Jonathan A. D. Neilson

Image Jonathan Neilson
Research Scientist

Potato is an intensive crop to grow with relatively high input costs, but is also highly profitable. Increasing efficiency of growing potato by suppressing disease and reducing input costs will improve profitability and minimize the agricultural impact to soil quality and the surrounding environment. To accomplish these goals research activities include i) development of cheaper diagnostic tools that take advantage of new technologies in next generation sequencing and automation, ii) development of markers linked to desirable traits for breeding superior germplasm stock and iii) identification of beneficial endosymbionts for disease suppression as well as increased water and fertilizer use efficiency to minimize negative impacts of growing potato on soil health. Results of these research projects are aimed towards technology transfers to industry stakeholders, agronomists and breeders.

Current research and/or projects

Development of cheaper diagnostic tools that take advantage of new technologies in next generation sequencing and automation, development of markers linked to desirable traits for breeding superior germplasm stock and identification of beneficial microbes for disease suppression as well as increased water and fertilizer use efficiency to minimize negative impacts of growing potato on soil health.

Research and/or project statements

Development of diagnostic tools to improve potato health, quality and yield

Evaluation of crop and storage management practises on potato yield and quality

Identification of beneficial microbial organisms to improve potato health

Professional activities / interests

Plant stress physiology

Transcriptomics analysis

Gene/protein evolution

Education and awards

PhD University of New Brunswick, Department of Biology, 2015

BSc (Honors) University Of New Brunswick, Biology, 2008

 

Key publications

  1. NA Foroud, JAD Neilson (eds). 2023. Plant-Pathogen Interactions. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2659. Humana, New York, NY.

    2023 - View publication details

  2. Liu, X.; Floate, K.D.; Gorzelak, M.A.; Holman, D.B.; Hrycauk, S.; Kubota, H.; Lupwayi, N.; Neilson, J.A.D.; Ortega Polo, R.; Petri, R.M.; Tran, L.; Wang, H.; Wilches, D.; Yang, X.; Zorz, J.; Guarna, M.M. Prairie Agroecosystems: Interconnected Microbiomes of Livestock, Soil and Insects. Agriculture 2023, 13, 326. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020326

    2023 - View publication details

  3. Neilson, J.A.D., Robertson, C.J., Snowdon, E.W., Yevtushenko, D.P. (2020). Impact of Fumigation on Soil Microbial Communities under Potato Cultivation in Southern Alberta. American Journal of Potato Research, [online] 97(2), 115-126. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12230-019-09761-4

    2020 - View publication details

  4. Tai, H.H., Lagüe, M., Thomson, S., Aurousseau, F., Neilson, J., Murphy, A., Bizimungu, B., Davidson, C., Deveaux, V., Bègue, Y., Wang, H.Y., Xiong, X., Jacobs, J.M.E. (2020). Tuber transcriptome profiling of eight potato cultivars with different cold-induced sweetening responses to cold storage. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, [online] 146 163-176. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.11.001

    2020 - View publication details

  5. De Koeyer, D., V. Dickison, K. Gardner, B. Bizimungu, D. Chen, C. Goyer, L. Kawchuk, D. Main, J. Neilson, X. Nie, A. Smith, and H. Tai. 2019. Modernization of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Potato Breeding Program. p. 34. In: Northeast Potato Technology Forum 2019 Conspectus. March 20-21, Charlottetown, PE.

    2019 - View publication details

  6. Neilson, J., Lagüe, M., Thomson, S., Aurousseau, F., Murphy, A.M., Bizimungu, B., Deveaux, V., Bègue, Y., Jacobs, J.M.E., Tai, H.H. (2017). Gene expression profiles predictive of cold-induced sweetening in potato. Functional and Integrative Genomics, [online] 17(4), 459-476. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10142-017-0549-9

    2017 - View publication details

Research facility

5403 1st Avenue South
Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1
Canada

Expertise

Language

English