Dr. Wells' graduate education was in Crop Physiology. Dr. Wells spent six years as a Cotton Physiologist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service prior to coming to NC State in 1987. Research interests presently include three crops, cotton, soybean, and peanut in such areas as photosynthesis, light relationships of plant canopies, heat tolerance, plant spatial relationships in different row widths /plant populations, and physiological problems associated with Roundup Ready trait in cotton.

Dr. Wells coordinates and team teaches Crop Physiology I. Plant Response to Environment, a graduate level course delving into the physiology of crop plants and their interaction with the environment. He also serves as major advisor to graduate students and serves on a number of graduate advisory committees.

Cotton Physiology

Work has proceeded in cooperation with Dr. Keith Edmisten examining ultra-narrow-row cotton. Narrow-row cotton has higher photosynthesis due to faster canopy closure than conventionally spaced rows. Narrow-rows also has some competitive advantages with weed growth due to these canopy/light environment differences, underlining the need to improve harvesting efficiency of the crop in this production system.

In conjunction with Drs. Wilcut and Edmisten, a study examining the physiological reasons for problems with roundup ready cotton. Ms. Wendy Pline found that roundup ready lines have altered pollen and anther development that results in poor pollination. Another series of studies have been pursued to determine the effects of high CO² and shade on roundup-ready (glyphosate tolerant) cotton. There is evidence that RR cotton fails to set fruit during certain environmental conditions.

Dr. Wells and graduate assistant Ryan Viator are examining ancestral and modern cotton cultivars for genotypic variation in starch storage. Some Atree type@ cotton lines in Brazil have very high levels of starch stored in roots and lower stems. Do old cultivars have larger starch reserves than more modern lines that have been bred for higher yield?

Soybean Physiology

A study of soybean high temperature sensitivity has been conducted. A range of sensitivities have been identified in six genotypes known to differ in drought stress tolerance. PI 416937 and line SH 447 have an temperature optimums that are higher than the other genotypes examined. This characteristic parallels the drought tolerance known to exist in PI 416937. An important question is whether this tolerance to high temperature is separate from drought tolerance or and integral part of the same response to low water availability. It may be possible that high temperature tolerance is a separate, heritable trait.

Early soybean production system, or ESPS has been examined for suitability in North Carolina to avoid hurricanes and drought in late summer months. Early maturity group soybeans lines grown in narrow row widths may offer management options in conjunction with higher profitability.

Peanut Physiology

In conjunction with Dr. David Jordan, Dr. Wells is examining canopy closure of peanuts grown in variable row widths. In addition, Dr. Wells is assisting in measurements of chlorophyll in peanut under different nitrogen nutritional regimes.