Welcome to the Miller lab
perennial Plant diversity and evolution
Perennial plants comprise an estimated 40% of domesticated species and 60% of seed plants. Their long lifespans influence evolutionary processes and patterns of variation in unique ways relative to annual systems. We study perennial crops and wild perennial species in the field, in agricultural settings, and in the greenhouse. We generate genetic data and patterns of gene expression, and measure a range of plant traits. Our goals are to advance basic understanding of evolution and plasticity in perennial plants, and to apply this work to perennial crop improvement, the development of novel crops for perennial agriculture systems, and the conservation of perennial plant genetic resources.