ASPB 2010 Abstract

Metal tolerance in Phragmites: possible role of metallothioneins

Nichole Walker, Florybeth LaValle, & Yourha Kang

Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801

Phragmites australis, the common reed, is found in wetlands throughout the United States and has been considered an invasive species, a noxious weed un-welcomed by conservationists and ecologists alike. Phragmites is able to survive in a number of different wetland environments, including those with high metal content, allowing the plant to out-compete the native species already present in a given habitat. This study aims to determine if there is a role of metallothioneins in Phragmites’ survivability in high metal environments. Thus far, using degenerate primers derived from metallothionein sequences of related species, polymerase chain reaction was able to amplify two DNA bands approximately 800 base pairs and 1.4 kb in length. These molecules will be sequenced, cloned, and characterized. Results will be presented and discussed.