UC Davis Young Scholars Program

Salinity has become a worldwide problem to agriculture as it has been known to be toxic to agricultural crops by affecting their growth thus leading to their death. The focus of Selina's research was to assess whether arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can alleviate the stress of Allium Ampeloprasum, or leeks, undergoing salinity stress. To conduct the research, leeks were planted in soil that contained and did not contain AMF in a controlled growth chamber watered by different concentrations of salt solution for three weeks. Results have shown that AMF had a positive effect on leeks under salt conditions. Leeks associated with AMF experienced greater change in positive growth and vitality. These findings from the benefits of AMF can be applied to early leek cultivation to help enhance their salt tolerance. In addition, leeks have been shown to be a model plant for AMF association which can provide crucial information in future experiments with other plant species functioning as the positive control in determining for the effects of AMF on plants under salinity stress. This research can serve to inform others on whether to incorporate AMF by the extent of effectiveness in agriculture.

Fat plays a critical role in the flavor, texture, and nutritional quality of conventional meat. Oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid, contributes significantly to the tenderness, juiciness, and health benefits of meat. As cultivated meat emerges as an alternative to traditional agriculture, replicating the attributes of fat remains a challenge. Ryan's project evaluated the effects of oleic acid on lipid accumulation in IM bovine and 3T3-L1 mouse preadipocytes. Cells were treated with varying concentrations of oleic acid, and lipid accumulation was assessed through Oil Red O staining and GC-FID analysis. It was found that oleic acid increases the overall accumulation of fat and could play a significant role in cultivated meat production.

Lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus) are an underutilized legume with the potential to bolster nutritional security and crop resilience in the wake of climate change. Lima beans have shown a strong tolerance to heat and drought stresses, while having high protein and amino acid content. Last summer, Reina helped analyze a diverse panel of lima bean accessions, including wild types, landraces, and commercial cultivars. After gathering phenotypic data from flowering time, hundred seed weight (HSW), and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) scanning, the team performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify the location of key traits in the genome. The GWAS visualizes important single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) using Manhattan plots to reveal loci linked to traits such as early flowering time, protein content, and drought resilience. Across the globe, but namely in South America and Africa, lima beans serve as a cost-efficient and nutritious legume in their diets. By pinpointing the location of traits in the genome, targeted breeding efforts for improved resilience to climate change lay the groundwork for future studies and programs aimed at enhancing food security.