Primary project:
Dissecting the genetic basis of carbohydrate partitioning in Zea mays (maize) using molecular, physiological, genetic, and genomic methods. Two families of mutants exhibiting defects in carbohydrate partitioning are currently being characterized. Genes identified from this project may be future targets for crop improvement for increasing yield and bio-fuel production.
Collaborative projects:
Gene annotation in Saccharum species
Identification and annotation of gene families involved in sucrose transport in wild and modern cultivars of Saccharum sp. (sugarcane) using in silico analyses to understand the major sucrose transporters which may contribute to high sugar content in modern sugarcane cultivars.
Sugar profiling of Sorghum leaves under pathogen infection
Understanding the effect of altered cell wall and sugar content on Sorghum bicolor (sorghum)-associated pathogenic bacteria (Xanthomonas) to reveal the mechanisms underlying tolerance to pathogens and impact of bioenergy relevant traits on pathogen susceptibility. Currently involved in assessing sugar and starch content under various infection conditions in various sorghum accessions.
Publications:
Dhungana, S.R. and Braun, D.M., 2022. Genomic Analyses of SUT and TST Sugar Transporter Families in Low and High Sugar Accumulating Sugarcane Species (Saccharum spontaneum and Saccharum officinarum). Tropical Plant Biology, 15(3), pp.181-196.. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12042-022-09315-9
Dhungana, S.R., Braun, D.M., 2021. Sugar transporters in grasses: Function and modulation in source and storage tissues. J. Plant Physiol. 266, 153541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153541
Khangura, R.S., Venkata, B.P., Marla, S.R., Mickelbart, M.V., Dhungana, S.R., Braun, D.M., Dilkes, B.P., Johal, G.S., 2020. Interaction Between Induced and Natural Variation at oil yellow1 Delays Reproductive Maturity in Maize. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics 10(2), 797-810. https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.119.400838
Zhang, J., Zhang, X., Tang, H., Zhang, Q., Hua, X., Ma, X., Zhu, F., Jones, T., Zhu, X., Bowers, J., Wai, C.M., Zheng, C., Shi, Y., Chen, S., Xu, X., Yue, J., Nelson, D.R., Huang, L., Li, Z., Xu, H., Zhou, D., Wang, Y., Hu, W., Lin, J., Deng, Y., Pandey, N., Mancini, M., Zerpa, D., Nguyen, J.K., Wang, L., Yu, L., Xin, Y., Ge, L., Arro, J., Han, J.O., Chakrabarty, S., Pushko, M., Zhang, W., Ma, Y., Ma, P., Lv, M., Chen, F., Zheng, G., Xu, J., Yang, Z., Deng, F., Chen, X., Liao, Z., Zhang, X., Lin, Z., Lin, H., Yan, H., Kuang, Z., Zhong, W., Liang, P., Wang, G., Yuan, Y., Shi, J., Hou, J., Lin, J., Jin, J., Cao, P., Shen, Q., Jiang, Q., Zhou, P., Ma, Y., Zhang, X., Xu, R., Liu, J., Zhou, Y., Jia, H., Ma, Q., Qi, R., Zhang, Z., Fang, J., Fang, H., Song, J., Wang, M., Dong, G., Wang, G., Chen, Z., Ma, T., Liu, H., Dhungana, S.R., Huss, S.E., Yang, X., Sharma, A., Trujillo, J.H., Martinez, M.C., Hudson, M., Riascos, J.J., Schuler, M., Chen, L.-Q., Braun, D.M., Li, L., Yu, Q., Wang, J., Wang, K., Schatz, M.C., Heckerman, D., Van Sluys, M.-A., Souza, G.M., Moore, P.H., Sankoff, D., VanBuren, R., Paterson, A.H., Nagai, C., Ming, R., 2018. Allele-defined genome of the autopolyploid sugarcane Saccharum spontaneum L. Nat. Genet. 50(11), 1565-1573. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-018-0237-2