PhD (2021)

(Advised by Scott Peck, co-advised by Felix Fritschi and Bob Sharp)

Current Position

Field Development Manager, Sound Agriculture

Shannon King, PhD student, Department of Biochemistry

Research Interests

I was a member of a large interdisciplinary team working to understand the molecular mechanisms behind maize nodal root growth maintenance during drought stress.

I lead the field aspect of this project where I use transcriptomics to explore changes of the maize nodal root growth zone under irrigated and water-limited conditions in two inbred lines, FR697 and B73. These lines have contrasting abilities to maintain nodal root growth under water stress.  To generate these samples I utilize a rainout shelter for precise control of drought imposition. This approach allows determination of the molecular and physiological changes during “real world” drought conditions, and to directly compare these changes with those from chamber-grown samples (see additional Sharp Lab member pages for more details).

We identified potential gene candidates involved in nodal root growth maintenance from data collected during two field seasons and replicated lab experiments.  Making use of these datasets, along with additional proteomic and metabolic datasets, we narrowed the gene candidate pool considerably, allowing us to focus our follow up efforts on robust candidates.  These candidates are being examined in several genetic backgrounds and in analyses of different whorls of nodal roots to determine whether they are broadly involved in maize nodal root growth regulation during drought.

Posters/Invited Presentations/Publications
  • King S, McCubbin T, Becker C, Greeley L, Sen S, Mertz R, Zeng S, Stemmle J, Braun D, Joshi T, Oliver MJ, Peck SC, Sharp RE, Fritschi F. A field-based transcriptomic approach to uncovering the molecular mechanisms of maize nodal root growth during drought. Corteva agriscience Plant Sciences Symposium, U. Missouri, Feb 2020 (poster and selected oral presentation)
  • King S, McCubbin T, Becker C, Greeley L, Mertz R, Sen S, Zeng S, Joshi T, Sharp R, Fritschi F, Peck S and Scott C. Peck. Understanding the Transcriptomic Responses of Maize Nodal Root Growth during Drought in the Field. Interdisciplinary Plant Group Symposium, U. Missouri, 5-19
  • King S, McCubbin T, Greeley L, Mertz R, Becker C, Niehues N, Sidharth S, Zeng S, Stemmle J, Braun DM, Joshi T, Oliver M, Peck S, Sharp R, Fritschi F. Getting to the root of drought: Understanding the transcriptomics of maize nodal root growth under drought in the field. Soc. Root Research, Jerusalem, Israel, 7-18
  • King S. Investigating maize nodal root growth under drought in the field. Workshop: Responses and Adaptations of Plants and Ecosystems to Changing Environments”, China Ag. U., Beijing, China, 8-18
  • King S, McCubbin T, Greeley L, Mertz R, Becker C, Niehues N, Sidharth S, Zeng S, Stemmle J, Braun DM, Joshi T, Oliver M, Peck S, Sharp R, Fritschi F. Maize nodal root growth under drought – comparative transcriptomic response under controlled and field conditions. ASA/CSSA, Baltimore, MD, 11-18
  • Sharp, R. E., King, S., Owen, R., Stemmle, J. T., & Kang, S.. Interdisciplinary Science Communication Experiences in China: A Graduate Student Perspective. Global Plant Council Symposium “Enhancing Global Collaborations in Crop Science.” Baltimore, MD: Global Plant Council Symposium “Enhancing Global Collaborations in Crop Science.” 11-18