The Rural Voice, 1983-02, Page 7Rather, as Bill Hopkins says, the goal
"is to provide a backlog of information
for the plant breeders or bio -technolo-
gists. You could say it's like the
contribution a metallurgist might make
to the development of a fuel-efficient
engine."
Already the UWO team is collabora-
ting with University of Toronto bota-
nists, as a direct result of their initial
research, to find that backlog of infor-
mation.
As Dr. Hayden explains, the scien-
tists already know that "crops that can
survive low temperatures adapt their
photosynthetic processes in some way.
We're looking at ways in which they
adapt, especially by focussing on the
photosynthetic properties of plants and
the changes which occur.'
Low temperatures markedly affect
photosynthesis or the process by which
plants convert sunlight into useable
chemical energy.
The researchers know colder condi-
tions impair development of the com-
plex photochemical apparatus in the
chloroplast, which is the part of a leaf
containing the chlorophyll needed for
photosynthesis.
To study the reactions of the photo-
synthetic process to the cold, the plant
scientists use special temperature -
controlled growth chambers, housed in
the basement of one of UWO's science
buildings.
The chambers, which resemble large
freezers from the outside, allow the
researchers to play Mother Nature and
to artificially control light, temperature
and humidity to recreate the environ-
ment under rigidly -controlled condi-
tions.
In one cabinet, plants are grown at a
normal 20 degrees Celsius, and in the
second, at the cooler five degrees
Celsius, to duplicate cold -hardening
conditions.
The three scientists consider their
work a novel approach to the study of
the over -wintering process.
Once they've isolated specific genes
which affect the chloroplasts, these
genes can be engineered by breeders to
produce hardier cash crops for the
Canadian climate.
"If we can figure out what produces
these changes, it may be possible to
induce similar changes in other plants
which currently cannot survive in lower
temperatures," Don Hayden says.
The team hopes to build up "a
catalogue of changes" or cause and
effect list in the next few years which
can then be turned over to the breeders.
The scientists have already displayed
their initial research and experiment
aims in the university's exhibit at the
recent International Plowing Match in
Lucan.
Dr. Hayden's project is only one of
four agricultural related research pro-
grams now being carried on at the
university.
A weed ecologist is currently study-
ing the proso millet weed. one of the
country's newer and less welcome im-
ports, which experts are coming to
believe was brought into Canada on
combines and other harvest equipment
crossing the border The ecologist
hopes to add to our knowledge of the
biology of weed and seed dispersal by
tracing the history of the proso millet in
Canada.
Another project is aimed at eventually
controlling the destructive snow -mold.
Snow mold can affect anything that
winters over, not only winter wheat but
golf greens and lawns. The UWO
researchers are studying the fungus
disease to discover the trigger that
shuts down the mold.
Finally. two members of the UWO
engineering faculty are researching the
production of cheaper fuel alcohols.
Which Just proves that behind its
Gothic facade. London's urban univer-
sity hasn't forgotten it's position in the
midst of one of Canada's most produc-
tive agricultural areas.
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THE RURAL VOICE, FEBRUARY '.983 PG. 7