Research Project: Genetic Improvement and Management of Warm-Season Forage, Feedstocks, Syrup, and Turf Grasses

Location: Crop Genetics and Breeding Research

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

Extrafloral nectaries on Cenchrus americanus (L.). Morrone - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Biomass loss and composition change of energycane and biomass sorghum during aerobic and anaerobic storage - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yang, Y., Bera, T., Wilson, L.T., Dou, F., Jifon, J.L., Rooney, W.L., Araji, H.A., Morrison, J.I., Baldwin, B.S., Knoll, J.E., Wright, A.L., Odero, D.C., Sandhu, H.S., Hale, A.L., Mula-Michel, H.P., Wang, J. 2026. Biomass loss and composition change of energycane and biomass sorghum during aerobic and anaerobic storage. Scientific Reports. 16:4065. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-34190-1.

Pollen nutrient content, insect visitation, and morphological characteristics of warm-season turfgrasses - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Seasonal growth dynamics and yield potential of biomass sorghum in the southeastern US - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Bera, T., Yang, Y., Wilson, L.T., Dou, F., Knoll, J.E., Araji, H.A., Rooney, W., Morrison, J., Baldwin, B., Jifon, J., Wright, A.L., Odero, D.C., Sandhu, H.S. 2026. Seasonal growth dynamics and yield potential of biomass sorghum in the southeastern US. BMC Plant Biology. 26, article 248. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-08032-1.

A super-clone of Rhopalosiphum padi is present in the central United States of America - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hayashida, R., Harris-Shultz, K.R., Mornhinweg, D.W., Elliott, N.C., Hoback, W.W. 2025. A super-clone of Rhopalosiphum padi is present in the central United States of America. Southwestern Entomologist. 50(4):1495-1512. https://doi.org/10.3958/059.050.0420.

Cellulosic biorefinery siting and biomass supply logistics incorporating biomass and moisture dynamics in the crop season and during storage - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yang, Y., Wilson, L.T., Wang, J., Dou, F., Bera, T., Knoll, J.E., Jifon, J.L., Odero, D.C., Baldwin, B.S., Rooney, W.L., Araji, H., Morrison, J.I., Wright, A.L., Sandhu, H.S., Sadeghibaniani, S., Hale, A.L., Mula-Michel, H.P. 2025. Cellulosic biorefinery siting and biomass supply logistics incorporating biomass and moisture dynamics in the crop season and during storage. Biomass and Bioenergy. 207:108553.

Understanding the foraging behavior of sweat bees, bumble bees, and honey bees on centipedegrass for conservation strategies - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ibiyemi, D., Harris-Shultz, K.R., Jespersen, D., Joseph, S.V. 2025. Understanding the foraging behavior of sweat bees, bumble bees, and honey bees on centipedegrass for conservation strategies. Journal of Insect Behavior. 38, 29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-025-09893-y.

Higher apoidea activity on centipedegrass lawns than on dicotyledonous plants - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ibiyemi, D., Harris-Shultz, K.R., Jespersen, D., Shimat, J.V. 2025. Higher apoidea activity on centipedegrass lawns than on dicotyledonous plants. Florida Entomologist. 108(1):20250033. https://doi.org/10.1515/flaent-2025-0033.

Identification of candidate genes for stigma color using a genome-wide association study in centipedegrass - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Harris-Shultz, K.R., Wallace, J., Sapkota, S., Schwartz, B., Read, Q.D., Peterson, J.M., Santana, A.L., Smolensky, D., Coffin, A.W. 2025. Identification of candidate genes for stigma color using a genome-wide association study in centipedegrass. Crop Science. 65, e70185. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70185.

Mapping QTLs for Pyricularia leaf spot, nematode resistance, and yield related traits in pearl millet [Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone] - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vutla, S., Knoll, J.E., Sankuratri, A., Nayak, R.G., Liu, L., Chee, P.W., Karthikeyan, R., Fakrudin, B., Thudi, M., Timper, P., Harris-Shultz, K.R., Wallace, J.G., Singh, H., Singh, B., Punnuri, S.M. 2025. Mapping QTLs for Pyricularia leaf spot, nematode resistance, and yield related traits in pearl millet [Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone]. Frontiers in Plant Science. 16:1588485. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1588485.

Does de-heading sweet sorghum increase syrup yields? - (Other)
Knoll, J.E. 2025. Does de-heading sweet sorghum increase syrup yields? NSSPPA Newsletter 39(2),6.

Ground-active arthropod diversity under energycane and biomass sorghum production - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yang, Y., Bera, T., Araji, H.A., Dou, F., Wilson, L.T., Rooney, W., Morrison, J., Baldwin, B., Knoll, J.E., Jifon, J., Wright, A., Odero, C., Sandhu, H.S., Hale, A.L., Mula-Michel, H.P., Wang, J. 2025. Ground-active arthropod diversity under energycane and biomass sorghum production. Insects. 16(5), 442. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16050442.

Insect pollinivores of sorghum bicolor and plant traits that influence visitation - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Harris-Shultz, K.R., Armstrong, J.S., Knoll, J.E., Sapkota, S., Clem, C.S. 2025. Insect pollinivores of sorghum bicolor and plant traits that influence visitation. Journal of Entomological Science. 60(3):305-321. https://doi.org/10.18474/JES24-57.

Challenges in bermudagrass production in the Southeastern USA - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Baxter, L.L., Anderson, W.F., Gates, R.N., Rios, E.F., Burt, J.C. 2024. Challenges in bermudagrass production in the Southeastern USA. Grassland Research. 3(2):123-131. https://doi.org/10.1002/glr2.12092.