News Briefs 2020

General News

• Patents:
  2020. Grant of Community Plant Variety Rights for the EU. Ocimum basilicum L. ‘Rutgers Passion DMR’ (Application number 2018/1275) Plant Breeder Rights awarded Council Regulation (EC) N0 2100/94, Decision No. 57031, on 21 December, 2020. (Simon, J.E., R. Pyne and C.A. Wynandt, inventors).
  2020. Grant of Community Plant Variety Rights for the EU. Ocimum basilicum L. ‘Rutgers Devotion DMR’ (Application number 2018/1274) Plant Breeder Rights awarded Council Regulation (EC) N0 2100/94, Decision No. 57030, on 21 December, 2020 (Simon, J.E., R. Pyne and C.A. Wynandt, inventors).
  2020. Simon, J.E. and W. Reichert. 2020. Catnip Cultivar ‘CR9’. US Patent US10,602,702 B2. Date of Patent issue: March 31, 2020.
• Extension/Public Science Communications:
  Simon, J.E. 2020. A breakthrough in the war against basil downy mildew. Scientia: https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA540
  Simon, J., A. Wyenandt, R. Raid, M. McGrath and K. Homa. 2020. A plant breeding breakthrough: downy mildew resistant sweet basil. American Vegetable Grower, June, 2020:10-11. Online: https://www.growingproduce.com/vegetables/a-breeding-breakthrough-downy-mildew-resistant-sweet-basil/
  Wyenandt, A., K. Homa and J.E. Simon. 2020. Options for controlling basil downy mildew in the field. Plant Pest Advisory Board, Feb 01, 2020: https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/options-for-controlling-basil-downy-mildew-in-the-field/
  Wyenandt, A. and J.E. Simon. 2020. Controlling basil downy mildew in the greenhouse. Plant Pest Advisory Board, January 22, 2020: https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/controlling-basil-downy-mildew-in-the-greenhouse/
  Wyenandt, A. and J.E. Simon. 2020. Rutgers downy mildew resistant sweet basils available around the world; Research efforts continue. Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service. Plant Pest Advisory Board, January 12,2020: https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/an-introduction-to-rutgers-downy-mildew-resistant-sweet-basils-2/

• On behalf of Rutgers SEBS/NJAES Exotic Pepper Project team (Tom Orton, Jim Simon, and Albert Ayeni) we are pleased to announce a successful outcome of a collaboration initiated in 2018 between SEBS Exotic Pepper Project team, Rutgers Dining Services, and Hotsauce4Good, LLC. The Scarlet Hot Sauce (see photo attached) was released to Rutgers Dining Services on Monday October 12, 2020 by Hotsauce4Good as a conclusion of over two years of collaboration.

  The raw materials used for the hot sauce were habanero (Rutgers Rosebell Red) and cayenne peppers from our exotic pepper studies carried out at RAREC (Bridgeton) and Hort Farm 3 (East Brunswick) between 2015 and 2019.

  The Scarlet Hot Sauce was formulated based on recommendations suggested by the Director of Rutgers Dining Services and his senior staff on the taste, texture, and flavor preferred by Rutgers community (students/faculty/staff).

  We are proud to be associated with this product. We believe it has a bright future as Rutgers University, one of the leaders of the nationally recognized "Menus of Change" consortium (https://www.menusofchange.org/) will help promote adoption nationwide and hence the integration of Rutgers SEBS/NJAES grown peppers in the hot sauce industry in and outside the United States.

Publications

• Zhen, J., J.E. Simon and Q.L. Wu. 2020. Total synthesis of novel skeleton flavan-alkaloids. Molecules 24:4491:(10 pages). doi:10.3390/molecules25194491
• Simon, J.E., S. Weller, D. Hoffman, R. Govindasamy, X.K. Morin, E.V. Merchant, F.F. Dinssa, E. van Wyk, D. Byrnes, M. Odendo, C. Ndinya, H.H.A. Mvungi, J. Ochieng, N. Maiyo, M. Mataa, J. Shindano, H.B. Moonga, J.S. Yaninek, Q.L. Wu, N. Nyabinda, V. Afari-Sefa. 2020. Improving Income and Nutrition of Smallholder Farmers in Eastern Africa using a Market-First Science-Driven Approach to Enhance Value Chain Production of African Indigenous Vegetables. J. Medicinally Active Plants 9(4):289-309.
• Ndinya, C., Dinssa, F., Simon, J.E., Nyabinda, N., Maiyo, N., Weller, S., Odendo, M., Onyango, E., Mwangi, M. and Makete, N. 2020. Assessment of Seed Quality of Selected African Leafy Vegetables Produced in Western Kenya using informal and semi-formal seed systems. J. Medicinally Active Plants 9(4):269-280.
• Sanders, M.C.D., Albert O. Ayeni, A.O. and Simon, J.E. 2020. Comparison of yield and nutritional composition of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) genotypes grown in central New Jersey. J. Medicinally Active Plants 9(4):242-252.
• Mvungi, H.H.A., A. Laizer, P.J. Lukumay, J. Ochieng, G. Ngoteya, F. Dinssa, J.E. Simon, R. Govindasamy, C. Ndinya and M. Odendo. 2020. Profitability Analysis of Traditional African Vegetable Seeds Production in Kenya. J. Medicinally Active Plants 9(4):281-288.
• Govindasamy, R., Kelly, A., Simon, J.E., Van Wyk, E., Weller, S., Ramu, G., and Mbeweu, M. 2020. Postharvest handling, processing, value, and marketing of African indigenous vegetables: A case study from Zambia. Journal of Medicinally Active Plants 9(4):209-221.
• Homa, K., W.P. Barney, W.P. Davis, D. Guerrero, M.J. Berger, J.L. Lopez, C.A. Wyenandt and J.E. Simon. 2020. Cold plasma treatment strategies for the control of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. basilici in sweet basil. HortSci: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15338-20.
• Shi, X., C. Wang, C., J.E. Simon, W. Reichert and Q.L. Wu.. 2020. Repellency of novel catnip oils against the bed bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae). J. Medical Entomology XX(X):1–7. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjaa218
• Lyu, W., B. Yuan, F.F. Dinssa, J.E. Simon and Q.L. Wu. 2020. Rapid screening of glycoalkaloids in Solanum scabrum and S. nigrum berries using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography with pathway‐specified-in‐source fragmentation tandem mass spectrometry. Rapid Communications In Mass Spectrometry. https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.8882.
• Govindasamy, R., Q. Gao, J.E. Simon, E. Van Wyk, S. Weller, G. Ramu and M. Mbeweu. 2020. An assessment of African Indigenous Vegetables grower’s production practices and the environment: a case study from Zambia. J. Medicinally Active Plants 9(3):195-208.
• Dinssa, F., N. Nyabinda, D.R. Byrnes, C. Ndinya, E.V. Merchant and J.E. Simon. 2020. Performances of vegetable Amaranth entries in yield and nutrient contents in Tanzania and Kenya and variety release J. Medicinally Active Plants 9(3):181-194.
• Brindisi, L., E.V. Merchant, B. Eliver, J. Odhiambo, E. Night, T. Nyawir, N. Nyabinda, S. Weller, J.E. Simon and D. Hoffman. 2020. Comparative nutritional analysis between African Indigenous Vegetables grown by urban farmers and those available for purchase in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya: A Case Study. J. Medicinally Active Plants 9(3):166-180.
• Somers, B.; F.F. Dinnsa; Q.L. Wu and J.E. Simon. 2020. Elemental micronutrients, antioxidant activity, total polyphenol, and total flavonoid content of selected African spider plant accessions (Cleome gynandra) grown in eastern Africa and the eastern United States. J. of Medicinally Active Plants 9(3):157-165.
• Ndinya, C., E. Onyango, F. Dinssa, M. Odendo, J.E. Simon, S. Weller, E. Thuranira; N. Nyabinda and N. Maiyo. 2020. Participatory variety selection of three African leafy vegetables in western Kenya. J. of Medicinally Active Plants 9(3):145-156.
• Mataa, M., I.N. Siziya, J. Shindano, H.B. Moonga and J.E. Simon. 2020. Variation in leaf macro-nutrient and anti-nutrient contents associated with maturity in selected roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) genotypes. J. Medicinally Active Plants 9(3):133-144.
• Odendo, M., C. Ndinya-Omboko, E.V. Merchant, N. Nyabinda, E. Minyatta-Onyango, N. Maiyo, D. Hoffman and J. E. Simon. 2020. Do preferences for attributes of African Indigenous Vegetable recipes vary between men and women? A case study from Western Kenya. J. Medicinally Active Plants 9(3):126-132.
• Ribeiro da Silva de Souza, J.V., M.A. Liodorio dos Santos, M.M.P. Sartori, J.E. Simon, H.R. Juliani, J.C.C. Saad. Content of basil essential oil on a loam texture soil under water regimes and different harvest stages. International Journal for Innovation Education and Research 8(8):250-266. ( https://ijier.net/ijier/article/view/2513).
• Zorde, M., D.R. Byrnes, F.F. Dinssa, S. Weller and J.E. Simon. 2020. Selection for delayed flowering time in response to long photoperiod to increase vegetative growth and multiple harvests in spider plant (Cleome gynandra). J. Medicinally Active Plants 9(2):60-70.
• Wang, J., D. Zhao, S. Tiano, A. Esteban-Fernández, B. Yuan, C. Smith, J. Brathwaite, Z. Jlayer, Q.L. Wu, J.E. Simon, K.J. Trageser and G.M. Pasinetti. 2020. Prophylactic effect of flavanol rich preparation metabolites in promoting resilience to a mouse model of social stress. Translational Psychiatry 10:183 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-020-0859-x
• Yuan, B., D. Zhao, D. Kshatriya, N.T. Bello, J.E. Simon and Q.L. Wu. 2020. UHPLC-QqQ-MS/Ms method development and validation with statistical analysis: Determination of raspberry ketone metabolites in mice plasma and brain. J. Chromatography B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci: 1149:122146. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2020.122146.
• Arumugan, S., R. Govindasamy, J.E. Simon, E. Van Wyk, K. Chali, M. Mbewe, I. Siziya, S. Weller and X.K. Morin. 2020. African Indigenous Vegetables Production and Consumption Behavior of Farmers in Zambia: An Econometric Analysis. Technium Social Sciences Journal 8:220-228.
• Zhao, D., B. Yuan, D. Kshatriya, A. Polyak, J.E. Simon, N.T. Bello and Q.L. Wu. Influence of diet-induced obesity on the bioavailability and metabolism of raspberry ketone (4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone) in mice. 2020. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research: 64(8): (in press). doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201900907
• Ono, K., D. Zhao, Q.L. Wu, J.E. Simon, J. Wang, A. Radu and G.M. Pasinetti. 2020. Pine Bark Polyphenolic Extract Attenuates Amyloid-β and Tau Misfolding in a Model System of Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathology. J Alzheimers Dis. doi: 10.3233/JAD-190543.
• Gomes, E.N., W. Reichert, A.A. Vasilatis, K.A. Allen, Q.L Wu and J.E. Simon. 2020. Essential oil yield and aromatic profile of lemon catnip and lemon-scented catnip selections at different harvesting times. J. Medicinally Active Plants 9(1):21-33. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/jmap/vol9/iss1/4.
• Hwang, L., L.M Merja, J. Simon and H.R. Juliani. 2020. Developing New Natural Plant Products from the Spice Xylopia aethiopica from Ghana and Liberia. J. Medicinally Active Plants 9(1):14-20. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/jmap/vol9/iss1/3.
• Yuan, B., F.F. Dinssa, J.E. Simon and Q.L. Wu. 2020. Simultaneous quantification of polyphenols, glycoalkaloids and saponins in African nightshade leaves using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with acid assisted hydrolysis and multivariate analysis. Food Chemistry 312: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.126030
• Heckman, Joseph. 2020 Soil Health in Organic Systems: Your Pathway to Better Farming. Keynote presentation for Iowa State University Organic Conference. https://www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/iowaorganic/
• Govindasamy, R., Q. Gao, J. Heckman, I. Vellangany, and R. VanVranken. 2020. “Characteristics of Consumers who are willing to Buy Certified Organic Produce: An Econometric Analysis”. International Journal of Food and Agricultural Economics, ISSN 2147-8988, E-ISSN: 2149-3766, 8 (3): 207-218.
• Inamdar, Arati A, Shannon Morath, Joan W. Bennett. 2020. Fungal volatile organic compounds: More than just a funky smell? Annual Review of Microbiology 74: 101-116. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-mcro-012420-080428.
• Risner LE, Morin XK, Erenrich ES, Clifford PS, Franke J, Hurley I, et al. (2020) Leveraging a collaborative consortium model of mentee/mentor training to foster career progression of underrepresented postdoctoral researchers and promote institutional diversity and inclusion. PLoS ONE 15(9): e0238518. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238518
• Skubel, S. A., Su, X., Poulev, A., Foxcroft, L. C., Dushenkov, V., Raskin, I. Metabolomic differences between invasive alien plants from native and invaded habitats. Scientific Reports, Vol. 10, article 9749, 2020.
• Wolff, K., Jaja-Chimedza, A., Kim, Y., Waterman, C., Poulev, A., Raskin, I., Ribnicky, D. Moringa isothiocyanate-1 is bioaccessible and bioavailable as a stable unmodified compound. Phytochemistry Letters, Vol. 38, pp. 33-38, 2020.
• Li, S., Li, W., Wu, R., Yin, R., Sargsyan, D., Raskin, I., Kong, A. N. Epigenome and transcriptome study of moringa isothiocyanate in mouse kidney mesangial cells induced by high glucose, a potential model for diabetic-induced nephropathy. The AAPS Journal, Vol. 22, No. 1, Article 8, 2020.
• Nallathambi, R., Poulev, A., Zuk, J. B., Raskin, I. Proanthocyanidin-rich grape seed extract reduces inflammation and oxidative stress and restores tight junction barrier function in Caco-2 colon cells. Nutrients, Vol. 12, No. 6, 1623, 2020.
• https://www.americanbar.org/groups/environment_energy_resources/publications/wrr/20200513-how-to-eliminate-microplastics-pollution/
• Daniel Cahen, Kurt S. Stenn & Timothy M. A. Utteridge, 2020 A revision of the genus Gouania (Rhamnaceae) in the Philippines and Sundaland. KEW BULLETIN. 75:25
• Low, Y., M. A. Lawton and R. Di. 2020. Validation of barley 2OGO gene as a functional orthologue of Arabidopsis DMR6 gene in Fusarium head blight susceptibility. Scientific Reports. 10:9935. DOI:10.1038/s41598-020-67006-5.
• Dr. Nilgun Tumer, member of the Cancer Pharmacology Research program, Distinguished Professor of Plant Biology and Pathology, and Director of the SEBS Core Facility, has recently published a new method for fragment-based drug screening:
  Xiao-Ping Li, Rajesh K. Harijan, Jennifer Nielsen Kahn, Vern L. Schramm, and Nilgun Ereken Tumer, (2020) Small molecule inhibitors targeting the interaction of ricin toxin A subunit with ribosomes. 1-44.
• Patrick M. Carr, Michel A. Cavigelli, Heather Darby, Kathleen Delate, Jed O. Eberly, Heather K. Fryer, Greta G. Gramig, Joseph R. Heckman, Ellen B. Mallory, Jennifer R. Reeve, Erin M. Silva, David H. Suchoff and Alex L. Woodley, Green and animal manure use in organic field crop systems, Agronomy Journal, 112, 2, (648-674), (2020). Wiley Online Library
• Ping Zhu, Xiao-Hong Yu, Cheng Wang, Qingfang Zhang, Wu Liu1, Sean McSweeney, John Shanklin, Eric Lam & Qun Liu. (2020) Structural basis for Ca2+-dependent activation of a plant metacaspase. Nature Communications.
• Patrick M. Carr, Michel A. Cavigelli, Heather Darby, Kathleen Delate, Jed O. Eberly, Heather K. Fryer, Greta G. Gramig, Joseph R. Heckman, Ellen B. Mallory, Jennifer R. Reeve, Erin M. Silva, David H. Suchoff and Alex L. Woodley, Green and animal manure use in organic field crop systems, Agronomy Journal, 112, 2, (648-674), (2020).
• Melendez, M.V., J.R. Heckman, S. Murphy, F. D’Amico, and S. Shinn. 2020. New Jersey Soil Copper Levels Resulting from Copper Fungicide Applications. HortTechnology. 30:268-272
• The manuscript ‘Oxygen and Ethylene-Induced Germination in Recalcitrant Peach Seeds’, authored by Chaim Frenkel, Robert D. Belding, Gail R. Williams-Lokaj and Gregory L. Reighardv has been accepted for publication by the European Journal of Horticulture
• Carr, P.M., M.A. Cavigelli, H. Darby, K. Delate, J.O. Eberly, G.G. Gramig, J.R. Heckman, E.B. Mallory, J.R. Reeve, E.M. Silva, D.H. Suchoff, and A.L. Woodley. Nutrient Cycling in Organic Field Crops in Canada and the United States. 2019. Agronomy Journal 111:2769-2785.
• Acosta K, Xu J, Gilbert S, Denison E, Brinkman T, Lebeis S, et al. (2020) Duckweed hosts a taxonomically similar bacterial assemblage as the terrestrial leaf microbiome. PLoS ONE 15(2): e0228560. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228560.

Awards and Honors

Speaking Invitations and Conferences

Books and Book Chapters

• The following Plant Biology graduates students won awards at the 2020 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting | November 9-13 | VIRTUAL.
  Golf Oral Papers
  First place:
  Involvement of Proline in Amino Acid Metabolism Associated with Enhanced Heat Tolerance in Creeping Bentgrass – Stephanie Rossi and Bingru Huang, Rutgers Univ.
  Turf Management Oral Papers
  First place:
  Effects of Elevated Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide on Drought Tolerance and Post-Drought Recovery Regrowth in Two Cool-Season Perennial Turfgrass Species – Cathryn Chapman and Bingru Huang, Rutgers Univ.
  Turf Management Posters
  First Place:
  Rhizobacteria Inoculation and Colonization for Promoting Plant Growth in Cool Season Turfgrass – William Errickson, Bingru Huang, and Ning Zhang, Rutgers Univ.
  Second place:
  Physiological Effects of Plant-Health Products for Improving Drought Tolerance and Post-Stress Recovery in Creeping Bentgrass – Cathryn Chapman and Bingru Huang, Rutgers Univ.
  Industry Posters
  First place:
  Interpretations of a Logistic Regression Model for Fungicide Control of Dollar Spot on Creeping Bentgrass – Pingyuan Zhang, Bruce Clarke and Jim Murphy, Rutgers Univ.
• Dr. Mark G. Robson has been named the Edward J. Bloustein Senior Policy Fellow in Global Health Policy and Practice for the period September 1, 2020 through May 31, 2023. This award is given by the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.
• Andrea Gallavotti received a four year NSF grant (starting from September 1, 2020 - ending August 31, 2024) . It is a collaborative grant from NSF IOS Division of Integrative Organismal Systems, Plant Fungal and Microbial Developmental Mechanisms. I am the PI (total award to my lab $1.13M). The title is “Collaborative research: Mechanisms and manipulation of maize meristem size”. My collaborator is Robert J. Schmitz, University of Georgia Athens.
• Dr. Ilya Raskin was awarded a 5-year continuation grant from the National Institutes of Health - FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL CENTER entitled: Research Training Center for Botanicals and Chronic Diseases in Tajikistan and Indonesia, in the total amount of $1,284,393. A new Center for Botanicals and Chronic Diseases (CBCD) will be created in collaboration with City University of New York, Research Foundation, Tajik Research Institute of Preventive Medicine, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and Universitas Nasional Jakarta, Indonesia, to enable in-country research training of scientists in Tajikistan and Indonesia on botanicals for prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis and digestive and neurological disorders, thus contributing to improved public health and medical research in both countries.
• Dr. Ilya Raskin received $765,185 as a Co-Investigator in a 5-year T32 postdoctoral training grant from the National Institutes of Health - NATIONAL CENTER FOR COMPLEMENTARY & INTEGRATIVE HEALTH entitled: Botanical Approaches to Combat Metabolic Syndrome. This third cycle renewal is a continuation of a successful collaboration with Pennington Botanical Research Center in Baton Rouge, LA, and Dr. Phillip Brantley, who is a principal investigator. The objective of this R&D grant is to train both Ph.D. and M.D. postdoctoral fellows in research methods and laboratory techniques to become productive research scientists capable of establishing scientific careers that further the efforts to understand the role of botanicals on the complex interactions between genetic, molecular and physiological aspects of the metabolic syndrome.
• Dr. Ilya Raskin was awarded $139,000 over 3-year period for collaboration with Dr. M. Cohen-Zinder at ARO, Newe Yaar Reserarch Institute in Israel, on grant entitled: Benefits of Moringa oleifera, an antioxidant rich feed, on improving ruminants production efficiency and product quality. The joint research is supported by US-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD).
• The Center for COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness is pleased to announce the biomedical and social science research awardees for COVID-related research at Rutgers University. “Fragment based ligand discovery against SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease:” Drs. Nilgun Tumer (RU-NB Plant Biology), Sagar Khare (IQB), Xiao-Ping Li (RU-NB Plant Biology)
• Serpil Guran was awarded following grant: “Providing technical assistance to new jersey wineries: achieving pollution prevention through energy efficiency and discharge reduction from winery operations “ PI- Serpil Guran
  Co-PI Daniel Ward
  Co-PI Christopher Obropta
  Co-PI- Peggy Brennan-Tonetta
  Total Project Funding by EPA : $298,253 for a two year project
• Northern New Jersey Community Foundation awarded the EcoComplex with $22,000 grant to perform food waste generation, and innovative reutilization options ( economic and environmental feasibility analysis) grant.
• NJDEP has awarded my proposal titled “Municipal Solid Waste Quantification and Characterization of Burlington, Mercer & Union Counties” PI- Serpil Guran Budget: $350,545.00
• Dr. Nrupali Patel, and Gary L. Altman have been awarded funding from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants program in the amount of $150,000 for three years. The title of their project is “Horticultural Therapist Vocational Education in Green Industry Skills Training for Individuals with Developmental Disorders” and will focus on the development of a green industry vocational skills training protocol for horticultural therapist professionals that is aligned with the New Jersey State-Federal vocational rehabilitation system. The goals of this program are to clarify the role of the horticultural therapist in the field of vocational rehabilitation, describe the use of psychometric assessment and evaluation, provide specific training to horticultural therapy students pertaining to vocational rehabilitation to increase repertoire of skills, improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, and increase the diversity of employed professionals in the green industry. This project will be offered in collaboration with the New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence (NJACE), the Rutgers Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center, Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services, and New Road School of Somerset, NJ.
• Dr. Nrupali Patel, and Gary L. Altman have been awarded funding from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants program in the amount of $150,000 for three years. The title of their project is “Horticultural Therapist Vocational Education in Green Industry Skills Training for Individuals with Developmental Disorders” and will focus on the development of a green industry vocational skills training protocol for horticultural therapist professionals that is aligned with the New Jersey State-Federal vocational rehabilitation system. The goals of this program are to clarify the role of the horticultural therapist in the field of vocational rehabilitation, describe the use of psychometric assessment and evaluation, provide specific training to horticultural therapy students pertaining to vocational rehabilitation to increase repertoire of skills, improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, and increase the diversity of employed professionals in the green industry. This project will be offered in collaboration with the New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence (NJACE), the Rutgers Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center, Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services, and New Road School of Somerset, NJ.
• Dr. Rong Di won the USDA (USWBSI), “Genetic engineering barley for Fusarium head blight resistance” in the amount of $53,08. The award is from 8/1/2020-7/31/2021.
• Joseph R. Heckman was selected to receive a 2019 Agricultural & Environmental Letters Editor’s Citation of Excellence for excellent service as a reviewer. Award is given on behalf of the A&EL Editorial Board at the American Society Agronomy – Crop Science Society America – Soil Science Society America.
• Plant Biology MS student Katherine Diehl won first place in the graduate student poster contest (MS level) at the national Weed Science Society of America Meeting held March 2-5 in Maui, HI. Her poster was titled "Goosegrass (Eleusine indica) Resistance to Mitotic Inhibiting Herbicides in Cool-Season Turfgrass”
• Dr. Mathew Elmore and Dr. Phillip L. Vines: Controlling problematic perennial grassy weeds in low input fine fescue naturalized areas. 2020-2022. United States Golf Association Turfgrass Environmental Research Program. $89,842. This research will investigate new methods to control weeds and improve playability of naturalized areas on golf courses.
• Dr. Edward Durner and Dr. Bingru Huang were awarded funding from the Northeast Regional SARE program:
  Dr. Durner’s award is $137,819 for 3 years and is titled “Empowering Northeastern Strawberry Growers with Flower Mapping”.
  Dr. Huang’s award is titled “Reducing Water and Fertilizer Inputs by Incorporating Native Beneficial Bacteria in Sustainable Turfgrass Sod Production”. Bill Errickson (her former graduate student and current RCE Monmouth County agent) will be part of this research.
• Plant Biology MS students Katherine Diehl and Maggie Wasacz placed 1st and 2nd, respectively, in the graduate oral presentation contest at the Northeastern Plant Pest and Soils Conference in Philadelphia, PA in January. They were competing against students from Cornell, Penn State, North Carolina State, and Virginia Tech. Katherine is advised by Dr. Matt Elmore and Maggie is advised by Dr. Thierry Besancon
• Bruce Clarke – Presidential Award
  The Nebraska Turfgrass Association Presidential Award is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to the turfgrass industry in Nebraska and the nation. Dr. Bruce Clark is an Extension Specialist in Turfgrass Pathology, Department of Plant Biology at Rutgers University, where he earned his B.S. at Forestry Management and PhD in Plant Pathology. He is a frequently invited speaker to National and International turfgrass conferences. He has served as the Director of the Center for Turfgrass Science at Rutgers since 1994. Graduate students he has mentored have established a reputation of significant positive impact in turfgrass pathology. He has received a plethora of significant recognitions including the USGA Green Section Award from the United States Golf Association (USGA) in recognition of distinguished service to golf through work with turfgrass and the Hall of Fame Award - A distinguished service award presented by the New Jersey Turfgrass Association.
• Dr. William Meyer is the 2020 United States Golf Association Green Section Award recipient for his work in sustainability through agronomic advancements.
  The USGA Green Section Award honors distinguished service to golf through an individual’s work with turfgrass. For more than 47 years, Dr. Meyer has made a significant impact on the turf industry through his turfgrass breeding work, which focuses on developing grasses for golf and other playing surfaces that are resistant to adverse factors. As a professor at Rutgers University, he has influenced all levels of the industry at the national and international levels through seminars, research papers and trade publications.
  • Joan Bennett participated in the “Women in Science,” International Perspective on Advancing Women in STEM Careers and Leadership, Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology, Sept 2020, zoom online.
  • Serpil Guran served as a Steering Committee Member and presented a paper and moderated a session at AIChE “Sustainable Packaging Symposium 2020” on 6/29-7/2, 2020.
  • Juliani, H.R., J.E. Simon and C.T. Ho (Editors). 2020. African Natural Plant Products, Volume III: Discoveries and Innovations in Chemistry, Bioactivity, and Applications. American Chemical Society, ACS Symposium Series 1361, Washington, D.C. USA. Oxford University Press: Nov 11, 2020, 334 pages. DOI:10.1021/bk-2020-1361
  • Hwang, L.C, H.R. Juliani, R. Govindasamy and J.E. Simon. 2020. Traditional botanical uses of non-timber forest products (NTFP) in seven counties in Liberia, Chapter 1, pp. 3-43. In: Juliani, H.R., J.E. Simon and C.T. Ho (Editors). African Natural Plant Products, Volume III: Discoveries and Innovations in Chemistry, Bioactivity, and Applications. American Chemical Society, ACS Symposium Series 1361, Washington, D.C. USA. Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1021/bk-2020-1361.ch001
  • Yuan, B., W. Lyu, F. Dinssa, D. Hoffman, J.E. Simon and Q.L. Wu. 2020. African nightshades: Recent advances on the phytochemistry, nutrition and toxicity, Chapter 5, pp103-137. In: Juliani, H.R., J.E. Simon and C.T. Ho (Editors). African Natural Plant Products, Volume III: Discoveries and Innovations in Chemistry, Bioactivity, and Applications. American Chemical Society, ACS Symposium Series 1361, Washington, D.C. USA. Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1021/bk-2020-1361.ch005
  • Gomes, E.N., K.A. Allen, M. Zorde, Q.L. Wu and J.E. Simon. 2020. Ethnobotany, chemistry and pharmacology of African Nepeta species, Chapter 10, pages 219-236. In: Juliani, H.R., J.E. Simon and C.T. Ho (Editors). African Natural Plant Products, Volume III: Discoveries and Innovations in Chemistry, Bioactivity, and Applications. American Chemical Society, ACS Symposium Series 1361, Washington, D.C. USA. Oxford University Press 2020. DOI: 10.1021/bk-2020-1361.ch010
  • Giurleo, D.J., H.R. Juliani, L.S. Amekuse, J. Asante Dartey, Q.L. Wu and J.E. Simon. 2020. 5-HTP (5-Hydroxy-L-tryptophan) content and antioxidant capacities of wild Griffonia simplicifolia seed populations from Ghana and Liberia, Chapter 11, pages 239-247. In: Juliani, H.R., J.E. Simon and C.T. Ho (Editors). African Natural Plant Products, Volume III: Discoveries and Innovations in Chemistry, Bioactivity, and Applications. American Chemical Society, ACS Symposium Series 1361, Washington, D.C. USA. Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1021/bk-2020-1361.ch011
  • Giurleo, D.J., H.R. Juliani, L.S. Amekuse, J. Asante Dartey, J.E. Simon and Q.L. Wu. 2020. Flavone-C-Glycosides and total antioxidant capacities in leaves of eight wild Griffonia simplicifolia populations, Chapter 12, pages 249-264. In: Juliani, H.R., J.E. Simon and C.T. Ho (Editors). African Natural Plant Products, Volume III: Discoveries and Innovations in Chemistry, Bioactivity, and Applications. American Chemical Society, ACS Symposium Series 1361, Washington, D.C. USA. Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1021/bk-2020-1361.ch012
  • Gustafson, K., E. Dager, J.E. Simon and Q.L. Wu. 2020. An improved analytical method for dhurrin analysis in Sorghum bicolor, Chapter 13, pages 265-273. In: Juliani, H.R., J.E. Simon and C.T. Ho (Editors). African Natural Plant Products, Volume III: Discoveries and Innovations in Chemistry, Bioactivity, and Applications. American Chemical Society, ACS Symposium Series 1361, Washington, D.C. USA. Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1021/bk-2020-1361.ch013
  • Zhen, J., C. Welch, Y. Guo, E. Bassène, I. Raskin, J.E. Simon and Q.L. Wu. 2020. Novel skeleton flavan-alkaloids from African herb tea kinkéliba: Isolation, Characterization, SemiSynthesis and Bioactivities, Chapter 16, pages 297-312. In: Juliani, H.R., J.E. Simon and C.T. Ho (Editors). African Natural Plant Products, Volume III: Discoveries and Innovations in Chemistry, Bioactivity, and Applications. American Chemical Society, ACS Symposium Series 1361, Washington, D.C. USA. Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1021/bk-2020-1361.ch016
  • Gomes, E.N., K. Allen, K. Jaworski, M. Zorde, A. Lockhart, T. Besancon, T. Brown, W. Reichert, Q.L. Wu and J.E. Simon. 2020. Catnip (Nepeta cataria L.): Recent Advances in Botany, Horticulture and Production, Chapter 11, pp. 247-284. In: Á. Máthé (ed.), Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of North America. SpringerVerlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44930-8_11
  • Book (one author): Orton, Thomas J. 2019. Horticultural Plant Breeding. New York: Academic Press, 408 pp.