Education

• Ph.D. 1980 University of Washington (Plant physiology)
• M.S. 1976 University of Washington (Plant physiology)
• B.S. 1971 Tufts University (Engineering)

Research Interests

In my laboratory (and sometimes in the field) we investigate ways in which plants survive physical stresses imposed by the environment. Over the years, these stresses have included acid rain, high light intensity combined with drought and cold, and wide ranges of light intensity. Recently we have looked at light-avoiding leaf movements (paraheliotropism) in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and photosynthetic gas exchange in response to light, temperature and drought in Potentilla gracilis, an alpine plant growing at 3000m. Ongoing research is exploring how light is used by, and distributed within, leaves of Hosta, a horticulturally significant shade tolerant plant with varieties of different leaf color.

Professional Accomplishments

Bielenberg, D., Miller [Puffett], J. and V. Berg 2003. Paraheliotropism in two Phaseolus species: Combined effects of photon flux density and pulvinus temperature, and consequences for leaf gas exchange. Experimental and Environmental Botany 49, 95-105.

Yu, F. and V. Berg 1994. Control of paraheliotropism in two Phaseolus species. Plant Physiology 106, 1567-1573.

Smalley, S., H. Hauser and V.S. Berg 1993. Effect of cations on effective permeability of leaf cuticles to sulfuric acid. Plant Physiology 103, 251-256.

Hauser, H., K. Overholtzer Walters and V.S. Berg 1993. Patterns of effective permeability of leaf cuticles to acids. Plant Physiology 101, 251-257.

Berg, V.S. 1993. Tips for teaching plant physiology: water relations. American Biology Teacher 55, 96-99.

Donahue, R.A., T.C. Vogelmann and V.S. Berg 1990. Assessment of the potential of the blue light gradient in soybean pulvini as a leaf orientation signal. Physiologia Plantarum 79, 593-598.

Donahue, R. and V.S. Berg 1990. Soybean seedling leaf orientation. II. Light quality and receptor site. Crop Science 30, 638-643.

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