Faculty Plant Biology Graduate Group

John I Yoder Professor Plant Sciences 101 Asmundson Hall Office 752-1741 Lab 752-8161 jiyoder@ucdavis.edu http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/yoder/lab/ Degrees: 1982 - PhD - Stanford University - Genetics 1977 - BS - University of Michigan - Microbiology Department and Center Affiliations: UC Davis Genome Center Plant Sciences Department Professional Societies: American Association Plant Biologists International Society of Parasitic Plants Grad Group Affiliations and Specialties: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Genetics Plant Biology Publications: Tomilov, A.A., Tomilova, NB., Tadeusz Wroblewski, T., Michelmore, R and Yoder, JI. (2008) Trans-specific gene silencing between host and parasitic plants. The Plant Journal, 56:389-397. Guo, YQ, Kim, KU, Lee, IJ, Yoder, JI, Shin, DH (2008) Haustorium induction of parasitic plant: A new bioassay method to determine allelopathic potential. Allelopathy Journal, 22 (2) 371-378 Tomilov, Alexey, Tomilova, Natalya, and Yoder, John I. (2007) Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Agrobacterium rhizogenes transformed roots of the parasitic plant Triphysaria versicolor retain parasitic competence. Planta, 225: 1059-1071 Yoder, J.I. and Musselman, L.J. (2006) Striga: a subterranian parasitic angiosperm (witchweed), In: Goodman, R. ed. Encyclopedia of Plant and Crop Science, Taylor and Francis Group, New York. Torres, Manuel J., Tomilov, Alexey A., Tomilova, Natalya, Reagan, Russell L. and Yoder, John I. (2005) Pscroph, a parasitic plant EST database enriched for parasite associated transcripts. BMC Plant Biology, 5:24. Tomilov, A.A., Tomilova, N.B., Abdallah, I. and Yoder, J.I. (2005) Localized hormone fluxes and early haustorium development in the hemiparasitic plant Triphysaria versicolor. Plant Physiology 138: 1469-1480 Research Interests: My lab is interested in understanding the genetic mechanisms governing plant-plant interactions in the rhizosphere. We have focused on the recognition and invasion of host plants by parasitic weeds since these processes are mediated by chemical signals exchanged between the two participants. By identifying genetic factors in both the host and parasite that mediate plant parasitism, we hope to identify candidate targets for engineering host resistance against parasitic weeds. In the long term, an understanding of the genetic factors mediating plant responses to rhizosphere signals should lead to novel strategies for optimizing plant performance in the field. http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/yoder/lab/