Daryl R. Pring
Education
Ph.D., North Dakota State University, 1968
My research is associated with the mitochondrion of higher plants and relationships to disease susceptibility. The mitochondrial-associated trait cytoplasmic male sterility (cms), which causes pollen abortion, is used in the production of hybrids of many higher plants. Unfortunately, disease susceptibility can be genetically linked to cms. I search for and isolate mitochondrial DNA gene sequences associated with the cms trait, identify product(s), and evaluated their potential rolls in deleterious effects such as disease susceptibility. The gene sequences may be modified to include cms without disease susceptibility, and tested by introduction into plants via transformation. Genes which may cause cms can also be activated during pollen development by utilizing gene promoters which are flower/pollen-specific. Such research may expand the use of cms to ensure continued use of heterosis in plant production.