Stephen Ebbs Associate Professor   Ph.D. 1997, Cornell University   Plant physiology, toxicology, phytoremediation   Office and Lab: Life Science II room 469 Office and Lab Phone: 618-453-3220 email:  webpage

Research Interests

Research in my laboratory focuses on interactions between plants and environmental contaminants.  This includes plant uptake and transport of contaminants, physiological effects of contaminants on plants, phytotoxicity, hyperaccumulation, and tolerance.  These aspects all relate to a central research area in my laboratory - phytoremediation.  Currents efforts are focusing on the phytoremediation and phytodegradation of anthropogenic cyanide compounds, as well as the assimilation pathway for cyanide in plants.  A second research emphasis is exploring the mechanisms of heavy metal transport and tolerance in populations of the Zn/Cd hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens and in related hyperaccumulators.  Additional research interest include: 1) contaminant bioaccumulation and the potential transfer through the food chain to humans and wildlife; 2) mineral nutrition and trace element transport and interactions; 3) crop improvement.  The primary techniques utilized in my laboratory include stable and radioisotopes, elemental analysis via AAS, soil analysis and characterization, cell fractionation, and molecular biology.  Both graduate and undergraduate students play an active role in these research projects and are included as authors on the resulting manuscripts.

Selected Publications

1. Ebbs S, Hatfield S, Nagarajan V and Blaylock M. 2009. A comparison of the dietary arsenic exposures from ingestion of contaminated soil and hyperaccumulating Pteris ferns used in a residential phytoremediation project. International Journal of Phytoremediation  In Press.
2. Ebbs SD, Zambrano MC, Spiller SM and Newville M. 2009. Cadmium sorption, influx, and efflux at the mesophyll layer of leaves from ecotypes of the Zn/Cd hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens. New Phytologist  In Press.
3. Ebbs SD, Piccinin RCR, Goodger JQD, Kolev SD, Woodrow IE and Baker AJM. 2008. Transport of ferrocyanide by two eucalypt species and sorghum. International Journal of Phytoremediation 10(4):343-357.
4. Sankaran RP and Ebbs SD. 2008. Transport of Cd and Zn to seeds of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern.) during specific stages of plant growth and development. Physiologia Plantarum 132:69-78.
5. Piccinin RCR, Ebbs SD, Reichman SM, Kolev SD, Woodrow IE and Baker AJM. 2007. A screen of some native Australian flora and exotic agricultural species for their potential application in cyanide-induced phytoextraction of gold. Minerals Engineering 20:1327–1330.
6. Bushey JT, Ebbs SD and Dzombak DA. 2006. Development of a plant uptake model for cyanide. International Journal of Phytoremediation 8(1):25-43.
7. Ebbs SD, Talbott J, and Sankaran R. 2006. Cultivation of garden vegetables in Peoria pool sediments from the Illinois River: A case study in trace element accumulation and dietary exposures. Environment International. 32(6):766-774.
8. Ebbs SD. 2004. Biological degradation of cyanide compounds. Current Opinion in Biotechnology. 15(3):231-236.
9. Ebbs SD, Bushey J, Poston S, Kosma D, Samiotakis M, and Dzombak D. 2003. Transport and metabolism of free cyanide and iron cyanide complexes by willow. Plant, Cell, and Environment. 26(9):1467-1478.
10. Ebbs S, Lau I, Ahner B, and Kochian L. 2002. Phytochelatin synthesis is not responsible for Cd tolerance in the Zn/Cd hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens (J. & C. Presl). Planta. 214(4):635-640.

SIUC / College of Science / Plant Biology
URL: http://www.science.siu.edu/plant-biology/BioPages/Ebbs.bio.html
Last updated: 19-Nov-08 / dln