Innovations: Plant biology
Names: Sheng Yang He, professor of plant biology; Maeli Melotto, post-doctoral student; and Bill Underwood, graduate student Department: Plant Research Laboratory, Natural Science Type of research: Plant biology Date of research: He has been working with plants at MSU for 11 years. Basics of the project: This particular study focuses on the stomata, microscopic pores on the leaves of almost all plants, which have been known to save plants, He said. "People thought these were passports for bacteria," He said.