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Charles G. Tauer
Oklahoma State University
Professor, Department of Natural Resource Ecology & Management (NREM)
Address: 008C Agriculture Hall, OSU, Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-5462 Fax: 405-744-3530
Email: chuck.tauer@okstate.edu
URL: http://www.okstate.edu/ag/asnr/fore/people/faculty/tauer.html
Ph.D., Forest Genetics, 1976, University of Minnesota Lab Photo
Postdoctoral:
Research Emphasis: Tree genomics; utilize molecular markers to address population genetics questions in trees; identify and characterize genes of interest.
Related Activities: Coordinator, Plant Science PhD Program. Mapping and characterization of water stress related genes in tomato.
 
Research Description:

My research has the goal of utilizing molecular markers to address population genetic questions in Forestry, and to utilize plant gene transformation systems to further study gene regulation and expression in trees. These goals necessitate gene discovery, cloning and characterization. Historically, progress in forest genetics research has been slow compared to model plant systems. Such slow progress is due in large part to the ponderous size, years required to reach sexual maturity, and extended regeneration cycles in trees, as well as the many species and few scientists. However, past research has added considerably to our understanding of the biology and genetics of trees. The molecular tools now available allow us to address some problems previously beyond our reach, including better vegetative propagation methods, faster generation times, more effective selection methods, and a better understanding of the genomes being manipulated. This leads us to be involved in a number of seemingly disconnected research activities, but they all do focus toward our ultimate goals. Some of these research projects include: 1) population studies of gene flow, which will allow us to understand population structure, risk associated with release of transgenics, and should lead to gene discovery; 2) developing sterility in tree species to eliminate risk of release and enhance fiber yield; 3) using molecular markers to examine the effects of management methods on genetic diversity; and 4) using tomato as a model system to identify and manipulate drought associated genes.
 
Recent Publications:

Comstock JP, Couch SR, Martin BC, Tauer CG, Vision TJ, Pausch R (2005) The effects of resource availability and environmental conditions on genetic rankings for carbon isotope discrimination during growth of tomato and rice. Functional Plant Biology 32:1089-1105.

WuY, Huang Y, Tauer CG, Porter DL (2005) Genetic diversity of sorghum accessions resistant to greenbugd as assessed with AFLP markers. Genome (in press).

Chen J, Tauer CG, Bai G, Huang Y, Payton ME, Holley AG (2004) Bidirectional introgression between Pinus taeda and Pinus echinata: Evidence from morphological and molecular data. Can J For Res 34: 2508-2516.

Chen J, Tauer CG, Huang Y (2003) Observations on mitochondrial DNA inheritance and variation among three Pinus species. Forest Genetics 10 : 271-276.

Chen J, Tauer CG, Huang Y (2002) Paternal chloroplast inheritance patterns in pine hybrids detected with trnL-trnF intergenic region polymorphism. Theor Appl Genet 104:1307-1311.
 
Selected Additional Publications:

Chen J, Tauer CG, Huang Y (2002) Nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacers and 5.8S region of nuclear ribosomal DNA in Pinus taeda L. and Pinus echinata Mill. DNA Sequence 13:129-131.

Tauer CG, Syed Rashid Hussain Shah and Schmidtling RC (1999) Virginia pine (Pinus Virginia Mill) provenance and progeny performance in Oklahoma. So J Appl For 22:209-215.

Liu J, Huang Y, Ding B, Tauer CG (1999) cDNA cloning and expression of a sweetgum gene that shows homology with Arabidopsis AGAMOUS. Plant Sci 142:73-82.

Martin B, Tauer CG, Lin RK (1999) Carbon isotope discrimination as a tool to improve water-use efficiency in tomato. Crop Sci 39:1775-1783.

Raja, RG, Tauer CG, Wittwer RF, Huang Y (1998) Regeneration methods affect genetic variation and structure in shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.). For Genet 5:171-178.