Not able to get an action photo – this is a headshot to use.
Author: Kallahan Minor | Major: Biology and Chemistry | Semester: Fall 2024
Hello, my name is Kallahan Minor, and I am a biology and chemistry major. Over the last year and a half, I have been working under Dr. Fiona Goggin in the Entomology and Plant Pathology department. The research I assist in focuses on understanding nematode infection in transgenic lines of Arabidopsis thaliana and Glycine max (Soybean). This semester I have made significant progress in understanding how different soybean varieties respond to plant elicitor peptides (PEPs). These small signaling molecules play a crucial role in plant defense against agricultural pests, including nematodes. My research specifically aims to investigate why different soybean varieties may show varying responses to the same peptide treatment, which could have important implications for developing more effective pest management strategies.
Using bioinformatics tools, I analyzed three key PEP receptor genes (PEPR1a, PEPR1b, and PEPR2) across 26 different soybean genomes. This analysis revealed interesting variations between these receptor sequences, specifically finding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in two varieties for PEPR1b, seven varieties for PEPR2, and three varieties for PEPR1a. These findings support my hypothesis that receptor diversity is present and might explain why some soybean varieties respond differently to PEP treatments.
To complement the genomic work, I completed two nematode infection bioassays comparing the responses of two particular soybean varieties of importance in the Goggin lab – Magellan and Williams82. The results from my root-knot nematode infection assay were particularly exciting, showing significant differences in infection rates between peptide-treated and control groups. Notably, the peptide-treated Magellan groups showed a better response to the treatment than Williams82, supporting my hypothesis about receptor diversity affecting defense responses.
Looking ahead, I am working on the completion of sequencing and analysis of PEPRs found in Magellan to further support my bioassay results and hypothesis. I am also preparing to present my findings at the Arkansas Bioinformatics Conference in February. This research experience has not only expanded my technical skills but has also increased my preparedness and confidence for graduate school next year.
The biggest challenge I had to face with this research project was understanding the bioinformatics analysis required for this project. Having primarily worked with hands-on plant and nematode infection experiments before, learning how to use various bioinformatic tools and software to interpret genomic data was initially daunting. However, with guidance from Dr. Fiona Goggin and Dr. Payal Sanadhya, I was able to find new skills and complete my analysis.
Throughout my research experience, Dr. Goggin’s mentorship has continued to be invaluable, particularly through our weekly lab meetings where we discussed findings in and outside of this research project. Dr. Goggin also connected me with other experts in her department, including Dr. Rich Adams, a bioinformatician, who provided additional insights into my analysis approach.