Robert R. Wise

Plant Physiologist
Associate Professor of Biology

Department of Biology and Microbiology
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
800 Algoma Blvd.
Oshkosh, WI 54901

Office: Room 40, Halsey Science Center
Phone: 920-424-3404
Fax: 920-424-1101
Email: wise@uwosh.edu

horizontal rule

Education:

horizontal rule

Courses I Teach or Have Taught:

horizontal rule

Research Interests:

My major area of research for the past 20 years has been the effects of environmental stress, including cold, heat and drought, on photosynthesis. Average crop yields in the United States are only one sixth to one seventh of record yields, and environmental stress is the cause of most of the reduction. Unlike animals, plants are largely unable to escape from environmental stresses such as heat, cold, drought, and flooding. Therefore, they have developed unique biochemical and bioenergetic coping mechanisms which make for fascinating and useful areas of research.

A second area of research in my laboratory is the relationship between short-term regulation of photosynthesis and chloroplast ultrastructure.  Phil Rozak, a recently-graduated masters student from my lab, demonstrated that chloroplast thylakoid stacking can change significantly with a mere 10 minute increase or decrease in light intensity.  This structural rearrangement has a direct impact on photosynthetic regulation, particularly in connection to State changes. 

I have also recently become interested in the anatomy and ultrastructure of the Lemnaceae (duckweed family, an interesting and poorly described group of floating, aquatic plants. Members of the genus Wolffia of the family Lemnaceae are the smallest flowering plants in the world. Mature adults are only about half of a millimeter in diameter. At least 11 Lemnaceae species are found in Wisconsin, out of a worldwide total of ~34 species.  Although the Lemnaceae are members of the Division Anthophyta (flowering plants) they rarely flower in nature and rely instead on budding (asexual) reproduction.  Keven Schepp, an undergraduate in my laboratory, has managed to get four species of local Lemnaceae into sterile culture and we are attempting to induce flowering in order to more fully study floral anatomy and ultrastructure in this unique group of plants.

horizontal rule

Publications (names in bold are UW Oshkosh graduate or undergraduate students):      

horizontal rule

Current Student in My Laboratory:

Masters Students Graduated From My Laboratory:

Kratsch, Heidi A. Evidence for actin-based chloroplast movement in leaves of Pisum sativum. Defended July 25, 2000. Currently working on her Ph.D. in the Department of Plant Biology, Iowa State University.

Rozak, Phillip R. Alterations in thylakoid membrane ultrastructure of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) accompany state changes. Defended September 6, 2000. Currently teaching biology and chemistry with the Peace Corps in Kenya.

horizontal rule

Professional Activities:

horizontal rule

Return to the Biology & Microbiology Home Page

Return to the UW Oshkosh Home Page

Last updated 06 December 2000

horizontal rule