Prof. Shimon Rachmilevitch
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The main focus of my research is whole plant ecophysiology and it includes: adaptation and acclimation of desert plants to abiotic stresses such as extreme temperatures, drought and salinity; root dynamics and functions and their role in whole plant tolerance to abiotic stress.
In addition to the lab, Prof. Rachmilevitch is also: 1. CEO of The Israeli Society of Plant Science 2. Scientific director of Root of the Matter project Prof. Rachmilevitch CV |
Lab Manager
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Liron Summerfield
The one and only. |
M.Sc students
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Daniel Owusu Kwakye
2021-present The effect of nitrogen fertilization regime on Capsicum annuum varieties. The research is centered on: (1)root matter using ingrowth core and minirhizotron technique. (2)Above ground:Gas exchange (Photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll a fluorescence). |
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Samuel Nomo
2021-present in collaboration with Dr. Akiva Shalit-Kaneh ARO The Interaction between Gibberellin Heat and Day Length on Potato Phenology and Tuber Yield 1. Study the combined effects of temperature and day length on tuber formation at the phenological, molecular, and hormonal level by growing potato plants in SD and LD and applying a 7-day heat wave alongside controls at early tuber initiation and early tuber bulking. Phenological effects of the heat wave and photosynthesis rates will be recorded. Samples of leaves and young tubers will be collected during and after the heat wave and analyzed for sugar and starch content. Marker genes for tuberization signaling GA levels and starch metabolism will be analyzed by qPCR. 2. In a similar setup and analyses as in 1 we will study the ability to relieve heat stress by down regulating GA via its inhibitor Paclobutrazol (PBZ). Phenological effects of application of different concentrations of PBZ shortly after onset of a heat wave will be tested along with or without a GA treatment after the heat wave to return GA to an optimal balance. 3. Shortening the growth period of a crop can help avoid end of season high temperatures and decrease agricultural inputs such as water, pesticides and fertilizer. We will attempt to shorten the growth cycle by the application of GA3 and PBZ. The Shalit-Kaneh lab has previously show that early foliar application of GA3 100 ppm increases the number of small sized tubers early in the season. We hypothesize that timely application of PBZ to GA3 treated plants will drive early uniform tuber filling. |
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Sharon Chemweno
2020-present Topic : Effects of salinity and nitrogen treatments on different tomato rootstock. We investigating effects of salinity and nitrogen on eight grafted and one non grafted cultivars. The grafted cultivars are of the same scion and different rootstock. The major phisiological changes checked are: photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, root distribution, C:N ratio and chloride in the leaves. |
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Prashanth Kakarla
2020-present Topic: growing grapevines in arid regions and grapevine response to drought and salinity stress. Objectives: root-shoot relations of grafted grapevines grown in arid areas and root development of different root stocks with the same scion. |
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Aye Nyein Ko
2020-present Topic - Carbon and metabolic benefits and costs of self/non-self-kinship recognition in plants. We aim to elucidate the carbon metabolism costs and potential benefits of self/non-self-recognition in different plant species, i.e., tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and bell pepper (Capsicum annum. L.). The differences in their response to salinity stress, compared to the control, will be examined based on their carbon allocation patterns in response to self/non-self-neighboring. |
Ph.D students
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Petar Jovanovic
2018-present, Ph.D. student in collaboration with Dr. Ran Erel ARO The hypothesis on which my work is based on is that under hot and dry environments, more favourable conditions during the night, when compared to the day, would lead to better nutrient acquisition and allocation, improving plant response to different kinds of stressors (drought and salinity) and alleviate symptoms of different physiological disorders caused or aggravated by stress (Blossom End Rot). The work focuses on P, Ca and K acquisition and allocation and utilises different tomato species as a model system of a crop grown in the local dry and hot environment of the Negev. |
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Lingling Wen
2018-present in collaboration with Prof. Aaron Fait My research is to evaluate the effect of different tomato rootstock on its leaf and root metabolism under combined salt and cold stress. We set several salt and cold treatment combination in this experiment. |
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Yaniv Lupo
2019-present My research focuses on the source-sink relations in grapevine leaves of different physiological ages in response to drought and salinity stresses. The research is conducted on the Shiraz vine variety which is grafted on three different rootstocks. The main research methods are physiological (e.g., photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance) and leaf metabolism. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yaniv_Lupo |
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Aviad Perry
2019-present in collaboration with Dr. Uri Hochberg and Dr. Or Sperling |
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Mihal Blaschkauer
2019-present Mihal‘s Ph.D research will focus on the two-way relationships between soil bacteria and plant roots in wild and domesticated wheat. Her research includes field and laboratory/greenhouse experiments in order to clarify the exact molecular basis for the expected differences in the plant’s root phytobiome and physiology, using gene silencing and other molecular biology methods, in addition to measuring root structures, nitrogen fixation and photosynthetic rates. In her Masters, she researched the relationship between astaxanthin producing micro-algae and symbiotic bacteria. Outside the lab, Mihal enjoys rock climbing, hockey, carpentry, drawing, baking fancy desserts, science experiments with her kids and reading too many fantasy books. |
Post docs fellows
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Dr. Shikha Verma
2021-present My research explores molecular mechanisms underlying how plants communicate, discriminate or competite between self and non-self neighbors under abiotic stress conditions by the transcriptomics and signal cascade analyses. My research also explores how the metabolomic profiles contribute to the sensing and recognition of neighbors. So, we use the multi-omics strategy to explore the untouched area of self and non-self-recognition and root-root communication. |
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Dr. Milena Oliveira
2020-present In collaboration with Dr. Omer Falik Research project: Carbon and metabolic benefits and costs of self/non-self-kinship recognition in plants My research focuses on the study of carbon budgets, including costs and allocation pattern changes in carbon metabolism, in response to self (same plant) and non-self (neighboring plants) recognition between different species on abiotic stress acclimation including salinity, temperature and phosphorus deficiency. Click here for Milena's CV |
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Dr. Natalie De Falco
2019-present My research entails the investigation of how effectively nematicide controls knot-roots nematodes infestation in crops’ roots. The interactions between different plant stresses and early and later stage infestation are monitored through different plant physiology methods and connected to hyper-spectral remote sensing. |
Lab Alumni
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Dr. Timur Yergaliyev
2018-2020 in collaboration with Dr. Amir Szitenberg Root knot nematodes (RKN) are among the world’s most devastating plant pathogens, causing substantial yield losses in nearly all major agricultural crops. Meloidogyne incognita and closely related species are found in all regions that have mild winter temperatures, and are regarded as one of the most serious threats to agriculture as climate change progresses. In this project we aimed to study the rhizosphere, root, gall and J2 bacterial succession across the primary nematode life cycle and throughout the crop season to understand microbial interactions. Temporal dynamics of the microbiome may have implications for the nematode’s life cycle, but it is also important for the successful application and development of biocontrol agents. To achieve this, we are studying bacterial communities in various niches RKN occupy, during the whole vegetation season of host plants in Southern Israel. |
Naomi Waldman
2017-2019, M.Sc. Student
in collaboration with Prof. Naftali Lazarovitch
My work focuses on the effect of combined salinity and low-temperature stress on tomato rootstocks. The research examines the tolerance mechanisms of grafted tomato plants regarding mineral uptake and transport, root structure and function, elemental composition and metabolite content.
2017-2019, M.Sc. Student
in collaboration with Prof. Naftali Lazarovitch
My work focuses on the effect of combined salinity and low-temperature stress on tomato rootstocks. The research examines the tolerance mechanisms of grafted tomato plants regarding mineral uptake and transport, root structure and function, elemental composition and metabolite content.
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Sophie Obersteiner
2018-2020 My research focuses on the bio stimulant effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) on Melonplants under combined low-temperature and salinity stress. Few plant physiological parameters (as for example photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, Osmolality, chloride content) are measured and the root dynamics as well as growth investigated. |
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Dr. Daniela Jerszuki
2016-2018, PostDoctoral Fellow in collaboration with Prof. Naftali Lazarovitch |
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Nitsan Bar-Shmuel
2016-2019, M.Sc. student in collaboration with Dr. Michal Segoli |
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Dr. Michal Meir
2016-2018, Post-Doctoral fellow My research takes part in the establishment of a large-scale multidisciplinary information center, which will allow growers of Solanum lycopersicum and plants of the Cucurbitaceae family, to make an informed choice in choosing the best scion-rootstock combinations for these plants. Combinations of scion-rootstock enabling the plant to withstand different abiotic stresses (water deficit, extreme temperatures, salinity etc.) which will allow the expansion of possible growing areas and reduce water quality used by the growers. At the moment I am focusing on morphological, physiological, and metabolic measurements characterizing different scion-rootstock combinations in Solanum lycopersicum under different abiotic stresses. Click here for Dr. Meir CV |
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Jhon Okoth,
2014-2018, Ph.D student in collaboration with Dr. Naftali Lazarovitch and Dr. Uri Yermiyahu |
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Moses Kwame Aidoo
2014-2018, Ph.D student in collaboration with Dr. Naftali Lazarovitch and Prof. Aaron Fait I am currently, a PhD candidate, supervised by Prof. Aaron Fait, Prof. Shimon Rachmilevitch and Prof. Naftali lazarovitch in the French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Isreal. My Master's degree was in plant sciences where I researched into the genetic variability in six wheat cultivars physiology and metabolic response to water stress at The Hebrew University, Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot, Israel. My Research Work Currently, my research work involves the investigation and identification of abiotic stress surviving mechanisms. Synopsis: Root play important role in regulating whole plant carbon and water relations. However, roots are less studied than above-ground parts. Extreme temperatures (high and low) are detrimental abiotic stress that inflicts an osmotic stress in the plants that can cause turgor loss. Using bell pepper, tomatoes, millet, aeroponic systems and GC-MS base protocol, we are investigating physiology, metabolic and biochemical involved with root tolerance to extreme temperatures stress. |
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Yoav Shavit
2016-2018, M.Sc. student in collaboration with Prof. Arnon Karnieli |
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Endale Geta
2012-2014, M.Sc. student in collaboration with Dr. Naftali Lazarovitch |
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Amjad Hijazen
2015-2017, M.Sc. student |
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Itay Hacohen
2013-2018, Ph.D. student My research focus is on how environmental cues such as elevated CO2 , light intensity , cold ,nitrogen supplement and their combinations effect whole plant physiology and emphasis on the root system. I’m currently working on both Tomato and Arabidopsis plants. |
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Moti Shomron
2013-2018, Ph.D. student The research was about:
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Amber Hill
2012-2018, Ph.D. student My research entails the investigation of how desert plants use dew. We are using stable isotope fingerprinting to track the water isotopes in the plants and discovering how the plants are using dew. We have already verifyied that they use a large percent of their water directly form dew as their water source about 50%. 2009-2011, M.Sc student My Master's research was about olive root growth. I examined the mechanism in which certain olive varieties survive under less than ideal conditions, for example when watered with salty water. The study was conducted on two varieties of olives, Barnea and Leccino, and identified the difference in root structure and function for the two varieties and their mechanism for better salt tolerance. visit my personal page: http://bamerbright.wix.com/biome |
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Dr. Inga Dirks
2014-2017, Post-Doctoral fellow My research “The phosphorus nutrition of palestine oak (Quercus calliprinos Webb.) and European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)” is part of an Israeli-German collaboration with the Georg-August-University of Göttingen. The research focuses on the effect of soil moisture, nitrogen and phosphorus on growth, morphology, C allocation, P uptake and use efficiencies, and rhizodeposition in saplings of oak and beech. As part of our collaboration, a H333PO4 feeding experiment was conducted to measure P uptake capacity of oak and beech saplings. |
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Kaining Zhou
2015-2017, M.Sc student in collaboration with Prof Jhonathan Ephrath My research aims at evaluating the effect of photo selective nets on root growth and development of grafted orange trees. We have three different color nets (red, yellow and white) in the field to identify which color net is the optimal for root growth. |
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Shachar Pinkovitch
2015-2017, M.Sc. student in collaboration with Prof. Arnon Karnieli My work focuses on investigating the connection of hyper-spectral remote sensing with plant physiology. Currently, I deal with root parasite (Broomrape) detection in the field, for better, more precise herbicide application. |
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Amnon Cochavi
2013-2017, Ph.D. student in collaboration with Prof's. Jonathan Ephrath and Hanan Eizenberg My work focus on the physiological relation between the root parasitic plants Phelipanche aegyptiaca and Orobanche cumana and their host plants tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) respectively. In addition, the research test the effect of abiotic stress (salinity, drought) on this relation in terms of physiological, anatomical, morphological and spectral changes. Amnon's Lab |
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Sivan Isaacson
2011-2017, Ph.D. student,in collaboration withProf's. Jonathan Ephrath and Dan Blumberg My research topic is the drought stress of acacia trees in the southern Arava Valley, Israel. I use multi-disciplinary approach and combines eco-physiological research with remote sensing tools. The methods of my current study include both field monitoring and a controlled environmental experiment (greenhouse), as well as analyzing aerial photos. Sivan's Lab |
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Dr. Reut Berger-Tal
2015-2016, Post-Doctoral fellow As an ecologist my research focuses on the ecological aspects of plant adaptations to desert environments. Specifically I am interested in how environmental factors such as water and nutrient availability shape and influence plant survival and fitness in a limited supply environment such as the Negev desert. To test this I am involved in two projects:
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Tal Rapaport
2011-2016, Ph.D. student, in collaboration with Prof. Arnon Karnieli I am interested in the spectral manifestations of stress-induced physiological changes in leaves. My PhD focuses on modeling rapid bio-chemical responses to water deficit using imaging spectroscopy instruments, which offer faster, cheaper, comprehensive and non-destructive measurements. Specifically, this is done by correlating changes in particular physiology variables to modifications in narrow-band VIS-SWIR signatures, identifying the most relevant wavelengths within the spectrum, and using them to construct targeted indices for water status assessment. In general, I am interested in plant-light interactions and various aspects of precision agriculture, and would like to study the spectral effects of other biotic and abiotic stressing agents with proximal sensing tools. Tal's Lab |
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Asal Kattel
2014-2016, M.Sc. student in collaboration with Prof Jhonathan Ephrath and Prof Allan Degen My research is about to investigate how root system architecture (RSA) can alleviate the adverse effects of environmental stresses on tomato plant performance at agronomical and physiological level. We monitored and analyzed root-system growth using the minirhizotron (MR) system in a field experimental during different phenological stages. We find a significant difference between rootstocks in split and non-split treatments with different root dynamic growth. Other experiment from abiotic stresses (chilling&salinity) we did, found that grafted plants are more tolerant. |
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Mengqi Zhang
2014-2016, M.Sc student in collaboration with Dr. Phyllis Weintraub My research focuses on the influence of seed hormonal treatment on the seedlings physiology and ability against insects. Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) refers to a pathway that plays an important role in the ability of plants to defend themselves against insects; salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MJ) are important signal components in the pathway. This pathway is initiated by insect feeding; sucking insects stimulate the SA pathway and chewing insects the MJ pathway. Seed treatment can increase the tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. For my research, we are treating seeds with exogenous SA and MJ aiming to strength the expression of SAR pathway before the seedling is attacked by insects. |
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Hila Gil
2014-2016, M.Sc. student in collaboration with Dr. Gilboa Arye Qualified agronomist, BA in plant sciences and agriculture from the Faculty of Agriculture of the Hebrew University. Worked as an agriculture consultant and project manager in humanitarian agricultural projects in Haiti and Kenya. My research is about the below and above ground physiology response of oaks (Quercus calliprinos) under drought stress and phosphorus deficiency. During the study I examined the activity of oaks in three different sites in Israel by precipitation gradient at four different seasons. In addition, I also examined in the greenhouse the responses of oak seedling to phosphorus deficiency and drought resistance. |
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Brian Hoefgen
2013- 2015, M.Sc. student My MSc thesis project examined the effect of two grapevine (Vitis vinifera) cultivars, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz (Syrah), which were both grafted onto the same rootstock, Ruggeri 140. In addition, three deficit irrigation treatments were applied, in order to investigate the effect of drought stress on grapevine physiology. In previous experiments, these two cultivars have displayed significant differences in their hydraulic behavior. This led us to investigate whether these two varietals would show differences in their root dynamics when grafted onto the same rootstock. The main focus of my MSc research was using a minirhizotron camera to take pictures of the root systems up to 2 meters belowground. Pictures were taken every 1-3 months over the course of 2 years, and analyzed manually using a root image analysis software. |
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Uri Hochberg
M.Sc and Ph.D. student, 2009-2015 In Shimon's lab I was working on the hydraulic and metabolic differences between Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, the interaction between the vines hydraulics and their biochemistry, and the implication on irrigation requirements and berry quality. I am currently working on reliable methodologies to evaluate the spatial and temporal propagation of embolism in plants. HochbergLab https://youtu.be/7-X8mmPFek0 |
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Oren Shelef
Ph.D student, 2009-2013 Accomplished his MSc at the Marco and Louise Mitrani department of desert ecology, SIDEER, BIDR (2005-2007). Oren was enrolled as a research assistant in Shimon's lab during its establishment (2008-2015). As a full-time technician he was involved almost in all research projects that were conducted in the lab during that period. Simultaneously he took some studies under his personal care and finally combined them to a PhD thesis entitled "Physiological aspects and technological applications of xerophytes". After his graduation, he joined the MIMSHAK program, aiming at training early career scientists to provide professional scientific advisory for the government in order to promote environmental issues. Oren was positioned as a scientific advisor to the chief scientist in the ministry of science, technology and space and was in charge of environmental R&D in the ministry. His academic record includes publications in international journals and popular magazines. In addition, he published a poetry book and a book of short stories (in Hebrew). Since January 2016 he is a Vaadia-BARD postdoc fellow in the University of Nevada Reno (UNR), studying biodiversity dynamics of the great basins in Lee Dyer's lab. Shelef's Lab |
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Amir Eppel
Ph.D student, 2009-2013 |
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Dr. Sikander Pal
2012-2013, Post-Doctoral fellow. Pal's Lab |
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Jiangsan Zhao
M.Sc student, 2011-2013 |
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Dr. Volkan Oral
2011-2012, Post-Doctoral fellow in collaboration with Prof. Jonathan Ephrath Oral's Lab |
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Dr. Boris Rewald
2009-2012 , Post-Doctoral fellow in collaboration with Prof. Jonathan Ephrath Rewald's Lab |
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Avital Yosef
2009-2011, M.Sc student |
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Eitan Amiel
2008-2009, M.Sc student |
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Dr. Ina Meier
2008, Post-Doctoral scholar in collaboration with Prof. Jonathan Ephrath Meier's Lab |
Visitors
2020: Sonia Singh, Maharana Pratap Horticultural University, Karnal Haryana, India
2017-2018: Dr. Juliana Espada Lichston
2016: Daniel Ospina PhD internship, Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Palmira, Colombia
2010: Prof. Michelle Holbrook (Harvard University).
2017-2018: Dr. Juliana Espada Lichston
2016: Daniel Ospina PhD internship, Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Palmira, Colombia
2010: Prof. Michelle Holbrook (Harvard University).
