William Adams III

Research Interests

We take an integrative approach to synthesize 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. We identify physiological and structural traits underlying plant functioning, and particularly those associated with the ability to collect solar energy, perform photosynthesis, and export sugars from the leaf. We compare these characteristics among plant species with differing growth habits, different phloem loading mechanisms, and in response to different environmental growth conditions.

Selected Publications

• Adams WW III, Stewart JJ, Polutchko SK, Cohu CM, Muller O, Demmig-Adams B (2023) Foliar phenotypic plasticity reflects adaptation to environmental variability.  Plants 12: 2041 https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/10/2041
• Adams WW III, Stewart JJ, Polutchko SK, Demmig-Adams B (2022) Foliar sieve elements:  nexus of the leaf.  Journal of Plant Physiology 269: 153601 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153601
• Demmig-Adams B, Stewart JJ, López-Pozo M, Polutchko SK, Adams WW III (2020) Zeaxanthin, a molecule for photoprotection in many different environments.  Molecules 25: 5825 https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/24/5825
• Demmig-Adams B, López-Pozo M, Stewart JJ, Adams WW III (2020) Zeaxanthin and lutein: photoprotectors, anti-inflammatories, and brain food.  Molecules 25: 3607 https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/16/3607
• Stewart JJ, Adams WW III, Escobar CM, López-Pozo M, Demmig-Adams B (2020) Growth and essential carotenoid micronutrients in Lemna gibba as a function of growth light intensity.  Frontiers in Plant Science, 11: 480 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2020.00480/full
• Adams WW III (2018) Preface:  The importance of leaves to life and humanity.  In Adams WW III, Terashima I (eds) The Leaf:  A Platform for Performing Photosynthesis.  Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, Volume 44.  Springer, Cham, pp. xxvii-xxxiv https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/bfm:978-3-319-93594-2/1
• Adams WW III, Stewart JJ, Polutchko SK, Demmig-Adams B (2018) Leaf vasculature and the upper limit of photosynthesis.  In Adams WW III, Terashima I (eds) The Leaf:  A Platform for Performing Photosynthesis.  Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, Volume 44.  Springer, Cham, pp. 27-54 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93594-2_2
• Adams WW III, Stewart JJ, Demmig-Adams B (2018) Photosynthetic modulation in response to plant activity and environment.  In Adams WW III, Terashima I (eds) The Leaf:  A Platform for Performing Photosynthesis.  Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, Volume 44.  Springer, Cham, pp. 493-563 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93594-2_18
• Adams WW III, Stewart JJ, Cohu CM, Muller O, Demmig-Adams B (2016) Habitat temperature and precipitation of Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes determine the response of foliar vasculature, photosynthesis, and transpiration to growth temperature.  Frontiers in Plant Science 7: 1026 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2016.01026/full
• Adams WW III, Muller O, Cohu CM, Demmig-Adams B (2013) May photoinhibition be a consequence, rather than a cause, of limited plant productivity?  Photosynthesis Research 117: 31-44 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11120-013-9849-7