Kathleen M Brown Ph.D.
- Professor of Plant Stress Biology
University Park, PA 16802
Websites
Education
- Ph.D., Horticulture, Minor: Plant Physiology, University of Florida, 1978
- M.S., Genetics, Minor: Plant Science, University of New Hampshire, 1976
- B.A., Biology, State University of NY, 1974
Research Interests
We are interested in root traits that influence crop performance under soil stresses such as drought and nutrient deficiency. The placement of roots in soil determines what resources they can access, e.g. the topsoil typically has more phosphorous, while deeper soil layers typically have more available water under drought conditions. Root architectural traits determine what parts of the soil are explored and therefore what resources can be acquired by those roots.
Root anatomical traits are also of interest. Traits such as aerenchyma can affect the metabolic cost of the roots. Since roots use fixed carbon and mineral nutrients, making cheaper roots can increase the availability of limiting resources for additional root growth or other uses such as yield.
Root hairs are another trait of interest. Root hairs increase the volume of soil explored at minimal additional cost, and are therefore important especially for diffusion-limited resources like phosphorus.
In our lab, we study how these traits develop, the genetic variation for the traits, their impact on water and nutrient acquisition, the interaction among traits, and the possible tradeoffs for each trait. We develop simple screens and genetic markers that can be used by plant breeders to improve the performance of crops in stressed soils. We do research in the lab and greenhouse and at field sites in the USA and the Republic of South Africa. the crops we work on are maize, common bean, and rice, with some investigations using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana to understand basic mechanisms involved in the traits of interest. Our goal is to improve the efficiency of water and nutrient use in the USA and in the world, thereby reducing hunger and environmental degradation.
Teaching
HORT 412w Postharvest Physiology, 3 credits, every spring semester
HORT 390 Junior Seminar, 1 credit, every spring semester
HORT 296/496/596 Undergraduate and graduate research experience
I also participate in the Intercollege Graduate Program in Plant Biology
