Project Description: 

Flowering and reproduction are highly regulated processes in composite plants like sunflower which produce disks that are clusters of many individual flowers. Environmental cues like light and temperature interact with the circadian clock regulate what time of the season buds first start to develop, and the same integration of internal and external signals likely occurs as new whorls of individual florets open daily to present pollen and receptive stigmas at reproductive maturity. We are working to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this process by mapping genetic changes segregating among cultivated sunflower lines that alter the timing of these events. To do so and to obtain information about pollinator visitation, we will be collecting time-lapse video data for a large mapping panel of wild sunflowers that we will grow this summer in Davis. 

Department: 
PMB
Undergraduate's Role: 

The undergraduate researchers will contribute to a large field experiment examining natural variation in floret maturation, including field preparation, planting, and phenotyping sunflowers at our experimental plot. They will also be involved in organizing the time lapse image data we have collected in the field and scoring those images for floret maturation traits. The student will also participate in summer lab meetings.

Undergraduate's Qualifications: 

Students with strong interests in plant-environment interaction, genetics, evolution, and ecology will find the experience most rewarding. Attention to detail and good record-keeping skills are essential. The student should be comfortable and enthusiastic about working in field conditions for extended periods, and they will be expected to follow guidelines for safely doing so. Students who are interested in working full time (wage or stipend support may be available) are especially encouraged to apply.

Location: 
On Campus
Hours: 
To be negotiated
Project URL: 
nature.berkeley.edu/blackmanlab