Phenotype and Environment Interaction

1. Phenotype and Environment Interaction Chad Bonstead Denise Fancher Julie Kondoff Matt Luensmann

2. What is a Genotype? • “internally coded, inheritable information” • Coded language, “blueprint” • Cannot be observed • Codes for protein synthesis

3. Phenotype is… • “outward physical manifestation” • Physical parts • Anything that is part of the observable structure, function, or behavior

4. Genotype Codes For Phenotype • The genotype holds the instructions that are interpreted to depict the phenotype. • Controls formation of macromolecules, and the regulation of metabolism and synthesis • Sum of atoms, molecules, macromolecules, cells, structure, metabolism, energy utilization, tissues, organs, reflexes, and behavior

5. Environmental Factors • Climate • Temperature • Sunlight • Precipitation • Air Pollution • Soil

6. Temperature Plant growth is vitally dependent on temperature.

7. Precipitation Plant growth is dependent on water.

8. Sunlight • Light Intensity • Quality of Light • Light Duration

9. Air Pollution • Symptoms • Stunted growth • Leaf drop • Abortion of flowers • Yellowed or mottled foliage • Factors • Type and concentration of pollutants • Distance from pollution source • Length of exposure • Weather • Examples • Ozone • Peroxyacetyl Nitrate • Ethylene • Sulfur Dioxide • Fluorides • Chlorine

10. Soil • Plants need 16 essential nutrients, 13 of which are found in the soil. • Soil texture • Sand • Silt • Clay • Soil pH

11. Soil pH and Plant Phenotype • What determines a soil’s pH? • Examples of the pH scale: < 4.5 = extremely acidic (lemon) 4.5 - 5.0 = very strongly acidic (tomato) 5.1 - 5.5 = strongly acidic (carrot) 5.6 - 6.0 = moderately acidic (potato) 6.1 - 6.5 = slightly acidic (milk) 6.6 - 7.3 = neutral (saliva) 7.4 - 7.8 = slightly alkaline (eggs) 7.9 - 8.4 = moderately alkaline (sea water) 8.5 - 9.0 = strongly alkaline (borax) 9.1+ = very strongly alkaline (ammonia)

12. Effects of Soil pH on Plants Solubility of minerals and nutrients, especially aluminum. Most nutrients are more soluble in acidic soils. Special case: Phosphorous The presence and availability of these minerals determines several plant characteristics.

13. Hydrangeas • Aluminum in acidic soil causes Hydrangeas to bloom dark blue.

14. Neutral soils produce white blooms on Hydrangeas

15. Alkaline soil produces pink flowers on Hydrangea plants.

16. Soil Regions of North America

17. Why Adjust Soil pH? • A pH range from about 6 to 7 is ideal for most plants. • Some plants, like conifers and potatoes, are especially adapted to acidic soils. • Highly alkaline soils cut iron supply to plants, especially Oaks. (chlorosis)

18. How to adjust soil pH • Test soil pH using a sample test kit.

19. The Future What’s Being Done and Where Do We Go From Here?

20. Lignin Research • “Glue” providing structural support • Goal to produce specialize plants and trees for forestry and agriculture • Directly connected with the enzyme laccase • Research is in developmental stages • Risk vs. Reward • Possible Advancements

21. Global Warming • Consequence of human activity • Bleak and threatening outlook for plant and animal life • Possible remedies/solutions • Limit energy usage • Air Pollution • Waste and Recycling • Stay informed

22. Bioengineered Crops • Farm level adoption of GE crops • Future Applications • Benefits and Risks • Public Perception • Examples include herbicide-tolerant corn and soybeans, Bt cotton and corn

23. Bt CornBacillus thuringiensis • Advantages • Less Pesticide • Better Yields

24. Bt CornBacillus thuringiensis • Disadvantages • Resistance • Public View

25. Summary • New research techniques • Threat of Global Warming • Impact of biotechnology • Where do we come in? • Stay informed • Seek current, accurate information

26. Sources • Genotype and Phenotype Research http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/ahp/BioInfo/SD.Geno.HP.html http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/ahp/BioInfo/GP/GeneticTrait.html http://www.kursus.kv1.dk/shares/vetgen/_Popgen/genetics/1/1/tsld011.htm • Brickell, Christopher and Elvin McDonald. The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Gardening, DK Publishing, Inc., 1993. • Novak, Joe. Garden Science: Lecture Supplement for HORT 301 Horticultural Techniques, Texas A&M University, 2003. • Preece, John E. and Paul E. Reed. The Biology of Horticulture: An Introductory Textbook, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1993. • USDA Hardiness Zone Maphttp://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html • US Average Annual Precipitation Maphttp://www.eduplace.com/ss/maps/pdf/usclim.pdf • Effect of Light on Plant Growth http://www.biology-online.org/3/9_effect_light.htm • Blue Hydrangea Photohttp://www.conweb.com/hydrangea/ • White Hydrangea Photohttp://greenwoodnursery.com/page.cfm/1281 • Pink Hydrangea Photohttp://www.pottedliners.com/article.htm

27. More Sources • North America Soil pH Map http://atlas.sage.wisc.edu/maps/soilph/atl_soilph_nam.jpg • Soil pH effects page http://www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/soilph.htm • Lignin Research http://www.forestry.uga.edu/warnell/research/html/wildlife/lignin.html • Global Warming http://weathersavvy.com/GlobalWarming5.html http://nvnv.essortmen.com/globalwarmingp_rgby.htm http://www.usatoday.com/news/science/climate/2002-06-03-epa-report.htm http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/renewable_energy/page.cfm?pageID=91 • Bioengineering and Bt Corn http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/aer810/aer810b.pdf http://entomology.ucdavis.edu/courses/ent110/docs/Weighing_BTcorn.pdf http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/magazine/summer00/assess.htm http://reason.com/bi/bi-gmf.shtml • Air Pollution http://www.aces.edu/department/ipm/poldmge.htm All websites current as of February 27, 2003.