Bhattacharyya, Madan

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.

Archontoulis, Sotirios

Sotirios Archontoulis is a professor of integrated cropping systems at the Department of Agronomy. His research aims to predict impacts (e.g. climate change), explain causes (e.g. high/low yields) and design future strategies to improve crop productivity and environmental sustainability across spatial and temporal scales. His approach combines field experimentation and use of agricultural systems process-based models to explain Genotype x Environment x Management interactions and enable prediction and design at scale.

Miller, Bradley

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.

 

Awards

  • Dean’s Citation for Extraordinary Contributions to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2023
  • Dean’s Citation Team Award, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2022
  • NSF CAREER Award, 2021
  • Early Achievement in Research Award, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2021
  • Dan Yaalon Young Scientist Medal, International Union of Soil Sciences, 2018
  • Citation for Excellence in Manuscript Review, Soil Science Society of America Journal, 2015

Singh, Asheesh

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.

Moore, Kenneth

Dr. Ken Moore is Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences and Professor in Agronomy at Iowa State University where he has been a member of the faculty since 1993. He previously held the Pioneer Hi-Bred Agronomy Professorship in Agronomy (2017-21). He holds a B.S. (1979) degree from Arizona State University and M.S. (1981) and Ph.D. (1983) degrees in Agronomy from Purdue University. He held faculty positions at the University of Illinois (1983-87) and New Mexico State University (1987-89), and was a USDA/ARS Research Agronomist and adjunct faculty member at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln (1989-93). His research focuses on the development and improvement of biomass crops and cropping systems. He served as Project Director for the USDA-NIFA-CAP project CenUSA: Sustainable Production and Distribution of Bioenergy for the Central USA (2011-19). He is the founding director and led the development of the Master of Science in Agronomy distance education program (1995-2017). He served two terms (2010-2017) on the ISU Graduate Council and was its Chair during the 2015-16 academic year. He teaches a graduate course on quantitative methods and the design and analysis of agronomic experiments (Agron 526). He has worked on collaborative research and education projects in Morocco, Costa Rica, and New Zealand where he was a Senior Research Fellow with AgResearch Grasslands in 1998. Dr. Moore served as President of the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA, 2004) and President of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA, 2008). He served on the editorial boards of Agronomy Journal, agronomy, and Crop Science, was the founding editor of the e-journal Crop Management, and is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of crops. He is co-editor of Forages Volume I: An Introduction to Grassland Agriculture and Forages Volume II: The Science of Grassland Agriculture. Dr. Moore is a member of Gamma Sigma Delta, Phi Kappa Phi, and Sigma Xi and has been recognized with Outstanding Young Scientist and Merit Awards by the American Forage and Grassland Council, the Young Crop Scientist Award and Martin and Ruth Massengale Lectureship by CSSA, and the Agronomic Service Award, Distinguished Service Award, and Carl Sprengel Agronomic Research Award by ASA. He is a Fellow of ASA, CSSA, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).