Research

Dr. Danilo D. Fernando

Research in my lab focuses on the reproductive development of plants, particularly woody species such as pine, willow and American chestnut. We are interested in elucidating the mechanisms involved in pollen germination, pollen tube wall formation, gamete formation, and reproductive sterility using a combination of approaches involving anatomy, cell biology, genetics, genomics and proteomics. We are also interested in the evolution of reproductive structures in seed plants and manipulations of reproductive structures for genetic improvement and biotechnology.

MAJOR RESEARCH PROJECTS IN THE FERNANDO LAB:

• Mechanism of pollen tube development in conifers involving microarray, microRNA profiling, and high-throughput proteomics.
• Mechanism of flowering in willow involving histology, genomics and bioinformatics.
• Genetic transformation of American chestnut pollen.
• Development of resistance to white pine blister rust through in vitro fertilization.

willow in vitro regeneration

in vitro fertilization in conifers

American chestnut pollen germination

American chestnut leaf and male catkins