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Linking the College to its Alumni and Friends Tennessee State University College of Agriculture , Human and Natural Sciences • www.tnstate.edu/agriculture • Spring 2017
The Art and Science of Research
In the CAHNS’ state-of-the art laboratories, graduate and undergraduate students thrive and learn from each other. • The Fruits of Their Labor • The Art and Science of Research • CAHNS Adds an Entomologist
College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences
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Spring 2017
Message from the Dean
D
ear Alumni and Friends,
Happy New Year to all of you! I am pleased to share with you that agricultural programs at Tennessee State University continue to grow and have measurable impact on our students and citizens across the state. For any academic program to have a meaningful impact, the key ingredients are intellectual capacity, competent leadership, and adequate facilities. I can tell you with confidence and certainty that we have laid a very strong foundation in each of these three areas and our programs are ready to take off! In each of the USDA national priority areas, we have added outstanding faculty. Our focus areas now include Food and Water Security, Climate Change and Sustainable Environment, Renewable Energy, Food Safety, Human Health and Nutrition, and Child, Youth, and Community Development.
Dr. Chandra Reddy, Dean College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences Tennessee State University
Several new faculty positions were added in each of these focus areas to establish the much needed critical mass of intellectual capacity. Twenty-seven modern research labs were established and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. As part of our emphasis on transdisciplinary research, we support faculty in other colleges of the university with relevant expertise in advancing research in priority areas.
Our faculty members mentor more than 100 graduate students, several undergraduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and visiting scholars from around the globe in our campus-based research labs (a typical lab can be seen on pages 16-17) and in the three outdoor research and education centers located around the state. We explore one center‘s work (see pages 28-29), and introduce you to our leadership team, which oversees academics, research and extension (see page 15). The discoveries from these research labs are promptly transferred to the general public through a variety of publications and through our outreach programs in 51 of Tennessee’s 95 counties. To help replenish the ever declining farmer population in the country, we have established a New Farmer Academy, which is growing in popularity (see page 31). Our students (see page 30) and alumni are highly visible on the national scene, and two alumni, Dr. Maria Thompson and Mr. Hubert Hamer, were inducted into the college’s Hall of Fame in 2016 (see page 27). I welcome you to visit us and talk to our students on the Main Campus or at one of our Agricultural Research and Education Centers to get a taste of what is happening in the college. On a typical day, in addition to classroom and online instruction by faculty, you will see bustling activities in the research labs and continuous remodeling of our facilities! See you soon,
Chandra Reddy, Ph.D. Dean and Director of Research/Administrator of Extension College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences 2
Table of Contents
Contents 2 3 4 9 10 14 18 20 21 22 25 27 28 30
Message from the Dean From the Editor The Fruits of their Labor: Students hit pay dirt with research projects CAHNS adds new entomologist ‘Mooove’ over: CAHNS returns to cattle research The Art and Science of Research: Peeking into CAHNS state-of-the-art labs 2016 grants & industry funding 2016 CAHNS upper-level graduates The Future of Fuel Searching for Salamanders: Will DNA testing help these slippery critters? Food as medicine: CAHNS explores exotic vegetables for health benefits The Highest Honor: College president, USDA administrator named Hall of Famers Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center: Where business, education intersect Bloom where you are planted
On the Cover Dr. Ankit Patras’ research team is standing in front of “Arthur,” a thin film flow through continuous system apparatus housed in Lawson Hall. Team members are (from left to right) undergraduate student Chekenna Fletcher, Ph.D. student Danielle Gunter-Ward, Dr. Patras, master’s student Vybhav Gopisetty, postdoctoral researcher Dr. Sudheer Yannam and research associate Yvonne Miles. Photo by Joan Kite
From the Editor
R
esearch can be messy and uncomfortable sometimes. We sometimes hear high school students who participate in our Summer Apprentice Program express their initial dismay when they learn research might mean counting tomatoes at midday in Joan Kite the summer sun or gathering fecal Editor samples from unruly goats. By the time one becomes a graduate research assistant such as Nicole Witzel or a seasoned wildlife expert and professor such as Dr. Bill Sutton, discomfort comes with the territory — especially when working in the field. I shadowed Dr. Sutton and Witzel on two field research expeditions last year. The first adventure occurred in August when Dr. Sutton and several students hiked out to the wetlands to pull turtles from traps, measure them, mark them, weigh them and record other data. The crew worked tirelessly at midday in an unshaded area in 96 degrees and 75 percent humidity. The heat was brutal; the job got done even with the testiness of the snapping turtles threatening to take off a few fingers. The information was gathered and the turtles were released. Last December, I again traveled with Dr. Sutton and Witzel. This adventure was to search for salamanders in the streambeds of Couchville Cedar Glade State Natural Area. Wearing rainboots while wading in the icy streams for three or four hours in 55 degrees was... um, well... let’s call it bracing. Witzel, a Minnesota native, did not mind the cold, but this native Floridian was glad to take off her cold, wet socks when she got home. Research can be tough, conditions unkind, specimens uncooperative, but still our CAHNS scientists demonstrate persistence, patience, determination and discipline in pursuit of new knowledge. They also come prepared. Aside from notebooks and specialized equipment, warm socks and hot coffee or bottled water and sunscreen come in handy. This issue is about the painstaking perfectionism needed to practice vigorous research — in the labs and the field. Excellence is TSU’s habit and it shows in the work of our CAHNS faculty and students. Contributors include: Nakesha Brown, Dr. Tom Byl, Dr. Nick Gawel, Dr. John Ricketts, Ravneet Sandhu, and Varinder Sidhu.
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The Fruits of their Labor Three graduate students reap the rewards from their organic farming research walking away with honors and new opportunities. BY JOAN KITE
Sochinwechi Nwosisi has researched 15 varieties of sweet potatoes for the past two years, determining which varieties grow better under organic conditions at the Agricultural Research and Education Center in Nashville. The international student from Nigeria has a master’s of science in Plant Science and is working on her doctorate at CAHNS. Photo by Joan Kite
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Fruits of their Labor For the past year, three international graduate students have toiled in the soil together at the Agricultural Research and Education Center (AREC) while conducting laboratory research with their mentor Dr. Dilip Nandwani, associate professor in the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science at CAHNS.
The students share a love for agricultural science, an interest in growing things organically, and a fearless desire to travel. Though they have shared similar academic journeys, the young man and two women say they intend to walk separate and different professional paths. Meet doctoral student Sochinwechi
Nwosisi, 29, from Nigeria, and master’s students Ravneet Sandhu, 23, and Varinder Sidhu, 24, both from India. They are CAHNS students who earned full scholarships working fervently to attain the next step in their education. Nwosisi intends to earn her doctorate here at TSU. After earning their master’s degrees at TSU, Sandhu is now pursuing her doctoral studies at the University of Florida and Sidhu has been accepted into the doctorate program at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Call it serendipity. Though Sandhu and Sidhu are separated at their respective universities almost 1,400 miles away from each other, both will be studying strawberries. “It just worked out that way,” Sidhu said
Research on the organic farm
The trio dedicated themselves to three separate research projects at TSU. All of them were conducted on
Above: Graduate students Varinder Sidhu, (left) and Ravneet Sandhu who both fare from India share their knowledge with visitors at the organic farm during the Small Farm Expo in August at TSU CAHNS. Left: Varinder Sidhu (from left to right), Ravneet Sandhu, Mann Kumari Giri, and Sochinwechi Nwosisi all received honors for their research at the EPA’s Environmental Youth Symposium last September in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Joan Kite
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Above: Doctoral student Sochinwechi Nwosis sorts through several varieties of sweet potatoes to evaluate yields from each crop. This year, the sweet potatoes were harvested by machine making the task easier and quicker. Photo by Joan Kite
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Fruits of Their Labor
Graduate research assistant Ravneet Sandhu works under a laminar flow hood to keep items sterilized in one of CAHNS stateof-the-art laboratories. Photo courtesy of Ravneet Sandhu
the organic farm at AREC, Nashville. Developed over a three-year period by Dr. Nandwani, the organic farm abides by standards set by the USDA. Dr. Nandwani, an expert in organic agriculture, arrived at CAHNS three years ago and was instrumental in developing certified organic agricultural acreage in a portion of AREC’s farmland. Dr. Nandwani has spent his career researching organic agriculture and has written a textbook titled “Organic Farming for Sustainable Agriculture.” He helped the students with developing their research projects, papers, and presentations.
“He pushes us to do our best,” Nwosisi said. “He has high standards.” Nwosisi studied sweet potatoes, planting 15 cultivars of sweet potatoes and using three different types
“If the richest woman in the world went to school here, then I thought I could, too.” Sochinwechi Nwosisi Doctoral student
of mulch from black plastic, wheat, straw, and pine needles. She has studied sweet potatoes for the past two summers and was happy to hear that this year’s harvesting would be done by machine. “Last year, we dug them up by hand,” Nwosisi said. “It was so hard.” Nwosisi is thinking of returning home to Delta State in Nigeria to help educate farmers there in organic gardening and encourage them to move away from harmful pesticides. “Organic gardening is not common where I’m from,” Nwosisi said. “There’s a lack of awareness. It’s a field that has a lot of potential.” 7
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“If TSU had allowed us to sell those sweet potatoes, we would have been millionaires.” Varinder Sidhu Graduate student stacked over each other and watered with irrigation hoses hung overhead. Vertical gardening is a way to grow food when arable land is limited, Sandhu said. As the holidays approached, Sandhu was packing her belongings to head to University of Florida where she will work on her doctorate. When she finishes her studies, Sandhu said she wants to pursue a position in agriculture with a large company such as Monsanto, Bayer, Dupont, or Syngenta. Ravneet Sandhu (left) and Varinder Sidhu graduated in December of 2016 with their master’s degrees. Both are pursuing doctoral studies where each of them will research strawberries — a fruitful coincidence. Photo courtesy of Varinder Sidhu
Richest woman in the world
Nwosisi chose to travel to Tennessee and attend TSU because she is a fan of Oprah Winfrey and Oprah Winfrey earned her communications degree at TSU. “If the richest woman in the world went to school here, then I thought I could, too,” Nwosisi said. The sweet potatoes that Nwosisi raised have had happy fates. In 2015, the research team cooked 15 different types of sweet potatoes and had a taste testing at the Tennessee Local Food Summit. The remainder of the crop was donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. “We gave them 1,500 pounds of sweet potatoes last year,” Dr. Nandwani said. “If TSU had allowed us to sell those sweet potatoes, we would have been
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millionaires,” Sidhu joked.
Growing vertically Sandhu hails from Punjab, India, where she graduated from Punjab Agricultural University. She started her master’s program at TSU in October of 2014. This past year, Sandhu studied the growth of leafy greens such as spinach, kale, mustard, collards, Swiss chard and amaranth in an organic management system within a hoop house. Her research helped her determine which leafy greens provided the greatest yield. Buttercrunch lettuce, White Russian kale, Morris-heading collards, Rainbow chard and “Love Lies Bleeding” amaranths all had the greatest yield. She also worked with vertical gardens, growing her greens in pots
Hard work pays off Varinder Sidhu, 24, also completed his undergraduate work at Punjab Agricultural University in India. Unlike his counterparts, Sidhu is considering a career in academia devoting his life to research and educating others. He spent his time at TSU studying the growth of 26 organic tomato cultivars and determining which ones had the highest yield. All three students reaped the fruits of their labor — winning first place for their work in organic agriculture at the International Youth Symposium sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency in Atlanta, Georgia this fall. Combined, they also received several scholarships. “Dr. Nandwani taught us that if we work hard, we will be rewarded,” Nwosisi said. And that is a lesson these aspiring agriculture experts can take with them anywhere they go.
New entomologist
Entomologist Dr. Kaushalya Amarasekare is located at the CAHNS main campus, where she will pursue research and teach classes. Photo by Joan Kite
CAHNS adds new entomologist to main campus By Nakesha Brown When you think of starting a garden you think soil, seeds, sun and water. These four elements are all you need to have a successful garden. However, there are other important components missing from this simple successful garden equation. Number one. Bugs. Entomology is the study of insects. It is the job of an entomologist to study, classify and research the life cycle, physiology, behavior and dynamics of insects. Simply put, an entomologist is a bug expert. CAHNS has a new entomologist, Dr. Kaushalya Amarasekare, who is working on the main campus. Her agricultural research and education began in her home country of Sri Lanka where she worked to help local growers find solutions to crop devastation by bugs. Her Ph.D. work was able to help a governmental agricultural agency in Sri Lanka combat serious problems with the Papaya Mealybug that was destroying crops throughout a number of districts.
Dr. Amarasekare specializes in integrated pest management (IPM), which focuses on solving pest problems while reducing the risk to the environment. Her research centers on particular insects’ impact on specific crops. Depending on the type of crop a particular bug may help or harm its growth. For example, Dr. Amarasekare is currently studying the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB), which has had a detrimental effect on a number of crops such as soybeans, corns and tomatoes. This bug is not native to America. Its initial introduction into Pennsylvania and subsequent travel throughout the South is becoming an increasing nuisance. These bugs have devastating consequences to orchards and crops alike. Dr. Amarasekare is looking into the use of good bugs to get rid of bad bugs in crops. It could be possible for a certain spider or ladybug to help keep destructive bugs, like the stink bug, from wiping out crops. She prefers the use of bugs and other biological controls as opposed to the use of chemicals and pesticides.
One concept is to actually purchase those good bugs to release in your garden specifically to work as a deterrent for those bad bugs. The problem with pesticides is they do not discriminate and may kill the good bugs as well as the bad bugs. She suggests refraining from using pesticides in small gardens. To the novice home or community gardener the presence of bugs is expected, especially those common bugs like spiders, ladybugs and bees. What they may not know is how much these bugs can help their garden. As spring returns and garden preparation begins, remember that certain bugs are friends to your garden and crops. However, be aware of those troublesome insects that can destroy your hopes of producing your own food. If all else fails remember we have a new scientist/bug expert, Dr. Kaushalya Amarasekare, on campus who can provide great advice to help with pest management and crop success. Feel free to bug her. She can be reached at (615) 963-5001. 9
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‘Moooove’ over
CAHNS makes room to research Dexter cattle as a viable livestock option for the small farmer By Joan Kite After a 15-year hiatus, the cattle have returned to CAHNS Agricultural Research and Education Centers (AREC) in Nashville and Ashland City. At one time, cattle were raised and studied on the farms, but CAHNS opted out of the cattle business and transitioned to researching goats — perhaps a risky move at the time, but the decision has paid off threefold. Still, CAHNS is not one to rest on its laurels. The college had been investigating other livestock options that were unique to academic research and might
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benefit the small farmer in Tennessee. Dr. Richard Browning, a CAHNS animal science professor and a former Texas rancher, said a bit of romantic machismo is involved when a farmer can boast that he is raising cattle. But what’s a small farmer to do when he or she has limited land, resources and money? Enter Dexter cattle. Dexter cattle are ideal for the small farmer. They are typically half the size of commercial cattle, docile in temperament, and can be raised for milk and meat production. The average Dexter stands about 40 to 45 inches
tall and weighs from 700 to 900 pounds, Browning said. Dr. Browning is in the process of establishing a Dexter cattle herd at TSU (and the only registered herd at an academic institution in the country). Dexter cattle originated in Southern Ireland during the early 1800s and were imported to America in between 1905 and 1915. Browning is studying their reproductive capabilities. And Hayes helps him.d “We are the only (academic institution) looking at this heritage breed,” Dr. Browning said. “Dexter cattle haven’t gone through large-scale commercial
‘Moooove’ over
production. They’re typically raised by farmers for milk and meat for personal use or direct sales to local consumers.” Dr. Browning’s project is funded through the Evans-Allen Research Program offered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). “The aim of the project is to
determine if small-breed cattle could provide some advantages to low acreage managers interested in raising grazing livestock in general, beef cattle specifically,” Dr. Browning wrote in his research proposal. “If Dexter cattle can improve the scaling problems associated with traditional small-scale beef cattle systems, the economic outlook
for this major segment of the beef industry and southern agriculture would be greatly enhanced.” Creating a herd takes time, patience and the ability to select the best animals as members. In December, Browning had four Dexter bulls, 35 cows, and 18 calves of which 11 are baby bulls. The numbers will fluctuate as inferior cattle
Dr. Richard Browning, CAHNS animal science professor, opens the gate after weighing the Dexter calves so they can rejoin their anxious mothers on the farm at the AREC, Ashland City. Photo by Joan Kite
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Research assistants Emily Hayes (right) and Lauren Stevens take a break after weighing Dexter calves at the farm at the AREC in Ashland City last November. Photo by Joan Kite
are identified and removed from the herd and replaced by superior ones. Candidates for culling will tend to have temperament issues, reproductive failures, or health problems. Dr. Browning has two graduate research assistants working with him, Tennessee native Emily Hayes and Floridian Lauren Stevens. Stevens showed cattle in Florida and had some experience. Hayes, who came to TSU because she was drawn to the Goat Production Program, is also working with the herd. Each week, the trio evaluates the calves and their mothers, checking their health and periodically recording their weights (quick weight gain with little or no diet supplements is 12
“We were the only (academic institution) looking at this heritage breed. Dexter cattle haven’t gone through large-scale commercial production. It’s typically raised by farmers for milk and meat for personal use.” Dr. Richard Browning CAHNS Professor an asset) and noting any potential problems.
“Dr. Browning … works on the farm every day. He’s a hard worker, very dedicated,” Hayes said. There are no breaks for Dr. Browning and his team. Animals receive regular attention and the crew is on hand almost daily to care for their needs. At night, the herd at the AREC, Ashland City farm have two guard donkeys who serve as protectors. At the AREC farm in Nashville, the Dexter cows, bulls and goats are protected by several loyal farm dogs. “His motto is there’s always something to be done,” Hayes said. “I tell students that he is going to double and triple check your work and make sure you have a good paper. I go to confer-
‘Moooove’ over
Dr. Richard Browning scratches the head of a Dexter bull on the farm at the AREC in Nashville. Browning is in the process of establishing a herd of bulls, cows and calves before he pursues any production studies. Photo by Joan Kite
“Dr. Browning … works on the farm every day. He’s a hard worker, very dedicated.” Emily Hayes Research assistant ences with him and his wife and I am so impressed with how many people know him and his name.” Dr. Browning expects the herd to be fully developed within two years. For more information about Dr. Browning’s research, visit www. tnstate.edu/faculty/rbrowning/dexter.aspx .
Two donkeys protect the Dexter herd at the farm at the AREC, Ashland City. Guard donkeys are protective of their territory and can ward off predators such as wild dogs or coyotes. Photo by Joan Kite
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The Art and Science of Research In our state-of-the-art laboratories, graduate and undergraduate students learn from each other. By Joan Kite
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Art and Science of Research
The leadership team at the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences (from left to right): Academic Director William Hayslett; Dr. Roger Sauve, superintendent of the Agricultural Research and Education Center in Nashville; Dr. Carter Catlin, associate dean for Research; Dr. Chiquita Briley, head of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences; Sam Comer, head of International Programs; Dr. Chandra Reddy, dean of the College; Dr. Samuel Nahashon, head of the department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; Dr. Nick Gawel, superintendent of the Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center; and Dr. Latif Lighari, associate dean of Extension. Photo by Joan Kite
To become a professional scientist, one must learn the art and science of research. Sitting in class taking notes, listening to lectures, and absorbing information from textbooks is only the beginning, CAHNS students serious about science must enter one of the 27 stateof-the-art laboratories. Working with seasoned professors, students are assigned to various research projects that will teach them how to propose theories, conduct research to gather facts, and come up with conclusions that can be presented to fellow scientists, professional journals and conferences. “I’m in one of the best labs. We have the newest equipment,” said Dr. Ying Wu, an assistant professor in
“(Dr. Patras) already knows what he wants to get from the student. He gives us space to do the work and guides us to learn from our mistakes.” Vybhav Gopisetty Master’s student food bioscience and technology who began her career 30 years ago when she was 17. Dr. Wu credits her bounty to Dean Chandra Reddy, a major supporter of research who provides the necessary lab equipment and work environment to ensure success.
When the new Agricultural Biotechnology Building was built, it included a new $2 million laboratory for scanning electron microscopy, flow cytometry, proteomics and nano-technology research. The labs are home to professors who are experts in fields ranging from soil chemistry to animal sciences. And within each lab is a heady combination of talented students working on all levels of degrees and sharing their knowledge and experience with each other. Dr. Ankit Patras, assistant professor, has created a research team that includes two undergraduates, three master’s candidates, one Ph.D. candidate, and one post-doctoral fellow. By working together, the students learn from each other. The more 15
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Dr. Ying Wu’s research team assembles in the Food Science Lab. Master’s student Cosmas Mwendwa (from left to right), Ph.D. student Li Wong, Research Associate Yvonne Miles, Visiting Professor Aiwu Gao, Ph.D. student Rabia Syed, Dr. Wu, and undergraduate CheKenna Fletcher hold up samples from their various experiments in the Food Biosciences and Technology lab. Photo by Joan Kite
experienced students help those students who might be new to a laboratory or a master’s degree program. “He (Dr. Patras) is a genius,” said master’s student Vybhav Gopisetty, 23. “He already knows what he wants to get from the student. He gives us space to do the work and guides us to learn from our mistakes.” Dr. Patras’ research team is working on the project, “Steering Innovation for Treatment of Liquid Foods to Eliminate Pathogenic Microbes and Toxins Using Low Wave-length UV Irradiation.” Gopisetty is applying the UV treatments to cranberry juice. He pro16
poses that the treated cranberry juice will retain its nutritive properties unlike juice treated with a chemical disinfection method that destroys vital nutrients. Ph.D. student Danielle Gunter-Ward is working on a similar experiment using milk and post-doctoral research associate Sudheer Yannam is testing coconut water. Other projects that Dr. Patras is spearheading include the development of mitigation strategies for Aflatoxin detoxification in foods and sustainable utilization of winter oilseed crops in small-farm production systems to meet the needs of biodiesel.
Dr. Wu said her career began in animal nutrition studying methods to make animals grow to their maximum ability while maintaining their health. She moved into human nutrition while earning her master’s and doctoral degrees at University of Guelph in Canada. The projects in her lab reflect her knowledge and experience. Under Dr. Wu’s direction, bachelor’s candidate and Dean’s Scholar CheKenna Fletcher is studying how the colors of different tomato varieties relate to antioxidant levels. Antioxidants prevent or delay cell damage.
Art and Science of Research
Left: Dr. Xiaoyong Wang examines breast cancer cells in the Moledular Nutrition Lab, where he helps Dr. Hongwei Si research chocolate’s ability to prolong life at the cellular level. Right: Research assistant Lijuan Zhang , working in the Molecular Nutrition lab, is changing a pink fluid called DMEM which creates an environment for her live cell cultures to thrive. Photos by Joan Kite
“The darker the color, the more antioxidants it contains,” Fletcher said. The colors of her samples range from green to dark purple. Also working with Dr. Wu are Ph.D. student Rabia Syed, who is studying the anti-diabetic properties of the pigeon pea, and Ph.D. student Li Wong, who is using microencapuslation techniques to create a palatable, if not delicious, health drink using bitter melon, a plant renowned for its health benefits in Indian and Asian communities. Wong said he intends to complete his research next year and hopes to have successfully created a marketable product. Master’s student Cosmas Mwendwa is researching the use of polyphenols and essential oils in animal feed instead of antibiotics, which can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Using the two creates a synergistic effect, Mwendwa said. “The goal is to mask the flavor and the taste,” Mwendwa said. “I encapsulate them and use slow time release
“I would take it to Kentucky Fried Chicken and convince them that these potatoes were a good variety.” Cosmas Mwendwa Master’s student to prevent the oils from being released in the animal’s upper GI tract.” This way, the antioxidants reach the lower gastrointestinal tract where it works more effectively. Ultimately, Mwendwa says he wants to work in food science that benefits humans. Back home in Kenya, he worked for as a food science analyst teaching farmers how to grow quality potatoes. “I would take it to Kentucky Fried Chicken and convince them that these potatoes were a good variety,” he said. Down the hall in the Molecular Nutrition Lab, Dr. Hongwei Si, an associate professor in the Department
of Family and Consumer Sciences, is researching how catechin, found in cocoa and chocolate, can prolong the life cycles of mice. His research assistant Lijuan Zhang and post-doctoral fellow Dr. Xiaoyong Wang assist with this study and others. Research does not occur in a vacuum. Most of these research projects have been funded by grants from the USDA, fellow academic institutions or other organizations. Dr. Si was awarded $100,000 to finance his cocoa/chocolate study, a collaborated project between TSU and the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Patras received $500,000 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture for his work treating liquid food with low wave radiation. CAHNS also boasts ongoing research in laboratories at Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennesee, and the two Agricultural Research and Education Centers located in Nashville and Ashland City, Tennessee. 17
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2016 grants & industry funding $1,081,448.00 USDA, Speller-Henderson, Leslie.Nutrition Education for SNAP Food Stamp program. $792,503.50, USDA, Pitchay, Dharma. Promote Best Management Practices for Nursery Production Systems. $500,000.00 USDA-NIFA, Patras, Ankit. Treating Liquid Food with Low Wave Radiation. $100,000.00, USDA-NIFA, Zhou, Suping. Single-Cell Type Proteomics. $100,000.00, USDA-Agricultural Research Service , Si, Hongwei. Molecule Dietary Cocoa in Mice.
$84,663.00. USDA-APHIS Farm Bill Section 10007 FY17 - Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program. Oliver, J., K. Addesso, A. Witcher, N. Youssef, M. Reding, and C. Ranger. Continuation of soil temperature effects on Japanese Beetle Harmonization dip treatments and non-neonicotinoid alternatives. $81,600.00, ORAU, Li, Jianwei. Evaluation and Improvement of the Microbial Enzyme-Mediated Decomposition Model Against Multiple Incubation Experiments. $77,726.00, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. Blair, Matthew and Aziz, Ahmad. Cochran Biotech Seed Development Training. $59,959.00, USDA-NIFA, Fouladkhah, Aliyar. Building Institutional Capacity for Assisting Producers and Processors in the New Food Safety Regulatory Landscape. 18
Grants & industry funding
$51,800.00, Industry funding, Baysal-Gurel, Fulya. Unrestricted corporate grants in support of research trials in ornamental horitculture. $44,012.00, USDA-NIFA, Briley, Chiquita. C3: Healthy Living in Tennessee. $42,600.00, The Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board, Taheri, Ali. Germplasm Enhancement in Soybean $32,300.00, USDA-Foreign Agricultural Service, Blair, Matthew. Maylasia Borlaug Fellowship Program. $30,307.48, Tennessee Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant, Baysal-Gurel, Fulya. Enhancing the prevention and sustainable management of Phytophthora disease in Tennessee nursery production. $30,045.28, USDA-APHIS Farm Bill, Witcher, A. and Oliver, J. Efficacy of granular insecticide treatments for Japanese beetle and imported fire ant in compost-amended substrates. $25,000.00, Horticultural Research Institute, Vandenberg, J., L. Castrillo, J. Oliver, and N. Youssef. Control of ambrosia beetles and their symbiotic fungi using biopesticidal fungi. $24,964.00, Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board, Ricketts, John. Examining Perceptions, Changing Misconceptions, and Developing Leaders to Promote Agricultural Literacy. $17,873.00, University of California-Davis, Dzantor, Emmanuel. Soil/Water Remediation. $12,000.00, IR-4, Baysal-Gurel, Fulya. IR-4 Ornamental Regional Project-Algal leaf spot. $11,000.00, SSARE-Graduate Student Grant Proposal, Liyanathianage, Prabha and Baysal-Gurel, Fulya. Sustainable Management of Soil-borne Diseases in Nursery Production. $11,000.00, Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc., Oliver, J. Unrestricted corporate grant to evaluate cyantraniliprole and chlorantraniliprole against Japanese beetle. $9,000.00, SSARE, Nandwani, Dilip. Row Cover in Sustainable Produce System. $5,000.00, IR-4, Baysal-Gurel, Fulya. IR-4 Ornamental Project-New disease products foliar and soil. $5,000.00 IR-4, Addesso, Karla. Foliar Feeding Beetle Efficacy. $5,000.00, BASF funding, Addesso, Karla. Evaluation of foliar products on Juniper scale.
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Congrats 2016 CAHNS Graduates! Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Ph.D. Graduates Sarayu Bhogoju Jacqueline Joshua Longyun Zhang
Master’s Graduates
Suraj Adhikari Ibukum Damilola Alegbeleye Deependra Bhatta Manreet Singh Bhullar Jessica Dompreh Mary Jane Corzon Espina A. S. M. Faridul Islam MD Shajedul Islam Siyang Jian Sharanth Chandra Julakanti Piush Khanal Ian Merrell Eric Nazareno Bipradas Roy Bryan Sallman Ravneet Kaur Sandhu Faith C. Sang Varinder Singh Sidhu Shreya Singh Hamal Ranjita Thapa James Gitau Wairimu
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Future of fuel
The future of fuel CAHNS professor continues to explore biodiesel options Graduate students Edmund Tettah and Shivam Chawla work with Extension assistant Robert Regan to harvest this winter’s switchgrass crop in December at the Agricultural Research and Education Center in Nashville. Inset photo: Dr. Jason de Koff Photo by Jason de Koff
It’s a cool day in December and agronomy and soil science associate professor Dr. Jason de Koff is heading out to the Agricultural Research and Education Center in Nashville to assist students in the switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) harvest. Dr. de Koff has been researching bioenergy for at least six years. He has focused his efforts on winter canola and switchgrass as major sources for biomass fuel and is in the process of identifying best practices to increase yields and quality. Switchgrass is an attractive crop for biofuel, yielding hefty biomass and restoring soils that have been overexposed to fertilizers. “The federal Renewable Fuels Standard requires that 16 billion gallons of renewable fuel from cellulosic sources, such as switchgrass, enter the transportation market in 11
years,” Dr. de Koff said. “The European Union set its target at 10 percent of transportation fuels from biofuel.” Even if the current energy economy appears as if it is reverting back to gasoline and other fossil fuels, Dr. de Koff believes the market for biofuel will continue to grow. Dr. de Koff, who is also a state Extension specialist, spends much of his time traveling the state to educate people about biofuel production. He designed a mobile demonstration of the biofuel development process on a trailer that has been exhibited at schoolyards, state fairs, government events and workshops. His audiences range from farmers to legislators to students. Dr. de Koff was recently one of 20 agronomists to be featured in a book titled “Agronomy — Grow With It!” published by the American Society of Agronomy.
“I’m ecstatic to be in a book focused on getting youth excited about agriculture,” Dr. de Koff said. “Teaching youth about agriculture has been a personal mission of mine since beginning the mobile demonstrations at TSU.” The professor is also researching canola, both winter and spring varieties, as the byproduct from developing biofuel — canola meal — can be used to feed animals. The transformation of biomass into fuel is still expensive and successful affordable commercialization processes have yet to be created, Dr. de Koff said. “They have to figure out a way of going through the conversion so it uses less energy,” Dr. de Koff said. Dr. de Koff has been working at TSU since 2010. He is married, has two daughters, and likes to garden at home with his family. 21
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Searching for Salamanders A graduate student hopes that DNA testing from stream water can determine the health of the streamside salamander population.
Dr. Bill Sutton presents a streamside salamander, one of three found in December in a stream at Couchville Cedar Glade State Natural Area. Dr. Sutton is working with graduate research assistant Nicole Witzel in developing a method to apply DNA testing to stream water samples in order to measure salamander populations. Photo by Joan Kite
By Joan Kite Graduate research assistant Nicole Witzel is from Minnesota, so hiking a mile into the Tennessee woods to wade in a stream searching for salamanders in near freezing winter weather is no big deal. It is mid-December and the rains have finally filled the streams of Middle Tennessee, creating a welcoming environment for the streamside salamander or Ambystoma barbouri, a gray gelatinous-looking amphibian with the face of a Kewpie doll. “The salamanders will only come out as long as the stream beds get filled with water, so it has to rain a fair amount,� Witzel said. The male salamanders will arrive first, claiming territory beneath river 22
Graduate research assistant Nicole Witzel took second place for her poster presentation about her salamander research in November at the Tennessee Academy of Science at Austin Peay State University. Photo by Tom Byl
Searching for Salamanders
Graduate research assistant Nicole Witzel and her mentor Dr. Bill Sutton measure the speed of water flow in a designated section of stream where three salamanders were found in December. Photo by Joan Kite
rocks. They patiently wait for the females to arrive so the mating can begin, said Witzel. On this trip, Dr. Bill Sutton, wildlife expert and Witzel’s mentor and professor, accompanies her to help collect the data for her master’s thesis. Witzel hopes to develop species-specific genetic primers to detect the presence of streamside salamanders and determine whether environmental DNA can be used to ascertain the population density of these salamanders. They are looking for traces of sloughed skin, semen, and eggs. A sudden drop in these markers could indicate habitat instability. Witzel will return periodically through April when the salamanders’ breeding season ends.
A salamander is discovered in its natural habitat beneath a rock in a stream in Couchville Cedar Glade State Natural Area. Photo by Joan Kite
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Graduate research assistant Nicole Witzel collects water samples from a stream bed. She is looking for streamside salamander DNA in the water to determine if she can use the data to measure salamander populations. Photo by Joan Kite
Her work has already garnered honors. In November at the 126th Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science at Austin Peay State University, Witzel earned second place with her poster presentation on her salamander research. “Streamside salamanders occur in five states (Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia), however populations that occur in Tennessee are geographically disjunct,” Dr. Sutton said. “It is entirely possible that the populations occurring in Tennessee may be a genetically-distinct species.” As one might expect from a scientist, Witzel is methodical in her approach. Her first duty upon arriving 24
at the shallow stream is to take water samples. Today, the water flow is lackadaisical so Witzel has to scoop water into her plastic bottle with its lid. She will also measure water temperature, pH levels, water flow and depth, sedimentation, canopy cover and surrounding land use and vegetation. Witzel wades carefully through the stream in her rain boots careful to not disturb the flat rocks, which will prove to be the salamanders hiding spots. When all the measurements are gathered and recorded, the salamander hunt begins. Dr. Sutton and Witzel move through the stream bed lifting each rock as they peer into the silt looking for the salamanders.
Today, lifting almost 300 rocks, they find three salamanders. They are weighed and Witzel clips off one toe from each specimen as a way to track them and measure DNA. The toes will grow back —much like a lizard’s tail regenerates. The salamanders are docile beasts, appearing sleepy and lethargic as Witzel disturbs them from their hiding places. She has an earnest fondness for these creatures. After weighing them and clipping their toes, she places them back where she found them. Next time she visits, she will be able to determine if the salamanders she finds are ones she has previously met or new guests to the courtship party.
Food as Medicine
Food as medicine
CAHNS explores the potential health benefits of exotic vegetables By Joan Kite Dr. Chandra Reddy, dean of CAHNS, asked a simple question one day three years ago. Can the exotic vegetable karela, also known as bitter melon or bitter gourd, be grown in Tennessee?
Dr. Arvazena Clardy, a CAHNS expert in horticulture and soil and plant science, accepted the challenge: Let’s find out. Three years later, Dr. Clardy’s greenhouse is flush in exotic vegetables. She is
raising and harvesting Indian and Asian varieties of bitter melon (Momordica charantia), and tinda (Pracecitrullus fistulosus), which translates into Indian baby pumpkin, and is a popular vegetable in India and the Caribbean.
Above: A basket of karela or bitter melon is waiting to be weighed and measured. CAHNS started growing the vegetable, which is common in Asia and India, in Tennessee three years ago. Photo by Joan Kite
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Graduate student Nia Gordon shows bitter melon harvested in October at the farm at the Agricultural Research and Education Center, Nashville. Photo by Joan Kite
The vegetables are revered for their medicinal qualities, Clardy said. Karela, a native food of India, was exported to China during the 14th Century. The vegetable is used in India’s healing system Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine as a panacea for a multitude of ills, including diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity. The highly bitter flesh is believed to clean the liver and detoxify the blood. Tinda is considered an anti-inflammatory agent that can control or prevent heart disease, high blood pressure and even cancer. “We’re collecting data to determine which (vegetable) yields more and is capable of year-round production,” Dr. Clardy said. “We would like to put this in the hands of the consumer for its health benefits and work with doctors on a clinical study on diabetics.” “Right now, we’re working with grow26
ing it and trying to get people trained to grow it,” Dr. Clardy said. In the U.S., these vegetables can be found in international grocery stores, but they have yet to find a spot in the produce sections at Kroger, Publix or Albertsons. Bitter melon has a bit of a public relations problem; it is exactly what it’s called. Bitter. Very bitter. Food science researchers are seeking ways to make bitter melon more palatable — encapsulating it in juice or taking it in pill form. CAHNS doctoral student Li Wong has been working with Dr. Clardy to develop a health promoting beverage containing bitter melon by using a microencapsulation technique said Dr. Ying Wu, a food science expert and an assistant professor in the CAHNS Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “He’s trying to make it a different
flavor,” Dr. Wu said. Meanwhile, Dr. Clardy, Dr. Wu and research associate Sara Bhatti have cooked up several dishes using both the Indian and Asian varieties of bitter melon. The Asian bitter melon is not as mouth puckering as the Indian. “We did a taste test down at the Small Farm Expo,” Dr. Clardy said. “Sara prepared the Indian variety. Dr. Wu stir fried it using the Chinese method and I fixed it with scrambled eggs with mushrooms and onions and added shrimp and rice.” Tinda is a milder food, similar to squash. High in antioxidants and phytochemicals, tinda is 94 percent water and is soothing to the digestive system. It is often eaten to treat acid reflux. Dr. Clardy has been successful in growing bitter melons and apple gourds in Tennessee, though the plants are moved to the greenhouse for the winter months. Bitter melon likes hot and humid climates and vines grow quickly during Tennessee summers. Tinda also prefers a long, hot growing season and is happy with soil moistened by heavy rains or irrigation. Dr. Clardy continues to educate small farmers about the unique vegetables while looking for niche markets locally that would prove viable.
The Chinese version of bitter melon was on display at the Small Farm Expo.
The Highest Honor
The Highest Honor College president, USDA administrator named to CAHNS Hall of Fame Induction into the Agriculture and Home Economics Hall of Fame is the highest honor one can receive from CAHNS. Membership into this prestigious group indicates that someone from the TSU family has emerged as a leader in their field and has generously and selflessly given back to the university. “It’s a way to honor our best,” said Hall of Famer Will Nesby, who chairs the Hall of Fame Committee. Nesby graduated from TSU in 1968, and served as USDA liaison for the CAHNS for years, helping students to find employment with the USDA. “The key though is to have turned around and given back to the school that helped you.” This year’s inductees were no different. They represented “the firsts.” Dr. Maria Thompson, who graduated from CAHNS Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and is a third-generation TSU Tiger, was named the first female president of Coppin State University in July of 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. Hubert Hamer, who earned a B.S. degree in Rural Development from TSU, was named this year as the first black Administrator of the USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS). Both of them have contributed to the university
Dr. Maria Thompson
Hubert Hamer
“It’s a way to honor our best. The key though is to have turned around and given back to the school that helped you.” Chairman Will Nesby Hall of Fame Committee and assisted many of its students. Hamer has actively recruited TSU students for internships and permanent positions within the NASS. Dr. Thompson returned to her alma mater to devote 13 years of her career building TSU’s research endeavors. She would ultimately be promoted to vice president for Research and Sponsored Programs. The two leaders were honored at the Hall of Fame Reception and Induction Celebration Oct. 13, 2016, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Dean Dr. Chandra Reddy
was on hand to help present the awards to Hamer and Thompson. “I am very fortunate to know these two individuals for some time as friends and partners,” Dr. Reddy said. The inductees’ portraits were framed and hung with the other Hall of Famers on the wall in the Farrell Westbrook Complex. As part of the celebration, both of the recipients created videos describing how and why they had become successful. “I’ve been blessed to matriculate through this great institution, Tennessee State University, that has provided a caring and nurturing environment such that I could
receive a strong academic and social foundation that has paved the way for much of my success,” Hamer said in his taped video presentation. “This is a world class place and our motto says it all, ‘Enter to learn and go forth to serve.’” “Of course you’ve got to be educated… you’ve got to continually educate yourself,” Dr. Thompson said in her video. “I’m still learning today, constantly reading, constantly asking questions, trying to stay up-to-date and not only stay-up-to-date, but be involved in research to the extent that you can to create new knowledge. Also success comes with patience, it comes from being willing to start where you are and do the best you can in the situation you find yourself.” There are several categories, including alumni, faculty, staff and supporters, for the Hall of Fame, said William Hayslett, CAHNS academic coordinator and a Hall of Famer, too. In each category, there are specific criteria that must be met. Committee members accept nomination forms through the first week of June. To nominate someone to the Hall of Fame, pick up a nomination form from any committee member. For more information, call (615) 963-7561. 27
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Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center: Where the intersection between business, agriculture, research, and education contributes to Tennessee’s $3.9 billion green industry. Tucked away almost 82 miles southeast of CAHNS main campus in Nashville is a storehouse of intellectual know-how buttressing Tennessee’s $3.9 billion green industry. Located in a sleepy rural town called McMinnville is TSU’s Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center where a hive of researchers are busy addressing critical problems facing the 712 certified nurseries in Tennessee. Almost 400 nurseries are in or near McMinnville giving the city it’s moniker as “Nursery Capital of the World” with the city motto “Always in Bloom.” Dr. Nick Gawel has overseen the center since it opened in 1997. The center has had an estimated $20 million economic impact annually on the national nursery industry. Faculty, staff and students help growers prosper and assist them in preventing potential crop disasters caused by diseases and insects. In December, Dr. Fulya Baysal-Gurel, a plant pathologist at 28
the center, was able to confirm the identification of a serious plant disease, Boxwood Blight, on fresh cut Boxwood Christmas greens at a Tennessee big-box store. Working with the appropriate regulatory agencies the out-of-state source of the contaminated shipment was identified and all shipments to Tennessee big-box stores were quarantined and destroyed. Other researchers like entomologists Dr. Jason Oliver, Dr. Karla Addesso, and Nadeer Youssef study improved methods to control insects with a focus on Tennessee’s more harmful invaders such as the fire ant, which is harmful to both plants and humans, and the ambrosia beetle, which has a fondness for attacking and killing stressed trees. For example, Dr. Addesso is investigating insect behaviors and developing ways to use insects that prey on the unwanted pests or contain pheromones that will lure the pests into traps. By using nature to fight
nature, nursery owners can lower and limit their usage of more harmful pesticides. The newest addition to the staff is former USDA horticulturist Dr. Anthony Witcher, who is leading the production and sustainability program. The program focuses on weed management, crop nutrition, and alternative soil/substrate amendments. There is an ever flourishing relationship between the Nursery Research Center and the USDA. The Center provides space on the 87acre property for UDSA scientists to work. Graduate students commute three hours a day to the center from Nashville to work on their research with their mentors. The trip is worth it. Just ask graduate research assistant Prabha Liyanapathiranage. She was recently awarded an $11,000 grant by Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education for her research on soil-borne diseases.
Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center
A root ball (above left) is analyzed for water absorption capabilities using different irrigation treatments. Dr. Fulya Baysal-Gurel (above right) sifts through the root ball of an ailing tree. Nursery owners regularly send plant samples to the center for disease diagnoses. Below: Entomologist Dr. Jason Oliver shows insect specimens collected locally which are then identified and maintained in the “bug library.” Inset: A close-up of some of the more colorful beetles found in the Nursery Research Center’s entomology collection.
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Bloom where you are planted Success stories from the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences
CAHNS excels at Tennessee Academy of Science By Tom Byl TSU Professor More than 300 students and faculty from 10 universities converged onto the Austin Peay State University campus Nov. 19 in Clarksville, Tennessee, to participate in the 126th annual meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science. Fourteen CAHNS students won five first place awards, four second places, four third places and one honorable mention. CAHNS was well represented with 32 student presentations in various topics — including agriculture, botany, cell and molecular biology, ecology and environmental science, geosciences, and microbiology. Master’s student Jeronimo da Silva was honored for serving as the chair of the Ecology and Environmental Science section. This was the first time a student served as chair of a section. The Tennessee Academy of Sciences seeks to promote scientific research and education in Tennessee. The 800 members are primarily from academia, with additional members from government and industry.
CAHNS agriculture students gather together for a group photo at the 126th Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science at Austin Peay State University. Photo by Tom Byl
CAHN student selected to attend the 2016 Future Agriscience Teacher Symposium Agricultural education student Mathew Smith was one of 18 student members of the National Association of Agricultural Educators to be chosen to attend the FAST Symposium in November in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event provided Smith with the
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opportunity to develop professional development skills in agriscience education, interact with business leaders from John Deere and Company, engage with diverse students at Mojave High School, and attend NAAE general session meetings.
Smith will complete his clinical practice at Mount Juliet High School this spring semester in Tennessee.
Bloom where you are planted
Dean’s treat: Meet and eat! CAHNS best and brightest students, the Dean’s Scholars, were treated to a luncheon, a motivational speaker, and a conversation with Dean Dr. Chandra Reddy. The group gathered for photos following the event. Photo by Joan Kite
New crop of new farmers TSU Extension’s New Farmer Academy celebrated the graduation of its 2016 crop of agricultural entrepreneurs last fall. The next academy, which involves meeting once a month for seven months, begins March 20, 2017. Participants learn about farm business, marketing basics and agricultural production practices. Call Finis Stribling III at (931) 375-5301 or Chris Robbins at (615) 792-5744 for information or visit www.tnstate.edu/extension/nfa. Photo by Joan Kite
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Tennessee State University College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd. Nashville, TN 37209
CAHNS Link Vol. 6, Issue 1 Spring 2017 Tennessee State University College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences (615) 963-7561 www.tnstate.edu/agriculture Dr. Chandra Reddy, Dean & Director of Research Administrator of Extension Joan Kite, CAHNS Link Editor
TSU-17-0064(A)-12b-13500 – Tennessee State University does not discriminate against students, employees, or applicants for admission or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other legally protected class with respect to all employment, programs and activities sponsored by Tennessee State University. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Rita Williams Seay, Office of Equity and Inclusion, rseay@tnstate.edu, 3500 John Merritt Blvd., McWherter Administration Building, Suite 260, Nashville, TN 37209, 615963-7438. The Tennessee State University policy on nondiscrimination can be found at www.tnstate.edu/nondiscrimination.