Research Project: Genetic Improvement and Cropping Systems of Alfalfa for Livestock Utilization, Environmental Protection and Soil Health

Location: Plant Science Research

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

Interactive transcriptome analyses of Northern Wild Rice (Zizania palustris L.) and Bipolaris oryzae show convoluted communications during the early stages of fungal brown spot development - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Castell-Miller, C.V., Kono, T., Ranjan, A., Schlatter, D.C., Samac, D.A., Kimball, J.A. 2024. Interactive transcriptome analyses of Northern Wild Rice (Zizania palustris L.) and Bipolaris oryzae show convoluted communications during the early stages of fungal brown spot development. Frontiers in Plant Science. 15. Article number 1350281. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1350281.

A metagenomics study unveils microbial species and diversity in Northern Wild Rice (Zizania palustris L.) leaves and the effect of associated factors - (Abstract Only)

The state of the art in root system architecture image analysis using artificial intelligence: A review - (Review Article)
Weihs, B.J., Heuschele, D.J., Tang, Z., York, L., Zhang, Z., Xu, Z. 2024. The state of the art in root system architecture image analysis using artificial intelligence: A review. Plant Phenomics. 6. Article 0178. https://doi.org/10.34133/plantphenomics.0178.

Stock change accounting overestimates the potential climate benefit of soil carbon storage - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Alexander, J.R., Gamble, J.D., Venterea, R.T. 2024. Stock change accounting overestimates the potential climate benefit of soil carbon storage. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 88:745–752. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20643.

Genetic mapping of tolerance to bacterial stem blight caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Moya, Y.S., Medina, C., Herrera, B., Chamba, F., Yu, L., Xu, Z., Samac, D.A. 2023. Genetic mapping of tolerance to bacterial stem blight caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Plants. 12(1). Article 110. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13010110.

Genome sequencing and comparative genomic analysis in the autotetraploid alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) - (Abstract Only)
Kaur, H., Farmer, A., Mudge, J., Shannon, L.M., Samac, D.A. 2024. Genome sequencing and comparative genomic analysis in the autotetraploid alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Plant and Animal Genome Conference. San Diego, California. January 12-17, 2024.

Construction of a SNP-based genetic linkage map in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) using three different reference genomes - (Abstract Only)
Kaur, H., Dornbusch, M.R., Shannon, L.M., Samac, D.A. 2024. Construction of a SNP-based genetic linkage map in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) using three different reference genomes. Tools for Polyploids Workshop. San Diego, California. January 10, 2024.

Alfalfa stem cell wall digestibility: current knowledge and future research directions - (Review Article)
Bhandari, K., Rusch, H., Heuschele, D.J. 2023. Alfalfa stem cell wall digestibility: current knowledge and future research directions. Agronomy. 13(12). Article 2875. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122875.

Editorial: Machine vision and machine learning for plant phenotyping and precision agriculture - (Review Article)
Liu, H., Xu, Z. 2023. Editorial: Machine vision and machine learning for plant phenotyping and precision agriculture. Frontiers in Plant Science. 14. Article 1331918. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1331918.

Diversity of strains in the Pseudomonas syringae complex causing bacterial stem blight of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in the United States - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Lipps, S., Castell-Miller, C.V., Morris, C.E., Ishii, S., Samac, D.A. 2024. Diversity of strains in the Pseudomonas syringae complex causing bacterial stem blight of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in the United States. Phytopathology. 114(4):802-812. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-02-23-0059-R.

Development of a mid-density genotyping platform for alfalfa and its application in a drought tolerance breeding program - (Abstract Only)
Sandercock, A.M., Sapkota, M., Medina, C.M., Xu, Z., Yu, L., Zhao, D., Mejia-Guerra, K., Mollinari, M., Samac, D.A., Irish, B.M., Heller-Uszynska, K., Beil, C.T., Sheehan, M.J. 2024. Development of a mid-density genotyping platform for alfalfa and its application in a drought tolerance breeding program. Plant and Animal Genome Conference. San Diego, California. January 12-17, 2024.

A public mid-density genotyping platform for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Zhao, D., Mejia-Guerra, K., Mollinari, M., Samac, D.A., Irish, B.M., Heller-Uszynska, K., Beil, C., Sheehan, M. 2023. A public mid-density genotyping platform for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Genetic Resources. 4(8):55-63. https://doi.org/10.46265/genresj.EMOR6509.

Quantifying winter survival of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Poudel, K., Sheaffer, C., Jungers, J., Weihs, B.J., Lamb, J., Bauder, S., Piscasso, V., Heuschele, D.J., Xu, Z. 2023. Quantifying winter survival of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Agronomy Journal. 116(1):170-179. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21487.

Disease scale development for evaluation of cultivated wild rice genotypes - (Abstract Only)
Castell-Miller, C.V., Samac, D.A., Kimball, J. 2023. Disease scale development for evaluation of cultivated wild rice genotypes. Plant Health 2023. August 12-16, 2023. Denver, Colorado.

Global expression analysis of Bipolaris oryzae genes in cultivated wild rice leaves during early stages of colonization - (Abstract Only)
Castell-Miller, C., Ranjan, A., Kono, T.J., Samac, D.A., Kimball, J. 2023. Global expression analysis of Bipolaris oryzae genes in cultivated wild rice leaves during early stages of colonization. Plant Health 2023. August 12-16, 2023. Denver, Colorado.

Functional analysis of differentially expressed genes in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) inoculated with Aphanomyces euteiches race 1 and race 2 - (Abstract Only)
Alexander, J., Sathoff, A., Samac, D.A. 2023. Functional analysis of differentially expressed genes in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) inoculated with Aphanomyces euteiches race 1 and race 2. Plant Health 2023. August 12-16, 2023. Denver, Colorado.

Kernza-Intermediate Wheatgrass: A dual use perennial grain and forage crop - (Trade Journal)
Samac, D.A. 2023. Kernza-Intermediate Wheatgrass: A dual use perennial grain and forage crop. Forage Focus. (August 2023): 3-4.

Gene edited alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) for hyper phosphorus accumulation - (Abstract Only)
Poudel, K., Curtin, S.J., Sheaffer, C., Xu, Z. 2023. Gene edited alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) for hyper phosphorus accumulation. National Association of Plant Breeders. Greenville, SC. July 16-20, 2023.

Genome-wide association study of seed morphology traits in Senegalese sorghum cultivars - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ahn, E.J., Botkin, J., Ellur, V., Lee, Y., Poudel, K., Prom, L.K., Magill, C.W. 2023. Genome-wide association study of seed morphology traits in Senegalese sorghum cultivars. Plants. 12(12). Article 2344. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12122344.

Rhizosphere and root community analysis of oomycetes associated with poor alfalfa (Medicago sativa) seedling establishment - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Larsen, L., Schlatter, D.C., Nimpoeno, J., Hines-Snider, C., Samac, D.A. 2023. Rhizosphere and root community analysis of oomycetes associated with poor alfalfa (Medicago sativa) seedling establishment. Phytobiomes Journal. 7(4):526-537. https://doi.org/10.1094/PBIOMES-02-23-0005-R.

Bacterial Stem Blight: A spring foliar disease of alfalfa - (Trade Journal)
Samac, D.A. 2023. Bacterial Stem Blight: A spring foliar disease of alfalfa. Forage Focus. May 2023:3-4.

Abiotic and biotic drivers of soil fungal communities in response to dairy manure amendment - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Schlatter, D.C., Gamble, J.D., Castle, S.C., Rogers, J., Wilson, M. 2023. Abiotic and biotic drivers of soil fungal communities in response to dairy manure amendment. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 89(6). Article e01931-22. https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.01931-22.

Glyphosate-resistant alfalfa can exhibit injury after glyphosate application in the Intermountain West - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Loveland, C., Orloff, S., Yost, M., Bohle, M., Galdi, G., Getts, T., Putnam, D., Ranson, C., Samac, D.A., Wilson, R., Creech, E. 2023. Glyphosate-resistant alfalfa can exhibit injury after glyphosate application in the Intermountain West. Agronomy Journal. 115(4):1827-1841. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21352.

Improved forage quality in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) via selection for increased stem fiber digestibility - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Xu, Z., Heuschele, D.J., Lamb, J., Jung, H.G., Samac, D.A. 2023. Improved forage quality in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) via selection for increased stem fiber digestibility. Agronomy. 13(3). Article 770. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030770.

Surfactin and Spo0A-dependent antagonism by bacillus subtilis strain UD1022 against medicago sativa phytopathogens - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rosier, A., Pomerleau, M., Beauregard, P.B., Samac, D.A., Bais, H.P. 2023. Surfactin and Spo0A-dependent antagonism by bacillus subtilis strain UD1022 against medicago sativa phytopathogens. Plants. 12(5). Article 1007. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12051007.

Alfalfa gene editing - (Abstract Only)
Curtin, S.J., Poudel, K., Scheaffer, C.C., Xu, Z., Samac, D.A. 2023. Alfalfa gene editing. Plant and Animal Genome Conference. January 13-18, 2023. San Diego, California.

Influence of potassium fertilization on alfalfa leaf and stem yield, forage quality, nutrient removal, and plant health - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Heuschele, D.J., Gamble, J.D., Vetsch, J., Shaeffer, C., Coulter, J., Kaiser, K., Lamb, J., Lamb, J., Samac, D.A. 2023. Influence of potassium fertilization on alfalfa leaf and stem yield, forage quality, nutrient removal, and plant health. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 6(1). Article e20346. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20346.

Mapping disease resistance genes in alfalfa - (Abstract Only)
Samac, D.A., Medina, C.A., Yu, L., Sierra-Moya, Y., Zhao, D., Lin, M., Mejia-Guerra, K., Beil, C., Sheehan, M. 2023. Mapping disease resistance genes in alfalfa. Plant and Animal Genome. January 13-18, 2023. San Diego, California.

Fast and effective genotyping of alfalfa made possible using a mid-density genotyping platform - (Abstract Only)
Zhao, D., Lin, M., Mejia-Guerra, K., Samac, D.A., Beil, C., Sheehan, M. 2023. Fast and effective genotyping of alfalfa made possible using a mid-density genotyping platform. Plant and Animal Genome Conference. January 13-18, 2023. San Diego, California.

Crop protection network: Alfalfa diseases and pest website - (Trade Journal)
Samac, D.A., Smith, D., Sisson, A. 2022. Crop protection network: Alfalfa diseases and pest website. Forage Focus. December 2022:10-11.

Wheat and oat stem bending differences validated through multiscale analysis to inform lodging resistance - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Gangwar, T., Susko, A., Baranova, S., Guala, M., Smith, K.P., Heuschele, D.J. 2023. Wheat and oat stem bending differences validated through multiscale analysis to inform lodging resistance. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 10(1). Article No. 221410. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.221410.

Can alfalfa improve soil carbon storage? - (Abstract Only)
Gamble, J.D., Baker, J.M., Feyereisen, G.W. 2022. Can alfalfa improve soil carbon storage?. World Alfalfa Congress. San Diego, California. November 14-17, 2022.

What have we learned from 20 years of breeding for alfalfa root system architecture? - (Abstract Only)
Xu, Z., Bucciarelli, B., Cao, Y., York, L., Gamble, J.D., Lamb, J.F., Samac, D.A. 2022. What have we learned from 20 years of breeding for alfalfa root system architecture?. Meeting Abstract. November 14-17, 2022. San Diego, California.

Opportunities for extraction of protein from alfalfa - (Proceedings)
Heuschele, D.J. 2022. Opportunities for extraction of protein from alfalfa. Proceedings of the World Alfalfa Congress. November 14-17, 2022. San Diego, California.

Abiotic and biotic filters determine the response of soil bacterial communities to manure amendment - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Schlatter, D.C., Gamble, J.D., Castle, S., Rogers, J., Wilson, M. 2022. Abiotic and biotic filters determine the response of soil bacterial communities to manure amendment. Applied Soil Ecology. 180. Article 104618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2022.104618.

Rapid in situ nondestructive evaluation of lodging risk in dryland agronomic wheat research - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mangin, A., Heuschele, D.J., Brule-Babel, A., Falten, D., Wiersma, J.J., Layley, Y.E. 2022. Rapid in situ nondestructive evaluation of lodging risk in dryland agronomic wheat research. Agronomy Journal. 114:2822-2829. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21173.

Cell wall characteristics related to alfalfa digestibility - (Abstract Only)
Heuschele, D.J., Xu, Z., Lamb, J.F., Jung, H.G., Samac, D.A. 2022. Cell wall characteristics related to alfalfa digestibility[sbstract]. North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference. June 7-9, 2022. East Lansing, Michigan.

The genetic gain pattern indicates additive gene effects control alfalfa stem fiber digestibility - (Abstract Only)
Xu, Z., Heuschele, D.J., Lamb, J.F., Jung, H.G., Samac, D.A. 2022. The genetic gain pattern indicates additive gene effects control alfalfa stem fiber digestibility. North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference. June 7-9, 2022. East Lansing, Michigan.

Capturing high resolution plant movement in the field - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Heuschele, D.J., Furuta, D., Smith, K.P., Marchetto, P. 2022. Capturing high resolution plant movement in the field. Integrative & Comparative Biology. icac075. https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icac075.

Good statistical practices in agronomy using categorical data analysis, with alfalfa examples having poisson and binomial underlying distributions - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mowers, R.P., Bucciarelli, B., Cao, Y., Samac, D.A., Xu, Z. 2022. Good statistical practices in agronomy using categorical data analysis, with alfalfa examples having poisson and binomial underlying distributions. Crops. 2(2):154-171. https://doi.org/10.3390/crops2020012.

Genome sequence resource for strains of Pseudomonas syringae phylogroup 2b and Pseudomonas viridiflava phylogroup 7a causing bacterial stem blight of alfalfa - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Lipps, S., Samac, D.A., Ishii, S. 2022. Genome sequence resource for strains of Pseudomonas syringae phylogroup 2b and Pseudomonas viridiflava phylogroup 7a causing bacterial stem blight of alfalfa. Plant Disease. 112(9):2028-2031. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-12-21-0511-A.

Management strategies and distribution of Aphanomyces root rot of alfalfa (Medicago sativa), a continuing threat to forage production in the United States - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Giles, J.M., Tordsen, C.L., Rebstock, T.R., Bucciarelli, B., Samac, D.A., Sathoff, A.E. 2022. Management strategies and distribution of Aphanomyces root rot of alfalfa (Medicago sativa), a continuing threat to forage production in the United States. Plant Pathology. 71(6): 1231-1240. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.13563.

Ecohydrology of irrigated silage maize and alfalfa production systems in the Upper Midwest US - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Gamble, J.D., Baker, J.M., Dalzell, B.J., Wente, C.D., Feyereisen, G.W. 2022. Ecohydrology of irrigated silage maize and alfalfa production systems in the Upper Midwest US. Agricultural Water Management. 267. Article 107612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107612.

Objective phenotyping root system architecture using image augmentation and machine learning in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Xu, Z., York, L.M., Seethepalli, A., Bucciarelli, B., Cheng, H., Samac, D.A. 2022. Objective phenotyping root system architecture using image augmentation and machine learning in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Plant Phenomics. 2022. Article 9879610. https://doi.org/10.34133/2022/9879610.

Overwintering and yield responses of two late-summer seeded alfalfa cultivars to phosphate supply - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wang, Y., Yu, L., Zhang, J., Xu, Z., Samac, D.A. 2022. Overwintering and yield responses of two late-summer seeded alfalfa cultivars to phosphate supply. Agronomy. 12(2). Article 327. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020327.

Quantifying plant movement in the field - (Abstract Only)
Heuschele, D.J., Furtura, D., Smith, K.P., Marchetto, P. 2022. Quantifying plant movement in the field[abstract]. Annual Meeting of Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology. January 3-6, 2022, Phoenix, Arizona..

Phenotyping seedlings for selection of root system architecture in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Bucciarelli, B., Xu, Z., Ao, S., Cao, Y., Monteros, M., Topp, C., Samac, D.A. 2021. Phenotyping seedlings for selection of root system architecture in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Plant Methods. 7. Article 125. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13007-021-00825-3.

Are microbial communities indicators of soil health in a dryland wheat cropping system? - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Schlatter, D.C., Hansen, J.C., Carlson, B.R., Leslie, I.N., Huggins, D.R., Paulitz, T.C. 2022. Are microbial communities indicators of soil health in a dryland wheat cropping system? Applied Soil Ecology. 170. Article 104302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2021.104302.

Pseudomonas viridiflava: An internal outsider of the Pseudomonas syringae species complex - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Lipps, S.M., Samac, D.A. 2021. Pseudomonas viridiflava: An internal outsider of the Pseudomonas syringae species complex. Molecular Plant Pathology. 23(1):3-15. https://doi.org/10.1111/mpp.13133.

Alfalfa-bermundagrass management guide - (Other)
Tucker, J., Mullenix, K., Silva, L., Prevatt, C., Samac, D.A., Keisheimer, K., Tomaso-Peterson, M. 2022. Alfalfa-bermundagrass management guide[serial online]. National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance, St. Paul, MN. Available: https://www.alfalfa.org/pdf/AlfalfaBermudagrass-LowRes.pdf

Divergent selection in wild rice for resistance and susceptibility to foliar diseases to decrease reliance on foliar fungicides - (Abstract Only)

Targeted mutagenesis of alfalfa - (Book / Chapter)
Curtin, S.J., Miller, S.S., Dornbusch, M.R., Farmer, A., Gutierrez-Gonzalez, J. 2021. Targeted mutagenesis of alfalfa. In: Yu, X. and Kole, C., editors. The Alfalfa Genome, Compendium of Plant Genomics. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. p. 271-283.

Biotechnology advances in alfalfa - (Book / Chapter)
Samac, D.A., Temple, S.J. 2021. Biotechnology advances in alfalfa. In: Yu, X. and Kole, C., editors. The Alfalfa Genome, Compendium of Plant Genomics. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. p. 65-86.

Identification and characterization of disease resistance genes in alfalfa and Medicago truncatula for breeding improved cultivars - (Book / Chapter)
Samac, D.A., Yu, L., Missaoui, A.M. 2021. Identification and characterization of disease resistance genes in alfalfa and Medicago truncatula for breeding improved cultivars. In: Yu,X. and Kole, C., editors. The Alfalfa Genome, Compendium of Plant Genomics. Springer, Cham:Switzerland. p. 211-233. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74466-3_13.

Alfalfa research: Still growing strong after 65 years - (Trade Journal)
Samac, D.A. 2021. Alfalfa research: Still growing strong after 65 years. Forage Focus. (May 2021):8-9.

Real-time live phenotyping-A path to next generation breeding and farming - (Trade Journal)
Xu, Z., Jeo, R.T., Samac, D.A., Ramos-Giraldo, P., Reberg-Horton, C., Mirsky, S.B. 2021. Real-time live phenotyping-A path to next generation breeding and farming. Forage Focus. (March 2021):14-15.

An integrated approach for managing clover root curculio on alfalfa - (Trade Journal)
Samac, D.A. 2020. An integrated approach for managing clover root curculio on alfalfa. Forage Focus. (December 2020):14-15.