Dr. Don Cipollini
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Interim Director, Environmental
Sciences PhD Program
208
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy.
Email: mailto:don.cipollini@wright.edu
Phone (937) 775-3805; FAX (937) 775-3320
Work in my laboratory
generally focuses on the chemical ecology of plant responses to the
environment, with a focus on induced plant responses to herbivores and
pathogens and the chemical ecology of invasive plants, insects, and
pathogens. One important theme is the influence of environmental factors
on the expression of phenotypic plasticity and the outcomes of interactions of
plants with their biotic environment.
Within this context, my interests range from highly mechanistic
explanations of induced plant responses and their impacts on herbivores and
plant fitness, to evolution of plant defenses, to community level
impacts. The current project areas described below represent the major
thrusts of our research program, although specific directions are often driven
by student interests and the availability of funding. In particular, you
will see that we have adopted Arabidopsis thaliana as an ecological model and have
extended our understanding of plant resistance to understand invasiveness and
impacts of Alliaria petiolata, an important
invasive plant. Recently, our studies
have extended to the expression and role of constitutive and inducible defenses
in woody plant ecology, including that of the invasive shrub, Lonicera maackii.
We have worked experimentally with bacteria, fungi, insects, and plants,
and use a variety of techniques including basic experimental greenhouse and
field ecology techniques, microscopy, molecular analyses, and analytical
chemistry techniques such as HPLC.
Current Projects
Chemical ecology of the invasive plants, garlic mustard
(Alliaria petiolata) and
Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii)
Second-year
flowering garlic mustard
Garlic mustard is a
Eurasian biennial herb that was first noted in
Current projects
include:
●Experimental tests of purported invasive mechanisms
●Sources of variation and novelty in the expression of chemical
defenses
●Growth and defense responses to insect damage, powdery mildew
infection, and their interaction
●Identity and impacts of allelochemicals on plants and their
associated mycorrhizae
●Assessment of impacts on plant species and genetic diversity of
invaded communities
●Chemical defense responses to climate change
Costs and benefits of induced plant
responses to insects
and pathogens in Arabidopsis thaliana
Arabidopsis
thaliana in
Interest in this system lies primarily in costs, benefits, and tradeoffs
of plant responses mediated by salicylic acid and jasmonic acid, which we
commonly use in conjunction with genetic mutants to manipulate and study plant
defense responses at the biochemical, physiological, and ecological level. Interest also lies in integrated plant
responses to herbivores, light, competitors, and other ecological stimuli. Various aspects of our work on Arabidopsis
have been funded by USDA, the Ohio Plant Biotechnology Consortium, the Eppley
Foundation for Research, and Sigma Xi.
Current
projects include:
●Physiological
and ecological costs of resistance
●Interactions
between plastic responses to herbivores and competitors
●Functional ecology of methyl
jasmonate
●Exploring
the potential of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria to enhance growth and
insect resistance
Chemical ecology of induced resistance in woody plants
Austrian Pine infected with Sphaeropsis sapinea in fertigator experiment
Our interest in inducible
chemical defenses has extended to woody plants, including Austrian Pine and Ash
species, in collaboration with Dan Herms and
Current Projects Include:
●Chemical
ecology of Austrian Pine responses to insects and pathogens across a nutrient
gradient
●Mechanisms
and variation in ash resistance to Emerald Ash Borer
Conservation
and restoration ecology
My wife,
Kendra Cipollini, and I have collaborated on a number of things, including
producing our sons, Emmett and Otto, and in her work on the federally
endangered wetland plant, Scirpus ancistrochaetus. Kendra formerly
worked as a conservation scientist with the Nature Conservancy and is a now an
assistant professor in Ecology at
Current projects include:
●Impacts
of deer browsing and method of control on restoration success in
honeysuckle-remediated natural areas.
●Interactive
effects of water level and nutrient availability on competitive associations of
Scirpus ancistrochaetus and Scirpus cyperinus
●Population
status and genetic diversity of Scirpus
ancistrochaetus, a federally endangered wetland sedge
Curriculum Vitae and Publications
EDUCATION
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Tropical
Field Ecology (OTS 94-1), Organization for Tropical Studies,
APPOINTMENTS
Professor,
(2008-present),
Interim
Director, (2007-present) Environmental Sciences PhD Program,
Associate
Professor, (2004-2008),
Assistant
Professor, (1999-2004),
Postdoctoral
Research Associate, (1997-1999),
Sponsor: Joy Bergelson
Graduate
Teaching and Research Assistant, (1992-1997),
Graduate
Teaching and Research Assistant, (1990-1992),
HONORS and AWARDS
Wright
State University Presidential Award for Faculty Excellence: Early Career
Achievement 2003
Finalist for Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award, College of Sciences and
Mathematics, WSU 2002
PUBLICATIONS
43.
Barto, K., S. Enright, A. Eyles, C. Wallis, R.
Chorbadjian, R. Hansen, D.A. Herms, P. Bonello, and D. Cipollini. 200X.
Effects of fertilization and fungal and insect attack on systemic
protein defenses of Austrian pine. Journal of Chemical Ecology, in press
42. Stireman, J.O., and D. Cipollini.
2008. Stealth tactics of galling
parasites and their potential indirect effects. New Phytologist, 178: 462-465
41.
40. Cipollini, D. and M. Dorning. 2008.
Direct and indirect effects of conditioned soils and tissue extracts of
the invasive shrub, Lonicera
maackii, on target
plant performance. Castanea, in press
39. Cipollini, D., R. Stevenson, S.
Enright, A. Eyles, P. Bonello.
2008. Phenolic metabolites in
leaves of the invasive shrub, Lonicera maackii, and their potential phytotoxic and
anti herbivore effects. Journal of Chemical Ecology 34:
144-152
38. Cipollini, K.A., G.Y. McClain, and D. Cipollini.
2008. Separating effects of
allelopathy and shading by Alliaria
petiolata and Lonicera maackii on growth, reproduction and survival of Impatiens capensis. American
37.
Cipollini, D., R. Stevenson, K. Cipollini. 2008.
Contrasting direct and indirect effects of
allelochemicals from two invasive plants on the performance of a
non-mycorrhizal plant. International Journal of
Plant Sciences 169:
371-375
36. Wallis, C., A. Eyles,
R. Chorbadjian, B. McSpadden-Gardener, R. Hansen, D. Cipollini, D. A. Herms,
and P. Bonello. 2008. Systemic induction of phloem secondary
metabolism and induction of resistance to a canker pathogen in Austrian pine. New Phytologist, 177: 767-778.
35.
Callaway, R.M., D. Cipollini, K. Barto, G. C. Thelen, S. G. Hallett, D. Prati, K. Stinson, J. Klironomos. 2008. Novel weapons: invasive plant suppresses fungal mutualisms in34.
Eyles, A., D.A. Herms, W. Jones, K. Riedl, D. Cipollini, S. Schwartz, K. Chan, P. Bonello. 2007. Comparative phloem chemistry of Manchurian (Fraxinus mandshurica) and two North American ash species (F.33. Enright, S. and D.
Cipollini. 2007. Infection by powdery mildew Erysiphe cruciferarum
(Erysiphaceae) strongly affects growth and fitness of garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata (Brassicaceae).
American
Journal of Botany, 94: 1813-1820
32. Eyles, A., R.
Chorbadjian, C. Wallis, R. Hansen, D. Cipollini, D. Herms, P. Bonello. 2007.
Cross-induction of systemic induced resistance between an insect and a
fungal pathogen in Austrian pine over a fertility gradient. Oecologia, 153: 365-374
31.
Cipollini, D. and B. Gruner.
2007. Cyanide in the chemical
arsenal of garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata. Journal of Chemical Ecology 33: 85-94 pdf
30. Cipollini, D. 2007. Consequences of the overproduction of methyl
jasmonate on seed production, tolerance to defoliation, and competitive effect
and response of Arabidopsis
thaliana.
New Phytologist 173: 146-153 pdf
29. Dorning, M, and D.
Cipollini. 2006. Leaf and root extracts of the invasive shrub Lonicera maackii inhibit seed
germination of three herbs with no autotoxic effects. Plant Ecology 184: 287-296 pdf
28. Cipollini, D. 2005. Interactive effects of lateral shading and
jasmonic acid on morphology, phenology, seed production, and chemical defense
responses in Arabidopsis thaliana. International
Journal of Plant Sciences 166: 955-959 pdf
27.
Barto, K, and D.F. Cipollini. 2005. Testing predictions of the
Optimal Defense Theory and Growth Differentiation Balance Hypothesis in Arabidopsis
thaliana. Oecologia 146: 169-178 doi:
10.1007/s00442-005-0207-0 pdf
26.
Cipollini, D., J. Mbagwu, K. Barto, C. Hillstrom, and S. Enright.
2005. Expression of constitutive and inducible chemical defenses in
native and invasive populations of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata).
Journal of Chemical Ecology 31:
1243-1255 pdf
25. R.O. Musser, D. F. Cipollini, S.M. Hum-Musser, S.A. Williams,
J.K. Brown, and G.W. Felton. 2005. Evidence that the caterpillar
salivary enzyme glucose oxidase provides herbivore offense in Solanaceous
plants. Archives of Insect
Biochemistry and Physiology 58: 128-137.
24. Cipollini, D.F., S. Enright, B. Traw, and J. Bergelson.
2004. Salicylic acid inhibits jasmonic acid-induced resistance of Arabidopsis
thaliana to Spodoptera exigua. Molecular Ecology 13: 1643-1653 pdf
23. Cipollini, D.F. 2004. Stretching
the limits of plasticity: can a plant defend itself from both competitors and
herbivores? Ecology 85: 28-37
(Special feature on Phytohormonal Ecology) pdf
22.
Traw, M.B., Kim, J., Enright, S., Cipollini, D.F., and J. Bergelson.
2003. Negative cross talk between salicylate and jasmonate-mediated
pathways in the Wassilewskija ecotype of Arabidopsis thaliana. Molecular Ecology 12: 1125-1135 pdf
21.
Cipollini, D.F., J.W. Busch, K. Stowe, E. Simms, and J. Bergelson.
2003. Genetic variation and relationships of constitutive and
herbivore-induced glucosinolates, trypsin inhibitors, and herbivore resistance
in Brassica rapa. Journal of
Chemical Ecology 29: 285-302. pdf
20.
Cipollini, D.F., C. B. Purrington, and J. Bergelson. 2003. Costs of
induced responses. Basic and
Applied Ecology 4: 79-89 pdf
19.
Cipollini, D.F. 2002. Variation in the expression of chemical
defenses in Alliaria petiolata in the field and common garden. American Journal of Botany 89:
1422-1430 pdf
18.
Cipollini, M., E. Paulk, and D. Cipollini. 2002. Effect of nitrogen
and water treatment on leaf chemistry in horsenettle (Solanum carolinense)
and relationship to herbivory by flea beetles (Epitrix spp.) and tobacco
hornworm (Manduca sexta) Journal
of Chemical Ecology 28: 2377-2398. pdf
17.
Cipollini, D.F. 2002. Does competition magnify the fitness costs of
induced responses in Arabidopsis thaliana? A manipulative
approach. Oecologia 131:
514-520. pdf
16.
Cipollini, D.F., and J. Bergelson. 2002. Interspecific competition
affects growth and herbivore damage of Brassica napus L. in the
field. Plant Ecology
162: 227-231
15.
Cipollini, D.F., and M. Sipe. 2001 Jasmonic acid treatment and mammalian
herbivory differentially affect chemical defenses and growth of Brassica
kaber. Chemoecology 11:
137-143.
14.
Cipollini, D.F., and J. Bergelson. 2001. Plant density and nutrient
availability constrain the constitutive and wound-induced production of trypsin
inhibitors in Brassica napus L. Journal of Chemical Ecology 27: 593-610. pdf
13.
Redman, A, Cipollini, D.F., and J.C. Schultz. 2001. Fitness costs
of jasmonic acid-induced defense in tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum.
Oecologia 126: 380-385. pdf
12.
Cipollini, D.F., and J. Bergelson. 2000. Environmental and
developmental regulation of trypsin inhibitor activity in Brassica napus
L. Journal of Chemical Ecology
26: 1411-1422. pdf
11.
Cipollini, D.F. and J.C. Schultz. 1999. Exploring cost constraints
on stem elongation in plants using phenotypic manipulation. American Naturalist 153: 153: 236-242. pdf
10.
Cipollini, D.F. 1999. Costs to flowering of the production of a
mechanically hardened phenotype in Brassica napus L. International Journal of Plant Sciences
160: 735-741. pdf
9.
Cipollini, D.F., and A.M. Redman. 1999. Age-dependent effects of
jasmonic acid treatment and wind exposure on foliar oxidase activity and insect
resistance in tomato. Journal of
Chemical Ecology 25: 271-281 pdf
8.
Lentz, K., and D.F. Cipollini. 1998. Effect of light and simulated
herbivory on growth of
endangered northeastern bulrush, Scirpus ancistrochaetus Schuyler.
Plant Ecology 139: 125-131. pdf
7.
Moran, P.J., and D.F. Cipollini. 1998. Effect of fungal infection
and mechanical stress on peroxidase activity and resistance to pests in
cucumber. Journal of
Phytopathology 147: 313-316.
6.
Cipollini, D.F. 1998. The induction of soluble peroxidase activity
in leaves of bean plants by wind induced mechanical perturbation. American Journal of Botany 85:
1586-1591 pdf
5.
Cipollini, D.F. 1998. Induced defenses and phenotypic
plasticity. Trends in Ecology and
Evolution 13: 200.
4.
Cipollini, D.F. 1997. Wind-induced mechanical stimulation increases
pest resistance in common bean. Oecologia
111: 84-90. pdf
3.
Cipollini, D.F. 1997. Gibberellic acid treatment reduces the
tolerance of field-grown common bean to leaf removal. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation
16: 123-127.
2.
Cipollini, D.F. and J.C. Schultz. 1997. Wind and trees. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 12:
276-277.
1. Cipollini, D.F., S.J. Newell, and A.J.
Nastase. 1994. The estimation of total carbohydrates in the nectar of the
pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea L. American
CURRENT
LAB PEOPLE:
Graduate Students
Deah Lieurance (E.S. Ph.D. Program 2008-present)
Jeanne Mbagwu (M.S. Program 2005-present): Impacts of PGPRs on
plant growth and insect resistance in Arabidopsis
thaliana.
Wang Qin (M.S. Program 2007-present):
Variation in resistance of Asian and North American ash species to the
Emerald Ash Borer
Victoria
Ciola (M.S. Program 2007-present): Exploring
the utility of powdery mildew as a management tool for garlic mustard.
Dan Romanek (M.S. Program
2008-present): Population and
biogeographic variation in allelopathic effects of Lonicera maackii.
LAB ALUMNI:
Kathryn
Barto (M.S. Biology
2003): Testing the optimal defense theory and growth differentiation
balance hypothesis in Arabidopsis thaliana.
(Ph.D.
Environmental Sciences 2008): An assessment of the allelopathic potential
of Alliaria petiolata. Current:
Post-Doc at
Eusondia
Barto Undergraduate honor’s thesis
(2006): Influence of wounding and
emerald ash borer extracts on defense protein expression in white and green
ash. Current: PhD program in
Microbiology,
Stephanie
Enright (M.S. Biology
2006) Direct and indirect impacts of powdery mildew on Alliaria
petiolata. Current:
Carl-Johan
Hillstrom (M.S. Biology
2005) Plasticity in growth, antioxidant chemistry, and jasmonic acid
induced defenses of Alliaria petiolata across nutrient and moisture
gradients. Current: PhD program in
Plant Physiology,
Sara
Weber (M.S. Biology
2005) Impacts of Alliaria petiolata invasion on the genetic
diversity of Impatiens capensis. Current: Instructor,
Monica
Dorning (M.S. Biology
2004) Impacts of honeysuckle on neighboring plant performance and community
dynamics. Past: Research Associate,
Michelle
Sipe (M.S. Biology
2004) Thesis title: Specificity in the induction and effects of
chemical defenses in Brassica kaber Current:
Cherissa
Rainey Undergraduate research technician
2006-2008
Bill Gruner was an
undergraduate technician in the lab during 2004-2005. Current: MS Program in Biological Sciences,
Jeremiah
Busch served as a research
technician during the summer of 2000, who went on to receive his PhD at
Current: faculty at
Neela
Kumar was a M.S. student in
the lab for 9 months during 2001.
Current: PhD student in Botany at
Caleb
Slemmons was an independent
researcher and undergraduate research technician from Fall 1999-Spring 2002,
who went on to receive an MS in Environmental Sciences at
Current:
Invasive Plant Steward, Hawaii
Lori Healey was an undergraduate
research technician from Spring 2002 to Spring 2003, who went on to complete
her MS in Microbiology and Immunology at Wright State in 2005
Fall
Quarter 2008
Bio 230 Organismal Physiology (the plant half)
Winter
Quarter 2009
Bio 444/644 Plant Physiology: Plant Physiology course page
Spring
Quarter 2009
Bio 230 Organismal Physiology (the plant half)
Hiking, camping, live music,
sports ... and good beer
Wright State Department of Biological Sciences
Home Page
Environmental Sciences PhD
Program
Last Revised: September 2008