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Science-based innovation for a changing world

Lai, Hoskins, van Es receive 2024 MacDonald Musgrave Awards

Several awards are given out within the School of Integrative Plant Science at the end of each fall semester.  Among these are the MacDonald and Musgrave Awards, representing the desire of two crop science faculty members, Dr. Robert Musgrave and Dr. Harry MacDonald, to recognize outstanding accomplishments with the Section of Soil and Crop Sciences, at the time known as the Department of Agronomy. The awards were presented by SCS Chair, Dan Buckley on December 16.

Jiameng Lai, graduate student with Ying Sun, was this year’s recipient of the MacDonald-Musgrave Outstanding Graduate Student Award. Among many other achievements, Jiameng was cited for her “innovative research to address contemporary challenges of climate change and sustainability” and her “courage to take new adventures”.

Susan Hoskins was this year’s recipient of the staff McDonald-Musgrave Award. Heralded for “her innovative approach to geospatial education, and her unwavering commitment to community engagement”, Susan became the Resource Inventory Program Leader in 2006 and subsequently the director of IRIS upon the retirement of Steve Smith. Susan has overseen diverse projects in these roles and provided integral support for both 4-H and K-12 curricula where she has engaged countless young people with her enthusiasm for geospatial work.

Harold van Es & Dan Buckley
Harold van Es and Dan Buckley

Harold van Es received the Robert B. Musgrave Award in recognition of career long contributions to excellence in Soil and Crop Sciences. His nominators cited his “substantial career contributions to the Soil Sciences marked by a series of significant achievements in soil and water management, precision nitrogen management, and soil health” with particular attention to his work on development of Adapt-N, development of the Cornell Assessment of Soil Health Framework, and the establishment of the Cornell Soil Health Lab. During his career at Cornell, Harold has served as Director of Graduate Studies for SCS and as Chair of the CSS Department prior to creation of SIPS. He has mentored and taught many cohorts of graduate students, postdocs, and undergraduates in addition to the diverse stakeholders he has reached through extension workshops.

Service awards were also presented at the event including to Chris Pelzer and section head’s assistant, Amy Collins. Congratulations to all!

Chris Pelzer, Amy Collins, and Dan Buckley
Awards, Soil and Crop Sciences

Welcome to new SIPS Graduate Field Coordinator Ayesha Al-Hashimi

head shot of Ayesha Al-HashimiSIPS leadership is pleased to welcome our newest team member Ayesha Al-Hashimi. Ayesha started work on December 5 in the position of Graduate Field Coordinator, vacant since the departure of former SIPS staff member Shelby Champlain. In this role Ayesha will support the Fields of Plant Breeding and of Soil & Crop Sciences, reporting to Leah Cook and working closely with Directors of Graduate Studies for those fields and with other student services staff.

Ayesha was educated in England and has worked internationally in a variety of administrative positions. She enjoys travel, exercise, and art, and is passionate about supporting educational initiatives. Her office is located in 231 Emerson Hall and she can be contacted at aa2849@cornell.edu. Stop by and say hello!

We are also particularly grateful to Karin Jantz and Josh Balles who have overseen these two graduate fields on and off since March of 2023 in addition to their regular job duties.

People, Plant Breeding, Soil and Crop Sciences

DEI update: Holiday greetings and why they matter

What follows is from the Cornell AgriTech DEI Bulletin.  Many thanks to our colleagues Anna Katharine Mansfield and Amara Dunn-Silver, Cornell AgriTech DEI Council co-chairs, who are taking such a strong lead with their DEI efforts. They write, “Like any group, DEI practitioners use jargon as a shortcut to convey specific meanings that may be unclear or confusing to anyone unfamiliar with the terms. As part of our DEI Bulletin series, we are exploring some key terms, concepts and practices that are important to DEI.” If there’s a topic you’d like them to explore, contact Anna Katharine or Amara, or you can submit a suggestion anonymously.  This issue of the bulletin is especially timely, given the approaching election.

As you’ve gone about your errands over the last few weeks, you have likely been wished either “Happy Holidays”, or “Merry Christmas.” Which greeting you received may have stirred up some feelings for you. Or, you may have encountered others’ feelings about these greetings shared on social media or in-person.

Controversy over how we greet each other and the decorations we display in public places during the month of December is nothing new. The choice to shift from “Christmas” to “Holiday” greetings and decorations has been attributed to motivations ranging from intolerance to anti-religious sentiment to Communism for more than a century.

But what if the way we greet each other isn’t a statement for or against a religious belief, but a way to create spaces where everyone belongs? Wishing someone “Happy Holidays” can be a simple acknowledgement that we wish others well even if we don’t know which holiday(s) they celebrate this month. We live in a diverse society with diverse beliefs celebrated in diverse ways. To greet everyone with a “Merry Christmas” communicates – intentionally or not – that everyone does, or should, celebrate Christmas. In fact, the Cornell Office of Spirituality and Meaning-Making identifies seven major holidays celebrated in the month of December, and their list is not exhaustive. (Read more about religious holidays and accommodation at Cornell.)

So how should I greet people? 

Don’t make assumptions about the holiday(s) others celebrate. When you don’t know, greeting someone with “Happy Holidays” is a great way to be more inclusive of all the celebrations observed at this time of year. 

Personalize your greeting. If you know which holiday a friend or colleague celebrates in December – whether it is Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or another holiday – feel free to use a holiday-specific greeting. If you don’t already know, you might ask them what the common greeting is for their holiday, so that you can use it in the future.

Be curious. If a co-worker celebrates a holiday unfamiliar to you, take some time to learn about it. You might also ask them about their favorite holiday traditions or foods. Your respectful curiosity about traditions important to them shows that you value them and that they belong at AgriTech.

Practice grace. If someone greets you in a way that doesn’t resonate with how you celebrate this season, assume best intentions. It’s very likely that they are wishing you joy in a way that feels authentic to them.

At AgriTech we grow things, including the human urge to share joy in the dark of winter.

Diversity & Inclusion

Recent publications from the SIPS community – December 12, 2024

Optimizing organic muskmelon production by integrating mesotunnel row covers, inter-bed weed management, and pollination strategies.

Pethybridge, S., Damann, K., Murphy, S., Diggins, K. R., and Gleason, M. L. 2024. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 39:e31.

Data mining redefines the timeline and geographic spread of cotton leafroll dwarf virus.

Olmedo-Velarde, A., Shakhzadyan, H., Rethwisch, M., West-Ortiz, M. J., Waisen, P., and Heck, M. L. Plant Disease 0:null.

Scaling relationships of lamina mass per unit area, mean thickness, and leaf bulk tissue density across nine diverse species.

Shi, P., Deng, L., Miao, Q., Chen, L., Yu, H., Zhu, F., and Niklas, K. J.  American Journal of Botany n/a:e16442.

Graft incompatibility between pepper and tomato elicits an immune response and triggers localized cell death.

Thomas, H. R., Gevorgyan, A., Hermanson, A., Yanders, S., Erndwein, L., Norman-Ariztía, M., Sparks, E. E., and Frank, M. H. 2024.  Horticulture Research 11.

New York State Climate Impacts Assessment Chapter 03: Agriculture.

Aller, D., Chatrchyan, A. M., Calixto, A., Cummings, J., Ortiz-Bobea, A., Peck, G., Schouten, J., Weikert, B., Wolters, E., and Stevens, A.  Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences n/a.

Resilient plants, sustainable future.

Rhee, S. Y., Anstett, D. N., Cahoon, E. B., Covarrubias-Robles, A. A., Danquah, E., Dudareva, N., Ezura, H., Gilbert, K. J., Gutiérrez, R. A., Heck, M., Lowry, D. B., Mittler, R., Muday, G., Mukankusi, C., Nelson, A. D. L., Restrepo, S., Rouached, H., Seki, M., Walker, B., Way, D., and Weber, A. P. M. 2024. Trends in Plant Science.

Genome sequencing of ‘Fuji’ apple clonal varieties reveals genetic mechanism of the spur-type morphology.

Cai, Y., Gao, X., Mao, J., Liu, Y., Tong, L., Chen, X., Liu, Y., Kou, W., Chang, C., Foster, T., Yao, J., Cornille, A., Tahir, M. M., Liu, Z., Yan, Z., Lin, S., Ma, F., Ma, J., Xing, L., An, N., Zuo, X., Lv, Y., Zhao, Z., Li, W., Li, Q., Zhao, C., Hu, Y., Liu, H., Wang, C., Shi, X., Ma, D., Fei, Z., Jiang, Y., and Zhang, D. 2024.  Nature communications 15:10082.

Publications

Recent publications from the SIPS community – December 5, 2024

Towards a unified approach to prioritization of regenerative agricultural practices across cropping systems.

Sela, S., Dobermann, A., Cerri, C. E., Svoray, T., van-Es, H., Amsili, J., Biradar, S., Luzon, U., and Katz, S. 2024. npj Sustainable Agriculture 2:24.

Soil organic carbon to clay ratio in different pedoclimatic and agronomic conditions in northeastern North America.

Chahal, I., Amsili, J. P., Saurette, D. D., Bower, J. A., Gillespie, A. W., van Es, H. M., and Van Eerd, L. L. 2024. Geoderma Regional 39:e00893.

Lauraceous fossil woods from the early Eocene of Laguna del Hunco, Argentine Patagonia.

Pujana, R. R., Jud, N. A., Wilf, P., and Gandolfo, M. A. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology:1-14.

Nutrient recycling potential of excreta for global crop and grassland production.

Devault, M., Woolf, D., and Lehmann, J. 2024. Nature Sustainability.

The effect of an intervention to reduce aflatoxin consumption from 6 to 18 months of age on length-for-age Z-scores in rural Tanzania: a cluster-randomized trial.

Phillips, E., Ngure, F. M., Kassim, N., Turner, P. C., Makule, E., Smith, L. E., Makori, N., Cramer, B., Humpf, H. U., Nelson, R. J., and Stoltzfus, R. J. 2024.  The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Unveiling Pervasive Soil Microbial P Limitation in Terrestrial Ecosystems Worldwide.

Guo, L., Ju, C., Xu, X., Zhou, G., Luo, Y., Xu, C., Li, Q., Du, H., Liu, W., and Zhou, Y. 2024. Ecology Letters 27:e70011.

Transcriptional reprogramming primes CD8+ T cells toward exhaustion in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Iu, D. S., Maya, J., Vu, L. T., Fogarty, E. A., McNairn, A. J., Ahmed, F., Franconi, C. J., Munn, P. R., Grenier, J. K., Hanson, M. R., and Grimson, A. 2024.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121:e2415119121.

Mold in, mold out: Harvest bins harbor viable inoculum that can be reduced using novel sanitation methods to manage blue mold decay of apples.

Luciano-Rosario, D., Castro, J., Peter, K. A., Cox, K. D., Fonseca, J. M., Gaskins, V. L., and Jurick, W. M. 2025. Postharvest Biology and Technology 221:113323.

Mapping rangeland health indicators in eastern Africa from 2000 to 2022.

Soto, G. E., Wilcox, S. W., Clark, P. E., Fava, F. P., Jensen, N. D., Kahiu, N., Liao, C., Porter, B., Sun, Y., and Barrett, C. B. 2024. Earth Syst. Sci. Data 16:5375-5404.

A DNA barcode reference of Asian ferns with expert-identified voucher specimens and DNA samples.

Kuo, L.-Y., Tang, S.-K., Huang, Y.-H., Xie, P. J., Chen, C.-W., Chang, Z.-X., Hsu, T.-C., Chang, Y.-H., Chao, Y.-S., Chen, C.-W., Fawcett, S., Nitta, J. H., Sundue, M., Kao, T.-T., Luu, H. T., Mustapeng, A. M. A., Coritico, F. P., Amoroso, V. B., and Thai, Y. K. 2024.  Scientific Data 11:1314.

Publications

November 26: Plant Science Renovation Update

Project Brief

This gut renovation project will reconfigure floor layouts, restore the exterior building envelope, replace the exterior windows, replace the Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing & Life Safety systems, and generally modernize the facility to meet the School of Integrative Plant Science’s Instructional and Research needs in the 21st century.

  • The project obtained B&P’s Construction Approval on March 23, 2023.
  • FAHS Construction is the General Contractor.
  • The 30-month Construction period began on July 5, 2023, and is scheduled for substantial completion in January 2026.

Progress Update

  • Exterior masonry cleaning and restoration is ongoing with current focus on the North (Ag Quad side) facade. · Exterior window replacements are roughly 85% complete.
  • The East end of the breezeway could not be opened on November 20th as previously planned. The structural steel beam supporting the slab was in a worse condition than had been anticipated and must therefore be replaced. The project anticipates that the work will continue through early February 2025.
  • The installation of the new elevator has begun will be on-going through the next several weeks.

Two-week look ahead

  • Roofing installation will continue through the next three weeks.
  • Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing rough-ins installation will continue through the next several weeks.
  • Installation of rigid insulation on the interior face of the exterior walls will continue on all floors through the next three weeks.

Upcoming shut-downs

  • A full building power shutdown that was originally planned for the fall has been re-scheduled for Spring 2025.

Egress/Ingress changes

  • The Western end of the Breezeway has been opened up. Work on the eastern end of the breezeway – from the Mann & Plant Science entrances to the Mann/Emerson courtyard – will proceed through the early February 2026.
  • Public access to the building via the North Entrance (Ag Quad side) and the South Entrance (off Tower Road, directly opposite Minns Garden) have been blocked and will remain blocked for the duration of the construction.
  • Public access to the building via the North Entrance (Ag Quad side) and the South Entrance (off Tower Road, directly opposite Minns Garden) have been blocked and will remain blocked for the duration of the construction.
rusty metal beam
deteriorated steel beam uncovered on the east side of the Breezeway
gray siding on a flat roof
roof work
arched windows
new windows
construction with cement blocks
building a new stairwell on the west side
construction with beams
in fill of the old west stairwell
PSB Renovation, Uncategorized

Recent publications from the SIPS community – November 28, 2024

Infection-associated chronic conditions: Why Long Covid is our best chance to untangle Osler’s web.

Peluso, M. J., Hanson, M. R., and Deeks, S. G. 2024. Science Translational Medicine 16:eado2101.

Transcriptomic and genetic analysis reveals a Zn2Cys6 transcription factor specifically required for conidiation in submerged cultures of Thermothelomyces thermophilus

Drescher, F., Li, Y., Villalobos-Escobedo, J. M., Haefner, S., Huberman, L. B., and Glass, N. L. . mBio 0:e03111-03124.

Fossil insect-feeding traces indicate unrecognized evolutionary history and biodiversity on Australia’s iconic Eucalyptus.

Giraldo, L. A., Wilf, P., Donovan, M. P., Kooyman, R. M., and Gandolfo, M. A. New Phytologist n/a.

Benefits of Irrigation or Fertigation on Early Growth and Yield of a High-density Apple Planting in a Humid Climate.

Dominguez, L. I., and Robinson, T. L. 2024.  HortTechnology 34:747-760.

Root exudates simultaneously form and disrupt soil organo-mineral associations.

Shabtai, I. A., Hafner, B. D., Schweizer, S. A., Höschen, C., Possinger, A., Lehmann, J., and Bauerle, T. 2024. Communications Earth & Environment 5:699.

Preharvest 1-methylcyclopropene and aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatment effects on ‘NY2’ (RubyFrost®) apple fruit quality and postharvest watercore dissipation at different temperatures.

Algul, B. E., Al Shoffe, Y., Park, D., Cheng, L., and Watkins, C. B. 2025. Postharvest Biology and Technology 220:113301.

Deep soil carbon pool responses to climate change in the Chinese Loess Plateau.

Gao, G., Li, B., Niklas, K. J., Huang, Y., Xu, M., Liu, G., and Fu, B. 2024. Science Bulletin.

Publications

Recent publications from the SIPS community – November 21, 2024

Enhancing ecosystem services through direct-seeded rice in middle Indo-Gangetic Plains: a comparative study of different rice establishment practices.

Dubey, R., Mishra, J. S., Das, A., Dinesh, G. K., Jain, N., Bhatt, B. P., Poonia, S. P., Ajay, A., Mondal, S., Kumar, S., Choudhary, A. K., Kumar, R., Upadhyaya, A., and McDonald, A. J. 2024.  Agronomy for Sustainable Development 44:57.

Effects of Tree Spacing and Branch Configuration on Production, Fruit Quality, and Leaf Minerals of ‘Aztec Fuji’ Apple Trees in a Tatura Trellis System Over 5 Years.

Fallahi, E., Kiester, M. J., Fallahi, B., and Cheng, L. 2024. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 149:337-345.

Weed Communities of Snap Bean Fields in the United States.

Pavlovic, P., Colquhoun, J. B., Korres, N. E., Liu, R., Lowry, C. J., Peachey, E., Scott, B., Sosnoskie, L. M., VanGessel, M. J., and Williams, M. M. 2024. Weed Science:1-30.

Evaluation of foliar fungicides for Cercospora leaf spot management in table beet in New York.

Sharma, P., Murphy, S. P., Kikkert, J. R., and Pethybridge, S. J. 2025. Crop Protection 188:107028.

PP2C phosphatase Pic6 suppresses MAPK activation and disease resistance in tomato.

Chakraborty, J., Sobol, G., Xia, F., Zhang, N., Martin, G. B., and Sessa, G.  Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® 0:null.

Border-like cell formation mediated by SgPG1 confers aluminum resistance in Stylosanthes guianensis.

Lin, Y., Liu, G., Liu, P., Chen, Q., Guo, X., Lu, X., Cai, Z., Sun, L., Liu, J., Chen, K., Liu, G., Tian, J., and Liang, C. 2024. The Plant Journal 120:1605-1624.

Exploring genetic diversity, population structure, and subgenome differences in the allopolyploid Camelina sativa: implications for future breeding and research studies.

Brock, J. R., Bird, K. A., Platts, A. E., Gomez-Cano, F., Gupta, S. K., Palos, K., Railey, C. E., Teresi, S. J., Lee, Y. S., Magallanes-Lundback, M., Pawlowski, E. G., Nelson, A. D. L., Grotewold, E., and Edger, P. P. 2024. Horticulture Research 11.

Genome-wide association of an organic naked barley diversity panel identified quantitative trait loci for disease resistance.

Kunze, K. H., Meints, B., Massman, C., Gutiérrez, L., Hayes, P. M., Smith, K. P., Bergstrom, G. C., and Sorrells, M. E. The Plant Genome n/a:e20530.

Nuclear phylogenomics of Eperua (Leguminosae) highlights the role of habitat and morphological lability in dispersal and diversification across Amazonia and in the Caatinga-Cerrado ecotone.

Fortes, E. A., Landis, J. B., Steege, H. t., Specht, C. D., Doyle, J. J., and Mansano, V. d. F. 2025. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 202:108236.

Publications

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