Plant Biotechnology Lab

As a co-investigator of the Genome Canada project “Functional genomics of regulation in forest trees” in 2001, we were primarily responsible for the production of more 2000 activation tagged poplars, the largest of its kind in the world that has generated many interesting mutants. The poplar trees reside in a field trial near Kingston Ontario, and have resulted in the discovery of new genes in poplar leading to publications on genes related to tree stature, bioenergy, pest resistance, and wood properties. We continue to discovery new mutants and genes for future research.

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Current projects include:

1. Continued characterization of mutants with altered tree stature, leaf development and pest resistance.

2. Identification of genes responsible for wood properties, especially those important for bioenergy.

3. Expand screening strategies to identify mutants with enhanced ability to tolerate contaminated soil (see bioremediation)

4. Long term study on field trail of experimental poplars

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Selected Publications

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Martin Williams, Lowndes, L., Regan, S., Beardmore, T. (2015). Overexpression of CYCD1;2 in activation-tagged Populus tremula x Populus alba results in decreased cell size and altered leaf morphology. Tree Genetics and Genomes. 11:66-78.

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Plett, J,M., Williams, M., Leclair, G., Regan, S., and Beardmore, T. (2014) Heterologous over-expression of ACC SYNTHASE8 (ACS8) in Populus tremula x P. alba clone 717-1B4 results in elevated levels of ethylene and induces dwarfism and reduced leaf size through separate genetic pathways. Frontiers in Plant Science. 5: 514.

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Trupiano, D., Yordanov, Y., Regan, S., Meilan, R.,Tschaplinski, T., Scrippa, G.S., Busov, V. (2013) Identification and characterization of an AP2/ERF transcription factor that promotes adventitious and lateral root formation in Populus. Planta, 238:271-282.

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Yordan S. Yordanov, Sharon Regan and Victor Busov (2010) Members of the LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARY DOMAIN (LBD) Transcription Factors Family are Involved in Regulation of Secondary Growth in Populus. Plant Cell 22:3662-3677.

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Plett, J.M., Wilkins, O., Campbell, M.M., Ralph, S.G. and Regan, S. (2010) Endogenous overexpression of Populus MYB186 increases trichome density, improves insect pest resistance, and impacts plant growth. Plant Journal 64:419-432.

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Busov, V., Yordanov, Y., Gou, J., Meilan, R., Ma, C., Regan, S., and Strauss, S. (2010) Activation tagging is an effective gene tagging system in Populus. Tree Genetics and Genomes 7:91-101.

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Harrison, E. J., Bush, M., Plett, J.M., McPhee, D.P., Vitez, R., O’Malley, B., Sharma, V., Bosnich, W., Séguin, A., MacKay, J., and Regan, S. (2007) Diverse developmental mutants revealed in an activation-tagged population of poplar. Can. J. Bot. 85:1071-1108.

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