Research Project: Genetic Improvement and Cropping Systems of Warm-season Grasses for Forage, Feedstocks, Syrup, and Turf

Location: Crop Genetics and Breeding Research

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

Entomophthoralean and hypocrealean fungal pathogens of the sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Hemiptera: Aphididae), on sorghum in Georgia - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Castrillo, L., Harris-Shultz, K.R. 2024. Entomophthoralean and hypocrealean fungal pathogens of the sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Hemiptera: Aphididae), on sorghum in Georgia . Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 204:108107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2024.108107.

Insects foraging on pearl millet, Cenchrus americanus, pollen - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Harris-Shultz, K.R., O'Hearn, J.S., Knoll, J.E., Clem, C.S. 2024. Insects foraging on pearl millet, Cenchrus americanus, pollen. Journal of Entomological Science. 59(4):1-9. https://doi.org/10.18474/JES23-91.

Improved management of the bermudagrass stem maggot - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Baxter, L.L., Anderson, W.F., Hudson, W.G., Rios, E.F., Bowling, C.H., Burt, J.C. 2024. Improved management of the bermudagrass stem maggot. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management. 10:e20269. https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20269.

First record of Melanaphis donacis (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Georgia - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Harris-Shultz, K.R., Halbert, S.E., Moore, M., Ni, X. 2024. First record of Melanaphis donacis (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Georgia. Journal of Entomological Science. 59(4):1-4. https://doi.org/10.18474/JES23-105.

Distribution, host range expansion, and genetic diversity of hedgehog grain aphid in central United States - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Taylor, M., Harris-Shultz, K.R., Armstrong, J.S., Hayashida, R., Mornhinweg, D.W., Hoback, W. 2023. Distribution, host range expansion, and genetic diversity of hedgehog grain aphid in central United States. Southwestern Entomologist. 48(4):757-770. https://doi.org/10.3958/059.048.0401.

Registration Coastcross II forage bermudagrass - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Anderson, W.F., Powell, J., Hanna, W.W., Burton, G., Davis, M. 2024. Registration Coastcross II forage bermudagrass. Journal of Plant Registrations. 18:250-253. https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20357.

Analysis of global napier grass (Cenchrus purpureus) collections reveals high genetic diversity among genotypes with some redundancy between collections - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Muktar, M.S., Bizuneh, T., Anderson, W.F., Assefa, Y., Negawo, A.T., Abel Teshome, G., Haile, E., Muchugi, A., Feyissa, T., Jones, C.S. 2023. Analysis of global napier grass (Cenchrus purpureus) collections reveals high genetic diversity among genotypes with some redundancy between collections. Scientific Reports. 13, 14509. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41583-7.

Newell bermudagrass: a public release from the USDA cynodon collection - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rios, E.F., Lopez, Y., Munoz, P., Dubeux, J., Vendramini, J., Wallau, M., Grossman, A., Anderson, W.F., Baxter, L., Harris-Shultz, K.R., Castillo, M.S., Saha, M.C., Quesenberry, K., Blount, A., Reith, P., Kenworthy, K. 2023. Newell bermudagrass: a public release from the USDA cynodon collection. Journal of Plant Registrations. 17:605-615. https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20318.

Creation and characteristics of tetraploid and mixoploid centipedegrass - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sapkota, S., Kaur, R., Harris-Shultz, K.R., Wang, H., Koo, D., Nabukalu, P., Jespersen, D. 2023. Creation and characteristics of tetraploid and mixoploid centipedegrass. Crop Science. 63:2569-2582. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21011.

Registration of three sweet sorghum lines with high tolerance to sorghum aphid (Melanaphis sorghi) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Knoll, J.E., Uchimiya, S.M., Hayes, C.M., Punnuri, S.M., Harris-Shultz, K.R., Smith, J.S. 2023. Registration of three sweet sorghum lines with high tolerance to sorghum aphid (Melanaphis sorghi). Journal of Plant Registrations. 17:551-560. https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20310.

Identification of cultured and diazotrophic bacterial endophytes in warm-season grasses - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sapkota, S., Harris-Shultz, K.R., Strickland, T.C., Anderson, W.F. 2022. Identification of cultured and diazotrophic bacterial endophytes in warm-season grasses. PhytoFrontiers. 3(2):411-419. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-10-22-0110-R.

Insect feeding on sorghum bicolor pollen and Hymenoptera attraction to aphid-produced honeydew - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Harris-Shultz, K.R., Armstrong, J.S., Caballero, M., Hoback, W., Knoll, J.E. 2022. Insect feeding on sorghum bicolor pollen and Hymenoptera attraction to aphid-produced honeydew. Insects. 13(12). Article 1152. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13121152.

Whole genome sequencing of Clarireedia aff. paspali reveals potential pathogenesis factors and genome plasticity in Clarireedia species, causal agents of dollar spot in turfgrass - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Unraveling phenotypic diversity in Cynodon spp. germplasm for forage accumulation and nutritive value in the transition zone - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
De Souza, C., Canny, R.S., Sharma, N., Saha, M., Wallau, M.O., Anderson, W.F., Baxter, L., Harris-Shultz, K.R., Rios, E.F. 2023. Unraveling phenotypic diversity in Cynodon spp. germplasm for forage accumulation and nutritive value in the transition zone. Crop Science. 63:690-704. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20871.

Genome-wide association mapping of resistance to the sorghum aphid in sorghum bicolor - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Punnuri, S., Ayele, A., Harris-Shultz, K.R., Knoll, J.E., Coffin, A.W., Tadesse, H.K., Armstrong, J.S., Wiggins, T., Li, H., Sattler, S.E., Wallace, J. 2022. Genome-wide association mapping of resistance to the sorghum aphid in sorghum bicolor. Genomics. 114(4). Article 110408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110408.

Moving warm-season forage bermudagrass (Cynodon Sp.) into temperate regions of North America - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Baxter, L.L., Anderson, W.F., Gates, R.N., Rios, E.F., Hancock, D.W. 2022. Moving warm-season forage bermudagrass (Cynodon Sp.) into temperate regions of North America. Grass and Forage Science. 77:141-150. https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12568.

Melanaphis sorghi (Hemiptera: Aphididae) clonal diversity in the United States and Brazil - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Harris-Shultz, K.R., Armstrong, J.S., Carvalho, G., Pereira Segundo, J., Ni, X. 2022. Melanaphis sorghi (Hemiptera: Aphididae) clonal diversity in the United States and Brazil. Insects. 13(5):416. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13050416.

Registration of ‘MSB-264’ and ‘MSB-285’ bermudagrasses - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Dong, H., Philley, H., Harris-Shultz, K.R. 2022. Registration of ‘MSB-264’ and ‘MSB-285’ bermudagrasses. Journal of Plant Registrations. 16(2):185-197. https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20218.

Does intercropping carinata with loblolly pine for sustainable aviation fuel production save carbon? A case study from the southern United States - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Akter, H., Dwivedi, P., Alam, A., Anderson, W.F. 2022. Does intercropping carinata with loblolly pine for sustainable aviation fuel production save carbon? A case study from the southern United States. BioEnergy Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-022-10394-5.

Winter legume cover effects on yields of biomass-sorghum and cotton in Georgia - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Anderson, W.F., Knoll, J.E., Olson, D.M., Scully, B.T., Strickland, T.C., Webster, T.M. 2022. Winter legume cover effects on yields of biomass-sorghum and cotton in Georgia. Agronomy Journal. 114(2):1298-1310. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21018.

Impact of management on bermudagrass stem maggot damage - (Abstract Only)

First report of gray leaf spot, caused by Pyricularia oryzae (synonym: Magnaporthe oryzae), in oat (Avena sativa) in Georgia, USA - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Screening and breeding for bermudagrass stem maggot (BSM) resistance using U.S. bermudagrass germplasm - (Proceedings)
Anderson, W.F., Hancock, D.W., Baxter, L., Hudson, W., Rios, E.F. 2021. Screening and breeding for bermudagrass stem maggot (BSM) resistance using U.S. bermudagrass germplasm. Grassland International Congress Proceedings. pp. 1-3. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/24/2-3/27/.

Moving warm-season forage bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.) into temperate regions of North America - (Proceedings)
Anderson, W.F., Baxter, L., Hancock, D.W., Gates, R.N., Rios, E.F. 2021. Moving warm-season forage bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.) into temperate regions of North America. Grassland International Congress Proceedings. pp. 1-4. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/24/2/8.

Release of a new forage bermudagrass cultivar from the USDA-ARS cynodon collection - (Proceedings)
Rios, E.F., Dubeux, J., Vendramini, J., Wallau, M., Lopes De Souza, C.H., Grossman, A.J., Lopez, Y., Munoz, P., Anderson, W.F., Baxter, L., Castillo, M.S., Saha, M.C., Quesenberry, K., Blount, A., Reith, P., Kenworthy, K. 2021. Release of a new forage bermudagrass cultivar from the USDA-ARS cynodon collection. Grassland International Congress Proceedings. pp. 1-4. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/24/2-3/1.

New approaches to an old problem: Dollar spot of turfgrass - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sapkota, S., Catching, K.E., Raymer, P.L., Martinez-Espinoza, A.D., Bahri, B.A. 2021. New approaches to an old problem: Dollar spot of turfgrass. Phytopathology. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-11-20-0505-RVW.

Juice chemical properties of 24 sorghum cultivars under varying levels of sugarcane aphids (Melanaphis sacchari) infestation - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Knoll, J.E., Uchimiya, S., Harris-Shultz, K. 2021. Juice chemical properties of 24 sorghum cultivars under varying levels of sugarcane aphids (Melanaphis sacchari) infestation. Arthropod-Plant Interactions. 15(5):707-719. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-021-09855-z.

Biomass production and stability of five energycane cultivars at two latitudes in Georgia, USA - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Knoll, J.E., Anderson, W.F., Missaoui, A., Hale, A.L., Hanna, W.W. 2021. Biomass production and stability of five energycane cultivars at two latitudes in Georgia, USA. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 4:e20146. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20146.

Identification of fungal pathogens and analysis of genetic diversity of Fusarium tricinctum causing root rots of alfalfa in northeast China - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Economics of intercropping loblolly pine and oilseed crops for bio-jet fuel production in the United States - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Akter, H., Dwivedi, P., Anderson, W.F., Lamb, M.C. 2021. Economics of intercropping loblolly pine and oilseed crops for bio-jet fuel production in the United States. Agroforestry Systems. pp. 584-585. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-020-00584-5.

Evidence of pollinators foraging on centipedegrass inflorescences - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Shimat, J., Harris-Shultz, K.R., Jespesen, D. 2020. Evidence of pollinators foraging on centipedegrass inflorescences. Insects. 11:795. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11110795.

Natural genetic diversity of nutritive value traits in the genus Cynodon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
De Souza, C., Lopez, Y., Munoz, P.R., Anderson, W.F., Agnol, M., Wallau, M.O., Rios, E.F. 2020. Natural genetic diversity of nutritive value traits in the genus Cynodon. Agronomy. 10(11):1729.

A sugarcane aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) 'Super-clone' remains on U.S. sorghum and johnsongrass ands feeds on giant miscanthus - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Harris-Shultz, K.R., Ni, X. 2021. A sugarcane aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) 'Super-clone' remains on U.S. sorghum and johnsongrass ands feeds on giant miscanthus. Journal of Entomological Science. 56(1):43-52. https://doi.org/10.18474/0749-8004-56.1.43.

Incidence and abundance of bees and wasps in centipedegrass lawns in Georgia - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Joseph, S.V., Harris-Shultz, K.R., Jespersen, D., Vermeer, B., Julian, C. 2020. Incidence and abundance of bees and wasps in centipedegrass lawns in Georgia. Journal of Entomological Science. 55(4):547-559. https://doi.org/10.18474/0749-8004-55.4.547.

Evaluation of strains of Beauveria bassiana and Isaria fumosorosea to control sugarcane aphids on grain sorghum - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Harris-Shultz, K.R., Knoll, J.E., Punnuri, S., Niland, E., Ni, X. 2020. Evaluation of strains of Beauveria bassiana and Isaria fumosorosea to control sugarcane aphids on grain sorghum. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 3:e20047. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20047.

Invasive cereal aphids of North America: Biotypes, genetic variation, management, and lessons learned - (Review Article)
Harris-Shultz, K.R., Armstrong, J.S., Jacobson, A. 2019. Invasive cereal aphids of North America: Biotypes, genetic variation, management, and lessons learned. Trends in Entomology. 15:99-122.

The sorghum epicuticular wax locus Bloomless2 reduces plant damage in P898012 caused by the sugarcane aphid - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Harris-Shultz, K.R., Punnuri, S., Knoll, J.E., Ni, X., Wang, H. 2020. The sorghum epicuticular wax locus Bloomless2 reduces plant damage in P898012 caused by the sugarcane aphid. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 3:e20008. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20008.

Yields of sesame vary dramatically under rain-fed conditions on marginal lands in Thailand - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Bunphan, D., Knoll, J.E., Anderson, W.F. 2019. Yields of sesame vary dramatically under rain-fed conditions on marginal lands in Thailand. Australian Journal of Crop Science. 13(12):2075-2085.

Quantifying the damage potential of the bermudagrass stem maggot - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Baxter, L.L., Anderson, W.F., Hudson, W.G., Hancock, D.W., Prevatt, C.G., Moore, Z. 2019. Quantifying the damage potential of the bermudagrass stem maggot. Crop Science. 59(5):2280-2286. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2019.04.0220.