This $290,000 Project Grant awarded by the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Biological Sciences program is supporting research to study how plant hormones stimulate rapid growth in stamen filaments, the male flower organs that produce pollen. The project aims to examine the cellular and molecular events during stamen filament elongation, revealing how this growth is controlled by hormones and coordinated with pollen release. Key activities include using advanced microscopy, gene expression analysis, and genetic manipulations to gain insights into the mechanisms coupling filament growth with the production of jasmonate, a hormone needed for anther dehiscence (pollen release). Findings from this work may enable targeted modifications of flower organ growth and pollen release in crop plants to improve fertilization and yield. The award, with a performance period from February 2024 to January 2027, will also provide research experiences for undergraduate students and public outreach on plant reproduction. No subawards are planned for this project.
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