Postdoc Research Presentations at the next AgriCulture Seminar Series Aug 25th 1:30 PM EST

Amanda Stahlke, PhD

“Genome assemblies accelerate research in beneficial and pest species."

Our goal in the Ag100Pest Initiative is to produce annotated, reference quality genome assemblies by leveraging expertise in arthropod pest management and agricultural genomics research. I will share tips and tricks from our ever-improving workflow and highlight some of the products and insights gained through my contributions to the initiative with genome assemblies for an array of arthropod pests and beneficial species. From ticks and locusts to invasive plant biocontrol agents, each project presents unique challenges and advances our capacity to improve management strategies. 

Northeast Area

Abigail Snyder, PhD

"Fate and Disposition of PFAS in Broiler Chickens During a 6 Week Exposure Period".

Per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) consist of over 12,000 different chemical entities used as surfactants in a host of industrial and consumer products. PFAS contaminants have been measured in chickens, pigs, goats, and cattle and detected across the food web. Additionally, concentrations of PFAS have been measured in poultry products during market basket surveys, and studies exposing poultry to acute doses of PFAS have shown accumulation and translocation of PFAS. However, there are few data describing the fate and disposition of PFAS in poultry during lifetime exposures to environmental levels of PFAS in water. Therefore, the fate and disposition of a suite of 25 PFAS compounds was determined in broiler chickens during 6 weeks of exposure to drinking water containing each compound at 100 ng/L.

Plains Area

Nathan Grant, PhD

"Biological barriers to prevent gene flow in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) for bioenergy and forage uses".

Growing and studying genetically engineered sorghum is complicated by the presence of sexually compatible noxious weeds and traits such as herbicide tolerance or insect resistance would likely confer a competitive advantage to the progeny. Containment strategies are needed to prevent pollen-flow from grain sorghum to related weedy species for use in genetic engineering. Combining cytoplasmic male sterility and control of flowering traits together provides redundancy where the resultant progeny will either not produce pollen or seeds under a temperate photoperiod and further reduces the risk of gene flow. Large scale ecological trails may then be feasible with GE sorghum.

Plains Area