Interdisciplinary Plant Group - University of Missouri
Welcome to the Interdisciplinary Plant Group at MU
The Interdisciplinary Plant Group is a community of MU faculty, students, and professionals from a range of scientific disciplines who are pursuing novel, creative, and transformative ideas in the field of plant biology. Established in 1981, the IPG provides a supportive, open, and flexible research environment that transcends traditional departmental boundaries, facilitates the sharing of ideas and resources, and creates opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations. The IPG is comprised of 50 faculty-led research teams representing the divisions of Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, and Plant Sciences and the departments of Forestry and Computer Science.
Seminars
News
Drought experts present at InterDrought III
Oct 20, 2009
Drs. Robert Sharp, Henry Nguyen, and Mel Oliver presented invited talks at InterDrought III, the Third International Conference on Integrated Approaches to Improve Crop Production under Drought-Prone Conditions, held in Shanghai, China, from October 11-16, 2009. 
IPG member appointed to head federal committee
Oct 20, 2009
Gary Stacey was appointed chair of the Department of Energy's Biological and Environmental Research Advisory Committee (BERAC)
MU Researchers Create Drought Conditions to Unearth Solutions
Aug 5, 2009
New drought simulators will allow plant scientists at MU to conduct a broad range of drought-related translational research.
MU Plant Biologists Reap Major Awards for Research

Three IPG faculty receive awards from American Society of Plant Biologists. Gretchen Hagen and Tom Guilfoyle were awarded the ASPB's Charles Reid Barnes Life Membership Award. Melvin Oliver was awarded the Fellow of the ASPB Award.
Signals for Survival
If plants had brains, they'd be single-minded, indeed. Their mantra would be "survive and reproduce." But plants don't use, or express, many of their genes until absolutely necessary, such as when they are under stress. The ability of genes to hibernate saves precious energy, says IPG member Shuqun Zhang, associate professor of biochemistry. Zhang has recently earned high praise in the scientific community for his studies of the complex internal signals plants send when they are subject to stress, including extreme heat or cold, viruses or ultraviolet light.
Fighting Malnutrition in Africa
Each day, hundreds of millions of people suffer with disease, blindness and other problems associated with malnutrition. Now, one IPG member has joined an international consortium in an effort to improve the nutritional value of sorghum, a staple of the African diet, as one way to combat this problem.
Understanding How Plants Bend Toward Blue Light
Plants need light and water to grow. These necessities, however, are not always readily accessible. While plants may not be able to move to a better location, they do have the ability to orient their leaves, stems, and roots to optimize their access to light and water. IPG member Mannie Liscum and his lab are using various genetic approaches to understand how plants bend toward blue light.
About IPG
People
Research
Symposium
Students
Facilities
Interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, 371 Bond Life Sciences Center, Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: (573) 884-4144 * Fax: (573) 884-7676 * E-mail: plantgroup@missouri.edu

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