Strengthening Research and Training in Plant Cell and Tissue Culture and Related Biotechnolgies

改善少数民族机构研究方案旨在通过提供支持，加强以少数民族为主的机构的研究环境和能力，增加少数民族对科学和工程研究的参与。有资格参加这个项目的机构除了必须招收大量的少数民族学生外，还必须有科学或工程专业的研究生课程。阿拉巴马农工大学将利用RIMI的资金加强植物细胞和组织培养生物技术的研究和培训。本研究将建立木本植物的组织培养计划，扩大小麦、黑麦和大麦的植物细胞和组织培养计划，并建立小麦的分子遗传学计划。木本植物的组织培养研究将集中在冬青的培养和胚源植物的变异分析上。植物细胞和组织培养项目将探索谷类植物单细胞再生。最初的研究将包括开发分离单细胞和筛选再生潜力基因型的程序。此外，重组DNA技术将用于探索小麦和黑麦的种间遗传变异。这些研究将作为构建遗传图谱的基础。本项目将为研究生、本科生和博士后培训生提供支持。首席研究员是一位在植物和土壤科学方面训练有素且经验丰富的科学家，并定期在期刊上发表文章。由于这个RIMI项目，少数民族教师和学生将有更多的机会参与阿拉巴马a&m大学在植物和土壤科学方面的有价值的研究。

The Research Improvement in Minority Institutions (RIMI) program was designed to increase the participation of minorities in scientific and engineering research by providing support to strengthen the research environment and capabilities of predominantly minority institutions. Institutions eligible to participate in this program must have in addition to a substantial enrollment of minority students, graduate programs in science or programs in engineering. Alabama A&M University will use RIMI funds to strengthen research and training in plant cell and tissue culture biotechnology. The research studies will develop a tissue culture program in woody plants, expand a plant cell and tissue culture program in Triticiae (wheat, rye and barley), and establish a molecular genetics program in Triticiae. Tissue culture studies in woody plants will focus on the cultivation of the holly and the analysis of variation in embryo-derived plants. The plant cell and tissue culture program will explore the regeneration of cereal plants from single cells. Initial studies will involve the development of procedures for isolating single cells and screening of genotypes for regeneration potential. In addition, recombinant DNA techniques will be employed to explore interspecies genetic variability in wheat and rye. These studies will be used as a basis for constructing genetic maps. This project will provide support for graduate students, undergraduate students and post-doctoral trainees. The principal investigator is a well-trained and experienced scientist in plant and soil science who publishes regularly in refereed journals. Because of this RIMI project, minority faculty and students will have increased opportunities to participate in meritorious research in plant and soil science at Alabama A&M University.