Bioremediation
We have recently become interested in expanding our gene discovery approach to genes related to Bioremediation. Poplars are naturally able to tolerate contaminated soil, and we seek to understand this at the molecular level. Using the Activation tagged poplars, we are searching for trees that have unusually high or low tolerance for heavy metals. We are also interested in identifying beneficial fungi that enhance the ability of plants to tolerate contaminated soil. We have been working on the Kam Kotia mine in Timmins Ontario, an abandoned mine that has copper and zinc mine tailings.
Current projects include:
1. Further characterization of known poplar mutants to assess their tolerance of heavy metal contaminated soil.
2. Identification of new activation tagged lines with altered response to heavy metals.
3. Culture and identification of beneficial fungi in the roots of plants able to tolerate heavy metal contaminated soil.
4. Investigate the bioremediation ability of Senna occidentalis.
Publications
Jacqueline Weber, Ayooluwa Adurogbangba, Darcy Vaters, Jordan O’Reilly, Ali Khalvati, Matthew Wheeler, Mark Priddle, Sharon Regan (2016) Molecular identification and culture of fungi native to heavy metal contaminated Kam Kotia mine. Preceedings of the Canadian Land Reclamation Association National Conference.
 Screening poplars for heavy metal uptake |  High levels of copper and zinc in mine tailings at Kam Kotia |  Collection of plants from Kam Kotia for fungal isolation |
|---|---|---|
 Beneficial fungi are tightly associated with roots of this heavy metal tolerant plant |  Ayo and Ali point at mine tailings at Kam Kotia |  Senna occidentalis is very tolerant of heavy metal contaminated soil |
 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance plant growth |  Activation tagged poplars are being screened for heavy metal tolerance |  Mine tailings at Kam Kotia have distinctive color |