Aparna Upadhyay Earned a Forbes-Lea Research Award in April 2025!

$1500.00 to support her research:

Oregonin’s Role in Red Alder (Alnus rubra) Defense and Ecosystem Function

This project investigates how genetic, environmental, and developmental factors influence the production of oregonin (open-chain diarylheptanoid) in red alder, a key tree species in the Pacific Northwest. Red alder plays a critical ecological role by enhancing soil fertility through biotic nitrogen fixation and supporting biodiversity in forest ecosystems. Using high-performance liquid chromatographymass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), the study explores how oregonin varies across geographic regions, life stages, and in response to environmental stressors such as drought, heat, salinity, nutrient availability and herbivory. The findings will offer insights into plant defense strategies, and forest resilience - contributing to sustainable ecosystem restoration and management practices.