Salt cedar may have gotten a bad rap. <\/p>\n
Also known as the flowering tamarisk tree, salt cedar originated in drier areas of Eurasia and has become a major weed in the southwestern United States, where it is considered an invasive species. <\/p>\n
Now, biochemistry researchers at Kansas State University may not only exonerate the plant, but also find that it can help remove pollutants from the environment. <\/p>\n
Larry Davis, professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics, and undergraduate researchers Alexcis Barnes, Salina, and Katie McKinley, Shawnee, are working to understand why salt cedar is so prolific. <\/p>\n
The plant can tolerate high levels of two things that are toxic to other plants when present in more than trace amounts: salt and boron. <\/p>\n
Both can become concentrated from river irrigation, and boron is a common pollutant that finds its way into water from industry such as glass making, facilities burning wood or coal, and other sources. <\/p>\n
Boron pollution carries grim implications for agricultural areas. <\/p>\n
In the western part of the central valley of California, for example, its a limiting factor, Davis said. Theyre down to about five crops they can grow because the boron contamination makes black spots on lettuce and other plants. <\/p>\n
They can still grow sunflowers and canola because they are harvesting the oil and dont care about the leaves. <\/p>\n
Research on salt cedar has been scant, and as the plant has spread, people have assumed that it was choking out or even killing native plants. <\/p>\n
Davis work may demonstrate that salt cedar is thriving where other plants cant survive because of boron contamination in water and soil. <\/p>\n
McKinley, a junior in biochemistry, has worked with Davis for two years. <\/p>\n
She conducts experiments with salt cedar to test how much boron the plants can take. <\/p>\n
Salt cedars can withstand up to eight times the boron that a normal sunflower can withstand, McKinley said. Thats crazy, because they are much more slow-growing. They withstand up to 250 parts per million, which is a lot. Eight parts per million will kill other things. Its really impressive. <\/p>\n
According to McKinley, salt cedars take up boron and then secrete it on their leaves as a film. <\/p>\n
The next step is to determine how the plants take up boron and whether they could be used to take boron out of the soil. <\/p>\n
Thats where Barnes comes in. <\/p>\n
She is studying the channels in cell membranes that allow water and other particles into the plant, known as aquaporins, to see how they work in salt cedar. <\/p>\n
When she completes a new aquaporin model, she is hoping to determine whether salt cedar simply excludes boron or takes it up into its tissues. <\/p>\n
Another undergraduate in the Davis lab is exploring whether lipids in the roots explain the plants boron resistance. <\/p>\n
Understanding these mechanisms may lead to using salt cedar to help remove pollutants from water or soil, a process known as phytoremediation. <\/p>\n
Salt cedar could be planted in areas with boron-contaminated water, for instance, and allowed to take up the pollutant, then cut down and used for fuel. <\/p>\n
Both McKinley and Barnes are participating in undergraduate research through Kansas State Universitys Developing Scholars Program. <\/p>\n
The program offers high-achieving, underrepresented students research experience along with academic, social and financial support. <\/p>\n
Barnes said the program helped her learn to manage her time and set priorities, plus develop her scholarly skills. <\/p>\n
The program allows you to network and have a developed scholarly education by the end of your undergraduate career, Barnes said. I feel like I would be missing out on something had I not been doing the research. <\/p>\n
McKinley agreed and said the lab experience has built her confidence. <\/p>\n
It gives you a lot of lab work experience in safety protocol and using the tools and machines. I can do the mass spectrometry, calculate molarity I have physical experience for years doing this. I feel more confident in my skills working in a lab, McKinley said. <\/p>\n
Davis supports the program, noting 10 biochemistry majors are in the Developing Scholars Program. <\/p>\n
Biochemistry is a growing field, partially because the Medical College Admission Test emphasizes the field. <\/p>\n
Barnes and McKinley both hope to enter the medical field. <\/p>\n
Barnes wants to attend medical school and McKinley plans to become a pharmacist and work in a hospital or conduct pharmacology research. <\/p>\n
Both say incoming freshmen should seek out opportunities to engage in research and find a mentor like Davis. <\/p>\n
Its been wonderful to work with Dr. Davis and learn from him, Barnes said. He is so knowledgeable, and hes patient and is good about explaining higher-level concepts to me. <\/p>\n
He can explain in ways I can understand or draw them out on paper. He involves me in conversations with other labs and helps me with networking. Hes a wonderful mentor. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Continued here: Salt cedar may have gotten a bad rap. Also known as the flowering tamarisk tree, salt cedar originated in drier areas of Eurasia and has become a major weed in the southwestern United States, where it is considered an invasive species Continue reading
\nShawnee researcher at KSU helps unravel tree mystery - The Dispatch<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"