Research Project: Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of Biotic and Abiotic Stress on Plant Defense Responses in Maize

Location: Chemistry Research

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Maize Terpene Synthase 1 impacts insect bahavoir via the production of monoterpene volatiles beta-myrcene and linalool - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yactayo Chang, J.P., Broadhead, G.T., Housler, R.J., Resende, M., Verma, K., Louis, J., Basset, G.J., Beck, J.J., Block, A.K. 2023. Maize Terpene Synthase 1 impacts insect bahavoir via the production of monoterpene volatiles beta-myrcene and linalool. Phytochemistry. 2024,218,113957. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2023.113957.

The maize PLASTID TERMINAL OXIDASE (PTOX) gene controls carotenoid content of kernels - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Nie, Y., Wang, H., Zhang, G., Ding, H., Han, B., Liu, L., Jian, S., Du, J., Li, X., Zhao, Y., Zhang, X., Liu, C., Weng, J., Li, X., Li, X., Zhang, X., Zhao, Z., Pan, G., Jackson, D., Li, Q., Stinard, P.S., Arp, J., Sachs, M.M., Moose, S., Hunter III, C.T., Wu, Q., Zhang, Z. 2024. The maize PLASTID TERMINAL OXIDASE (PTOX) gene controls carotenoid content of kernels. The Plant Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.16618.

Cytokinin promotes jasmonic acid accumulation in the control of maize leaf growth - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Uyehara, A.N., Del Valle-Echevarria, A.R., Hunter Iii, C.T., Nelissen, H., Demuynck, K., Cahill, J.F., Gorman, Z.J., Jander, G., Muszynski, M.G. 2023. Cytokinin promotes jasmonic acid accumulation in the control of maize leaf growth. Plants. 12:16. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12163014.

The evolution of strictly monofunctional naphthoquinol C-methyltransferases is vital in cyanobacteria and plastids - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Stutts, L., Latimer, S., Batyrshina, Z., Dickinson, G., Alborn, H.T., Block, A.K., Basset, G.J. 2023. The evolution of strictly monofunctional naphthoquinol C-methyltransferases is vital in cyanobacteria and plastids. The Plant Cell. 35:3686-3696. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad202.

Independent evolution of transposase and TIRs facilitated by recombination between Mutator transposons from divergent clades in maize - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hunter Iii, C.T., Mccarty, D.R., Koch, K.E. 2023. Independent evolution of transposase and TIRs facilitated by recombination between Mutator transposons from divergent clades in maize. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). 120 (31) e2305298120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2305298120.

Maize terpene synthase 8 (ZmTPS8) contributes to a complex blend of fungal-elicited antibiotics - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Saldivar, E.V., Ding, Y., Poretsky, E., Bird, S., Block, A.K., Huffaker, A., Schmelz, E.A. 2023. Maize terpene synthase 8 (ZmTPS8) contributes to a complex blend of fungal-elicited antibiotics. Plants. 12(5):1111. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12051111.

Editorial: Innovative Applications of Sequencing Technologies in Plant Science - (Other)
Kalendar, R., Hunter Iii, C.T., Orbovic, V. 2022. Editorial: Innovative Applications of Sequencing Technologies in Plant Science. Frontiers in Plant Science. 13:2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1058347.

Metabolic link between auxin production and specialized metabolites in Sorghum bicolor - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Perez, V.C., Dai, R., Tomiczek, B., Mendoza, J.S., Greening, A., Reed, E.S., Vermerris, W., Block, A.K., Kim, J. 2023. Metabolic link between auxin production and specialized metabolites in Sorghum bicolor. Journal of Experimental Botany. 74:364-376. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erac421.

The impact of post-harvest storage on sweetcorn aroma - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yactayo Chang, J.P., Boehlein, S., Libertini, G., Beiriger, R., Resende, M., Bruton, R.G., Alborn, H.T., Tracy, W.F., Block, A.K. 2022. The impact of post-harvest storage on sweetcorn aroma. Phytochemistry Letters. 52:33-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytol.2022.09.001.

Production of the green leaf volatile (Z)-3-hexenal by a zea mays hydroperoxide lyase - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yactayo Chang, J.P., Hunter III, C.T., Alborn, H.T., Christensen, S.A., Block, A.K. 2022. Production of the green leaf volatile (Z)-3-hexenal by a zea mays hydroperoxide lyase. Plants. 11(17):2201. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11172201.

Dedicated farnesyl diphosphate synthases circumvent isoprenoid-derived growth-defense tradeoffs in Zea mays - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Tang, H.V., Berryman, D.L., Mendoza, J.S., Yactayo Chang, J.P., Li, Q., Christensen, S.A., Hunter III, C.T., Best, N.B., Soubeyrand, E., Akhtar, T., Basset, G.J., Block, A.K. 2022. Dedicated farnesyl diphosphate synthases circumvent isoprenoid-derived growth-defense tradeoffs in Zea mays. Plant Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.15941.

RNAi-induced knockdown of white gene in the southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula L.) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Souza, D., Christensen, S., Wu, K., Lyle, B., Kleckner, K., Darrisaw, C., Shirk, P., Siegfried, B. 2022. RNAi-induced knockdown of white gene in the southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula L.). Scientific Reports. 12, 10396. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14620-0.

SbCYP79A61 Produces Phenylacetaldoxime Which is a Precursor of Benzyl Cyanide and Phenylacetic Acid in Sorghum bicolor - (Pre-print Publication)
Perez, V.C., Dai, R., Tomiczek, B., Mendoza, J.S., Greening, A., Reed, E.S., Vermerris, W., Block, A.K., Kim, J. 2022. SbCYP79A61 Produces Phenylacetaldoxime Which is a Precursor of Benzyl Cyanide and Phenylacetic Acid in Sorghum bicolor. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.05.11.491506.

Xanthomonas hortorum pv. gardneri TAL effector AvrHah1 is necessary and sufficient for increased persistence of Salmonella enterica on tomato leaves - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cowles, K.N., Block, A.K., Barak, J.D. 2022. Xanthomonas hortorum pv. gardneri TAL effector AvrHah1 is necessary and sufficient for increased persistence of Salmonella enterica on tomato leave. Scientific Reports. 12, 7313. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11456-6

Crop improvement and abiotic stress tolerance promoted by Moringa leaf extract - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ul Islam, M., Nupur, J.A., Hunter III, C.T., Sohag, A.A., Sagor, A., Hossain, M., Latef, A., Tahjib-Ul-Arif, M. 2022. Crop improvement and abiotic stress tolerance promoted by Moringa leaf extract. Phyton International Journal of Botany. 91, 1557-1583. https://doi.32604/phyton.2022.021556

Wrap and plant technology to manage sustainably potato cyst nematodes in East Africa - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ochola, J., Cortada, L., Mwaura, O., Tariku, M., Christensen, S., Ng'Ang'A, M., Hassanali, A., Pirzada, T., Khan, S., Pal, L., Mathew, R., Guenther, D., Davis, E., Sit, T., Coyne, D., Opperman, C., Torto, B. 2022. Wrap and plant technology to manage sustainably potato cyst nematodes in East Africa. Nature Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-022-00852-5.

Kaempferol as a precursor for ubiquinone (coenzyme Q) biosynthesis: An atypical node between specialized metabolism and primary metabolism - (Review Article)
Berger, A., Latimer, S., Stutts, L.R., Soubeyrand, E., Block, A.K., Basset, G.J. 2022. Kaempferol as a precursor for ubiquinone (coenzyme Q) biosynthesis: An atypical node between specialized metabolism and primary metabolism. Current Opinion in Plant Biology. 66, 102165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2021.102165.

Metabolomics by UHPLC-HRMS reveals the impact of heat stress on pathogen-elicited immunity in Maize - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Christensen, S.A.; Santana, E.; Alborn, H.T.; Block, A.K.; Chamberlain, C.A. 2021. Metabolomics by UHPLC-HRMS reveals the impact of heat stress on pathogen-elicited immunity in Maize. Metabolomics. 17:6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-020-01739-2.

A dedicated flavin-dependent monooxygenase catalyzes the hydroxylation of demethoxyubiquinone into ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q) in Arabidopsis - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Latimer, S., Keene, S.A., Berger, A., Bernet, A., Soubeyrand, E., Wright, J., Clarke, C.F., Block, A.K., Colquhoun, T.A., Elowsky, C., Christensen, A., Basset, G.J. 2021. A dedicated flavin-dependent monooxygenase catalyzes the hydroxylation of demethoxyubiquinone into ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q) in Arabidopsis. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 297,101283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101283.

A maize leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinase mediates responses to fungal attack - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Block, A.K., Tang, H.V., Hopkins, D., Mendoza, J.S., Solemslie, R.K., Christensen, S.A., Du Toit, L.J. 2021. A maize leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinase mediates responses to fungal attack. Planta. 254, 73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-021-03730-0.

Detecting the conspecific: herbivory induced olfactory cues in the fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ingber, D.A., Christensen, S.A., Alborn, H.T., Hiltpold, I. 2021. Detecting the conspecific: herbivory induced olfactory cues in the fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Metabolites. 11, 583. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11090583.

Metabolite analysis of Arabidopsis CYP79A2 overexpression lines reveals turnover of benzyl glucosinolate and an additive effect of different aldoximes on phenylpropanoid repression - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Perez, V.C., Dai, R., Block, A.K., Jeongim, K. 2021. Metabolite analysis of Arabidopsis CYP79A2 overexpression lines reveals turnover of benzyl glucosinolate and an additive effect of different aldoximes on phenylpropanoid repression. Plant Signaling and Behavior. 16, 1966586. https://doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2021.1966586.

Zea mays volatiles that influence oviposition and feeding behaviors of Spodoptera frugiperda - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yactayo Chang, J.P., Mendoza, J.S., Willms, S.D., Beck, J.J., Rering, C.C., Block, A.K. 2021. Zea mays volatiles that influence oviposition and feeding behaviors of Spodoptera frugiperda. Journal of Chemical Ecology. 47, 799-809. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-021-01302-w.

Citric acid-mediated abiotic stress tolerance in plants - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Tahjib-Ul-Arif, M.; Zahan, M.; Karim, M.; Imran, S.; Hunter, C.T.; Islam, M.; Mia, M.; Hannan, M.; Rhaman, M.S.; Hossain, M.; Brestic, M.; Skalicky, M.; Murata, Y. 2021. Citric acid-mediated abiotic stress tolerance in plants. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 22(13): 7235. http://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22137235.

Fusarium verticillioides induces maize-derived ethylene to promote virulence by engaging fungal G-protein signaling - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Y-S. Park; E.J. Borrego; X. Gao, S.A. Christensen; E. Schmelz; A. Lanubile; D.A. Drab; W. Cody; H. Yan; W-B. Shim; M.V. Kolomiets. 2021. Fusarium verticillioides induces maize-derived ethylene to promote virulence by engaging fungal G-protein signaling. Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions https//doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-09-20-0250-R

Aldoximes are precursors of auxins in Arabidopsis and maize - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Perez, V.E.; Dai, R.; Bing Bai, B.; Tomiczek, B.; Askey, B.; Zhang, Y.; Ding, Y.; Grenning, A.; Block, A.K.; and Kim, J. 2021 Aldoxime-derived auxin biosynthesis occurs in both Arabidopsis and maize. New Phytologist. https://doi: 10.1111/nph.17447

Considerations for using CRISPR/Cas9 in targeted mutagenesis for functional genetics in plants - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hunter, C.T. 2021. Considerations for using CRISPR/Cas9 in targeted mutagenesis for functional genetics in plants. Plants. 10(4): 723. doi.org/10.3390/plants10040723

3-O-glycosylation of kaempferol restricts the supply of the benzenoid precursor of ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q) in Arabidopsis thaliana - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Soubeyrand, E., Latimer, S., Bermert, A.C., Keene, S.A., Johnson, T.S., Shin, D., Block, A.K., Colquhoun, T.A., Shaefnner, A.R., Kim, J., Basset, G.J. 2021. 3-O-glycosylation of kaempferol restricts the supply of the benzenoid precursor of ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q) in Arabidopsis thaliana. Phytochemistry. 186,112738. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.112738.

Brachypodium PHENYLALANINE AMMONIA LYASE (PAL) promotes antiviral defenses against Panicum mosaic virus and its satellites. - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Plant, S.R.; Irigoyen, S.; Liu, J.; Bedre, R.H.; Christensen, S.A.; Schmelz, E.A.; Sedbrook, J.; Scholthof, K.G.; Mandadi, K.K. 2021. Brachypodium phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) promotes antiviral defenses against Panicum mosaic virus and its satellites. mBio. 12:e03518-20. https//doi.org/10.1128/mBio.03518-20

The 13-lipoxygenase MSD2 and the w-3 fatty acid desaturase MSD3 impact Spodoptera frugiperda resistance in Sorghum - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Block, A.K.; Xin, Z; and Christensen, S.A. 2020 The 13-lipoxygenase MSD2 and the w-3 fatty acid desaturase MSD3 impact Spodoptera frugiperda resistance in Sorghum. Planta 252:62 https://doi:10.1007/s00425-020-03475-2

Approaches for assessing the impact of Zea mays (Poaceae) on the behavior of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its parasitoid Cotesia marginiventris (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Block, A.K.; Mendoza, J.S.; Rowley, A.L.; Stuhl, C.J.; Meagher Jr, R.L. 2021. Approaches for assessing the Impact of Zea mays on the behavior of Spodoptera frugiperda and its parasitoid Cotesia marginiventris. Florida Entomologist. 103:505-513. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.103.00414

Sunlit, controlled environment growth chambers are essential for comparing plant responses to past, present, and future climates - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Allen, L.H., Boote, K.J., Jones, J.W., Jones, P.H., Pickering, N.B., Baker, J.T., Vu, J.C., Gesch, R.W., Thomas, J.M.G., Prasad, V.P. 2020. Sunlit, controlled-environment chambers are essential for comparing plant responses to various climates. Agronomy Journal. 112(6):4531-4549. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20428.

Genetic elucidation of complex biochemical traits in crop innate immunity - (Pre-print Publication)
Ding, Y., Weckwerth, P., Poretsky, E., Murphy, K.M., Sims, J., Saldivar, E., Christensen, S.A., Yang, B., Char, S., Tong, A., Shen, Z., Kremling, K.A., Buckler, E.S., Kono, T., Nelson, D.R., Bohlman, J., Bakker, M.G., Vaughan, M.M., Khalil, A.S., Betsiashvili, M., Briggs, S.P., Zerbe, P., Schmelz, E.A., Huffaker, A. 2021. Genetic elucidation of complex biochemical traits in crop innate immunity. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.04.977355.

Plant defense chemicals against insect pests - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yactayo Chang, J.P.; Tang, H.V.; Mendoza, J.S.; Christensen, S.A.; Block, A.K. 2020. Plant defense chemicals against insect pests. Agronomy. 10:1156. 2020 https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10081156.

BonnMu: a novel sequence-indexed resource of transposon induced maize mutations for functional genomics studies - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Marcon, C.; Altrogge, L.; Win Y.N.; Stöcker, T.; Gardiner, J.M.; Portwood, J.L. 2nd; Opitz, N.; Kortz, A.; Baldauf, J.A.; Hunter, C.T.; McCarty, D.R.; Koch, K.E.*; Schoof, H.; Hochholdinger, F. 2020 BonnMu: A sequence-indexed resource of transposon-Induced maize mutations for functional genomics studies. Plant Physiology 184(2):620-631. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.20.00478

Green Leaf volatiles and jasmonic acid enhance susceptibility to anthracnose diseases caused by Colletotrichum graminicola in maize - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Gorman, Z., Christensen, S.A., Yan, Y., Ye, Y., Borrego, E., Kolomiets, M.V. 2020. Green Leaf volatiles and jasmonic acid enhance susceptibility to anthracnose diseases caused by Colletotrichum graminicola in maize. Molecular Plant Pathology. 21(5):702-715. https://doi.org/10.1111/mpp.12924.

Fluctuations of CO2 in Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) depress plant photosynthesis, growth, and yield - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Allen, L.H., Kimball, B.A., Bunce, J.A., Toshimoto, M., Harazono, Y., Baker, J.T., Boote, K.J., White, J.W. 2020. Fluctuations of CO2 in Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) depress plant photosynthesis, growth, and yield. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2020.107899.

Arabidopsis 4-COUMAROYL-COA LIGASE 8 contributes to the biosynthesis of the benzenoid ring of coenzyme Q in peroxisomes - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Soubeyrand, E., Kelly, M., Bernert, A.C., Keene, S.A., Latimer, S., Johnson, T.S., Elowsky, C., Colquhoun, T.A., Block, A.K., Basset, G.J. 2019. Arabidopsis 4-COUMAROYL-COA LIGASE 8 contributes to the biosynthesis of the benzenoid ring of coenzyme Q in peroxisomes. Biochemical Journal. 476(22):3521-3532. https://doi.org/10.1042/BCJ20190688.

Setaria viridis as a model for translational genetic studies of jasmonic acid-responsive insect defenses in Zea mays - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hunter III, C.T., Block, A.K., Christensen, S.A., Li, Q., Rering, C.C., Alborn, H.T. 2020. Setaria viridis as a model for translational genetic studies of jasmonic acid-responsive insect defenses in Zea mays. Plant Science. 291, February 2020, 110329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.110329.

Xanthomonas translucens commandeers the host rate-limiting step in ABA biosynthesis for disease susceptibility - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Peng, Z., Hu, Y., Zhang, J., Huguet-Tapia, J.C., Block, A.K., Park, S., Sapkota, S., Liu, Z., Liu, S., White, F.F. 2019. Xanthomonas translucens commandeers the host rate-limiting step in ABA biosynthesis for disease susceptibility. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 42,vol 16, 20938-20948. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1911660116.

Fighting on two fronts: Elevated insect resistance in flooded maize - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Block, A.K., Hunter III, C.T., Sattler, S.E., Rering, C.C., Mcdonald, S., Basset, G.J., Christensen, S.A. 2019. Fighting on two fronts: Elevated insect resistance in flooded maize. Plant Cell and Environment. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.13642.

Genetic elucidation of interconnected antibiotic pathways mediating maize innate immunity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ding, Y.; Murphy, K.M.; Poretsky, E.; Mafu, S.; Yang, B.; Char, S.; Christensen, S.A.; Saldivar, E.; Wu, M.; Wang, Q.; Ji, L.; Schmitz, R.J.; Kremling, K.A.; Buckler, E.S.; Shen, Z.; Briggs, S.P.; Bohlmann, J.; Sher, A.; Castro-Falcon, G.; Hughes, C.C.; Huffaker, A.; Zerbe, P.; Schmelz, E.A. 2020. Genetic elucidation of interconnected antibiotic pathways mediating maize innate immunity. Nature Plants. 6(11):1375-1388. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-020-00787-9.

Specialized naphthoquinones present in Impatiens glandulifera nectaries inhibit the growth of fungal nectar microbes - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Block, A.K., Yakubova, E., Widhalm, J.R. 2019. Specialized naphthoquinones present in Impatiens glandulifera nectaries inhibit the growth of fungal nectar microbes. Plant Direct. 3(5):1-7. https://doi.org/10.1002/pld3.132.

TAT1 and TAT2 tyrosine aminotransferases have both distinct and shared functions in tyrosine metabolism and degradation in Arabidopsis thaliana - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wang, M., Toda, K., Block, A.K., Maeda, H.A. 2019. TAT1 and TAT2 tyrosine aminotransferases have both distinct and shared functions in tyrosine metabolism and degradation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 294(10):3563-3576. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.RA118.006539.

Herbivorous caterpillars can utilize three mechanisms to alter green leaf volatile emission - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Jones, A.C., Seidl-Adams, I., Engelberth, J., Hunter III, C.T., Alborn, H.T., Tumlinson, J.H. 2019. Herbivorous caterpillars can utilize three mechanisms to alter green leaf volatile emission. Environmental Entomology. 48(2):419–425. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvy191.

The peroxidative cleavage of kaempferol contributes to the biosynthesis of the benzenoid moiety of ubiquinone in plants - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Soubeyrand, E., Johnson, T.S., Latimer, S., Block, A.K., Kim, J., Colquhoun, T.A., Butelli, E., Martin, C., Chapple, C., Basset, G.J. 2018. The peroxidative cleavage of kaempferol contributes to the biosynthesis of the benzenoid moiety of ubiquinone in plants. The Plant Cell. 30:2910-2921. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00688.

Production and function of terpenoid defense compounds in maize (Zea mays) - (Review Article)
Block, A.K., Vaughan, M.M., Schmelz, E.A., Christensen, S.A. 2018. Production and function of terpenoid defense compounds in maize (Zea mays). Planta. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-018-2999-2.

Exploring the metabolic variation between domesticated and wild tetraploid wheat genotypes in response to corn leaf aphid infestation - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Chandrasekhar, K., Shavit, R., Distefeld, A., Christensen, S.A., Tzin, V. 2018. Exploring the metabolic variation between domesticated and wild tetraploid wheat genotypes in response to corn leaf aphid infestation. Plant Signaling and Behavior. 13(6):1-5. https://doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2018.1486148.