Horticulture & Related FieldsEvana James
2026 The Corliss Knapp Engle Scholarship in Horticulture
Fiber Gene Discovery and Expression Analysis in Sansevieria spp. via Transcriptomics
This project explores an underexamined candidate for fiber crop application: Dracaena spp. “snake plant” (formerly Sansevieria). Snake plant is a popularized home and office décor ornamental with versatile leaf fibers. However, there has yet to be any in-depth study of how these plants create their fibers, or how the genetic basis of fiber biosynthesis is impacted by external factors. This research aims to clarify the evolutionary patterns and identification of Sansevieria leaf fiber genes; using crop phytohormone and mechanical stress, three snake plant species will undergo transcriptome mining and in silico expression analysis.
The Corliss Knapp Engle Scholarship in Horticulture
To encourage the development of research, documentation, and teaching skills in the field of horticulture.
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