Karen Gomez

Contact Information

Education

Postdoctoral: Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (2005-2010)

Ph.D.:Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR (2005)

M.S.:Crop, Soil and Environmental Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR (2002)

B.S.:Agronomy, University Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno, Santa Cruz, Bolivia (1999)

Professional/Academic Experience

I teach graduate and undergraduate courses that provide hand-on experience on research techniques including Cellular and Molecular Laboratory (Bio 442/542), plant biology-related courses including General Plant Physiology (Bio 354/554) and Animal-Plant Interactions (Bio 336), and a course that involves discussion of the primary literature, Roundtable (Bio 591). Undergraduate students have participated in independent research in my lab (Bio 422) resulting in co-authorship on peer-review publications.

Research/Areas of Interest

The general focus of my research involves tripartite interactions between insects, plants, and beneficial plant-associated soil microbes. I am particularly interested in the changes that occur in plants as a result of these interactions and how plants allocate their resources toward defense or growth. Students in my lab have worked on systems involving potato and the model legume Medicago truncatula, commonly used species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and insect herbivores such as potato aphids, pea aphids, and cabbage loopers. Current work in my lab focuses on different aspects of plant physiology including plant gene expression, plant transcriptome and phytohormone analysis. I am also interested in microbial diversity in the rhizosphere.

Please do not hesitate to contact me asking about research opportunities that are available in my lab for M.S. and Ph.D. students.

Publications/Creative Works

Google Scholar 

Gomez, S.K., A.K. Maurya, L. Irvin, M.P. Kelly, A.P. Schoenherr, J.C. Huguel-Tapia, A. Bombarely. (2023). A snapshot of the transcriptome of Medicago truncatula (Fabales: Fabaceae) shoots and roots in response to an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Environmental Entomology, nvad070. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvad070 

Mercado, J.E., R.T. Walker, S. Franklin, A.L. Kay, B. Ortiz-Santana, S.K. Gomez. (2023). Xylem traumatic resin duct formation in response to stem fungal inoculation in Douglas-fir and Lodgepole pine. Forests, 14(3): 502. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030502 

Olson, D., H. Berry, J. Riggs, C. Argueso, S.K. Gomez. (2022). Phytohormone profile of Medicago in response to mycorrhizal fungi, aphids, and gibberellic acid. Plants, 11(6): 720. DOI: 10.3390/plants11060720 

Mercado, J.E., R.T. Walker, S.K. Gomez, S. Franklin, S.L. Kay, R. Hubbard. (2021). Changes in transpiration and leaf water potential in Douglas-fir trees following Douglas-fir beetle attack and mechanical girdling. Forests, 12(1722): 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3390/f12121722 

Rizzo, E., T. Sherman, P. Manosalva, S.K. Gomez. (2020). Assessment of local and systemic changes in plant gene expression and aphid responses during potato interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and potato aphids. Plants, 9(82): 25. DOI: 10.3390/plants9010082 

Schoenherr, A., E. Rizzo, N. Jackson, P. Manosalva, S.K. Gomez. (2019). Mycorrhiza-induced resistance in potato involves priming of defense responses against cabbage looper (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera). Environmental Entomology, 48(2): 370-381. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvy195 

Maurya, A. K., M.P. Kelly, S.M. Mahaney, S.K. Gomez. (2018). Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis alters plant gene expression and aphid weight in a tripartite interaction. Journal of Plant Interactions, 13(1): 294-305. DOI: 10.1080/17429145.2018.1475020 

Garzo, E., E. Rizzo, A. Fereres, S.K. Gomez. (2018). High levels of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus colonization on Medicago truncatula reduces plant suitability as a host for pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum). Insect Science. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7917.12631 

Floss, D.S., S.K. Gomez, H.J. Park, S.M. MacLean, L.M. Müller, K.K. Bhattarai, V. Lévesque-Tremblay, I.E. Maldonado-Mendoza, M.J. Harrison. (2017). A transcriptional program for arbuscule degeneration during AM symbiosis is regulated by MYB1. Current Biology, 27(8): 1206-1212. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.03.003 

Breuillin-Sessoms, F., D.S. Floss, S.K. Gomez, N. Pumplin, Y. Ding, V. Levesque- Tremblay, R.D. Noar, D.A. Daniels, A. Bravo, J.B. Eaglesham, V.A. Benedito, M.K. Udvardi, M.J. Harrison. (2015). Suppression of arbuscule degeneration in Medicago truncatula phosphate transporter4 mutants is dependent on the ammonium transporter 2 family protein AMT2;3. The Plant Cell, 27(4): 1352-66. DOI: 10.1105/tpc.114.131144 

Tesfaye, M., K.A. Silverstein, S. Nallu, L. Wang, C.J. Botanga, S.K. Gomez, L.M. Costa, M.J. Harrison, D.A. Samac, J. Glazebrook, F. Katagiri, J.F. Gutierrez-Marcos, K.A. Vandenbosch, K. A. (2013). Spatio-temporal expression patterns of Arabidopsis thaliana and Medicago truncatula defensin-like genes. PloS One, 8(3): e58992. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058992 

Tisserant E., A. Kohler, P. Dozolme-Seddas, R. Balestrini, K. Benabdellah, A. Colard, D. Croll, C. Da Silva, S.K. Gomez, R. Koul, N. Ferrol, V. Fiorilli, D. Formey, P. Franken, N. Helber, M. Hijri, L. Lanfranco, E. Lindquist, Y. Liu, M. Malbreil, E. Morin, J. Poulain, H. Shapiro, D. van Tuinen, A. Waschke, C. Azcón-Aguilar, G. Bécard, P. Bonfante, M.J. Harrison, H. Küster, P. Lammers, U. Paszkowski, N. Requena, S.A. Rensing, C. Roux, I.R. Sanders, Y. Shachar-Hill, G. Tuskan, J.P.W. Young, V. Gianinazzi-Pearson, and F. Martin. (2012). The transcriptome of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices (DAOM 197198) reveals functional tradeoffs in an obligate symbiont. New Phytologist, 193(3): 755-769. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03948.x 

González-Chávez M.C.A., M.P. Ortega-Larrocea, R. Carrillo-González, M. López-Meyer, B. Xoconostle-Cázares, S.K. Gomez, M.J. Harrison, A.M. Figueroa-López, and I.E. Maldonado-Mendoza. (2011). Arsenate induces the expression of fungal genes involved in As transport in arbuscular mycorrhiza. Fungal Biology, 115(12): 1197-1209. DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2011.08.005 

Javot H., R.V. Penmetsa, F. Breuillin, K. Bhattarai, R. Noar, S.K. Gomez, Q. Zhang, D. Cook, and M.J. Harrison. (2011). Medicago truncatula mtpt4 mutants reveal a role for nitrogen in the regulation of arbuscule degeneration in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. The Plant Journal. 68: 954-965. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2011.04746.x 

Benedito V.A., H. Li, X. Dai, M. Wandrey, J. He, R. Kaundal, I. Torres-Jerez, S.K. Gomez, M.J. Harrison, Y. Tang, P.X. Zhao, and M.K. Udvardi. (2010). Genomic inventory and transcriptional analysis of Medicago truncatula transporters. Plant Physiology. 152: 1716-1730. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.109.148684 

Navia-Giné W.G., S.K. Gomez, J. Yuan, F. Chen, and K.L. Korth. (2009). Insect-induced gene expression at the core of volatile terpene release in Medicago truncatula. Plant Signaling and Behavior. 4(7): 1-3. DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2009.01.008 

Gomez S.K., H. Javot, P. Deewatthanawong, I. Torres-Jerez, Y. Tang, E. Blancaflor, M.K. Udvardi, and M.J. Harrison. (2009). Medicago truncatula and Glomus intraradices gene expression in cortical cells harboring arbuscules in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. BMC Plant Biology. 9:10. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2229-9-10 

Gomez S.K. and M.J. Harrison. (2009). Laser microdissection and its application to analyze gene expression in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Pest Management Science. 65: 504-511. DOI: 10.1002/ps.1715 

Liu J., W.K. Versaw, N. Pumplin, S.K. Gomez, L.A. Blaylock, and M.J. Harrison. (2008). Closely related members of the Medicago truncatula PHT1 phosphate transporter gene family encode phosphate transporters with distinct biochemical activities. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 283: 24673-24681. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M802695200