Projects
Current Projects
New and Emerging Plant Hormones
Melatonin and serotonin may be best recognized for their roles as neurotransmitters, but they are produced across all forms of life, including plants where we are only beginning to understand their functions and mechanisms; which include roles in reproduction, stress survival, growth and development. While these two compounds have been recognized in recent years as plant hormones, there is still lots to learn and understand about how this pathway functions. We are interested in understanding how melatonin, serotonin and other emerging and understudied tryptophan metabolites, including kynurenine function to control plant growth and allow them to survive environment challenges like flood, fire and other climate change associated weather disruptions.
The BERRI Lab is also working to develop new approaches to quantification of plant hormones in diverse sample types using quantitative, semi-quantitative and untargeted approaches via liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry. If you are interested in phytohormone analysis or collaborative work please reach out to Dr. Lauren Erland directly via email.
Wildfire Impact on Invasive & Endemic Okanagan Plants
Karrikins are a group of plant growth regulators that are produced during wildfires as a result of the burning of pine needles. These chemicals are known to effect seed germination in different ways depending on concentration and plant species. They can also change how already established plants grow and regenerate after exposure to smoke and fire. This project aims to better understand how endemic Okanagan plants respond to wildfire and smoke exposure through multidisciplinary approaches integrating plant ecology, in vitro biology and remote sensing. Applications of this project include management and control of invasive species. This work is funded by and in collaboration with the BC Parks Living Labs program and unceded territory of the syilx Okanagan Nation in Sn’pinktn (Penticton), BC.
This project was initiated in collaboration with the late Elvis George, friend and Elder at Penticton Indian Band, and we continue it now in his memory. We will always be grateful for his generosity, knowledge and sense of humour.
The BERRI Lab is the B.C. lead for this NSERC Sustainable Agriculture Research Initiative Project. The LeafHope project addresses the environmental and economic challenges faced by Canadian agriculture, particularly in the cultivation of strawberries, blueberries, and canola, which collectively represent a yearly economic value of $31B. The cultivation of these crops often relies heavily on fertilizers and insecticides, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and groundwater contamination. In response, a multidisciplinary team aiming to devise sustainable agricultural methods to significantly reduce synthetic insecticide use while ensuring high yields. The BERRI Lab is leading efforts for leafhopper monitoring across the Lower Mainland across 26 blueberry and strawberry field sites. As part of this work a BC Leafhopper Guide is in preparation. Check back soon for exciting updates!
Understanding Climate Resilience in Wild and Commercial Vaccinium
The genus Vaccinium includes commercially, ecologically and traditionally important berries which grow from Coast to Coast to Coast in Canada. Some examples include commercial cranberry and blueberry as well as huckleberry, lingonberry and bilberry. They are nutritious foods and valuable specialty crops. Understanding how these species as well as commercial varieties are likely to respond to future mixed environmental stresses will be important to develop and maintain sustainable and resilient food systems. The BERRi Lab is employing controlled environment studies, in vitro plant culture, metabolomics, field studies and community engaged research methodologies to understand resilience in these species. Current work in this area includes in field warming experiments in commercial cranberry, supported by the BC Cranberry Research Farm & Cranberry Marketing Commission.
Variety Susceptibility to Blueberry Scorch Virus
Blueberry scorch virus is an ongoing management challenge and research priority for blueberry producers in the Fraser Valley. This collaborative project between UFV, the BC Ministry of Agriculture & Food and the Mattsson Lab at SFU aims to better understand susceptibility and tolerance of new and popular blueberry varietals to blueberry scorch virus. The overall goal is to generate information which can help inform future planting choices for growers in the region.
Addressing Climate Change Food Security with Indigenous Communities in Northern Canada
This CIHR-supported project is a collaboration between Health Science Researcher Dr. Cindy Jardine (UFV) and Dr. Laurie Ann Lines (Dechita Naowo, Yellowknive Dene First Nation) which is using community-engaged, youth-led and strengths-based research approaches to identify and develop community priority foods and pathways to food security and food sovereignty in Yellowknife.
Climate Action Through Grazing (CAT -G)
The BERRI Lab is pleased to join the CAT-G team with a focus on phytohormone analysis. Canada’s last remaining grasslands are a vital resource for climate resilience, biodiversity and ecosystem health, and livestock production. The CAT-G project is pioneering science-driven, climate-smart grazing strategies to enhance soil carbon sequestration, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and boost cattle productivity; positioning Canada as a global leader in sustainable grazing and livestock production.
Past Projects
Enhancing Ecosystem Sustainability: A Syilx/Settler Science Collaboration
This project aimed to bring together the best of Western Science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge to support traditional ways of knowing and understanding the ecosystems surrounding black huckleberry and grizzly bears. A primary goal was relationship building between researchers at UBC and Syilx TEK holders. My role focused on understanding impacts of climate change on black huckleberry growth.
ARCTIC Change: Conservation of Canada’s Arctic Flora
Canadian Arctic plant species have evolved to thrive in an extreme environment. These plants represent an incredibly important subset of global biodiversity, but relatively little is known about these important species that complete their lifecycles in a short, cold, dry climate. As our climate changes, these plants are some of the most vulnerable, and may also have mechanisms of resiliency we do not yet understand. This project aimed to generate new information on the mechanisms of plant resilience.
