Address

356 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108

Dr. Smith is interested in the physiology and molecular genetics of flower and pollen development. A first step toward understanding gene expression during flower production was the identification of genes that are expressed only in flowers. These genes are used to understand the specialized functions necessary for flower and pollen development. Regions of the flower-specific genes that impart tissue specific and developmental expression are used to identify regulatory genes important to flower-specific gene expression. The research involves production of transgenic tomato and Arabidopsis with altered expression of the flower-specific genes. Transformed plants are compared with unaltered plants to determine the role of specific genes in reproduction. Transgenic Arabidopsis are being used in a novel genetic approach for the identification of genes that regulate temporal and spatial expression of the flower-specific genes. Results from these experiments are used in applied projects for the improvement of horticultural crops. The applied research develops strategies for the control of reproduction and fertility of plants and to manipulate growth and size of plants. Dr. Smith is a graduate faculty member of the Plant Biological Sciences and the Applied Plant Sciences graduate programs and is a member of Plant Molecular Genetics Institute.

Refereed Publications

• Gardner, N., R. Felsheim and A.G. Smith. 2008. Production of male- and female-sterile plants through reproductive tissue ablation. J. Plant Physiol. 2008 Dec 13. [Epub ahead of print].
• Carson, T.D., D.B. White and A.G. Smith. 2007. Distinguishing creeping bluegrass (Poa annua var. reptans) genotypes using inter-simple sequence repeat markers. HortScience 42:373-377.
• Monjardino, P., A. G. Smith, and R. J. Jones.  2006. Zein Transcription and Endoreduplication in Maize Endosperm are Differentially Affected by Heat Stress. Crop Science, 46: 2581-258.
• Chen, R. D., Elizabeth Zimmermann, S. X. Xu,  G. S. Liu and A. G. Smith. 2006. Characterization of an anther- and tapetum-specific gene and its highly specific promoter isolated from tomato. Plant Cell Reports 25: 231 -240.
• Keifenheim, D.L., A.G. Smith, and B.S. Tong.  2006.  Cloning and Expression of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Genes in  Developing Tubers. Amer. J. Pot. Res. 83: 233-239.
• Gardner, N., T. Melberg, M. George, and A.G. Smith. 2006. Differential expression of rolC results in unique plant phenotypes. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 131: 82-88.
• McNeil, K.J., and A.G. Smith.  2005. An anther-specific cysteine-rich protein of tomato localized to the tapetum and microspores. J. Plant Physiol. 162: 457-464.
• Monjardino, P., A. G. Smith, and R. J. Jones.  2005.  Effects of Heat Stress on Protein Accumulation of Maize (Zea mays L.) Kernels. Crop Science 45: 1203-1210.
• Bucciaglia, P.A., E. Zimmermann, and A.G. Smith.  2003.  Functional analysis of a ß-1,3-glucanase gene (Tag 1) with anther-specific RNA and protein accumulation using antisense RNA inhibition.  J. Plant Physiol.  160: 1367-1373.
• Rieneke, R., W. Hackett, and A.G. Smith.  2002.  Lignification associated with decreased adventitious rooting competence of English Ivy petioles.  J. Environ. Hort.  20:  236-239.
• Erwin, J.E., R. Warner, and A.G. Smith. 2002.  Vernalization, photoperiod and GA3 interact to affect flowering of Japanese radish (Raphanus sativus L. Chinese Jumbo Scarlet’).  Physiologia Plantarum 115:  298-302.
• Fuerstenberg, S., P. B. Bucciaglia, and A.G. Smith.  1999.  Molecular characterization of an anther-specific gene from tobacco showing sequence similarity to a tapetum-specific gene from tomato. Sexual Plant Reproduction 4:  252-254.
• Lin, K-C., W.R. Bushnell, L.J. Szabo, and A.G. Smith. 1998.  Temporal accumulation of defense response gene transcripts in relation in oat inoculated with Puccinia graminis.  Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 52:  95-114.
• Lund, S.T., A.G. Smith, and W.P. Hackett.  1997.  Differential gene expression in response to auxin treatment in the wild type and rac, an adventitious rooting-incompetent mutant of tobacco.  Plant Physiol.  114:  1197-1206.
• Chen, R., F. Wang, and A.G. Smith.  1996.  A flower-specific gene encoding an osmotin-like protein from Lycopersicon esculentum.  Gene 179:  301-302.
• Lin, K-C, W.R. Bushnell, L.J. Szabo, and A.G. Smith. 1996.   Isolation and expression of a host response gene family encoding thaumatin-like proteins in incompatible oat-stem rust fungus interactions.  Molec. Plant-Microbe Interact.  9:  511-522.
• Dotson, S.B., M. Lanahan, A.G. Smith, and G. Kishore.  1996.  A phosphonate monoester hydrolase from Burkholderia caryophilli PG2982 is useful as a conditional lethal gene in plants.  Plant J. 10:  383-392.
• Lund, S.T., A.G. Smith and W.P. Hackett.  1996.  Cuttings of a tobacco mutant, rac, undergo cell divisions but do not inititate roots in response to exogenous auxin.  Physiol. Plant. 97:  372-380.
• Clark, T.A., R.J.  Zeyen,  T.L.W. Carver, A.G. Smith, and W.R. Bushnell. 1995.  Epidermal cell cytoplasmic events and response gene transcript accumulation during Erysiphe graminis attack in isogenic barley lines differing at the Ml-o locus.  Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 46:1-16.
• Sanchez, M.C., A.G. Smith, and W.P. Hackett.  1995.  Localized expression of a proline-rich protein gene in juvenile and mature ivy petioles in relation to rooting potential.  Physiol. Plant.  93:  207-216.
• Bucciaglia, P.A., and A.G. Smith.  1994.  Cloning and characterization of Tag1, a tobacco anther ß-1,3-glucanase expressed at tetrad dissolution.  Plant Molec. Bio. 24:  903-914.
• Clark, T.A., R.J.  Zeyen, A.G. Smith, T.L.W. Carver, and C.P. Vance.  1994.  Phenylalanine ammonia lyase mRNA accumulation, enzyme activity, and cytoplasmic responses in barley isolines, differing in Ml-a and ml-o loci attacked by Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei.  Physiol. Molec. Plant Path. 44:  171-185.
• Chen R., P.J. Aguirre,  and A.G. Smith.  1994.   Characterization of an anther- and tapetum-specific gene encoding a glycine-rich protein from tomato.  J. Plant Physiol. 143:  651-658.
• Wang, F., A.G. Smith, and M.L. Brenner.  1994.  Temporal and spatial expression pattern of sucrose synthase during tomato fruit development.  Plant Physiol.  104:  535-540.
• Murray, J.R., A.G. Smith, and  W.P Hackett.  1994.  Differential dihydroflavonol reductase transcription and anthocyanin pigmentation in the juvenile and mature phases of of ivy (Hedera helix L.).  Planta 194:  102-109.
• Clark, T.A., Zeyen, R.J., Smith, A.G., Bushnell, W.R., Szabo, L.J., and Vance C.P.  1993.  Host response gene transcript accumulation in relation to visible cytological events during Erysiphe graminis attack in isogenic barley lines differing at the Ml-a locus.   Physiol. Molec. Plant Path. 43:  283-298.
• Wang, F., A.G. Smith, and M.L. Brenner.  1993.  Isolation and sequencing of tomato fruit sucrose synthase cDNA.  Plant Physiol.  103:  1463-1464.
• Aguirre, P.J., and A.G. Smith.  1993.  Molecular characterization of a gene encoding a cysteine-rich protein preferentially expressed in anthers of Lycopersicon esculentum.  Plant Molec. Biol.  23:  477-487.
• Chen, R., and A.G. Smith.  1993.  Nucleotide sequence of a stamen- and tapetum-specific gene from Lycopersicon esculentum.  Plant Physiol.  101:  1413.

Book Chapters

• Smith, A.G. and N.O. Anderson.  2006. Engineered Sterility for Non-native Plant Invaders. IN: Floriculture, Ornamental and Plant Biotechnology:  Advances and Topical Issues (1st Edition).  J.A. Teixeira da Silva, ed. Global Science Books, London, UK. 
• Smith, A.G., K. John, and N. Gardner.  2006. Dwarfing ornamental crops with the rolC gene.  IN: Floriculture, Ornamental and Plant Biotechnology:  Advances and Topical Issues (1st Edition).  J.A. Teixeira da Silva, ed. Global Science Books, London, UK.
• Hackett, W.P., J.R. Murray, and A.G. Smith.  1997.  The Use of Mutants and Molecular Biology to Understand Competence for Root Formation.  IN:  Genetic and Environmental Manipulation of Horticultural Crops.  I.R Crute, E.B Holub, U.K, Wellesbourne and J.J Burdon, eds.,  CABI Publishing, CAB International, New York, NY.
• Hackett W.P., S.T. Lund, and A.G. Smith. 1996.  The use of mutants to understand competence for adventitious root initiation. IN:  Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on the Biology of Adventitious Root Formation, Tel Aviv, Israel
• Wang, F., A. Sanz, M.L. Brenner, and A.G. Smith.  1993.  Sucrose synthase, starch accumulation and tomato fruit sink strength.  Plant Physiol.  101:  321-327.
• Budelier, K.A., A.G. Smith and C. S. Gasser.  1990.  Regulation of a stylar transmitting tissue-specific gene in wild-type and transgenic tomato and tobacco.  Mol. Gen. Genetics. 224:  183-192.

Courses Taught

• Hort 4071 Applications of Biotechnology Plant Improvement           
• Hort 8044  Manipulation of Plant Growth and Reproduction