Faculty | Zoology | SIU

Phytochemistry and Plant Secondary Metabolism

My research involves studying the biosynthesis of plant constituents that have medicinal or industrial uses. We employ multidisciplinary techniques in phytochemistry, molecular biology, biochemistry and tissue culture to understand how the production of plant natural products is controlled. Our long-term goal is to be able to systematically manipulate metabolic pathways for increased production of economically important compounds, as well as to generate novel chemical structures (that may have useful properties) from existing natural templates. 

Weed Ecology

Dr. Gage holds a cross-appointment between the College of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Soil and Agricultural Systems and the College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences, Plant Biology program.  She has experience working with weed management research, planning and control in agricultural, grassland, forest, and aquatic ecosystems.

Visit the Weed Science lab website to learn more.

Mathematical Biology

Biology is now an information science, as DNA and protein sequences are digital, and data collected can be manipulated by decryption and database software. I use a novel combination of data mining software and high-throughput whole genome expression analysis to match cis-regulatory elements in DNA to gene expression patterns. Once identified, individual elements are built into regulatory modules and artificial promoters driving reporter genes are constructed and tested in our lab by transforming Arabidopsis plants or cell cultures.

Plant population and community ecology, grassland ecology, multivariate methods

Current research interests and specialties include:

• Population and community ecology succession
• Plant competition
• Exotic species
• Ecology of grasslands
• Agroecology
• Ecology education
• Effects of Global Environmental Change
• Multivariate methods

Molecular Biology

Dr. Jayakody holds a cross-appointment between the College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences, Plant Biology and Microbiology programs and the Fermentation Science Institute.

Systematics, Phylogenetics, and Biodiversity

My lab investigates plant systematic questions, both floristically and taxonomically focused.  Because evolution is the central unifying process of biology, the use of phylogenetic methods can give us an evolutionary perspective for interpreting variation in morphology, biogeography, polyploidy, and pollination, among others.  My research includes the use of DNA, morphology and anatomy to address systematic questions across many different plant groups, including Annonaceae, Asteraceae, Cactaceae, Malvaceae, Orchidaceae, Poaceae, and Polygalaceae.  My current research also focuses on several different avenues of biodiversity research including 1) the floristics, DNA barcoding, and phylogenetic diversity of the floras of Florida and North America, and 2) application of metagenomic approaches using floristic DNA barcodes.

Visit my laboratory website to learn more.

Plant Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

My research focuses on the evolution of plant-insect interactions, specifically interactions between bees and their pollen and nectar host plants. I integrate both the botanical and entomological aspects of these interactions; I also address conservation implications of these interactions. My current research projects include using molecular phylogenetic approaches to examine 1) the evolution of pollen host choice in specialist bees and 2) the early evolutionary history of bee/angiosperm relationships. Additionally, I am examining the breeding systems, correlates of reproductive success, pollination ecology, and population genetic structure of several species of rare plants.

Visit my laboratory website to learn more.

Plant Ecology and Evolution

I am broadly interested in plant evolutionary ecology, and I currently study factors that drive trait variation at various spatial and temporal scales. Flowering plants provide an astounding template for studies of trait variation. For example, plant mating strategies have been the subject of active research in biology for over a century. Plant mating systems directly influence the fitness and potential adaptability of plant populations, making this area of research most critical with ongoing climate change. In general, the ability of species to persist or adapt with our changing climate remains an open-ended question and one of great importance. In my research program, I examine two primary, but overlapping topics: the evolution of plant mating system and population responses to climate change. Ultimately, I aim to facilitate our understanding of the consequences of climate change and improve our ability to predict the impacts of climate change on future plant populations.

Visit my laboratory website to learn more.

Stress physiology

The molecular, cellular and biochemical responses of plants to water-deficit stress is the central, and long-term, interest of my research program. My laboratory is pursuing a two-pronged strategy, one basic and one applied, with the ultimate goal of improving drought-tolerance and yield stability within crop plants. Our basic research utilizes the desiccation-tolerant moss Tortula ruralis as a model system for studying post-transcriptional gene control, cellular repair mechanisms, and as a source of novel tolerance-associated genes. Another applied research area is analyzing the biochemical, molecular and physiological mechanisms that control yield stability under drought-stress in soybean (Glycine max).