Summer Environmental StudyNathan Kulp
2026 The Garden Club of America Awards for Summer Environmental Studies
“Investigating the Impact of Microbes Known to Be Deleterious to Asclepias Syriaca Pollen Tube Germination on New Species.”
Previous studies at William & Mary in the Dalgleish lab have revealed that the nectar microbiome of Asclepias Syriaca (common milkweed) reduces the germination of its pollen tubes. The goal of my project is to see if the microbes found in common milkweed's nectar have the same harmful effect on pollen of other species. This will be done by taking pollen of several native species found in proximity to common milkweed and exposing it to species of microbes (both fungi and bacteria) found in milkweed nectar and measuring the results. My findings will help to generalize and characterize the effect of flower nectar's microbiome on pollen tube germination .
School: The College of William & Mary
The Garden Club of America Awards for Summer Environmental Studies
To encourage studies and careers in the environmental field, with the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience beyond the regular course of study.
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