Show-Me State Times

Ron Mittler is working to develop more resilient soybean crops. For years, mid-Missouri has faced unpredictable weather patterns, including droughts, heat waves, and flooding. These conditions have made it difficult for farmers to maintain agricultural yields. While controlling the weather is not possible, Mittler and his team aim to harness soybeans' natural ability to adapt to unfavorable conditions and increase their yields.

With $2.4 million from the National Science Foundation, Mittler plans to build on over two decades of research by studying how plants cool themselves under heat and drought stress. His approach involves genetically engineering soybean plants to improve their resistance to these stresses.

“What excites me is learning how plants solve problems and adapt to changes in their environment,” said Mittler, a professor of plant sciences at the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Sciences. “Based on what we’ve learned from plants’ adaptation strategies, my team is able to take these new findings and continue to innovate and improve upon what we already know.”

Mittler has tracked weather patterns in Missouri for twenty years and knows that frequent heat waves significantly reduce yields. He believes exploring genetic variability — differences in genes among populations — can help identify which soybean genes make plants more likely to withstand multiple stress conditions.

Soybeans have evolved mechanisms such as manipulating guard cells that control stomatal pores on leaves, sepals, and flowers. This allows them to become more resilient in harsh environments. During droughts, soybeans close their stomata to retain water but struggle when facing simultaneous heat stress since they cannot breathe. Some soybean species have adapted by opening stomata only on reproductive surfaces while keeping leaf stomata closed during such times.

As a principal investigator at Bond Life Science Center, Mittler emphasizes the importance of being part of the Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG). The IPG consists of professionals who address challenging questions in plant biology.

“Being a part of the IPG and working at Bond Life Science Center has been transformative for my research,” Mittler said. “IPG is home to incredible collaborators, world-class facilities and resources. These things enhance collaborations and inspire international conferences that spur growth and partnerships that move our research forward and support our students as they progress in their careers. I’m very happy to be here.”

The University of Missouri's MizzouForward initiative supports this type of cutting-edge research by focusing on faculty excellence, infrastructure growth, and student success over a ten-year period.