Stacy D. Singer, Ph.D.
Current research and/or projects
Crop species face numerous types of abiotic and biotic pressures, which often severely limit productivity and are predicted to become even more problematic in coming years due to climate change. In addition, inadequacies in forage quality can lead to substantial economic losses for producers and the emission of significant quantities of greenhouse gases. As such, there is a very diverse range of traits that could be enhanced to improve sector profitability, sustainability and competitiveness, and also reduce environmental impact. To address these challenges, my research program focuses on unraveling the genetic mechanisms driving various performance- and quality-related traits, especially in forage crops, as well as the improvement of these traits using advanced molecular breeding tools such as genome editing.
Research and/or project statements
- developing genome editing technology in forage crop species to increase the pace and precision of breeding
- improving abiotic stress tolerance to increase climate change resiliency
- enhancing photosynthetic efficiency/capacity to increase productivity
- boosting oil production in vegetative tissues to reduce methane emissions from livestock production
Education and awards
PhD, Plant Molecular Genetics, University of Regina (2005). Received the President's Distinguished Graduate Student Award.
BSc (Great Distinction), Biology (Major), Biochemistry (Minor), University of Regina (1999).
Key publications
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Mukthar M.M., Poudel H., Chen G., Singer S. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome-editing for enhancing the total shoot lipid content in alfalfa. Plant and Animal genome-31, San Deigo, USA, 12-17th Jan, 2024
2024 - View publication details
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C. Wijekoon, S. D. Singer, R.J. Weselake, S. Acharya (2019 July 7-10) Metabolomics-Assisted Applications in Nutritional Genomics and Crop Improvement. Plant Canada conference. Guelph. Student poster presentation judge. Oral presentation by C. Wijekoon.
2023 - View publication details
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Kröbel, R., Stephens, E.C., Gorzelak, M.A., Thivierge, M.N., Akhter, F., Nyiraneza, J., Singer, S.D., Geddes, C.M., Glenn, A.J., Devillers, N., Alemu, A.W., St. Luce, M., Giardetti, D. (2021). Making farming more sustainable by helping farmers to decide rather than telling them what to do. Environmental Research Letters, [online] 16(5), http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abef30
2021 - View publication details
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Subedi U, Burton Hughes K, Dhariwal G, Kader K, Hannoufa A, Acharya S, Singer SD. Mutation of MsSPL8 alleles via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing leads to superior abiotic stress resiliency and distinct morphological alterations in alfalfa. 1st International Electronic Conference on Plant Science, Dec. 1 – 15, 2020
2020 - View publication details
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Subedi U, Burton Hughes K, Dhariwal G, Chen G, Acharya S, Singer SD. Transcriptional down-regulation of various genes in alfalfa enhances tolerance to abiotic stresses. 1st International Electronic Conference on Plant Science, Dec. 1 – 15, 2020
2020 - View publication details
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Subedi U, Dhariwal GK, Burton Hughes K, Chen G, Acharya S, Singer SD. RNAi mediated down-regulation of various genes enhances abiotic stress tolerance in alfalfa. Plant Biology Worldwide Summit 2020, virtual conference, July 27 – 31, 2020
2020 - View publication details
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Singer SD, Subedi U, Feyissa BA, Dhariwal GK, Burton Hughes K, Kader K, Hannoufa A, Acharya S. Comparative physiological, biochemical and transcriptomic analyses of Medicago sativa subsp. falcata and subsp. sativa in the context of drought tolerance. Plant Biology Worldwide Summit 2020, virtual conference, July 27 – 31, 2020
2020 - View publication details
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Moving toward climate-resilient crops and sustainable agriculture. Research Outreach (https://researchoutreach.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Stacy-Singer.pdf)
2020 - View publication details
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Singer SD, Burton Hughes K, Dhariwal GK, Subedi U, Kader K, Hannoufa A, Acharya S. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutation of alfalfa SQUAMOSA PROMOTER-BINDING-LIKE8 alleles leads to distinct morphological alterations. Plant Biology Worldwide Summit 2020, virtual conference, July 27 – 31, 2020
2020 - View publication details
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Wijekoon, C., Singer, S.D., Weselake, R.J., Petrie, J.R., Chen, G., Singh, S., Eastmond, P.J., Acharya, S.N. (2020). Downregulation of key genes involved in carbon metabolism in Medicago truncatula results in increased lipid accumulation in vegetative tissue. Crop Science, [online] 60(4), 1798-1808. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20124
2020 - View publication details
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Xu Y, Singer SD, Chen G. Improving oil production in plants and microalgae by engineering performance-enhanced diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1. Inform magazine, June 2020 issue
2020 - View publication details
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Laroche A, Singer S, Foroud N, Laurie J, Pittman A. 2020. Modern studies in Crop Sciences / Études Contemporaines chez les Grandes Cultures. Lethbridge AgExpo 2020, Lethbridge, AB, February 26-28, 2020.
2020 - View publication details
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Singer, S.D., Soolanayakanahally, R.Y., Foroud, N.A., Kroebel, R. (2020). Biotechnological strategies for improved photosynthesis in a future of elevated atmospheric CO2, 251(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00425-019-03301-4
2020 - View publication details
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Wijekoon, C., Singer, S.D., Weselake, R.J., Subedi, U., Acharya, S.N. (2019). Evaluation of virus-induced gene silencing methods for forage legumes including alfalfa, sainfoin, and fenugreek. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, [online] 99(6), 917-926. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2018-0329
2019 - View publication details
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Singer, S.D., Hannoufa, A., Acharya, S. (2018). Molecular improvement of alfalfa for enhanced productivity and adaptability in a changing environment, 41(9), 1955-1971. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/pce.13090
2018 - View publication details
Contact
Research facility
Affiliations
- Adjunct status at the University of Lethbridge, Department of Biological Sciences
- Adjunct status at the University of Alberta, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences