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Secretory and glandular trichomes (SGTs) are found on the surfaces of above ground plant tissues of approximately one third of all vascular plant species. Humans are familiar with these structures because they contain the essential oils that give cooking herbs their distinctive smell and taste. In addition to making foods taste better, these uni- and multi-cellular appendages are proposed to play a critical role in plant protection against various environmental stresses including herbivore attack, pathogen infection, extreme temperature, and excessive light.
Updated 04/09
Funding for the project commenced 1 September 2006 and the collaborating groups have been engaged in a number of different activities. Most of our efforts are focused on five representative species: Solanum lycopersicum (tomato cultivar M82), S. habrochaites (LA1777), S. pennellii (LA0716), S. pimpinellifolium (LA1589) and S. peruvianum (LA1708).
Click to learn more
Recent publications from the project:
Schilmiller*, A.L., I. Schauvinhold*, M. Larson, R. Xu, A.L. Charbonneau, A. Schmidt, R.L. Last and E. Pichersky 2009. Monoterpenes in the glandular trichomes of tomato are synthesized via a neryl diphosphate intermediate rather than geranayl diphosphate. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., Early online click here
Schilmiller, A.L., R.L. Last and E. Pichersky. 2008. Harnessing plant trichome biochemistry for the production of useful compounds. Plant J. 54:702-711.
To read this paper click here.
DellaPenna, D and R.L. Last 2008. The expanding universe of genomics enabled plant biochemistry. Science. 320:479-481.
To read this paper click here.
For past news click here
Symposium:
Our project has joined forces with the project Comparative Genomics of Secretory Trichomes project (NSF 0605033) led by Rick Dixon to propose the Major Symposium 'Plant Natural Products - Chemical Evolution in Time and Space' at the ASPB Meetings In Honolulu HI. The symposium will be held Sunday 19 July at 3 PM.
Awards!
Congratulations to members of the project who were recently recognized for their outstanding work on the Solanum Trichome Genomics Project.
Dennis Miner is a recipient of the 2009 MSU Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department Undergraduate Research Award. Dennis also received a Dan Bolin Undergraduate Award from the College of Natural Sciences Alumni Association.
Tony Schilmiller is the recipient of the inaugural MSU Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department Outstanding Postdoctoral Career Potential Award.
Thanks to all of the people whose hard work makes this project successful!
The Solanum Trichome Project is a collaborative functional genomics project funded by a National Science Foundation grant to Michigan State University, The University of Michigan and The University of Arizona. Did you find a bug or an error? Please let us know.
