On May 19, 2022, the Graduate Prize for Publishing event was held at the Greenhouse Cafe in the E.C. Bovey Building. The event is designed to encourage graduate students to publish their research during the time they are in the graduate program a prize will be awarded to graduate students who publish from their thesis work during the time they are registered in the applicable program as a graduate student.

Prizes are monetary ($100) and recognition on the Departmental Website for each peer-reviewed publication that is derived from the student’s thesis work. A student may win the prize multiple times during their graduate program.  The prizes will be awarded on an annual basis.

Eligibility for prizes is determined by the Graduate Awards Committee and the prize can be initiated by the advisor or the student.

Students need to submit a copy of the published paper or accepted manuscript (for the latter a copy of correspondence indicating its acceptance). The student must be first author on the manuscript to denote that the student was the major contributor to the manuscript and it will form part of their thesis.

Winners this year are:

Katiani Eli 

Katiani Eli did this interesting work as part of her thesis entitled "Management of Fusarium graminearum and its mycotoxins in Ontario maize".  With these field studies She was the first to definitively show that when corn plants are crowded either by poor plant spacing or high plant population or they become runts due to uneven emergence, they get more Fusarium disease and therefore higher contamination in the grain with the mycotoxin, deoxynivalenol.  

Impact of agronomic practices on Fusarium mycotoxin accumulation in maize grain
K. Eli, A. W. Schaafsma and D. C. Hooker

Caleb Niemeyer 

His paper was derived from his main thesis chapter:

His thesis was looking at the relative contributions of soil N supply and crop N demand when determining optimal N rate in corn. We know the optimal N rate varies from year-to-year, and know that this is because soil N supply via mineralization and corn  demand vary. But we don't know which is more important in terms of determining optimal N rate. So, Caleb's thesis found that at Elora over 10 years, it was yield variation (N demand) more than soil N supply variation, that caused large swings in optimal N rate year to year. So this paper is a direct outgrowth of his thesis.

Caleb Niemeyer, Joshua Nasielski, Ken Janovicek, Tom Bruulsema & Bill Deen
Yield can explain interannual variation in optimum nitrogen rates in continuous corn Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems volume 121, pages 115–128 (2021)

Mohsen Yoosefzadeh Najafabadi

As part of his PhD thesis, Mohsen conducted field studies on 250 soybean lines at two locations over two years. He executed the experiments, collected and analyzed the data, and wrote these papers. These papers represent the three main parts of his PhD study.

Using Hybrid Artificial Intelligence and Evolutionary Optimization Algorithms for Estimating Soybean Yield and Fresh Biomass Using Hyperspectral Vegetation Indices

Application of Machine Learning Algorithms in Plant Breeding: Predicting Yield From Hyperspectral Reflectance in Soybean

Application of machine learning and genetic optimization algorithms for modeling and optimizing soybean yield using its component traits

Genome-Wide Association Studies of Soybean Yield-Related Hyperspectral Reflectance Bands Using Machine Learning-Mediated Data Integration Methods

Marco Pepe

Marco recently completed his MSc thesis (has now started his PhD) studying the effect of abiotic factors on the growth, development, and photosynthetic capacity of in vitro cannabis plants.  Last year, he published two papers that applied machine learning techniques to evaluate various abiotic factors on in vitro seed germination and in vitro plantlet growth.  Of particular note, this research provides new insights into the effect of light quality on the growth and development of in vitro cannabis plants, providing a hormone free approach to direct plant development.  This provides a foundation to improve micropropagation systems for cannabis and other plants.

Pepe M., Hesami M., Jones A.M.P. (2021) Machine earning-Mediated Development and Optimization of Disinfection Protocol and Scarification Method for Improved In Vitro Germination of Cannabis Seeds. Plants. 10: 1-11 (Masters work) 

Pepe M., Hesami M., Small F., Jones A.M.P. (2021) Comparative analysis of machine learning and evolutionary optimization algorithms for precision micropropagation of Cannabis sativa: Prediction and validation of in vitro shoot growth and development based on the optimization of light and carbohydrate sources. Frontiers in Plant Science. 12: 1-27 (Masters work)

David Westerveld

David's research focused on two areas:

a) Control of glyphosate-resistant Canada fleabane with bromoxynil, tiafenacil and pyraflufen-ethyl/2,4-D. David's research concluded that GR Canada fleabane control with the three aforementioned herbicides was improved when co-applied with metribuzin. The co-application of bromoxynil + metribuzin has potential for GR Canada fleabane control in azuki beans in the province.

b) Control of multiple-herbicide-resistant waterhemp. David published some really interesting research comparing the activity of metribuzin on Group 5 resistant waterhemp due to enhanced metabolism compare to an altered target site.

Biologically effective dose of bromoxynil applied alone and mixed with metribuzin for the control of glyphosate-resistant horseweed in soybean
David B. Westerveld, Nader Soltani , David C. Hooker, Darren E. Robinson and Peter H. Sikkema

Biologically effective dose of pyraflufen-ethyl/ 2,4-D, applied preplant alone or mixed with metribuzin on glyphosate-resistant horseweed in soybean
David B. Westerveld, Nader Soltani , David C. Hooker, Darren E. Robinson and Peter H. Sikkema

Efficacy of tiafenacil applied preplant alone or mixed with metribuzin for glyphosate-resistant horseweed control in soybean
David B. Westerveld, Nader Soltani, David C. Hooker, Darren E. Robinson and Peter H. Sikkema

Biologically effective dose ofmetribuzin applied preemergence and postemergence for the control of waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) with different mechanisms of resistance to photosystem II–inhibiting herbicides
David B. Westerveld, Nader Soltani, David C. Hooker, Darren E. Robinson, Patrick J. Tranel, Martin Laforest and Peter H. Sikkema

Christian Willemse

Christian's research focused on multiple-herbicide-resistant waterhemp control in corn. Through his MSc research Christian discovered that:

There is improved and more consistent control of MHR waterhemp with two-pass weed control programs. Acuron and Integrity are good starting points. 
The addition of atrazine to Group 27 herbicides improved MHR waterhemp control 0-15% and resulted in more consistent control (even triazine-resistant waterhemp) 
Tolpyralate + atrazine controlled MHR waterhemp similar to Callisto + atrazine and Marksman 
The addition of atrazine alternatives (metribuzin and linuron PRE and bromoxynil and bentazon POST) resulted in similar MHR waterhemp control. Interactions were mostly additive.   
Acuron is the best herbicide applied ePOST in corn for the control of emerged waterhemp and full season residual 

Early Postemergence Herbicide Tank-Mixtures for Control of Waterhemp Resistant to Four Herbicide Modes of Action in CornChristian Willemse, Nader Soltani, Lauren Benoit, Amit J. Jhala, David C. Hooker,Darren E. Robinson, Peter H. Sikkema

Interaction of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) and atrazine alternative photosystem II (PS II) inhibitors for control of multiple herbicide–resistant waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) in corn
Christian Willemse, Nader Soltani, C. Hooker David, Amit J. Jhala, Darren E. Robinson and Peter H. Sikkema

Interaction of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) and atrazine alternative photosystem II (PS II) inhibitors for control of multiple herbicide–resistant waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) in  corn
Christian Willemse, Nader Soltani, C. Hooker David, Amit J. Jhala, Darren E. Robinson and Peter H. Sikkema

Biologically-Effective-Dose of Tolpyralate and Tolpyralate plus Atrazine for Control of Multiple-Herbicide-Resistant Waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J. D. Sauer] in Corn
Christian Willemse, Nader Soltani, Brendan Metzger, David C. Hooker, Amit J. Jhala, Darren E. Robinson, Peter H. Sikkema

Biologically-Effective-Dose of Tolpyralate and Tolpyralate plus Atrazine for Control of Multiple-Herbicide-Resistant Waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J. D. Sauer] in Corn
Christian Willemse, Nader Soltani, Brendan Metzger, David C. Hooker, Amit J. Jhala, Darren E. Robinson, Peter H. Sikkema

Mohsen Hesami

Mohsen is currently working on his PhD thesis studying various aspects of plant growth and development in Cannabis sativa ranging from epigenetic changes that occur during plant growth, applications of machine learning to develop improved micropropagation systems, and establishing approaches for genetic improvement.  As part of this project, Mohsen has published extensively, including four articles last year.  These included research on the application of machine learning to design CRISPR/Cas-9 primers, optimizing callus growth and regeneration, plant tissue culture and genetic engineering methods, and optimizing in vitro seed germination methods.  These papers provide a foundation for developing genetic engineering strategies for Cannabis sativa and have demonstrated the potential of machine learning for plant tissue culture.

Hesami M., Yoosefzadeh Najafabadi M., Adamek K., Torkamaneh D., Jones A.M.P. (2021) Synergizing Off-Target Predictions for In Silico Insights of CENH3 Knockout in Cannabis through CRISPR/Cas. Molecules, 26(7):2053. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26072053 

Hesami M., Jones A.M.P. (2021) Modeling and optimizing callus growth and development in Cannabis sativa using random forest and support vector machine in combination with a genetic algorithm. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 105, 5201–5212. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-021-11375-y 

Hesami M., Baiton A., Alizadeh M., Pepe M., Torkamaneh D., Jones A.M.P. (2021) Advances and Perspectives in Tissue Culture and Genetic Engineering of Cannabis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(11):5671. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22115671

Hesami M., Pepe M., Monthony A.S., Baiton A., Jones, A.M.P. (2021) Modeling and optimizing in vitro seed germination of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). Industrial Crops and Products, 170, 113753. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2021.113753

Kristian Adamek

Kristian is a PhD student studying the genetic fidelity of clonally propagated Cannabis sativa plants.  The first publication from his research work has clearly demonstrated that somatic mutations accumulate within a single cannabis plant, and that clonal populations are not genetically identical.  This research has far reaching implications for propagation strategies as well as best practices to preserve cannabis genetics long term

Accumulation of somatic mutations leads to genetic mosaicism in cannabis
Kristian Adamek1 Andrew Maxwell Phineas Jones1 Davoud Torkamaneh2 Accepted: 22 September 2021

Karthika Sriskantharajah

Both of these papers from Karthika essentially form her thesis work. The first work in IJMS is the core of her work on RNA sequencing and related analyses that lead to her proving the major hypothesis that Hexanal slows down the ABA biosynthesis in apples by controlling ethylene biosynthesis.

The second paper shows role of hexanal in maintaining membrane integrity by regulating calcium metabolism, which is hypothesized at this time to be a major factor in controlling bitterpit in apples.

Both articles were published as INVITED PAPERS in special issues.

Article 1 from chapter 3 of the thesis (https://hdl.handle.net/10214/26611): Sriskantharajah, K., El Kayal, W., Torkamaneh, D., Ayyanath, M. M., Saxena, P. K., Sullivan, A. J., Paliyath, G., & Subramanian, J. (2021). Transcriptomics of Improved Fruit Retention by Hexanal in 'Honeycrisp' Reveals Hormonal Crosstalk and Reduced Cell Wall Degradation in the Fruit Abscission Zone. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(16), 8830. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22168830

Article 2 from chapter 4 of the thesis https://hdl.handle.net/10214/26611): Sriskantharajah, K., El Kayal, W., Ayyanath, M. M., Saxena, P. K., Sullivan, J. A., Paliyath, G., & Subramanian, J. (2021). Preharvest spray hexanal formulation enhances postharvest quality in 'Honeycrisp' apples by regulating phospholipase D and calcium sensor proteins genes. Plants, 10(11), 2332; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112332

Tara Allohverdi

This manuscript served as a literature survey for her thesis in order to more broadly understand how biochar is used within the field of agriculture. There is a multitude of published work regarding biochar use in agriculture but this manuscript served a novel purpose by analyzing global warming potential, potential carbon credit systems as well as an in depth comparison of quantitative and qualitative characterization. The latter which helped the selection process when using different biochars to amend soils with for the purposes of growing soybean. 

A Review on Current Status of Biochar Uses in Agriculture Tara Allohverdi, Amar Kumar Mohanty, Poritosh Roy and Manjusri Misra

From Left to Right in the photo
Arshdeep Singh Gill, Mohsen Hesami, Dr. Melanie Kalischuk, Caleb Niemeyer, Dr. Istvan Rajcan, Mohsen Yoosefzadeh Najafabadi, Marco Pepe