Welcome to the Barth lab

The small antioxidant vitamin C is important for human nutrition, because most animals, including humans, cannot synthesize AA. Important functions of the body, such as collagen biosynthesis, immune responses, pulmonary function, and iron absorption all require vitamin C. The antioxidant may play critical roles in the prevention of coronary heart disease, cancer and cataracts (Weber et al. 1996).
Vitamin C is found in many fruits and vegetables (Haytowitz 1995). Citrus fruits and juices are particularly rich sources of vitamin C but other fruits, including cherries, kiwi fruits, strawberries, and watermelon also contain variable amounts of vitamin C. Vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bean sprouts, cauliflower, red and green peppers, peas, tomatoes, and potatoes are also important sources of vitamin C.
What functions, however, does vitamin C fulfill in plants? Besides protecting plants from oxidative damage caused by environmental stress, such as drought, salinity, chilling, and ozone (Smirnoff 2000), vitamin C plays many more important roles in plant growth, development and defense (Barth et al. 2006).

Interested in learning more? Read on!

 

Research Summary:

The Barth lab uses genetic, biochemical and physiological approaches to study the function of vitamin C in plant development, biotic and abiotic stress responses. We utilize the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress). Our research focuses on the three main projects:

1. Research on the role of vitamin C in regulating flowering time and senescence.

2. Research on the role of vitamin C in regulating plant pathogen defense responses.

3. Research on plant responses to heavy metals, focusing on the role of cadmium on plants.

 

 

Arabidopsis thaliana