David Roberts
Former Horticulture - MS
Bio
- Degree Program: M.S. of Horticultural Science
- Previous Degree: B.S., Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University
- Advisor: Dr. Dennis Werner; Dr. Thomas Ranney
- Thesis: Genome Size Determination, and Inheritance and Allelism of Morphological Traits in Cercis
- Thesis Date: 2015-10-28
Research
A comprehensive study of the Cercis genus, which will include: 1) A survey of the Cercis genome via flow cytometry. This survey will catalog the genome size of over 30 varieties, cultivars and hybrids found within 10 species of redbud and will allow for the identification of potential haploid and polyploid specimens within that genus. 2) A pigment analysis will be performed on various Cercis cultivars that exhibit variations in leaf coloration via spectroscopy. This analysis will quantify chlorophyll A and B concentrations as well as carotenoid and anthocyanin levels within the collected leaf tissue. 3) An allelism study that will track the phenotypic inheritance of multiple traits across several Cercis hybrids, which have been developed by Dr. Dennis Werner.