Agronomy and Horticulture Seminar Series

Harnessing Environmental Bacteria in the Development of Biopesticides to Control Plant Diseases: The Case of Bacterial Panicle Blight of Rice

Clemencia Rojas

Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

The environmental bacterium Pseudomonas protegens PBL3 produces and secretes a collection of antimicrobial molecules against plant pathogenic bacteria. Clemencia Rojas will present research on using a combination of genetic and bioanalytical approaches to identify those molecules and advance the development of effective biopesticides to control bacterial diseases of crops.

Note: This video presentation will not be posted on the website. 

Soil Health and Nutrient Management- Bridging Research to Education and Extension

Bijesh Maharjan

Professor, Extension Specialist, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center, Scottsbluff, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Achieving sustainable agricultural systems requires stronger integration among scientific knowledge, industry and stakeholder engagement, and societal priorities. This presentation will provide a systems-based framework that links management decisions, soil processes, measurable indicators, and agronomic, economic, and environmental outcomes within a continuous feedback loop. Rather than treating soil health and nutrient management as a static set of metrics, Maharjan will discuss a dynamic, adaptive process shaped by human decision-making and long-term learning. Central to the presentation is the explicit inclusion of the human dimension; farmers, industry stakeholders, policymakers, and communities, recognizing that the adoption of sustainable practices depends not only on biophysical evidence but also on economic viability, risk perception, and institutional support.

Long-term Experiments: A Subject for Modification and Rethinking the Yield Goal Approach

Lawrence Aula

Research Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center, Scottsbluff

Long-term experiments (LTEs) established before the advent of modern statistics lack conformity to experimental design and principles. How are inferences from such trials affected by modification or adding replications? Aula will discuss how the large datasets generated by long-term experiments can be used to exam the association between yield goal and observed yield. He will also present alternative statistical learning methods.

Cultivating Innovation: Accelerating Plant Science to Market

Ed Cahoon

Director, Center for Plant Science Innovation, George Holmes University Professor of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Bridging fundamental plant lipid discovery and agricultural application requires an integrated biotechnology pipeline. This presentation explores metabolic engineering platforms translating laboratory discoveries into robust crops. Cahoon will highlight advancing novel lipid pathways to develop sustainable, high-value aquaculture feeds and dedicated feedstocks for renewable, bio-based industrial lubricants.

Note: This video presentation will not be posted on the website. 

Steven Whitham

Professor, Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology, Iowa State University

Karrie Weber

Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Director, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln