Congratulations to the following graduate students. They successfully defended their thesis in Winter 2015.

Katherine Kelly Withers, PhD, Morphological adaptations and membrane stabilizing mechanisms of overwintering Miscanthus.  Jan 6, 2015. Bill Deen, Advisor

Annemarie Van Wely, MSc, Distribution and control of glyphosate resistant common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) in Ontario soybeans (Glycine max. (L.) Merr.)  Jan 9, 2015. Peter Sikkema, Darren Robinson co-advisors.

Yanzhou Qi, MSc. Characterization of a yield-related gene in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Jan. 27, 2015. Peter Pauls, Steven Rothstein co-advisors.

Xinyu Chen, MSc. Development of a liquid micropropagation system for Asparagus officinalis L. Feb. 3, 2015. David Wolyn, advisor.

John MacKenzie, MSc. An examination of genetic improvement to floret number and morphology of maize (Zea mays L.). Mar. 19, 2015. Elizabeth Lee, advisor

Graham Moum, MSc. Year and plant population density effects on ear initial development and grain yield. Mar 23, 2015. Elizabeth Lee, advisor.

Erin LeClair, MSc. Disease Transmission and Fungicide Control for Anthracnose in Dry Bean. Mar 26, 2015. Chris Gillard, Darren Robinson, co-advisors.

John Patterson, MSc. Population dynamics and management of plant-parasitic nematodes in commercial strawberry ( Fragaria x ananassa ) fields of southern and eastern Ontario.  Apr 15, 2015. Katerina Jordan, advisor.

Ann Meyer, PhD. A bioinformatic analysis of genetic factors affecting primary root growth in Zea mays. Apr 16, 2015. Lewis Lukens, advisor.

Travis Cranmer, MSc. Vertical distribution of Plasmodiophora brassicae resting spores in soil and the effect of weather conditions on clubroot development. Apr 16, 2015. Mary Ruth McDonald, Bruce Gossen, co-advisors.

Tina Wambach, PhD. Genetic diversity in Zea mays primary root growth rate, global gene transcript profile and proline content in response to osmotic stress and stress recovery. Apr 17, 2015. Lewis Lukens, Duane Falk, co-advisors.

Ali Moussavi, MSc. A study of the practical field establishment of Taraxacum Kok-saghyz (TKS, Russian Dandelion) from seed. Apr 27, 2015. Rene Van Acker, advisor.

Paul Wartman, MSc. The establishment of apple orchards as temperate forest garden systems and the impacts on indigenous bacterial and fungal population abundance in Southern Ontario, Canada. Apr 29, 2015. Rene Van Acker, Ralph Martin, co-advisors.

Sabrina Westra. MSc. Non-uniform stands of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) underseeded to winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): A survey study to identify causes. Apr 30, 2015. Bill Deen, Ralph Martin, co-advisors.