Research Project: Blueberry and Woody Ornamental Plant Improvement in the Southeast United States

Location: Southern Horticultural Research Unit

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

Long-read, chromosome-scale assembly of Vitis rotundifolia cv. Carlos and its unique resistance to Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Huff, M., Babiker, E.M., Hulse-Kemp, A.M., Scheffler, B.E., Youngblood, R.C., Simpson, S.A., Staton, M. 2023. Long-read, chromosome-scale assembly of Vitis rotundifolia cv. Carlos and its unique resistance to Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa. BMC Genomics. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-023-09514-y.

Combining high throughput phenotyping and multivariate analysis to assess fruit quality traits in southern highbush blueberry (V. corymbosum interspecific hybrids) germplasm collection - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Babiker, E.M., Stringer, S.J., Sakhanokho, H.F., Munoz, P. 2023. Combining high throughput phenotyping and multivariate analysis to assess fruit quality traits in southern highbush blueberry (V. corymbosum interspecific hybrids) germplasm collection. HortScience. 58(7):750-755. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17185-23.

Assessment of the southern highbush blueberry (V. corymbosum interspecific hybrids) germplasm collection for fruit quality attributes - (Abstract Only)

'USDA-Spiers' rabbiteye blueberry - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Stringer, S.J., Draper, A.D., Babiker, E.M., Sampson, B.J., Sakhanokho, H.F. 2023. 'USDA-Spiers' rabbiteye blueberry. HortScience. 58(3):338–340. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17042-22.

Evaluation of one-time applications of foliar applied auxin co-applied with surfactant for use in commercial cutting propagation - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Bowden, A.T., Knight, P.R., Ryals, J.B., Coker, C.E., Langlois, S.A., Broderick, S.R., Blythe, E.K., Sakhanokho, H.F., Babiker, E.M. 2022. Evaluation of one-time applications of foliar applied auxin co-applied with surfactant for use in commercial cutting propagation. Agronomy Journal. 12(10):2243. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12102243.

Impacts of shade treatments on dormancy of overwintering redbud (Cercis canadensis L.) trees at southeastern nurseries. - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Werle, C.T., Witcher, A.L. 2022. Impacts of shade treatments on dormancy of overwintering redbud (Cercis canadensis L.) trees at southeastern nurseries.. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 40:79-86.

Identification of quantitative trait loci associated with bacterial leaf spot resistance in baby leaf lettuce - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sthapit Kandel, J., Sandoya, G.V., Zhou, W., Read, Q.D., Mou, B., Simko, I. 2022. Identification of quantitative trait loci associated with bacterial leaf spot resistance in baby leaf lettuce. Plant Disease. 106(10):2583-2590. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-21-2087-RE.

Nuclear DNA content and chromosome number determination in a Sahel medicinal plant, Combretum micranthum G. Don - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sakhanokho, H.F., Nurual, I., Smith, B.J. 2022. Nuclear DNA content and chromosome number determination in a Sahel medicinal plant, Combretum micranthum G. Don. Journal of Crop Improvement. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427528.2022.2030447.

Genome-wide identification of loci associated with phenology-related traits and their adaptive variations in a highbush blueberry collection - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Nagasaka, K., Nishiyama, S., Fujikawa, M., Yamane, H., Shirasawa, K., Babiker, E.M., Tao, R. 2022. Genome-wide identification of loci associated with phenology-related traits and their adaptive variations in a highbush blueberry collection. Frontiers in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.793679.

High-quality reference genome and annotation aids understanding of berry development for evergreen blueberry (Vaccinium darrowii) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yu, J., Hulse-Kemp, A.M., Babiker, E.M., Staton, M. 2021. High-quality reference genome and annotation aids understanding of berry development for evergreen blueberry (Vaccinium darrowii). Horticulture Research. 8:228. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-021-00641-9.

Micropropagation of Hibiscus moscheutos L. ‘Luna White’: Effect of growth regulators and explants on nuclear DNA content and ploidy stability of regenerants - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sakhanokho, H.F., Islam-Faridi, N., Babiker, E.M., Smith, B.J. 2021. Micropropagation of Hibiscus moscheutos L. ‘Luna White’: Effect of growth regulators and explants on nuclear DNA content and ploidy stability of regenerants. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology - Plants. doi.org/10.1007/s11627-021-10209-w.

Determination of genome size and chromosome number of a Ziziphus species (Z. mauritiana Lam.) from eastern Senegal - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sakhanokho, H.F., Islam-Faridi, N., Smith, B.J. 2022. Determination of genome size and chromosome number of a Ziziphus species (Z. mauritiana Lam.) from eastern Senegal. HortScience. 57(3):349-352. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI16267-21.

Genomic insight into the developmental history of southern highbush blueberry populations - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Nishiyama, S., Fujikawa, M., Yamane, H., Shirasawa, K., Babiker, E.M., Tao, R. 2020. Genomic insight into the developmental history of southern highbush blueberry populations. Heredity. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41437-020-00362-0.

New chromosome number and cytomolecular characterization of the African Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) – "The Tree of Life" - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Islam-Faridi, N., Sakhanokho, H.F., Nelson, C. 2020. New chromosome number and cytomolecular characterization of the African Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) – "The Tree of Life". Scientific Reports. 10:13174. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68697-6.

Draft genome sequences of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa strains OK3, VB11, and NOB1 isolated from bunch and muscadine grapes grown in southern Mississippi - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mavrodi, O.V., Mavrodi, D.V., Stafine, E.T., Adamczyk Jr, J.J., Babiker, E.M. 2020. Draft genome sequences of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa strains OK3, VB11, and NOB1 isolated from bunch and muscadine grapes grown in southern Mississippi. Microbiology Resource Announcements. 9(25):1-2. https://doi.org/10.1128/MRA.00562-20.

Comparative analysis of rhizosphere microbiomes of southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), Darrow’s blueberry (V. darrowii Camp.), and rabbiteye blueberry (V. virgatum Aiton) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Li, J., Mavrodi, O., Hou, J., Blackman, C., Babiker, E.M., Mavrodi, D. 2020. Comparative analysis of rhizosphere microbiomes of southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), Darrow’s blueberry (V. darrowii Camp.), and rabbiteye blueberry (V. virgatum Aiton). Frontiers in Microbiology. 11:370. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00370/full.

Determination of nuclear DNA content, ploidy, and FISH location of ribosomal DNA in Hibiscus hamabo - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sakhanokho, H.F., Islam-Faridi, N., Babiker, E.M., Nelson, C., Stringer, S.J., Adamczyk Jr, J.J. 2020. Determination of nuclear DNA content, ploidy, and FISH location of ribosomal DNA in Hibiscus hamabo. Scientia Horticulturae. 264:109167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2019.109167.

Genetic diversity and pedigree analysis of muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia) using SSR markers - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cao, S., Stringer, S.J., Gunawan, G., Conner, P.J., Mcgregor, C. 2020. Genetic diversity and pedigree analysis of muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia) using SSR markers. HortScience. 14(3):143-151. https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS04856-20.

Genetic diversity and pedigree analysis of muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia) using SSR markers - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cao, S., Stringer, S.J., Gunawan, G., Conner, P.J., McGregor, C. 2020. Genetic diversity and pedigree analysis of muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia) using SSR markers. HortScience. 14(3):143-151. https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS04856-20.

Characterization and pathogenicity of stem blight complex isolates associated with stem blight disease on Vaccinium species - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Babiker, E.M., Stringer, S.J., Sakhanokho, H.F., Smith, B.J., Polashock, J.J. 2019. Characterization and pathogenicity of stem blight complex isolates associated with stem blight disease on Vaccinium species. HortScience. 54:1199-1203. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI14033-19.

Multi-year evaluation of stilbene levels among selected muscadine grape cultivars - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kambiranda, D., Basha, S.M., Stringer, S.J., Obuya, J.O., Snowden, J. 2019. Multi-year evaluation of stilbene levels among selected muscadine grape cultivars. Molecules. 24(5):981. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24050981.

High-frequency somatic embryogenesis, nuclear DNA estimation of milkweed species (Asclepias latifolia, A. speciosa, and A. subverticillata), and genome size stability of regenerants. - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sakhanokho, H.F., Babiker, E.M., Smith, B.J., Drackett, P.R. 2019. High-frequency somatic embryogenesis, nuclear DNA estimation, and genome size stability of micropropagated milkweed (Asclepias spp.) plants. Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture. 137:149-156.

‘Muffin Man’ an edible ornamental rabbiteye blueberry - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Babiker, E.M., Stringer, S.J., Adamczyk Jr, J.J., Sakhanokho, H.F., Draper, A. 2018. ‘Muffin Man’ an edible ornamental rabbiteye blueberry. HortScience. 53(10):1523-1524. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI13372-18.

Reaction of different vaccinium species to the blueberry leaf rust pathogen Thekopsora minima - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Babiker, E.M., Stringer, S.J., Smith, B.J., Sakhanokho, H.F. 2018. Reaction of different vaccinium species to the blueberry leaf rust pathogen Thekopsora minima. HortScience. 53(10):1447-1452. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI13319-18.

Hedychium Essential Oils: Composition and Uses - (Book / Chapter)
Sakhanokho, H.F. and K. Rajasekaran. 2019. Hedychium Oils: Composition and Uses. In: Malik, S.(ed.) Essential Oil Research: Trends in Biosynthesis, Analytics, Industrial Applications and Biotechnological Production. Springer International Publishing, Springer Nature Switzerland AG, pp 49-60.