Roisin McGarry | Department of Biological Sciences

Roisin McGarry

Research Associate Professor of Plant development and Plant molecular biology
Office: 
LSB 370

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DEGREES

PhD in Plant Biology with minors in Genetics and Development, Cornell University

MSc in Horticulture, University of Alberta, Canada

BSc in Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Canada

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Dr. McGarry uses developmental approaches to benefit crop productivity. Using non-model, woody perennials, McGarry's research aims to:

  • Develop tools to elucidate and manipulate architecture regulation;
  • Investigate meristematic signals regulating patterns of indeterminate and determinate growth;
  • Explore the genetic networks regulating meristem size and fate.

SIGNIFICANT PUBLICATIONS

  1. McGarry RC, Kaur H, Lin Y-T, Lopez Puc G, Eshed Williams L, van der Knaap E, Ayre BG (2023) Altered expression of SELF-PRUNING disrupts homeostasis and facilitates signal delivery to meristems. Plant Physiology https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiad126.
  2. McGarry RC, Ayre BG (2021) Cotton architecture: examining the roles of SINGLE FLOWER TRUSS and SELF-PRUNING in regulating growth habits of a woody perennial crop. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 59:101968. doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2020.10.001.
  3. McGarry RC, Rao X, Li Q, van der Knaap E, Ayre BG (2020) SINGLE FLOWER TRUSS and SELF-PRUNING signal developmental and metabolic networks to guide cotton architectures. Journal of Experimental Botany 71:5911-5923. doi: 10.1093/jxb/eraa338.
  4. Ayre BG, El-Gebaly FE, McGarry RC (2020) Virus induced flowering - a tool for cereals. Journal of Experimental Botany 71:2839-2841. doi.org/10.1093/jxb/eraa153.
  5. Prewitt SF, Ayre BG, McGarry RC (2018) Cotton CENTRORADIALIS / TERMINAL FLOWER 1 / SELF-PRUNING genes functionally diverge to differentially impact architecture. Journal of Experimental Botany 69:5403-5417. doi.org/10.1093/jxb/ery324.
  6. McGarry RC, Klocko AL, Pang M, Strauss SH, Ayre BG (2017) Virus-induced flowering: An application of reproductive biology to benefit plant research and breeding. Plant Physiology 173:47-55. doi: 10.1104/pp.16.01336. Included in the "Best of 2016: Top Topics in Plant Physiology (December, 2016)"
  7. McGarry RC, Prewitt SF, Culpepper S, Eshed Y, Lifschitz E, Ayre BG (2016). Monopodial and sympodial branching architecture in cotton is differentially regulated by the Gossypium hirsutum SINGLE FLOWER TRUSS and SELF-PRUNING orthologs. New Phytologist 212:244-258. doi: 10.1111/nph.14037. Featured as a Research Highlight in Nature Plants (July, 2016).
  8. McGarry RC, Kragler F. (2013). Phloem-mobile signals affecting flowers: applications for crop breeding. Trends in Plant Science 18:198-206. Cover image.
  9. McGarry RC, Ayre BG. (2012). Manipulating plant architecture with members of the CETS gene family. Plant Science 188-189:71-81.