David L. Mulcahy

Emeritus Professor

Photograph of First Last
413-545-0459
401C Morrill III South
Education: 

A.B., Dartmouth College, 1959
Ph.D., Vanderbilt University, 1963

Postdoctoral: 

1966-1968 Brookhaven National Labs

Research Interests: 

Genetic Basis for Adaptations in Plants

Plant evolution and population biology are the major topics investigated by myself and my students. We are using Y chromosome molecular markers to determine how many male individuals have contributed to specific populations. These markers also allow us to track both the survival and the movement of individuals within and between populations. Also, we are investigating competitive interactions between pollen grains as they develop within the anther, between pollen tubes growing the style, and what influence these interactions have on the resulting sporophytic generation. The basic approach in this lab is to employ molecular methods to investigate topics of whole plant biology.

Representative Publications: 

Zhang, Y. Hi, Di Stilio, V., Rehman, F., Tucker, A., Mulcahy, D. L., Kesseli, R. 1998. Y-chromosome specific markers and the evolution of dioecy in the genus Silene. April 1998 issue of GENOME.

Chapman, Michael J., D. L. Mulcahy. 1997. Effect of genome-plastome interaction on meiosis and pollen development in Oenothera species and hybrids. Sex. Plant Reproduction 10: 288-292.

Mulcahy, D. L., Sari-Gorla, M. Mulcahy, G. B. 1996. Pollen selection: past, present, and future. Sex. Plant Reproduction 9: 353-356.

Gambier, R., and D. L. Mulcahy. 1996. The association between pollen size and Renner complexes in Oenothera. Theor. Appl. Genetics 92: 140-144.

Sari-Gorla, M., D.L. Mulcahy, M. Villa, D. Rigola. 1995. Pollen-pistil interactions in maize: Effects on genetic variation in pollen traits. Theor. Appl. Genet. 91: 936-941.