Barbare Demmig Adams
Professor of Distinction • Director of EBIO Honors Program
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
barbara.demmig-adams@colorado.edu
303-492-5541

RMLY C434

Research Interests

1) Plant Physiological Ecology: We integrate the ecology, physiology, and anatomy of plants. A unifying theme of our studies is the question of how plants survive and thrive in their natural environment and what mechanisms and genes are responsible for the acclimation and adaptation of plants to extreme environmental conditions. We compare and contrast these characteristics among plant species with different growth patterns and acclimation strategies. One focus of our work is the role of plant carotenoids.

2) Human diet-gene interactions: I sponsor undergraduate independent literature research in this area that frequently leads to publication of student-authored comprehensive reviews for audiences of clinicians, nutritionists and/or teachers.

Demmig-Adams B, Koh SC, Cohu CM, Muller O, Stewart JJ, Adams WW III (2014) Non-photochemical quenching in contrasting plant species and environments.ÌýInÌýDemmig-Adams B, Adams WW III, Garab G, Govindjee (eds) Non-Photochemical Fluorescence Quenching and Energy Dissipation in Plants, Algae, and Cyanobacteria. Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration. Springer, Dordrecht, in press

Demmig-Adams B, Cohu CM, Muller O, Adams WW III (2014) Photoprotection and the trade-off between abiotic and biotic defense.ÌýInÌýDemmig-Adams B, Adams WW III, Garab G, Govindjee (eds) Non-Photochemical Fluorescence Quenching and Energy Dissipation in Plants, Algae, and Cyanobacteria. Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration. Springer, Dordrecht, in press

Demmig-Adams B, Stewart JJ, Adams WW III (2014) Multiple feedbacks between chloroplast and whole plant in the context of plant adaptation and acclimation to the environment.ÌýPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 269: 20130244ÌýÌý

Cohu CM, Muller O, Adams WW III, Demmig-Adams B (2014) Leaf anatomical and photosynthetic acclimation to cool temperature and high light in two winter versus two summer annuals.ÌýPhysiologia PlantarumÌý

Cohu CM, Lombardi E, Adams WW III, Demmig-Adams B (2014) Increased nutritional quality of plants for long-duration spaceflight missions through choice of plant variety and manipulation of growth conditions.ÌýActa AstronauticaÌý94: 799-806 available atÌý

Demmig-Adams B, Amiard V, Cohu CM, Muller O, van Zadelhoff G, Veldink GA, Adams WW III (2013) Emerging trade-offs – impact of photoprotectants (PsbS, xanthophylls, and vitamin E) on oxylipins as regulators of development and defense.ÌýNew PhytologistÌý197: 720-729 available at

Adams WW III, Muller O, Cohu CM, Demmig-Adams B (2013) May photoinhibition be a consequence, rather than a cause, of limited plant productivity?ÌýPhotosynthesis ResearchÌý117: 31-44 available at

Adams WW III, Cohu CM, Muller O, Demmig-Adams B (2013) Foliar phloem infrastructure in support of photosynthesis.ÌýFrontiers in Plant ScienceÌý4: 194 available at

Demmig-Adams B, Cohu CM, Muller O, Adams WW III (2012) Modulation of photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency in nature: from seconds to seasons.ÌýPhotosynthesis ResearchÌý113: 75-88 available atÌý

Demmig-Adams B, Rixham CS, Adams WW III (2012) Carotenoids. In Mc Graw Hill Enclopedia of Science & Technology.Ìý McGraw-Hill, New York, pp. 549-555 available at

Dumlao MR, Darehshouri A, Cohu CM, Muller O, Mathias J, Adams WW III, Demmig-Adams B (2012) Low temperature acclimation of photosynthetic capacity and leaf morphology in the context of phloem loading type.ÌýPhotosynthesis ResearchÌý113: 181-189 available atÌý