I’m a PhD candidate with Rowan Sage at the Dept. of EEB, University of Toronto.

I am collaborating with Tammy Sage to use comparative physiology, anatomy, and ultrastructure to examine the evolution of C₄ photosynthesis. By clarifying the mechanisms that facilitated C₂ and C₄ evolution in nature, this research sheds light on the phenotypes required to engineer these CO₂-concentrating mechanisms into crops.

More generally, I’m interested the ecophysiology and biochemistry of photosynthesis and the evolution of complex traits.

I received my BSc from Western University, where I worked with Norm Hüner on photosynthesis in boreal trees grown under high temperature and CO₂ conditions.

publications

me^🌵 mentee^🤩

• Leung, A.^🌵, Patel, R., Chirachon, V., Stata, M., Macfarlane, T.D., Ludwig, M., Busch, F.A., Sage, T.L., Sage, R.F. (2024) Tribulus (Zygophyllaceae) as a case study for the evolution of C₂ and C₄ photosynthesis. Plant, Cell & Environment.
• Mok, D.^🤩, Leung, A.^🌵, Sage, T.L., Sage, R.F. (2023) CAM photosynthesis in Bulnesia retama (Zygophyllaceae), a non-succulent desert shrub from South America. Annals of Botany.
• Smith, D.R., Leung, A.^🌵, Zhang, X., Cvetkovska M., Morgan-Kiss, R., Hüner, N.P.A. (2022) An Antarctic alga that can survive the extreme cold. Frontiers for Young Minds.
• Leung, A.^🌵, Sage, R.F. (2021) Digest: Between invasive species and a hot place: plant evolution under climate change. Evolution.

contact

• Email (art.leung <at> mail.utoronto.ca)
• Bluesky (@aleungplants.bsky.social)