy Jernstedt was here when Her daughter Becca (first on the left) will start at Scripps College in the fall. I arrived. The department was also great back then. I recall the fourth floor was Sue, after 27 years at UGA, you will students that take my Dynamic Genome Greg Schmidt, Joe Key, Gary Kochert, Qsoon be moving to Southern Califor- courses (which were developed with my Glen Galau and of course, Alan Jaworski nia and even though it is a tremendous HHMI Professor Award at UGA). In who had the lab next to mine. Russell loss for our department everyone is really addition, I was given a second faculty po- Malmberg came a couple of years later. happy for you. Are you setting up a new sition for a scientist/science educator so Then there was Mel Fuller who I remem- lab and teaching classes? New household? that the two of us will comprise a unique ber very well. He was a hoot! faculty team focused on training the next Overall the department was incredibly Thank you. My startup package at generation of science educators. supportive and Gary especially protected UC Riverside will allow me to con- A With regard to where I will live, the my research time before tenure. Time tinue my research program and to expand plans are to build a house with my part- has passed incredibly quickly. Soon I was my teaching program. My lab will be in ner Shelly Schuster, he is president of the the senior person trying to protect the the brand new Genomics Building which Keck Graduate Institute, on a gorgeous research time of my “junior” colleagues. has an open‑lab design. I will be sharing a lot in the foothills of the San Bernardino large lab with Natasha Raikhel. Ironically, Mountains. We plan to build a small How many theses and dissertations I met Natasha when I arrived at UGA in solar-powered modern home surrounded have you supervised? Was the men- 1983, and she learned molecular biology Q with desert plants. We will have extra toring process easy for you? in both my lab and in Joe Key’s. bedrooms for family and friends. UC Riverside is renovating the first Four Masters of Science degrees and floor of a building next door to the Were you originally hired at UGA by A16 Ph.Ds. Mentoring is never easy, Genomics Building for my teaching QGary Kochert? Were you one of the but it is worth it. It is my favorite part of facility where I can double the number of first women hired? the job. Sue Wessler circa 1985. Alex Nagel and Dawn Holligan Nagel. Dawn Holligan Nagel in the lab.

In this article we are also featuring Western University in Pomona and Becca, in my scientific growth. She absolutely re- Qyour former graduate student Dawn now 17 and in her senior year at Athens fused to give in to mediocrity and as such Holligan Nagel. Dawn was in your lab Academy, was just accepted to Scripps helped me to realize my full potential. for many years as both a student and as a College (one of the Claremont Colleges), As a graduate student, I worked on technician. I realize it is hard to single out so we will both be heading west in Au- understanding the impact of transposable one student, but would you comment on gust/September. elements in eukaryotic genomes using her time in your lab? a combined computational and experi- mental approach. Presently, I’m a postdoc Dawn wasn’t just a graduate student in Dr. Steve Kay’s lab at University of in my lab. She started as an under- Meet Dawn Holligan Nagel A California, San Diego, working on the graduate worker and did such a fantastic Dawn, you received your undergrad- molecular basis of the circadian clock in job orchestrating the lab’s move from the uate degree in 2000 at UGA in Biol- higher plants. Life Science Building to Plant Sciences Q ogy, and then you decided to do graduate that I hired her as a technician after she work in the Plant Biology Department in Any advice/life lessons you’d like graduated. She then became a project 2001. Who helped spark your interest in to share with our current graduate coordinator and then a graduate student. Q plants and genetics? students? Finally, she spent her last few months before moving to San Diego as a postdoc! Susan Wessler and the years spent in Always do something that you are Dawn and I were together ten years. The Aher lab as an undergraduate stu- Apassionate about. good news is that she will only be 90 min- dent and technician. Her excitement and What are you and Alex doing for fun utes away from my new home! enthusiasm about her research was very in sunny Southern California? influential on my decision to become a Q If you had one wish for the PBIO graduate student and pursue a scientific Well, we’ve been living in San Diego Qdepartment, what would it be? career. Afor about eight months and of course That it continue to be the sort of the weather is absolutely spectacular. You were a student, and at times, a place where people want to spend Since we have pretty much the ocean, A technician in Sue Wessler’s lab. Tell most of their career. Q mountains and desert at our doorsteps, me about the mentoring you received we’ve been doing a lot of outdoor activi- Will you be taking surfing lessons? from Sue and the scope of your project. ties. So far we have spent a lot of time Are you continuing that research today? Q hiking the many beautiful trails here. For Not at my age! Shelly and I have Sue is an outstanding scientist who example, we’ve taken day trips to the fa- Abeen commuting for 10 years. We Acares deeply about the success of mous Joshua Tree National Park, Laguna are both looking forward to just hanging her students and postdocs. So my success Mountains and the Anza Borrego Desert. out at home without having to go through today and that of her former students We’ve recently taken up mountain biking, Hartsfield–Jackson. Even better, both of are a result of the excellent mentoring though I’m not sure how much longer my daughters will be living in the same received while in her lab. I think that her I’ll survive that. Surprisingly, though we town (Claremont). Nicole, now 25, is in confidence in my ability to succeed and spend a lot of time at the beach, neither of her first year of Osteopathy School at constant guidance was truly instrumental us have any intention of taking up surfing. GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS

Deen Gevaert GROMALLY HAN LYNCH PREVOST RODRIGUEZ SUGIYAMA TANG

Deen, Cecile - Chang Lab Estill, Jamie - Bennetzen Lab Gormally, Cara - Donovan Lab Highland Biological Station’s Charles W. 1st-place talk PBGS Symposium, 2009 National Estuarine Research Reserve Ash Memorial Scholarship, 2009 Graduate Fellowship, NOAA, 2007-2009 Departmental Palfrey Small Grant, 2009 Gevaert, Scott - Donovan Lab Wilbur Duncan Award for Outstanding PBGSA Research Assistance Award 2010 Departmental Palfrey Small Grant, 2009 Plant Biology Graduate Student, 2009 1st-place poster PBGS Symposium, 2009 K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award Estep, Matt - Bennetzen Lab Outstanding Teaching Assistant, 2010 Excellence in Teaching Award, 2009 2nd-place talk PBGS Symposium, 2009 Han, Yujun - Wessler Lab 2nd-place poster PBGS Symposium, 2009 Winner of the cover art competition at the Maize Genetics Conference, 2009 Outstanding Teaching Assistant, 2009 Kanizay, Lisa - Dawe Lab Departmental Palfrey Small Grant, 2009 Lynch, Patrick - Zomlefer lab Jaworski Travel Award, 2009 Georgia Native Plant Society Grant Georgia Botanical Society Marie Mellinger Field Botany Grant, 2009 Mason, Chase - Donovan Lab GSA 2009-2010 McKain, Michael - Leebens-Mack Lab Jaworski Travel Award, 2009 Yai Hernandez-Rodriguez, Scott Gevaert, Lisa Kanizay and Brunie Burgos 3rd-place talk PBGS Symposium, 2009 at the PBGSA herb sale. Funds are raised for graduate student awards. Prevost, Luanna - Peterson Lab Selected for the 2009-2010 Graduate Got Plants? PBGSA goes greener! School Emerging Leaders Program Outstanding Teaching Assistant, 2009 Last year the Plant Biology Graduate Student Association Rodriguez, Yainitza - Momany Lab (PBGSA) initiated the PBGSA Research Assistance Awards (RAA). ASM Robert D. Watkins Graduate They continue to raise funds for these awards by selling herbs Research Fellowship, 2006-2009 (and this year plants, too) in the spring time and by holding a silent auction of donated gifts and artwork during the Holiday Shirk, Rebecca - Hamrick Lab Party. In 2009, these events raised $1700 and $575 respectively. NSF GRFP Fellowship, 2009-2012 The 2010 herb and plant sale was held on Thursday, April 22 Sugiyama, Anna - Peterson Lab on the greenway in front of the Plant Sciences Building. They Organization for Tropical Studies raised $1000 to offer two $500 awards in 2010.T he RAAs were Research Fellowship Program, 2009 presented on May 13 to Cecile Deen and Anna Sugiyama. Las Cruces Restoration Workshop Congratulations Cecile and Anna! Graduate Research Grant (NSF), 2009 Outstanding Teaching Assistant, 2010 PBGSA thanks everyone for their support! PBGSA Research Assistance Award 2010 News Briefs

Lisa Donovan was a 2009 Kathrin Stanger-Hall was the Fulbright Scholar and 2009 recipient of the University Peggy Brickman (left) and Paula Lemons (right) visiting professor at Radboud of Georgia Sandy Beaver congratulate Cara Gromally winner of the Wilbur University, Nijmegen Excellence in Teaching Award. Duncan Award for Outstanding Plant Biology Graduate Netherlands. Student.

Rebecca Sharitz received the Wendy Zomlefer was the 2009 2010 National Wetlands Award PBIO department head Michelle Momany, recipient of the GAIA Award from the Environmental Law Carla Ingram and Garnett S. Stokes, the of Excellence in Botanical Institute. Dean of Franklin College at the Staff Awards Illustration and Research event. Carla received the 2010 Franklin from the Florida Society of College Staff Excellence Award. Carla will be Botanical Artists. retiring in June with 32 years of service to the department. She will be greatly missed by everyone in the department. Best wishes Carla! herbarium news he GA Herbarium recently received a generous donation of $1,000 from alumnus Donald J. Banks, who received his Ph.D. from the Botany T(now Plant Biology) Department in 1963 under Wilbur Tang, Haibao - Paterson Lab Graduate School Doctoral Dissertation Duncan. He was, in fact, the first Ph.D. to matriculate Completion Assistantship, 2009 & 2010 from our department! His dissertation was on the tax- Donald J. Banks 3rd-place poster PBGS Symposium, 2009 onomy of Paspalum setaceum (Poaceae). Dr. Banks, now retired, had a career as a plant geneticist (peanut breeding and genetics) for Winger, Sarah Jardeleza - Farmer Lab the Agricultural Research Service of the U. S. Department of Agriculture at International Society of Evolutionary Oklahoma State University. He has very fond memories of his days at UGA Protistology Award for best student oral and has maintained a long friendship with classmate Samuel Jones, former presentation. Director of the Herbarium. We are grateful for Dr. Banks’ gift, which will be Zhou, Jianli - Ye Lab used to defray expenses for student projects in the herbarium. Outstanding Teaching Assistant, 2009 —Wendy B. Zomlefer, Director of the GA Herbarium The University of georgia franklin college of arts and sciences JUNE 2010 ISSUE Department Head Photo Credits: Dawn Nagel courtesy of Dawn Michelle Momany Nagel. Donald J. Banks courtesy of Donald J. Banks. Editor & Writer B&W of Sue Wessler by Larry Hodge. All other Beth Richardson photos by Beth Richardson. Department of Plant Biology Contributing Writers Dogwood Drawings: Wendy Zomlefer, Guide to www.plantbio.uga.edu Jim Leebens-Mack & Flowering Plant Families. The UNC Press. Miller Plant Sciences Building Wendy Zomlefer

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