Research Focus Group Leader listed first, then alphabetically. Click on the person’s name to be taken to their departmental web page.
Root Biology Group
Root Biology Group Faculty |
Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Pierson – Research Focus Group LeaderAssociate Professor | Department of Horticultural Sciences Phone: 979-862-1307 (Office) | E-mail: eapierson@tamu.edu |
| My research includes plant-microbe interactions, biological control, and sustainable agriculture. She also conducts research related to zebra chip disease of potato, microbe-insect interactions, and terrestrial plant ecology. I teach the undergraduate course Garden Science and the graduate course Plant-Associated Microorganisms, which is available to students in three different graduate programs. | |
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Dr. Michael L. ArnoldProfessor of Landscape Horticulture & Associate Head for Undergraduate Programs Phone: 979-845-1499 | FAX: 979-845-0627 | Email: ma-arnold@tamu.edu. |
| My research includes investigating landscape establishment of container-grown plants, with particular interest in the post-harvest impacts of various nursery/greenhouse production practices on transplant establishment to landscapes. I am interested in landscape plant selection and breeding efforts for improved genotypes which enhance the sustainability of our region landscapes and minimize inputs required to produce and maintain practical aesthetically pleasing integrated urban/suburban natural and built environments. | |
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Dr. Jamie FosterAssistant Professor | Department of Soil and Crop Sciences Phone: (361) 358-6390 | E-mail: jlfoster@ag.tamu.edu |
| Her overall goal is the improvement of economic and environmental sustainability through the use of alternative practices, specifically the integration of legumes or agricultural co-products, into agricultural systems. Since improvement of sustainability and resource use efficiency are cross-cutting issues, her research is designed to evaluate alternatives which will improve the resource use efficiency of water, nutrients, and other management inputs while maintaining crop or livestock productivity. Alternative practices include novel forages or crops, agronomic management, soil amendments, or tillage. Her primary focus is on warm-season legumes, and the integration of cool-season legumes into agricultural systems, use of grass-legume mixtures, and co-products, including microalgae, macroalgae, and other bioenergy waste, are also research interests. | |
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Dr. John Jifon
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| His research is focused on environmental stress physiology of plants — the physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms and traits that confer tolerance to environmental stresses (especially to drought, radiation/temperature extremes, and nutrient imbalance). A key theme in his research is to use integrated measurements obtained at leaf, whole-plant, and stand levels to study factors that regulate photosynthetic efficiency, water/nutrient use efficiency, assimilate partitioning, yield and quality. The aim is to use the information gained in these studies to develop practical strategies to optimize productivity and quality by improving plant tolerance to environmental stresses. | |
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Dr. Genhua NiuAssociate professor | Landscape water conservation | Texas A&M University Phone: 915 859 9111 Ext 232 | Fax: 915 859 1078 | Email: gniu@ag.tamu.edu |
| Her expertise are in environmental stress physiology, plant production in controlled environment, and photoautotrohic micropropagation. Her current research areas include identifying drought and salt tolerant low water use plant materials for urban landscape, quantifying growth and physiological responses of crops to drought and salt stresses, and determining the minimum water requirement for urban landscape plants (trees, shrubs, and ground covers) for maintaining a healthy landscape while conserving water. In addition, Dr. Niu is evaluating the salt and drought tolerance of a range of bioenergy crops for semi-arid regions. | |
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Dr. Michael KolomietsProfessor | Molecular Biology of Plant Defense Responses Phone: 979-458-4624 | Email:kolomiets@tamu.edu |
| His research investigates the genes and metabolites of lipid-based biochemical and signal transduction pathways and the role they play in plant development and survival in response to pathogens. Key regulatory components of these pathways are lipases, lipoxygenases (LOX), 12-oxo-phytodienoate reductases (OPR). One of the greatest scientific challenges that we face currently in this field is to understand the physiological function of individual genes and isozymes, pathways they initiate and their metabolites. Although we are interested in most aspects of these pathways, our current emphasis is to elucidate functions of individual members of the multigene families of LOXs and OPRs in corn. Using genomics tools we have identified and cloned all members of maize LOX gene family. RNA profiling and other expression data strongly suggest their involvement in disease resistance mechanisms. By using reverse genetics strategy, a project is underway to identify maize mutants in which function of all LOX genes is interrupted by insertions of Mutator transposable elements. To assess function of these genes in defense-responses these mutants will undergo vigorous disease resistance screening, oxylipin profiling via HPLC, GC-MS and other biochemical techniques. The most harmful corn diseases worldwide are those caused by pathogens Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus flavus,that produce mycotoxins that are extremely harmful to humans and animals. Therefore, these and other corn diseases are the primary targets of our research program. | |
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Dr. Nithya RajanAssistant Professor of Crop Physiology & Agroecology Phone: 979 845 0360 | Email: nrajan@tamu.edu |
| My current research integrates measurements by a variety of techniques such as remote sensing, simulation modeling, soil and boundary layer flux (CO2, water vapor, and greenhouse gases) measurements. It involves scaling up point measurements to the field and landscape scales using modeling and geospatial data. It also includes the development of decision support tools for irrigation management. My other research interests include large scale agroecosystem studies addressing issues such as land use change, water sustainability, and climate change. My particular research interests are: Sustainable crop production and management; Agricultural water management ( Crop water use and irrigation management); Agricultural remote sensing; Crop modeling ; Carbon and hydrologic cycles of agroecosystems. | |
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Dr. Charlie RushSenior Regents Professor | Texas A&M University Cell: (806)678-9984 | Email: CRush@ag.tamu.edu |
| His research program focuses on ecology, epidemiology, and management of economically important plant diseases, with emphasis on wheat, sorghum, and sugar beet. Dr. Rush has focused on diseases caused by plant viruses and soilborne fungal pathogens. Program objectives address not only applied problems but also fundamental aspects of Phytopathology, which will lead to new and significant information. | |
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Dr. Paul RushtonAssociate Professor | Plant Physiology & Biochemistry | Texas A&M University AgriLife Research & Extension Center at Dallas Phone 972- 952-9246 | Email: paul.rushton@tamu.edu |
| His research centers on the way plants respond to stress, particularly water stress. His group uses several of the new –omics technologies to provide system-wide insights into the processes that occur in plants under water stress. His group is also looking at how plants respond to stress by interacting with symbiotic fungi in the soil. The main goal of the research is to develop turf grass which requires less water and thereby reduce the amount of water that is needed for watering in the Dallas area. | |
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Dr. Anil SomenahallyAssistant Professor | Texas A&M AgriLife Research in Overton, TX Phone: 903-834-6191 ext 248 | Email: ASomenahally@tamu.edu |
| His research focus is on rhizosphere microbiology, to understand plant-microbe-mineral interactions to improve soil fertility and plant nutrition. Other areas of interests include bioremediation of heavy metals contamination and microbial biogeocycling in cropping systems to increase nutrients use efficiency and reduce environmental contamination. | |
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Dr. Cecilia TamborindeguyAssociate professor | Department of Entomology Phone: (832) 779 8070 | Email: ctamborindeguy@tamu.edu. |
| Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying plant pathogen transmission by insects. We study the interaction between plants, insects and pathogens. Our central questions are (1) how pathogens affect host plants and vectors, (2) what are the molecular mechanisms involved in pathogen transmission, and (3) how plants respond to insects and pathogens. Our main study systems are psyllid – Liberibacter and aphid – viruses. More recently we started a line of research on fire ants. | |
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Dr. Jason VogelAssistant Professor | Forest Ecosystem Science Phone: (979) 845-5580 | Email: jason_vogel@tamu.edu. |
| His research studies how ecosystem management, the physical environment, plant and microbial communities interact to affect the cycling of carbon, nitrogen and other nutrients through terrestrial ecosystems. For management, he has focused on how forest productivity responds to silvicultural treatments and how this response affects other ecosystem processes (e.g. soil carbon and nutrient cycling) through changes in tree biomass allocation. His research in boreal and arctic ecosystems is focused on how element cycling is affected by climate change. He teaches silviculture FRSC 305 during the spring semester. | |
Root Imaging Group
Root Imaging Group Faculty |
Dr. Dirk Hays – Research Focus Group LeaderProfessor | Department of Soil and Crop Sciences | Texas A&M University Phone: 979-458-0032 | Email: dbhays@tamu.edu |
| His research focuses on developing a better understanding of the mechanisms that regulate seed development and associated end-use quality in wheat, related cereals, and model Brassicaceae. The plant seed, comprised of the endosperm and embryo, develop in an ordered sequence that is poorly understood at the molecular level. Seed and endosperm development also have the dynamic capacity to alter their temporal development and maturation pattern in response to heat stress and other environmental and biotic cues and stresses. In human terms, this modulation in seed development often, however, adversely impacts grain end-use quality and yield. Our research uses genomics, proteomics, plant physiology and cell biology to characterize the genes and signaling molecules that operate between neighboring seed and distal maternal tissues to regulate seed development, nuclear endosperm cellularization, maturation and their temporal modulation in response to adverse abiotic and biotic stresses in cereals and Brassicaceae, This research creates a foundation for developing wheat and cereal varieties with outstanding grain yield and quality for traditional end-uses and novel high value identity preserved markets adapted to the unique environmental challenges faced by Texas producers. Courses at the graduate level are designed to educate students in the broad subject of plant physiology. This course prepares students for careers in industry and academic education and research. | |
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Dr. Ron LaceyProfessor | Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering Phone: (979) 845-3967 | Email: ron-lacey@tamu.edu |
| His research interests are focused on the application of engineering fundamentals to design, operate, and optimize complex systems. Past projects have included extracting and correlating ultrasonic image parameters to meat tenderness, correlating ultrasonic wave characteristics with physical properties of aging cooking oil, long term growth of plants under hypobaric pressures (1/4 atmosphere) to simulate potential Martian colonies, quantification and control of air quality factors in animal agriculture, and production of biofuels from algae. Dr. Lacey currently teaches graduate classes in statistical design and systems simulation along with undergraduate classes in engineering design and project management. | |
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Dr. Dave StellyProfessor | Department of Soil & Crop Sciences | Texas A&M University Phone: 979-845-2745 | Email: stelly@tamu.edu |
| The Stelly Lab is dedicated to integrated research and education pertinent to genetic improvement of economically important plants, especially cotton. Goals are [1] to develop methods and knowledge that expedite and/or expand the ranges of genetic improvements for diverse traits, [2] to produce insightful and productive scientists, and [3] to improve economic yield and sustainability. Major activities include genome sequencing, SNP (genetic marker) development, SNP array development, SNP binning and integrative mapping, genetic dissection of complex traits, marker-assisted selection, “wide-hybridization”, various breeding schemes, chromosome substitution, ploidy manipulations and development of cytogenetic stocks, mapping populations and backcross-inbred lines. The germplasm and research methods in the Stelly program are of prospective use to plant-based root/rhizosphere analysis and improvement, and vice versa. | |
Root Microbiome Group
Root Mircobiome Group Faculty |
Dr. Michael Kolomiets – Research Focus Group Leader-Professor | Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology |
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Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) PiersonAssociate Professor | Department of Horticultural Sciences |
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Dr. Leland (Sandy) Pierson III – Project DirectorProfessor and Head | Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology |
| My interests are how beneficial secondary metabolites produced by rhizosphere-colonizing bacteria are regulated and the roles they serve for the producing bacterium, their effects on other members of the rhizosphere community and their effects on the plant host, especially in regards to abiotic (drought, temperature) and biotic stresses. I am also interested in how plant genotype affects the production of these metabolites and whether they benefit the host directly and can be useful as indicators for plant breeding screening. | |
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Dr. David N. AppelProfessor | Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology Phone: 979-845-8273 | Email: d-appel@tamu.edu. |
| The common theme of my activities is improving our understanding of the epidemiology of plant pathogens to make better disease management decisions. Specific projects include: 1) Oak Wilt: The primary components of the project included an infectious forest disturbance (oak wilt, caused by Ceratocystis fagacearum), an indicator of forest health (the endangered avian species, the golden cheeked warbler), and their coexistence in a large tract of Central Texas savannah located within the Ft. Hood Military Installation, TX. The impact of oak wilt on the golden cheeked warbler (GCW) habitat utilizing remote sensing, a Geographic Information System (GIS) and geostatistical analyses is being analyzed. The spatial patterns of disease incidence are related to numerous independent variables using binary decision trees, semivariograms and kriging to create surface maps useful in predicting disease development. These studies will provide landowners and natural resource managers with better information on which to make disease management decisions. 2) Pierce’s Disease: The epidemiology of Pierce’s disease of grapes depends, in part, on vector behavior, inoculum sources, and the grape cultivars being infected. The colonization of different grape cultivars is being studied in containerized vines by inoculating them with different pathogen strains and assaying for the growth of the bacterium throughout the plants for a year following inoculation. Direct isolation, ELISA, and real time PCR are being used to study colonization and to compare the efficiency of each diagnostic technique. Sequential disease development within different vineyards is being surveyed to study the spread of the pathogen into, and within, vineyards. The spatial patterns of disease incidence and levels of disease severity are being analyzed. 3) Sudden Oak Death: The SOD pathogen apparently has been disseminated throughout the United States from contaminated nurseries in California during the past 2 years. The Forest Pathology Lab is involved in 3 different surveys within, and around, nurseries in Texas. One of the surveys involve those nurseries receiving plant materials from the contaminated CA nursery (trace forward survey) while the others include a sample of nurseries from throughout the state. Symptomatic plants from regulated host species are being processed the lab using direct isolation, ELISA and PCR to detect the pathogen. | |
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Dr. Spencer T. BehmerProfessor | Department of Entomology | Texas A&M University Phone: (979) 845-7304 | Fax: (979) 845-6305 |
| My interests in insect physiology and behavior began to develop as an undergraduate working on grasshoppers in the sandhills of western Nebraska. Initially I focused on questions grounded in ecology, but as I spent time doing fieldwork I began to wonder why particular species were associated with particular plants and habitats, and which factors were responsible for determining species abundance, coexistence and distribution. I also became curious about what insects were capable of learning as they moved through and experienced their surroundings. I felt some these questions might best be addressed by exploring physiology, and since then my research has tended in this direction, with an emphasis on nutritional physiology and mechanisms associated with resource use. I am a keen observer of insect natural history, and where possible I use a comparative approach to gain insights into the evolution of physiological processes and mechanisms. I also believe a broader understanding of insect physiology can provide novel insights into conditions affecting humans (e.g. obesity, diabetes) and, in the case of plant-feeding insect pests, lead to the development of novel control approaches that are both target specific and environmental friendly. | |
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Dr. Dan EbboleProfessor | Fungal Development & Pathogenesis Phone: (979) 845-4831 | Email: d-ebbole@tamu.edu |
| expertise is in fungal development and fungal-plant interactions. He has worked on manipulation of gene expression, asexual sporulation and regulatory pathways, and development associated with plant infection. He works with the model system Neurospora crassa to study development and the role of carbon metabolism and sugar transport in regulation of sporulation. He also works on evolution of gene families and virulence factors delivered into the host plant in rice blast disease. | |
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Dr. Terry J. GentryAssociate Professor | Department of Soil & Crop Sciences | Texas A&M University Phone: 979-845-5323 | Email: tjgentry@tamu.edu |
| Research. My research focuses on the development and use of molecular technologies to enhance the detection and remediation of environmental contamination. This includes the detection and identification of microbial pathogens from animal, human, and natural sources and also the characterization of microbial populations and communities contributing to applied remediation processes such as the bioremediation of organic and metal contaminants. Teaching. I currently teach an upper-level undergraduate course in Environmental Soil Science (SCSC 455) in the Spring semester. During the course, students are first presented with the chemical, physical, and biological processes controlling the fate and transport of pollutants in the soil/water/air continuum. These principles are then used to design and evaluate strategies to prevent and/or treat several types of contamination from agricultural, municipal, and industrial sources of pollution. | |
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Dr. Young-Ki JoAssociate Professor & Extension Specialist Phone: 979-862-1758 | Email: ykjo@tamu.edu |
| My research and extension is focused on the management of diseases associated with turfgrass and rice. My expertise is molecular identification of microbes (fungal pathogens and endophytes), characterization of their populations, and biological and chemical strategies of disease management. | |
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Dr. Charles KenerleyProfessor | Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology | Texas A&M University Phone: (979) 845-8261 | Email: c-kenerley@tamu.edu. |
| Research Interests: My laboratory has used cotton and maize as plant systems to study interactions with the fungal symbiont Trichoderma virens. We have examined genes encoding enzymes, peptaibols, and fungal toxins for their role in mycoparasitism of several fungal pathogens. We have developed several biocontrol assays to determine the effect of disrupting or silencing these genes on the ability of T. virens to control pathogens. We have also investigated the role of small secreted proteins (SSPs) and peptaibols in the appearance of induced systemic resistance (ISR). In collaboration with Dr. Mike Kolomiets, we are investigating the response of maize mutants to colonization by strains of T. virens, especially regarding phytohormonal and secretome response. Lastly, we have limited experience with volatile production by T. virens and how these volatiles affect plant growth and response to pathogens | |
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Dr. T. Erik MirkovProfessor | Plant Molecular Virology Phone: 956-968-5585 | Email: e-mirkov@tamu.edu |
| Plant Molecular Virology: The research in my laboratory has both an applied aspect and a basic aspect. The main emphasis of the applied research is to incorporate viral resistance genes into crops important to south Texas agriculture using transgenic plant technologies. We have used pathogen derived resistance approaches to create transgenic citrus and sugarcane plants that are resistant to the main viruses causing economic losses in these crops. We are also expressing novel lectins and lytic proteins in transgenic plants for the control of insect viral vectors and phytopathogenic bacteria. Currently, there are projects in both sugarcane and citrus.In addition to using pathogen derived resistance approaches to create transgenic citrus resistant to Citrus tristeza virus, the most important virus of citrus worldwide, we are developing and utilizing positional cloning methods to isolate viral resistance genes from citrus and citrus relatives. A major effort in the lab has an overall objective to use positional cloning methods to isolate a dominant gene (Ctv) from the trifoliate orange that causes resistance to all know isolates of Citrus tristeza virus. Starting with a genetic linkage map spanning 1.8 cM, and a subsequent chromosome walk of 1.2 Mb, we have narrowed down the genomic region that must contain Ctv to 125 kb, which contains eight candidate genes.Another major emphasis in the lab is to identify and characterize host proteins involved in the dsRNA mediated antiviral defense pathway. Many different plant viral proteins have been identified as suppressors of this RNA silencing defense pathway. We have identified and are using suppressors encoded by sugarcane viruses as molecular probes to isolate plant proteins in the RNA silencing pathway. To date, five different proteins (including a protein able to bind RNA) have been isolated. Furthermore, using newly developed in vivo assays we have confirmed that the host RNA binding protein and a interacting host 14-3-3 protein are required for RNA silencing. This approach will allow us to dissect this very important RNA surveillance, targeting, and degradation pathway. | |
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Dr. Kranthi MandadiAssistant Professor | Texas A&M University Phone: 956-969-5634 | Email: kkmandadi@tamu.edu |
| World-wide, pathogens, insects and abiotic stresses cause major losses in yield and quality of crops. My lab employs systems approaches for basic and translational studies of plant stress responses in both model (e.g., Brachypodium, Setaria and Arabidopsis) and crop (e.g., Citrus, Sugarcane, tomato and potato) plants. We are using the latest omics and bioinformatics tools to establish and utilize integrative knowledge-bases for diverse plant abiotic (drought, heat, cold, salinity and nutrient deficiency or toxicity) and biotic (viral, fungal, bacterial and insect) stress conditions. The knowledge-bases are valuable resources for data mining and discovery of critical gene modules and molecular markers useful for crop improvement via biotechnology and breeding, as well as to understand plant genotype-to-phenotype relationships. | |
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Dr. Gaylon MorganProfessor & State Extension Cotton Specialist Phone: 979-845-0870 | Email: gdmorgan@tamu.edu. |
| My goal, as the State Extension Cotton Specialist, is to provide economically and environmentally sound recommendations to the Cotton producers within the state of Texas. The foundation for these recommendations is an applied research program and coordinated effort among cotton scientists cross the nation. Timely dissemination of this information through presentations, publications, interviews, and the internet allows producers to make informed agronomic management decisions. | |
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Dr. Clyde MunsterProfessor | Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering Phone: (979) 847-8793 | Email: c-munster@tamu.edu Website: http://munster.tamu.edu/ |
| GIS-based computer modeling of chemical transport through the soil, surface runoff and ground water at the watershed scale supported by field studies and laboratory experiments. My expertise related to the root microbiome group is the land application of agricultural wastes and the impact on water quality, both runoff and groundwater. In the past I have had numerous projects related to the land application manure, particularly in the Bosque River watershed. More recently, I have had bioenergy projects related the land of application of biochar from pyrolysis and/or gasification. With the bioenergy projects, I have been primarily interested in the impact of biochar on soil properties such as hydraulic conductivity, porosity, bulk density, water holding capacity, etc. Secondary interests have been the impact of biochar on crop yields, runoff, and infiltration. Tertiary interests are to scale-up the impacts of land application of bioenergy wastes to the watershed scale through GIS analyses and hydrologic modeling. | |
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Dr. Paul SchwabProfessor | Department of Soil & Crop Sciences Phone: 979-845-3663 | Email: pschwab@tamu.edu. |
| My research program investigates the contaminants in soil and water. Target contaminants have included pesticides, plant nutrients, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals. Current research directions also include the sustainable use of water in energy. | |
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Dr. Herman B. ScholthofProfessor | Plant Virology | Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology Texas A&M University Phone: 979-862-1495 | Email: herscho@tamu.edu. |
| In my Plant Virology laboratory, we study the molecular mechanisms that determine whether a plant is susceptible or resistant to virus infection. Although there are multiple factors that influence the ability of a virus to infect a plant, crucial events are viral movement and the evasion of resistance responses, including RNA silencing or interference (RNAi). These processes are studied in above-ground parts and in roots. | |
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Dr. Gregory SwordProfessor | Charles R. Parencia Chair in Cotton Entomology Phone: (979) 861-1702 | Email: gasword@tamu.edu |
Current projects in the lab include:
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Dr. Heather WilkinsonProfessor & Associate Department Head Phone: 979-845-1491 | Email: h-wilkinson@tamu.edu |
| I apply evolutionary and ecological genetics approaches and questions to a variety of microbial systems. At the most basic level our overarching goal in my program is to elucidate the genetic basis for adaptation and/or how the patterns of associated phenotypes are distributed in nature or across environmental conditions. My strategy in research is not only to directly test hypotheses central to a specific project, but also, to concomitantly build tools and resources necessary to expand and/or redirect the scope of the project as needed due to opportunity, curiosity or both. Such tools include items like databases, well-characterized libraries of biological materials, and experimental skill-sets among personnel. Currently, I lead a collaboration among myself, Terry Gentry and Mark Holtzapple to optimize the microbial communities in a carboxylate biofuel platform (CBP) developed at Texas A&M, MixAlcoTM. We seek to generate a deep understanding of community dynamics within the CBP across time and/or process conditions. Our current research emphasis involves evaluating screens of 501 communities collected over three years from 77 sites distributed throughout the continental United States, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii to determine the degree to which soil environments select for communities pre-adapted to conditions in commonly associated industrial processes with microbes, and 2) characterize the dynamics of many independent microbial communities within the CBP under a variety of process conditions and industrial scales. We are currently resolving a picture of the environmental conditions that prime the most optimal communities for this process, the particular functional categories of taxa that contribute to particular process performance phenotypes, and the role of process conditions in constraining CBP performance phenotypes and community diversity. In combination with other work to create a library of isolates (N>1800) from the top performing communities, we now have both testable hypotheses and well-characterized tools for the next stage where we will conduct directed studies of assembled communities. In addition I expanded into other collaborations associated with screening our isolate library for traits important to additional industries (e.g. bioremediation, hydrocarbon degradation, butanol production, agriculture). | |
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Dr. Joshua YuanAssociate Professor | Systems Biology & Bioenergy Phone: 979-845-3016 | Email: syuan@tamu.edu |
| We aim to use integrated and multidisciplinary approaches to address important issues in bioenergy and plant biology. We are employing the latest systems and computational biology platforms to carry out four aspects of research. First, we are using the shot-gun proteomics, molecular network, and other high throughput methods to identify key genes controlling plant energy balance and defense. Several new groups of genes have been identified and are being studied. The research is a continuation from our traditional plant biology research. Second, we integrate the latest metagenomics and metaproteomics approaches to explore the molecular and systems level mechanisms for biomass degradation in Natural Biomass Utilization Systems (NBUS) like cattle rumen, termite gut, white rot fungi, and other insect guts. The study has led to insights about the biomass deconstruction and potential knowhow for reverse design of new biorefinery functions. The topic was spinned off from our plant insect interaction work and got expanded to a much broader perspective. Third, we are employing the state-of-the-art HDX mass spectrometry platform to explore enzyme dynamics toward understanding the dynamics-function relationship and developing new solutions for rational design of biocatalysts. The research serves as a perfect complements to the enzyme discovery for an integrated solution for biomass conversion. Fourth, we are carrying out metabolic engineering in both algal and higher plant species for improving terpenoid yield toward fuels, chemicals, and therapeutics applications. The complementary algal cultivation technologies and such were developed. The research direction was derived from our study of terpenoid function in plant defense. Overall, the four directions work together to address the key challenges in second and third generation biofuels as well as crop growth and safety | |
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Dr. Xin-Gen (Shane) ZhouAssociate Professor | Research Plant Pathologist Phone: 409-752-2741 | Email: shanezhou09@tamu.edu. |
| Rice and bioenergy crops active research and outreach program on the management of economically important diseases of rice. He is responsible for developing improved host resistance and chemical control and innovative biocontrol practices for integrated management of rice diseases. His biocontrol research focuses on understanding PGPR and root endophytes in relation to plant health and utilization of these beneficial microbes for the management of rice diseases. Understanding the impacts of heat, drought and other abiotic stresses on the efficacy of biocontrol agents is another research area. | |
Root Breeding Group
Root Breeding Group Faculty |
Dr. Qingwu Xue – Research Focus Group LeaderAssistant Professor of Crop Physiology Phone: 806-354-5803 (Office) |Fax: 806-354-5829 |
| The overall goal of my research program is to provide selection tools for breeders and geneticists and management tools for agronomists and producers, through better understanding the physiological mechanisms of crop performance under stress conditions. The major research focuses include understanding physiological and molecular mechanisms of drought tolerance, identifying plant traits conferring to stress tolerance, understanding the interactions of abiotic and biotic stresses, evaluating and developing field phenotyping tools, and developing management strategies under stress conditions. | |
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Dr. Carlos AvilaAssistant Professor | Texas A&M Agrilife Research & Extension Center at Weslaco, TX Phone: 956.960.8344 | Email: carlos.avila@ag.tamu.edu. |
| My research laboratory integrates applied vegetable breeding with fundamental research on plant defensive signaling. My areas of expertise/interest includes: 1) Conventional and molecular breeding, 2) phenotyping and genotyping methods to improve breeding efficiency, 3) Utilization of exotic germplasm for crop improvement, and 4) molecular bases of plant defensive signaling mechanisms in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. My current plant model systems include tomato, spinach, and Arabidopsis. | |
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Dr. Xuejun DongAssistant Professor of Crop Physiology | Texas A&M AgriLife Research at Uvalde, Texas Phone: 830-278-9151; Ext: 290 | Email: xuejun.dong@ag.tamu.edu |
| Built on his prior experience in desert and grassland plant water relations studies, Xuejun Dong is currently screening root growth and water uptake of selected varieties/hybrids of agronomic crops under irrigated conditions | |
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Dr. Shuyu LiuAssistant Professor | Small Grain Genetics & Genomics Phone: 806-677-5607 (Office) | 806-677-5624 (Lab) Fax: 806-677-5644 | Email: SLiu@ag.tamu.edu. |
| I mainly conduct genetic and genomic studies of important traits of wheat in the US Great Plains. Traits include drought and heat tolerance, resistance to diseases (leaf, stem and stripe rust, wheat streak mosaic virus), and arthropods (greenbug, Russian wheat aphid, hessian fly, and wheat curl mite) as well as good end-use quality. Both traditional and molecular breeding techniques are used to develop germplasm lines with one or more target traits. Genomic techniques include gene/QTL mapping, molecular marker identification, validation and utilization, high throughput KASP SNP screening, and gene cloning. Gene functional analysis will be used to understand and improve those target traits. | |
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Dr. Jackie RuddProfessor, Agronomy | Wheat Breeder and Regents Professor Phone: 806-677-5600 | Email: jcrudd@ag.tamu.edu |
| Dr. Rudd is project leader of the hard winter wheat breeding program for the High Plains and Rolling Plains of Texas. His responsibilities include management of the cultivar development project, graduate student training, and conducting research relevant to wheat genetic improvement and biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. | |
Coordinating Committee
Coordinating Committee Faculty |
Dr. Leland (Sandy) Pierson III– Project DirectorProfessor and Head | Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology |
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Dr. David BaltenspergerProfessor and Head | Department of Soil and Crop Sciences Phone: 979-845-3041 | Email: dbaltensperger@tamu.edu |
| Provides leadership and administration for a large comprehensive program of research, teaching and extension in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. The department is widely recognized for its quality, size, and diversity of subject matter areas. Nationally and internationally recognized research programs are conducted by Soil and Crop Sciences Faculty in such disciplines as plant breeding and genetics, biotechnology, crop physiology, agronomy, forage and turfgrass management, cereal chemistry, soil science, weed science, and environmental soil, water and crop science. The Department has 34 campus-based research/teaching and 11 extension faculty at College Station and 45 research and extension faculty headquartered at 13 research and extension centers across the state. Student enrollment consists of 125 undergraduate students and 120 graduate students representing several states and 19 countries. | |
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Dr. Juan A. Landivar (Weslaco) (Corpus Christi)Resident Director and Professor | Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center at Weslaco and Corpus Christi, TX. Phone: 956-968-5585 (Weslaco) | 361-265-9201 (Corpus Christi) Email: jalandivar@ag.tamu.edu |
| Scientists at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco and Corpus Christi are creating new, more efficient plants and sustainable production systems for food, fiber, energy and high-value products, through the advancement of genetics, molecular biology, advanced sensors technology with an understanding of the economic needs of Texas. These Centers serve the regional, national and international interests of the Texas A&M System with programs in research, education and extension. | |
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Dr. Daniel LeskovarProfessor and Center Director | Department of Horticultural Sciences Phone: 830-278-9151 | Fax: 830-278-1570 |
| Dr. Leskovar’s vegetable physiology program focuses on understanding plant morphological and physiological adaptation mechanisms to environmental stresses, and development of integrated sustainable vegetable cropping systems. His research emphasis is on: 1) seed-transplant production and physiology to increase plant survival and enhance stand establishment; 2) plant hormones to modulate seedling growth; 3) root/shoot developmental responses to water conservation strategies and irrigation technologies; 4) impact of cropping systems on antioxidants and sensory attributes of vegetable crops; and 5) genotype selection for drought resistance, high yield, quality, and phytochemical content. Dr. Leskovar’s program involves international cooperators. | |
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Dr. David StellyProfessor | Department of Soil and Crop Sciences | Texas A&M University Phone: 979-845-2745 | Email: stelly@tamu.edu (see Root Imaging Group) |