9413248 Gresshoff Description: This project supports a joint project by Dr. Peter Gresshoff, of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Dr. Kauser Malik, Director of the National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) in Faisalabad, Pakistan. The research aims at understanding the mechanisms affecting the nodulation in legumes planted under stress conditions such as heat and salinity. The work is to seek more information concerning the cellular targets of these stresses. As nodulation is a prerequisite of symbiotic nitrogen fixation, the work will focus on this initial step. Nodulation starts through cell division possibly induced in G2 arrested cortical cells. Plans call for using molecular probes and PCR primers for two cell-cycle genes (namely cyclin-B and cdc2) which were recently isolated from soybean in Gresshoff's laboratory. Focus will be on non-radioactive PCR techniques to define how stresses modulate the expression of these critical genes. The objectives of this cooperative project are: to transfer technology from soybean to the mungbean system; train the research team in Faisalabad to use molecular probes and primers to evaluate the impact of heat and salinity stress on early nodulation of mungbean; determine the degree of evolutionary divergence between the soybean and mungbean gene arrangements; and further develop the knowledge base of cell cycle involvement in meristem initiation and maintenance. Scope: This project meets a number of important objectives of the Division of International Programs: it allows cooperation of two respected scientists, with complementary capabilities, to do important scientific work; it allows a foreign scientist in a developing country to build the experience necessary to continue this useful research beyond this project; and it helps understand the causes of a problem that affects productivity in marginal lands around the world. The Pakistani scientist is one of that c ountry's most distinguished researchers in the field, with an impressive record of scientific publications. As a result of his work, the NIBGE was recently established, with him as its first director. ***
