Name: Jhonathan E. Ephrath
Date and Place of Birth: 30-10-1952, Haifa, Israel.
Regular military service: Nov 1971 – Nov 1974
Working Address: French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands. Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84990 Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
Tel.: 972-8-6596756 Fax: 972-8-6596757 Email: yoni@bgu.ac.il
Marital status: Married + 4 children
Home Address: 26 Dganit St., Lehavim, Israel. Tel. - (972)-8-6510345.
Education
1974-1975 Pre-Academic Studies: Technion, Haifa, Israel.
1976-1979 B. Sc. Studies - The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field and Vegetable Crops, Rehovot, Israel.
1979-1982 M. Sc. Studies - The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field and Vegetable Crops, Rehovot, Israel.
1980 Name of advisor: Prof. Avishalom Marani
Title of Thesis: Penetration of Radiation into Cotton Crop Canopy.
1983-1987 Ph. D. studies - The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field and Vegetable Crops, Rehovot, Israel.
1984 Name of advisors: Prof. Avishalom Marani and Prof. Ben-Ami Bravdo.
Title of Thesis: The Effects of Water Stress on Photosynthesis and Translocation of Photosynthates in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).
Employment History
2011 Assoc. Professor, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnologies of Drylands, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
2009-2010 Sabbatical leave – USDA-ARS, Plant Stress and Water conservation Lab. Big Spring TX 79720, USA
2002- Senior lecturer, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
2001-2002 Sabbatical leave – Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), USDA-ARS, and Beltsville, MD, USA
1995-2002 Tenure track Researcher (Grade C), Runoff Agricultural Unit, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
1991-1995 Non tenure track Researcher (Grade C), Financed by the Ministry of Science and Technology: Runoff Agricultural Unit, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
1989-1991 Research associate, United State Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service (USDA-ARS), University of Illinois, Urbana IL, USA.
1987-1989 Research Associate, Wageningen Agricultural University, Theoretical Production Ecology (TPE) Department. Wageningen, the Netherlands.
1979-1987 Research and teaching assistance, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field and Vegetable Crops, Rehovot, Israel.
Professional Activities
Positions in academic administration
2011- Head of the Wyler department for dryland agriculture, the Jacob Blaustein institutes for desert research
2006-2008 Head of the Wyler department for dryland agriculture, the Jacob Blaustein institutes for desert research
2004-2009 Head of the Jacob Blaustein Institutes Library committee
2004-2009 Member of the University Library committee
2002-2003 Acting Academic Head of the Katif Research Center for the Development of Coastal Deserts.
2000-2009 Member of the Blaustein Center for Scientific Cooperation (BCSC)
1998-1999.1 Acting Academic Head of the Katif Research Center for the Development of Coastal Deserts.
1994-1995 Academic Director of the International Course on: “Biological and Physical Aspects of Crop Production in Arid Zones”.
1994-1995 Acting Head of the Runoff Agricultural Unit, the Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
1991-1992 Acting Academic Head of the Katif Research Center for the Development of Coastal Deserts.
1982-1984 Principle Investigator: Field and Vegetable Crops Department and the Soil and Water Department, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot: Developing parameters for drip irrigation in cotton in the Western Israeli Desert (Negev Desert).
Professional functions outside the University
2011- Member of the Domain Committee COST FPS (Forests, their Products and Services) (FPS-DC)
2009-2012 Member of the management committee of COST Action FP0803: Belowground carbon turnover in European forests (frame of: COST and the European Scientific Foundation)
2006 Chairperson: International workshop on: Woody Root Processes – Revealing the Hidden Half (70 participants from Europe and the US, 20 Israelis), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus (frame of: COST and the European Scientific Foundation).
2004- 2008 Member of the management committee of COST E38-Woody Root Processes (frame of: COST and the European Scientific Foundation)
1996-2001 Member of the BARD’s Field and Vegetable Crops Scientific Evaluation Panel, nominated by the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Agriculture.
1996-2001 Member of the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Field and Vegetable Crops Scientific Evaluation Panel, nominated by the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Agriculture.
1983-1987 Member of the Israeli Cotton Growers Research Committee.
Membership in Professional Scientific Societies:
1990 – Present Biological Systems Simulation Group (BSSG).
1994 – Present Crop Science Society of America (CSSA).
1994 – Present American Society of Agronomy (ASA)
2004 – 2008 Israeli official representative in the European Scientific Foundation (ESF) of COST: COST E-38 Woody Root Processes
2009-2012 Israeli official representative in the European Scientific Foundation (ESF) of COST: COST Action FP0803: Belowground carbon turnover in European forests
2011- Israeli official representative in the European Scientific Foundation (ESF) of COST: FPS (Forests, their Products and Services) Domain Committee (FPS-DC)
Education activities
Courses Taught
1989 Principles of Agrotechnique and physiology of Field Crops, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Faculty of Agriculture, the Department of Field and Vegetable Crops, Rehovot, Israel.
1991-1996 Plant physiology and Water Stress Conditions. International Course in: “Biological and Physical Aspects of Crop Production in Arid Zones”.
1994-1995 Principle of Runoff Agriculture in Arid Zones. International Course in: “Biological and Physical Aspects of Crop Production in Arid Zones”.
1995-1996 Plant Physiology and Water Stress Conditions. International Course in: “Biological and Physical Aspects of Crop Production in Arid Zones”.
1999- Present Modeling Agricultural Systems and Physiological Considerations Under Stress Conditions. Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies, the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
2002- Present Physiology of plants growing in arid zones. Department of life sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev (Jointly taught with Prof. Moshe Sagy)
2002- Present Simulation Models of Agricultural Systems. Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot
2004-Present Simulation models of Biological processes. Department of life sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev
Previous and current supervision of graduate students and post-doc fellows
1995-1997 Rotem Nativ - M.Sc. Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Agriculture, Food & Environment quality Science of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem supervisors: Dr. J. E. Ephrath, Prof. Berliner and Prof. Saranga (from the Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem).
1998 – 2003 Yoav Zur - Ph.D. Thesis (supervisors: Prof. Anatoly Gitelson and Dr. J. E. Ephrath). Thesis submitted to the Faculty of life science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
1998 – 2000 Walter Zegada –. M. Sc. Thesis submitted to the Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies, Jacob Blaustein Inst. for Desert Research., Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. supervisors: Dr. J. E. Ephrath, Prof. Berliner .
1998 – 2000 Emilio Garcia Apaza - M. Sc. Thesis submitted to the Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. supervisors: Prof. Berliner, Dr. J. E. Ephrath,
2000 – 2002 Marisol Eggleton –. M. Sc. Thesis submitted to the Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. supervisors: Prof. Berliner, Dr. J. E. Ephrath,
2002-2005 Sonko Kebba - M. Sc. Thesis submitted to the Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. supervisors: Dr. J. E. Ephrath, Prof. Berliner
2005-Present Tali Ilani - Ph.D. thesis (supervisors: Prof.Pedro Berliner, Dr. J. E. Ephrath and Prof. M. Silberbush).
2005-2007 Sebastian Weisban - M. Sc. Thesis submitted to the Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. supervisors: Prof. Zeev Weisman, Dr. J. E. Ephrath and Prof. M. Silberbush.
2005-2007 Evelyn Farfan - M. Sc. Thesis submitted to the Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. supervisors:, Dr. J. E. Ephrath and Dr. M. Sagy.
2007-2009 Cecilia Falla - M. Sc. Thesis submitted to the Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. supervisor:, Dr. J. E. Ephrath
2011- Ziv Totenberg- M. Sc. Thesis (Faculty of Humanities and sovial sciences): supervisors:, Prof. D. Blumberg and Dr. J. E. Ephrath
2011- Issacson Sivan – Ph. D – Thesis: Prof. D. Blumberg and Dr. J. E. Ephrath and Dr. S Rachmilevitch
Awards
Honors, citations awards:
1994 Yad Ben Gurion, Ben-Gurion Award for Applied Sciences. (The Judith and Abraham Pasternak Award).
Scientific Publications
Refereed Articles in Scientific Journals
(* - Publications submitted after promotion to researcher Grade "B")
1. Marani, A. And J. E. Ephrath. 1985. Penetration of radiation into cotton crop Canopies. Crop Sci. 25:309-313.
2. Ephrath, J. E., D. Shteinberg, J. Dreishpoun, A. Dinoor and A. Marani. 1989. Alternaria alternata in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cv Acala: Effects on gas exchange, yield components and yield accumulation. Neth. J. Plant Path. 95:157-166.
3. Ephrath, J. E., A. Marani and B. A. Bravdo. 1990. The effects of moisture stress on stomatal resistance and photosynthetic rate in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.): Constant level of stress. Field Crop Res. 23:117-131.
4. Yakir, D., M. J. DeNiro and J. E. Ephrath. 1990. Effects of water stress on Oxygen, Hydrogen and Carbon isotope ratios it two species of cotton plants. Plant Cell and Environm. 13:949-955.
5. Ephrath, J. E. And J. D. Hesketh. 1991. The effect of drought stress on leaf elongation and transpiration rates in maize (Zea mays L.) leaves. Photosynthetica 25:607-619.
6. Ephrath, J. E. And J. D. Hesketh. 1991. The Thermal photoperiod requirement for floral bud growth. Biotronics 20:1-7.
7. Hesketh, J. D., J. E. Ephrath and D. M. Alm. 1991. Environmental stress, photosynthates supply and demand and plant Behavior. In: Impact of Global Climatic Changes on Photosynthesis and Plant Production. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. New-Delhi, India.
8. Elmore, C. D., J. D. Hesketh, J. E. Ephrath and D. M. Alm. 1992. Physiological, morphological and phenological aspects of crop-weed competitive strategies. Weed Sci. Rev. Pp 52-75.
9. Ephrath, J. E., R. F. Wang, K. Terashima, J. D. Hesketh, M. G. Huck and J. W. Hummel. 1993. Shading effects on soybean and corn. Biotronics 22:15-24.
10. Ephrath, J. E. And A. Marani. 1993. Simulation of the effects of moisture stress on the rate of photosynthesis in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Agricultural Systems 42:327-341.
11. Ephrath, J. E., A. Marani and B. A. Bravdo. 1994. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal resistance and leaf water potential in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) as affected by soil water and irradiance. Photosynthetica 29:63-71.
12. Ephrath, J. E., J. D. Hesketh and D. M. Alm. 1994. Leaf and stem characteristics in maize strains differing in stem leaf number. Photosynthetica 30:381-388.
13. Ben-Asher, J., G. E. Cardon, D. Peters, D. E. Rolston, J. W. Bigger, C. J. Phene and J. E. Ephrath. 1994. Determining root activity distribution by measuring surface carbon dioxide fluxes. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 58:926-930.
14. J. Goudriaan, D.W.G. van Kraalingen and J.E. Ephrath, 1995. Microweather simulation and its simplification for including transpiration in a crop growth model (pp 39- 55). In: "Modelling and Parameterization of the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere System, A Comparison of Potato Growth Models" by P. Kabat, B.Marshall, B.J. van den Broek, J. Vos and H. van Keulen (Eds). Wageningen Pers. Wageningen, The Netherlands. 513 pp.
15. Ephrath, J. E., J. Goudriaan and A. Marani. 1996. Modelling diurnal pattern of air temperature, radiation, wind speed and relative humidity by equation from daily characteristics. Agricultural Systems 51:377-393.
16. Ephrath, J. E., D. M. Alm, J. D. Hesketh and M. G. Huck. 1996. Water and nitrogen stress in field corn (Zea mays L.): Shoot growth and development. Biotronics 25: 55-65
17. Stefanescu, S. L., Wexler, C. L., Ephrath, J. E. and Berliner, P. R. 1996. Aspects of marginal soils and water use in the Negev Desert. Relative tolerance and biomass production of Acacia saligna. Romanian Soil Sci. 81-92.
18. Nativ, R., Ephrath, J. E., Berliner, P. R. and Saranga, Y. 1998. Drought resistance and water use efficiency in Acacia saligna. Austrlian J. of botany. 47 (4):577-586
19. Ephrath, J. E., Sliberbush, M. and Berliner, P. R. 1999. Calibration of minirhizotron readings against root length density data obtained from soil cores. Plant and Soil 209:201-208.
20. Droppelmann, K. J., Lehmann, J, Ephrath, J. E., Berliner, P. R. 2000. Water use efficiency and uptake patterns in a runoff agroforestry system in an arid environment. Agroforestry system.49: 223-243
21. Droppelmann, K. J., Ephrath, J. E., Berliner, P. R. 2000. Tree/crop complementarity in an arid zone runoff-agroforestry system. Agroforestry system 50: 1-16
22. Ephtrah, J. E., Ben-Asher, J., Alekparov, C., Silberbush, M., and Dayan, E. 2001 (a). The growth and development of Hippeastrum in response to temperature and CO2 Biotronics. 30:63-73.
23. Ephtrah, J. E., Ben-Asher, J., Alekparov, C., Silberbush, M., Wolf, S. and Dayan, E. 2001 (b). The effect of temperature on the development of Hippeastrum: A phytotron study. Biotronics. 30:51-62.
24. Ephtrah, J. E., Ben-Asher, J. Baruchin, F., Alekparov, C., Silberbush, M., and Dayan, E. 2001 (c). Various cutting methods for the propagation of Hippeastrum bulbs. Biotronics. 30:75-83.
25. Silberbush, M., J.E. Ephrath, Ch. Alekperov, and J. Ben-Asher. 2003. Nitrogen and potassium fertilization interactions with carbon dioxide enrichment in Hippeastrum bulb growth. Scentia Horticulturae 98:85-90
26. Silberbush, M., Ben Asher, J. and Ephrath, J. E., 2005. A model for nutrient and water flow and their uptake by plants grown in soilless culture. Plant and Soil. 271:309-319.
27. H. Eizenberg, D. Shtienberg, M. Silberbush and J. E. Ephrath. 2005. New Method for in situ Monitoring of the Underground Development of Orobanche cumana in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) with a Minirhizotron. Annals of Botany 2005 96(6):1137-1140.
28. Ben-Asher, J., M. Silberbush and J. E. Ephrath. 2005. Uptake Rates of NO3 and K by Lettuce on soilless Culture: A Mathematical Model and Experimental Results. Acta hort. 697:307-311
29. Zegada, W.L., Garcia, E. P., Ephrath, J. E., Berliner, P. 2007. Above and below ground development of Acacia saligna shrubs grown under different irrigation frequencies in an arid environment. Plant and Soil. 297:157-169
30. Eggelton M., Zegada, W. L., Ephrath, J. E., Berliner P., 2007. The effect of brackish water irrigation on the above and below ground development of pollarded acacia saligna shrubs in an arid environment. Plant and Soil. 299:141-152
31. Wiessbein, S., Wiesman, Z., Ephrath, J. E. and Zilberbush, M. 2008 Vegetative and Reproductive Response of Olive Varieties to Moderate Saline Water Irrigation. HortScience 43: 320-327
32. Ben Asher J. ,J.E.Ephrath, M.Shomron and D.G. Blumberg 2008 Cooling of Leafy Vegetables in Greenhouses In: C. Kubota and M Kachira (eds) Proceeding of the international workshop 0n greenhouse environmental control and crop production in semi arid regions. ACTA hort.797:87-95.
33. Eizenberg, H, Hershenhorn, J. and Ephrath, J. E. 2009. Factors affecting the efficacy of Orobanche cumana chemical control in Sunflower. Weed Research 49:308-315
34. Baker, J. T., B. McMichael, J. J. Burke, , D. C. Gitz and R. J. Lascano and J. E. Ephrath. 2009. Sand Abrasion Injury and Biomass Partitioning in Cotton Seedlings. Agronomy Journal 101:1297-1303
35. Ephrath, J. E. and Eizenberg, H. 2010. Quantification the dynamics of Orobanche cumana and Phelibanche aegyptiaca parasitism in confectionery sunflower (Helianthus annuus). Weed Research 50:140-152
36. Rewald, B. Leuschner, C. Wiesman Z. and Ephrath, J. E., 2010. Do root hydraulic properties influence the salt tolerance of olive trees? Plant Biosystems 145: 12-22.
37. Ephrath J. E.. Timlin, D. J, Reddy V. R., Baker, J. T. 2010 Irrigation and Elevated Carbon Dioxide Effects on Whole Canopy Photosynthesis and Water Use Efficiency in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Plant Biosystems. 45: 202-215
38. Ventura, Y., Wuddineh, W. A., Ephrath, J. E., Shpigel, M. Sagi, M. 2010. Molybdenum as an essential element for improving total yield in seawater-grown Salicornia europaea L. Scientia Horticulturae 126: 395-401
39. Rewald, B., Rachmilevitch, S., Ephrath, J. E. 2010. Salt Stress Effects on Root Systems of Two Mature Olive Cultivars. Acta Horticulturae. In press.
40. Rewald, B. Ephrath, J. E. and Rachmilevitch, S. 2010. A root is a root is a root? – Water uptake rates of Citrus root orders. Plant, Cell and Environment. 34:33-42
41. Rewald, B., Rachmilevitch, S., McCue, M.D. & Ephrath, J.E. (2011) Influence of saline drip-irrigation on fine root and sap-flow densities of two mature olive varieties. Environmental and Experimental Botany: 72 (2011) 107–114
42. Ephrath, J. E., Hershenhorn, J., Achdari,G. and Eizenberg, H. 2011. Use of Sigmoid Equations for Detection of the Initial Parasitism Phase of Egyptian Broomrape (Phelipanche aegyptiaca) in Tomato Weed Science. In press
43. Rewald, B. Ephrath, J. E., Raveh, E., Rachmilevitch, S. 2012. The plastic root – Morphology and water flux rates of salt-stressed Citrus root orders. J. Exp. Bot. In Press
44. Baker, J. T.,. Mahan, J. R., Gitz, D. C., Lascano, R. J. and Ephrath J. E. (2012) Comparison of Deficit Irrigation Scheduling Methods that Use Canopy Temperature Measurements. In Press
Book Chapters
B. Rewald. and Ephrath, J. E. 2011. Minirhizotron techniques in root research. In: Roots, the Hidden Half, Fourth Eddition. (Eds: A. Eshel and Beeckman, T), Taylor & Francis Group, NY. In
press
Presentation of papers at conferences/meetings
1. 2003 – Water quality and irrigation frequency effects on rooting patterns of acacia saligna. J. E. Ephrath, W. Zegada and P. R. Berliner. 3rd international symposium on dynamics of physiological processes in woody roots, Perth Australia.
2. 2004 - The Effects of Lopping at Different Heights on the Regrowth and Water Use of Acacia Salicina Trees Grown in Arid Zones on Stored Water. J.E. Ephrath, K. Sonko, P.R. Berliner . Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Institutes for Desert Research, Israel. American Soc. of Agronomy International Annual Meetings, Seatle, WA, USA
3. 2005- Root growth of Tamarix aphylla as affected by salinity. J. E. Ephrath, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Institutes for Desert Reserach, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boker, Israel, Yoav Waisel and Amram Eshel, Tel Aviv University. Woody root processes – Impact of different tree species. Tartu, Estonia.
4. 2005 - The Effects of Salinity on Root Growth of Tamarix Aphylla. J. E. Ephrath, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Institutes for Desert Reserach, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boker, Israel, Yoav Waisel and Amram Eshel, Tel Aviv University. American Soc. of Agronomy International Annual Meetings, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
5. 2005 - in Situ Monitoring of the Root Parasite Orobanche Cumana Development in Sunflower with Minirhizotron. Hanan Eizenberg, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) and J. E. Ephrath, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Institutes for Desert Reserach, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boker, Israel. American Soc. of Agronomy International Annual Meetings, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
6. 2006 -.Response of Olive (Olea europea L. cv “Barnea” ) Roots to Drip Irrigation with Saline Water. Weissbein, S. Wiesman, Z, Silberbush, M. and Ephrath, J. E. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Wyler Department for dryland Agriculture, Sede Boqer Campus, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel. American Soc. of Agronomy International Annual Meetings, Indianapolis, IN, USA
7. 2007 - Does Root Xylem Plasticity Affect Tolerance of Olive (Olea europea L.) Trees Grown Under High Salinity? J. E. Ephrath, Silberbush, M.. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Institutes for Desert Research, Israel, and Rewald, B., Georg-August University of Göttingen and the Dept. of Plant Ecology, Göttingen, 37077, Germany. American Soc. of Agronomy International Annual Meetings, New Orleans, LA, USA
8. 2007- Factors Affecting the Efficacy of Orobanche cumana Control in Sunflower. J. E. Ephrath, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Institutes for Desert Research, Israel, Hanan Eizenberg and Joseph Hershenhorn, Department of Phytopathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya’ar Research Center.
9. 2007 - Does Root Xylem Plasticity Affect Tolerance of Olive (Olea europea L.) Trees Grown Under High Salinity? Boris Rewald Georg-August University of Göttingen, Dept. of Plant Ecology, Göttingen, 37077, Germany and J. E. Ephrath, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Institutes for Desert Research, Israel. 4th international symposium on dynamics of physiological processes in woody plants, Bangor, UK
10. 2008 –The interaction between the root parasites broomrape (orobanche spp.) and woody root. J. E Ephrath, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Institutes for Desert Research, Israel and H. Eizenberg, Department of Phytopathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya’ar Research Center
11. 2009 - Influence of Saline Drip Irrigation On Root Bio- and Necromass and Specific Root Area of Mature Olive Trees. Jhonathan Ephrath, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Ben-Gurion Univ. of the Negev, Sede Boker, Israel, Boris Rewald, Georg-August Univ. of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany and Shimon Rachmilevitch, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Ben-Gurion Univ. of the Negev, Sede Boqer, Israel . American Soc. of Agronomy International Annual Meetings, Nov. 1-5, Pittsburgh, PA , USA.
12. 2009 Sand Abrasion Injury and Biomass Partitioning in Cotton Seedlings. – Baker, J. T. , McMichael, B., Burke, J., Gitz, D., Lascano, R. J. and Ephtath. J. E.American Soc. of Agronomy International Annual Meetings, Nov. 1-5, Pittsburgh, PA , USA
13. 2010 - Functional differentiation within root systems -‐ root order-based water uptake rates under freshwater and salinity. Rewald, B., Ephrath, J.E. & Rachmilevitch, S. Fifth International Symposium on Physiological Processes in Roots of Woody Plants. Victoria, Canada.
14. 2010. Sand Abrasion Injury, Leaf Photosynthetic rate and Plant Survival in Cotton Seedlings of Different Ages. - Epharth, J. E., Baker,J. T., Gitz, D. and Lascano, R. J American Soc. of Agronomy International Annual Meetings, Long beach CA , USA
15. 2010 - Intercomparisons of Irrigation Scheduling Methods in Cotton Using Canopy Temperature. Baker,J. T, Epharth, J. E., Gitz, D. , A. Marani, A. and Lascano, R. J. American Soc. of Agronomy International Annual Meetings, Long beach CA , USA
16. 2011 - Water Uptake rates of Citrus root orders. Ephrath, J. E. Rewald, B., Rachmilevitch, S.American Soc. of Agronomy International Annual Meetings, San Antonio TX , USA
Seminar presentations at universities and institutions (last 6 years):
1. 2004, Texas A&M, College Station, TX: Calibration of minirhizotron readings against root length density data obtained from soil cores.
2. 2006, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) Newe Ya'ar Experimental Station: New Method for in situ Monitoring of the Underground Development of Orobanche cumana in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) with a Minirhizotron
3. 2008, United State Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service (USDA-ARS), Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Laboratory Lubbock Tx: Does Root Xylem Plasticity Affect Tolerance of Olive (Olea europea L.) Trees Grown Under High Salinity?
4. 2008, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Bet Dagan: Novel methods for measuring roots
5. 2009, United State Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service (USDA-ARS), Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Laboratory Lubbock Tx: The effect of brackish water irrigation on the above and below ground development of pollarded acacia saligna shrubs in an arid environment.
6. 2011, United State Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service (USDA-ARS), Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Laboratory Lubbock Tx: Cotton 2k – A simulation model for cotton.
Research grants.
(*- Principle investigator)
1. Ben-Asher*, J., Silberbush, M. and Ephrath, J. E.: Salinity and Mineral Nutrition. Grantor: The Rashi Foundation. Two years, $150,000 (1994-1997)
2. Ephrath*, J. E. and Ben-Asher, J.: Physiological Aspects of Out of Season Amaryllis Marketing. Grantor: Chief Scientist of Ministry of Science and Technology. Three years, $80,000 (1996-1998)
3. Berliner*, P.R., Ephrath, J. E and Nyabundi, J (University of Nairobi, Kenya): Optimizing Biomass Production in a Agroforestry system in North-West Kenya. Grantor: GIARA Foundation. Three years, DM152,000 (1995-1997)
4. Ephrath*, J. E. and Berliner, P. R.: Growing trees under stressed conditions in the Negev Desert. Grantor: The Negev Development Authority. One year. $17,000 (1998)
5. Weintraub, P. G., Horowitz, A. R. Ephrath*, J. E. and S. Bitton.: Reduction of pesticide use in production of insect-free greenhouse vegetables. Grantor: Chief Scientist of Ministry of Science and Technology. Three years, $40,000 (1998-2000).
6. Ephrath, J. E.* and Ben-Asher, J. Establishing a laboratory for inspecting pesticide residuals in agricultural products in the Katif center for R&D Development of Coastal Deserts. Grantor: Chief Scientist of Ministry of Science and Technology. One year, $38,000 (1998)
7. Ephrath*, J. E. and Ben-Asher, J. The Katif Research Center for Development of Coastal Deserts. Grantor: Chief Scientist of Ministry of Science and Technology. One year, $90,000 (1999)
8. Payne*, W. A., Balota, M., Gitelson, A. and Ephrath*, J. E. Chlorophyll Fluorescence and Canopy Temperature Depression as Crop Stress Indicators of Wheat and Cotton under Semi-arid Conditions of Texas and Israel. Gtantor: The Texas-Israel Exchange and Development Program. One Year: $50,000 (2001)
9 Berliner*, P. R., Ephrath, J. E., Lips, H. (Israel) and Nyabundi, J. (Kenya) Coordinated use of marginal water resources in arid and desert areas-(Stage II). Grantor: US-AID. Three years, $200,000 (2002-2005)
10. Ephrath, J. E.*, Sagi, M. (Israel) and Nora Grados Quesada (Peru): Studies of stress tolerance mechanisms in Prosopis. ). Grantor: US-AID. Four years, $200,000 (2003-2007).
11. Ephrath, J. E*. Ronen and (Israel), Zair Shakirov and Sardor Khakimov (Uzbekistan) The adaptation of Onobrychis, a salt and drought tolerant perennial legume grass species of Central Asia deserts, for crop production and to combat desertification. Grantor: US-AID. Four years, $200,000 (2003-2007).
12. Ephrath, J. E.* Identification of Plants to be used for combating Desertification. Grantor: Italian Ministry of Territory and Environment. One year, 8,000 Euro (2004)
13. Ephrath, J. E., and Rolando Cifuentes (Guatemala). Optimization of chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius ssp. aconitifolius; Euphorbiaceae) production and nutritional value in marginal land conditions. Grantor: US-AID. Four years, $200,000 (2005-2008)
14. Ephrath, J. E.* Identification of Suitable Plants for Combating Desertification and Establishment of Demonstration and Training Sites. Grantor: Grantor: Italian Ministry of Territory and Environment. One year, 20,000 Euro (Sept. 2005- Sept. 2007).
15. Ephrath, J. E. * and Blumberg. D. Precision agriculture approach- development models and innovative techniques for optimizing environment friendly weed management in corn. Grantor: Research Network Program Israel- France, Ministry of Science and Technology. 2 years US$17,000 (2006-2007).
16. Ephrath, J. E.* Integrated Orobanche control in sunflower. Grantor: Chief Scientist Ministry of Agriculture. US$22,000, (2005-2007)
17. Ephrath, J. E.* Integrated Orobanche control in Tomatoe. Grantor: Chief Scientist Ministry of Agriculture. US$22,000, (2006-2008).
18. Ephrath, J. E.* Developing a decision support system for controlling Amaranthus spp. In Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Grantor: Chief Scientist Ministry of Agriculture. US$22,000, (2006-2009)
19. Ephrath, J. E.* Study of weed- Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) relationship in order to reduce pesticide use. Grantor: Chief Scientist Ministry of Agriculture. US$20,000, (2009-2012)
20. Ephrath, J. E*., Shimon Rachmilevitch and Dan Blumberg. Orobanche control in Tomatos. Grantor: Chief Scientist Ministry of Agriculture. US$80,000, (2009-2012)
Synopsis of research
During and just after finishing my Ph.D. studies my research focused on the effects of moisture stress on photosynthesis, stomatal resistance and leaf water potential of cotton (Ephrath et al., 1990; Ephrath et al., 1994; Ephrath and Marani, 1993) and the effects of diseases on the gas exchange and yields of cotton (Ephrath et al., 1989).
After finishing my doctoral studies (1987) I got a scholarship from the Dutch Government to stay one year at the Wageningen Agricultural University, the Department of Theoretical Production Ecology (TPE). The department considers being the pioneer academic unit and one of the best in the world dealing with agricultural modeling (the Founder and Head of this department, Prof. C. T. DeWit got the Wolf prize in 1983). During my stay there I worked with Dr. Jan Goudriaan on developing a meteorological model for predicting hourly weather data (Air temp, Relative humidity, Wind speed and radiation) from daily data (Goudriaan et al., 1995; Ephrath et al., 1996). During the years from 1989 to 1991 I worked for the United State Dept. of Agriculture, the Agriculture Research Service (USDA-ARS) at the University of Illinois, Urbana IL. During my stay there I studied a new technique for monitoring root development in the field using the minirhizotron method. Most of the work on this subject was done with Prof. Huck, a world specialist on the area of root studies. By using the minirhizotron, video images of roots inside the soil are taken using a micro video-camera which is inserted into a clear perspex tube in the soil. (Elmore et al., 1992; Ephrath et. al., 1993, Ben-Asher et. al., 1994; Ephrath, 1996). I also worked with Prof. J. Hesketh from the Photosynthetic Research Unit, on the subject of physiology of plants under stress. Our Research focused of effects of water and nitrogen stresses on photosynthesis (Ephrath et al., 1991; Hesketh et al, 1991), phenological development (Ephrath and Hesketh, 1991) and Plant development (Ephrath et al., 1994).
In August 1991 I started my work at the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, The Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and was involved in a research aimed to find method for the propagation of Hippeastrum bulbs (Ephrath et al., 2001c), and the developing of agrotechnique methods to shorten the growing period of Hipeastrum bulbs. Among these technique we tested the effects of Temperatures (Ephrath et al., 2001a, b), CO2 (Ephrath et al., 2001a), and fertilization (Silberbush et al., 2003). From 1994 I worked at the Run-off Agricultural unit. My scientific interest was on three main topics: (1) Root physiology; (2) Physiology of plant under stress (3) Modeling. From a German-Israeli grant we received (GIARA, 1994) we worked on roots (Ephrath et al., 1999) and environmental conditions such as water stress (Droppelmann, 1999a and 1999b), salinity stress (Ephrath et al., 2001).
Physiological aspects of plant growing under various stresses were tested by me in several projects: (1) Physiological Aspects of Out of Season Amaryllis Marketing. Grantor: Chief Scientist of Ministry of Science and Technology. Three years, 1996-1998, $80,000). (Ephrath and Ben-Asher). Four papers were published (Ephrath et. al., 2001a, b, c and Silberbush et al., 2003); (2) Reduction of pesticide use in production of insect-free greenhouse vegetables. Grantor: Chief Scientist of Ministry of Science and Technology. Three years, $40,000 (1998-2000). (Ephrath, Horowitz, Weintraub, Biton); (3) Salinity and Mineral Nutrition. Grantor: The Rashi Foundation. Two years, $150,000 (1994-1997) (Ben-Asher, Silberbush, Ephrath)
The possibility of growing trees using surface runoff in arid lands was tested in three projects in which I am involved: (1) Optimizing Biomass Production in an Agroforestry system in North-West Kenya. Grantor: GIARA Foundation. Three years, DM152,000 (1995-1997) (Berliner, Ephrath, Nyabundi (Kenya)); 2. Growing trees under stressed conditions in the Negev Desert. Grantor: The Negev Development Authority. One year. $17,000 (1998) (Ephrath, Berliner); 3. Coordinated use of marginal water resources in arid and desert areas-(Stage II). Grantor: US-AID. Three years, $100,000 (1999-2002) Berliner, Ephrath, Lips, Nyabundi.
In 1998-1999 I was again acting head of the Katif Research Center for Development of Coastal Deserts (Grantor: Chief Scientist of Ministry of Science and Technology. One year, $90,000 (1999)). During that time I established the laboratory for inspecting pesticide residuals in agricultural products. (Grantors: Chief Scientist of Ministry of Science and Technology and the local Municipal Council. One year, $120,000). In 2001 I got a grant from “The Texas-Israel Exchange and Development Program” to study the effects of chlorophyll fluorescence and canopy temperature depression as a crop stress indicators in Wheat and Cotton under Semi-arid conditions of Israel ($50,000). During 2001-2002 I was on a Sabbatical leave in the in the US-Department of Agriculture in the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center, Maryland. During my stay there I worked on the effects of CO2 enrichment and water stress on the root to shoot ratio of cotton plants using the SPAR chambers (Plant Biosystems, Ephrath et al, 2010, In Press).
In 2003 I received two US-AID grants with Peru (dealing with Studies of stress tolerance mechanisms in Prosopis) and with Uzbekistan (dealing with the adaptation of Onobrychis, a salt and drought tolerant perennial legume grass species of Central Asia deserts, for crop production and to combat desertification). In 2005 I received another US-AID, in which we study, the: Optimization of chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius ssp. aconitifolius; Euphorbiaceae) production and nutritional value in marginal land conditions. This project is with the collaboration of the Universidad del valle de Guatemala, in Guatemala City. Two M. Sc students did their M. Sc thesis financed by the US-AID projects.
Studies on the root parasite broomrape (Orobanche): From 2004 I am involved in several studies on the root parasite broomrape (Orobanche) (Eizenberg et. al., 2005 and Eizenberg et. al., 2009, Ephrath et al., 2010).
From 2004-2007 I collaborate with a multidisciplinary group of researchers from Tel-Aviv University, Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot and the ARO at Bet-Dagan on Identification of Suitable Plants for Combating Desertification and Establishment of Demonstration and Training Sites. In this project we studied the effects of salinity on the development of trees (Acacia and several varieties of Tamarix) and annual shrubs on the biomass production, root and shoot development, photosynthesis and several biochemical aspects. This project is financed by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Territories and its goals are: (1) to establish and maintain medium size testing and demonstration plots for various areas which are prone to desertification, or already require restoration of desertified areas, and (2) to further characterize the resistance-associated physiological and molecular traits. Within the frame of the Italian-Israeli cooperation two complementary sites will be established in the two countries in locations prone to salinization. Together they will encompass some different climatic and edaphic conditions and would demonstrate the possible use of several plant species in each country. The same treatments, data collection and testing techniques will be used in the two sites. The data will be stored on remotely accessible servers to allow sharing of information and continuous comparisons. From 2005 I am involved with a project entitled: "Precision agriculture approach- development models and innovative techniques for optimizing environment friendly weed management in corn". In this project we check the possibility of replacing the use of the herbicide "Atrazine", which is prohibit to be used in Europe and used to be the major and most important herbicide in corn by other weed control techniques. Those techniques involve remote sensing, GIS methods and mechanical weed control. This project is in the frame of the bi-national France Israel Research Networks Program in Sustainable Agriculture which is financed by the ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). The program dealt with the following topics: (1) Modeling the emergence dynamics of maize and two important weed species Lambsquarters (Chenopdium album L.) and black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) commonly infesting corn fields both in France and Israel; (2) Modeling the corn-weed competition. Two sub-models were developed: Underground competition model, based on experiments using a novel minirhizotron technology and above-ground competition model which will take into account the following: (i) light, (ii) canopy structure,(iii) relative timing of emergence of the various cohorts; (iv) spatial heterogeneities within the canopy and (3) Testing an innovative technique of deep corn sowing (to delay corn emergence) associated with PRE mechanical weeding, followed by POST mechanical weeding and at the final stage application of low doses of herbicides on localized weed patches according to remote sensing maps (site specific weed management technology).
In 2006, a new project in collaboration with Dr. Eizenberg from the ARO in Newe Ya'ar Experimental station was initiated. The title of this project is "Developing an expert system for controlling Amaranthus spp. In Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)", and its aim is to develop a model to predict the optimal timing for herbicide applications for controlling the amaranthus weed in cotton. This project will involve field and lab studies, developing of a mathematical model for predicating the development of both the weed and the cotton and the competition between the two crops.
During the year of 2007-8 Dr. Boris Rewald from the University of Goettingen spent 3 months in my lab as part of the SSA program, working on root physiology and morphology of several varieties of olive trees growing under different levels of salinity. A paper entitled "Does root xylem variability affect salt tolerance?" Authored by B. Rewald, C. Leuschner, Z. Wiesman and J.E. Ephrath. Recently Dr. Rewald came for a two years post-doctoral study and he will work with Dr. Rachmilevich and me on: Impact of salinity on root order-related water and nutrient uptake rates of Citrus and Olives. A series of papers were publish in Acta Hort, Plant Cell and Environment and submitted to Environmental and Experimental Botany.
From 2007 I am involved in a project dealing with the effects of water stress, wind erosion and different temperature and radiation regimes on the early development of cotton seedling. A paper dealing with sand abrasion injury, water stress and Biomass partitioning between root and shoot in cotton seedlings was published in Agronomy Journal (Baker et al., 2009, From September 2009, I spent a sabbatical year in Lubbock, TX, working at the Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Laboratory of the USDA-ARS on windblown soil abrasion injury on Cotton seedlings: The main goal of the study will focus on testing if altered assimilate allocation (from shoot to roots or vice versa) of stressed plants will enhance plant resistance and recovery (Baker et al;., 2012, in press).
Present Academic Activities
Book chapter in preparation
Eizenberg, H., Hershenhorn, J., Ephrath, J. E. and Kanampiu, F. (2011). Chemical control of parasitic plants. in: Root Parasitic Orobanchaceae: Parasitic Mechanisms and Control Strategies. Eds: Joel, D. M and Gressel J.
Articles
Rewald, B*, Meinen, C. , Trockenbrodt, M. , Ephrath, J. E. and Rachmilevitch, S. (2011)Determination of root species identity in plant mixtures – Current techniques and future challenges. Submitted. Oecologia
Rewald, B., Gendler, T., Raveh, A., Ephrath, J.E. & Rachmilevitch, S. Anatomical and morphological plasticity of Citrus rootstocks under salinity. In preparation
Rewald, B., Ephrath, J.E. & Rachmilevitch, S. Morphological and functional plasticity of two diffferently salt resistance Tamarix species. In preparation.