Robert L. Chretien joined IALR in 2014. Chretien has a master’s degree in plant biology with an emphasis in biotechnology. He supports the bacterial endophyte project by conducting various assays to characterize the growth promoting potential of the bacteria in the library. He then tests promising bacteria for growth promotion in vitro, in the greenhouse and in hydroponic systems in controlled environment agriculture. Additionally, Chretien mentors undergraduate interns, giving them the opportunity to work in a biological laboratory to develop skillsets they will apply toward future careers.
Skillsets
- Nucleic Acids: DNA/RNA isolation, PCR, RT-PCR, real-time PCR, PCR mutagenesis, RACE, cloning (TOPO, In-Fusion & Gateway), ligation, transformation, Southern analysis and DNA sequence analysis
- Protein: isolation, quantification (Bradford & BCA), concentration (acetone precipitation), SDS-PAGE, Western detection, ELISAs and myelin basic protein assay
- Experience with bacterial expression and radioactive enzyme assays
- Next generation sequencing
- Line maintenance, protoplast isolation, grafting (in vivo and in vitro), transformation (Agrobacterium & biolistic) and Agro-infiltration
- Agrobacterium transformation of tobacco, carrot, tomato, potato (diploid and tetraploid), lettuce and chicory. Inoculation of grasses with bacterial endophytes
- Experience with β-glucuronidase (histochemical & fluorimetrical assays) and with green fluorescent protein expression and quantification
- Isolation of bacterial endophytes from plant material
- Antibiosis assays for anti-bacterial/fungal screening
- Disc and well diffusion assays for anti-bacterial/fungal screening of bacterial extracts
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IAA, ACC deaminase, phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation siderophore and biofilm assays
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In vitro growth promotion screening
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Growth promotion studies with numerous agronomic crops in the greenhouse, field (strawberry) and hydroponic systems (nutrient film and deep-water culture)
