The Environmental Biotechnology Group
The primary focus of the Environmental Biotechnology Research Group is on the various metabolic pathways in organisms of key importance to agribusiness, and the development of biotechnological strategies to protect commercially produced plants against pests such as viruses and nematodes. We are also interested in understanding the metabolic processes in algae so that these organisms may be used to produce bio-fuel and treat waste water.
Plant Protection Strategies. Nematodes are parasitic worms that reduce the efficiency of crop production both in California’s San Joaquin Valley and in other agricultural centers throughout the world. In fact, parasitic plant nematodes result in an estimated $10 billion annual loss to U.S. agriculture, and nearly 10 times that figure worldwide. Currently, the best defense against these pests is the use of methyl bromide, a chemical wrought with environmental hazards. We are working on alternatives to harsh chemical treatments, through the use of Programmed Cell Death (PCD) genes and ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi).
Using similar methodologies we are developing strategies to protect plants against viruses.
Exploitation of Algae Metabolites. At the present time, our work is concentrated on two fronts: 1) identifying algae with the right growth rate and oil producing ability to adequately clean up waste-water generated by various local industries (fruit, dairy, etc.); and 2) developing genetic transformation tools in algae to be able to add new genes to enhance their bioprocessing abilities.