Mark Licht is an Associate Professor and Extension Cropping Systems Specialist in the Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University. His extension, research and teaching program is focused on how to holistically manage Iowa cropping systems to achieve productivity, profitability and environmental goals. Research is centered around varied aspects of soybean, corn and cover crop management.
I am an Associate Teaching Professor in the Agronomy Department and the activities director for Project LEA/RN at Iowa State University. My research specialty is helping students develop as responsible learners and as effective leaders. In addition to my direct work with students, I also help faculty in diverse disciplines become more effective at leading learning for their students. I continue to apply the results of on-going research to my own work of developing communities of learners.
Courses for which I lead learning include:
L L S 112: Foundations of Learning & Productive Team Membership
L L S 114: Developing Responsible Learners & Effective Leaders
My research interests include the fundamentals of human learning, social interaction, brain research, and leadership development. My passion is helping others learn and develop into professionals who are good citizens and effective leaders.
My teaching program includes an undergraduate course on Organic Compounds in Plants and Soils and a mixed undergrad/grad course on Environmental Soil and Water Chemistry. Each course is taught one semester per year.
My research program centers on environmental applications of soil chemistry and mineralogy. These studies seek to identify chemical and physical conditions that favor stability, transformations, and movement of nutrients, soil organic matter, and anthropogenic contaminants in soils. Current research projects include characterization and transformations of soil organic matter, the impacts of biofuel cropping systems on soil health, the mechanisms of colloid-mediated transport of hormones derived from municipal biosolids, and the composition of organic matter preserved in Quaternary paleosols.
Dr. David Kwaw-Mensah is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Agronomy. His degrees include a Ph.D. in Agricultural Education (Extension Education), with a Ph.D. minor in Environmental Science (Soil and Water Quality), Iowa State University, 2008, M.S. in Soil Science (Soil Management), Iowa State University, 2005, M.S in Agricultural Land-use Planning, University of Pretoria, South Africa, 1996, and B.Sc. (Hons) in Agriculture (Agronomy), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, 1982. He joined the Agronomy Department in 2012 as a Research Associate in Soil Management and Environment, focusing on tillage system and residue management research. In 2017 he joined the Master of Science Agronomy Program as Assistant Teaching Professor and currently teaches the following courses in the Master of Science Agronomy Program: Agronomy 532 (Soil Management), Agronomy 512 (Soil-Plant Environment), Agronomy 592 (Current Issues in Agronomy), and Agronomy 599M (Creative Component). Dr. Kwaw-Mensah also teaches a section in the undergraduate course Agronomy 342 (World Food Issues: Past and Present). He is a passionate teacher who believes in a respectful and inclusive learning environment. His teaching philosophy is grounded in the theory of transformative learning and constructivism. He shares in the thoughts of the 450 BC Philosopher, Confucius who once said, “Tell me, and I will forget; Show me, and I may remember; Involve me and I will understand.” He believes learning is an active lifelong biological process, which must be objectively evaluated using both formative and summative methods. He believes in engaging his students by telling, showing, and actively involving them in the learning and discovery process.
Bhattacharyya Lab is engaged in studying the molecular bases of two serious soybean diseases; the sudden death syndrome (SDS) and root and stem rot that are caused by Fusarium virguliforme and Phytophthora sojae, respectively. They have shown that FvTox1, a phytotoxin produced by F. virguliforme is involved in foliar SDS development. They then showed that by expressing an anti-FvTox1 plant antibody or FvTox1-interacting synthetic peptides one can enhance SDS resistance in soybean plants. They have mapped several quantitative trait loci governing SDS resistance and de novo sequenced F. virguliforme to identify pathogenicity genes involved in SDS development. They have shown that overexpression of two soybean genes, which are suppressed by F. virguliforme infection, enhances SDS resistance in transgenic soybean lines. One of these genes enhances resistance of soybean also against soybean aphids, spider mites and soybean cyst nematode. They have cloned the complex Rps1-k locus that governs the race-specific resistance of soybean against P. sojae pathotypes or races. There are two highly similar CC-NB-LRR-type genes in the Rps1-k locus that have been conferring Phytophthora resistance in soybean since 1980s. They have mapped several Rps genes including Rps1-k, Rps4, Rps6, Rps8, Rps12 and Rps13.
Bhattacharyya lab is also involved in understanding the nonhost resistance mechanisms of Arabidopsis against F. virguliforme and P. sojae. They identified 14 Arabidopsis mutants that are susceptible to both pathogens; and have cloned five genes that govern nonhost immunity of Arabidopsis against the two soybean pathogens. It appears that nonhost resistance mechanisms are highly complex and expression of these genes in transgenic soybean plants enhances SDS resistance.
Dr. Bradley Miller leads the Geospatial Laboratory for Soil Informatics, focusing on digital soil mapping and soil geomorphology. Dr. Miller’s research seeks to improve soil maps to enable property owners and farmers to make informed decisions about their land use. Soil maps provide insights into soil erosion potential, nutrient levels, and other factors affecting the health of ecosystems. Soil maps play a role in water resource management by indicating different soil types’ permeability and drainage characteristics. This information helps design effective water irrigation systems, manage water runoff, and prevent waterlogging. In addition, proper knowledge of soil conditions is crucial for designing structures that can withstand the local environmental conditions. Overall, spatial soil information is crucial for developing strategies to protect and manage natural resources, especially in agriculture.
Soil maps are critical for monitoring changes in soil resources over time. Soil management, by definition, changes soil. Different soil management practices can lead to degradation, such as loss of soil structure, nutrient content, and erosion. However, management practices can also improve soil resilience, supporting better soil water dynamics and nutrient supply. This information is vital for sustainable land management practices and helps identify areas where soil conservation measures may be needed.
Dr. Miller also contributes to the educational mission of Iowa State University by helping students and professionals understand the diversity of soils and their implications for various applications. Soil maps are valuable resources for decision-making in agriculture, land use planning, environmental management, water resource management, construction, and related fields.
Description of our team: We are a breeding, discovery, and tool-development-driven group interested in using transcending approaches and research activities to prepare and promote the next generation of competent and creative people who will work in inter- and trans-disciplinary teams to conduct critical research and establish effective breeding and research programs.
Our Mission: Educate the next generation of breeders in agriculture, engineering, and data science to develop tools and technologies that advance plant sciences and empower farmers to increase profitability and environmental sustainability.
Our Research Goals: To improve agricultural production and positively impact farmers and the agriculture industry by developing new products (cultivars, germplasm, methods, tools), gene discovery, and research insights.
Publications details – through Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=lzTBffEAAAAJ&hl=en
About me: My professional interest is to help improve agricultural production and use research/breeding activities to benefit farmers and the agriculture industry by developing superior soybean and millets cultivars and germplasm for farmers and other stakeholders.
I have participated in the development of >75 cultivars (annually grown in >10 million acres) and 13 germplasm lines, published >165 peer-reviewed publications (and additionally >200 conference/meeting abstracts or posters), served as a PI/co-PI on federal and commodity board funded projects from multiple sources and given >75 invited talks nationally and internationally.
I have co-authored the textbook “Plant Breeding and Cultivar Development” (Academic Press, USA; 2021) [https://www.elsevier.com/books/plant-breeding-and-cultivar-development/singh/978-0-12-817563-7]. I lead AGRON 521 (Principles of Cultivar Development) and AGRON 522 (Field Methods in Plant Breeding) courses at ISU.
Plant-breeding experience: soybean, millets, durum wheat, wheat, maize, oats and barley.