Research Interests

Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE)

• Discovering genes influencing maize responses to nitrogen NitroGenes
• Understanding the Physiological and Genetic basis of NUE
  -Using field studies, hydroponics and in vitro kernel culture
• Influence of Nitrogen fertilizer form and timing on yield
• Variable Rate Nitrogen (VRN) technology
• Improving plant Bioenergy yield without excess N
• Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency – Metabolic and enzymatic differences between hybrids in yield production
• Amino acid signalling of plant N status

Grain Quality for Processing

• Increasing starch quality and quantity for ethanol
• Improving hard endosperm food grade corn

Crop Production Management Evaluation

• Relation of early plant growth to yield
• Influence of ethylene inhibitors on plant physiology, biomass and yield
• Crop Rotation and Tillage effects

Teaching Responsibilities

Crop Growth and Development CPSC 518
Crop Growth and Development CPSC 518, OCGS

Recent Publications (Peer- reviewed)

• Uribelarrea, M, Crafts-Bradner, S.J. and Below, F.E. (2009)  Physiological N response of field-grown maize hybrids (Zea mays L.) with divergent yield potential and grain protein concentration [Open access] Plant Soil 316:151-160.
• Below, F.E., Duncan, K.A., Uribelarrea, M. and T.B. Ruyle (2009)  Occurrence and proposed cause of hollow husk in maize. Agron J. 101:237-242.
• Wessel, JR, Ruffo, MR, Below, FE. (2007) Spring Rainfall Dictates Success of Nitrogen Applied to Corn in Fall or Winter. In T. Bruulsema (ed.) Managing Crop Nitrogen for Weather. International Plant Nutrition Institute, Norcross, GA. (book chapter)
• Uribelarrea, M, Moose, SP, Below, FE. (2007) Divergent selection for grain protein affects nitrogen use efficiency in maize hybrids. Field Crops Res., 100 (1): 82-90.
• Below, FE, Seebauer JR, Uribelarrea M, Schneerman MC, Moose SP. (2004) Physiological changes accompanying long-term selection for grain protein in maize. p. 133-151. In: J. Janick (ed). Plant Breeding Reviews: Long-term selection: Maize. Vol. 24. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ. (book chapter)
• Seebauer JR, Moose SP, Fabbri BJ, Crossland, L, Below, FE. (2004) Amino Acid Metabolism in Maize Earshoots. Implications for Assimilate Preconditioning and Nitrogen Signaling. Plant Physiology 136 (4): 4326-4334.
• Bergerou JA, Gentry LE, David MB, Below FE. (2004) Role of N-2 Fixation in the Soybean N Credit in Maize Production. Plant and Soil 262 (1-2): 383-394.
• Uribelarrea M, Below FE, Moose SP. (2004) Grain Composition and Productivity of Maize Hybrids Derived from The Illinois Protein Strains in Response to Variable Nitrogen Supply. Crop Science 44 (5): 1593-1600.
• Gentry LE, Below FE, David MB, Bergerou JA. (2001) Source of the Soybean N Credit in Maize Production. Plant And Soil 236 (2): 175-184.
• Below FE, Cazetta JO, Seebauer JR. 2000. Carbon/nitrogen interactions during ear and kernel development of maize. p. 15-24. In M. Westgate and K. Boote (eds.) Physiology and modeling kernel set in maize. CSSA Special publication no. 29. CSSA-ASA. Madison, WI. (book chapter)
• Lee HJ, Seebauer JR, Below FE. (2000) An Improved Technique for Culture of Rice Panicles. Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture 60 (1): 55-60.
• Cazetta JO, Seebauer JR, Below FE. (1999) Sucrose and Nitrogen Supplies Regulate Growth of Maize Kernels. Annals of Botany 84 (6): 747-754.
• Wang XT, Below FE. (1998) Accumulation and Partitioning of Mineral Nutrients in Wheat as Influenced by Nitrogen Form. J. of Plant Nutrition 21 (1):49-61.
• Faleiros, RRS, Seebauer JR, Below FE. (1996) Nutritionally Induced Changes in Endosperm of Shrunken-1 and Brittle-2 Maize Kernels Grown In Vitro. Crop Sci. 36:947-954.
• Mumera, LM, Below FE. (1996) Genotypic Variation in Resistance to Striga Parasitism of Maize. Maydica 41:255-262.
• Wang, XT, Below FE. (1996) Cytokinins in Enhanced Growth and Tillering of Wheat Induced by Mixed Nitrogen Source. Crop Sci 36:121-126.

Presentations

International Invited Presentations

• 'Using Maize as a Sugar Crop' Workshop on Plant Breeding and Biotechnology in the Great Pannonian Region- Present and Future Needs. PPBA and Agric. Inst Osijek, Osijek, Croatia. April 7-9, 2008
• 'Crop Management for Biofuel Production: Managing Maize Hybrids for Fuel Ethanol Production' Keynote Presentation at the Chinese Society of Agronomy Annual Meeting, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. April 24, 2007.
• 'Can We Improve N Use Efficiency in Maize?' Presented at:
  Department of Agronomy, Taiwan National University. April 27, 2007.
  International Seminar on Crop  Nutrition, Paysandu, Uruguay, May 8, 2007.
  Symposium on Fertility 2007: Basis for the Management of Crop and Soil Nutrition. Rosario, Argentina. May 11, 2007.
  Faculty of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, May 14, 2007.

National Invited Presentations

• 'Management for Continuous Corn' at InfoAg 2007, Springfield, IL, July 11, 2007.
• 'Crop Management Practices to Optimize Maize Grain for Ethanol Production' 2007 ASA Annual Meetings. New Orleans, LA. November 5, 2007.
• 'Genetics and Biotechnology in Improving Nitrogen Use of Corn' North Central Extension- Industry Soil Fertility Conference. Des Moines, Iowa, November 14, 2007.
• 'Occurrence and Proposed Cause of Hollow Husk in Corn in 2007' NCDC Committee meeting- Management of Corn Diseases. December 5, 2007.

Regional Invited Presentations

• 'Chemicals- The Seventh Wonder of the Corn Yield World' Illinois Certified Crop Advisor Convention, Springfield, IL, December 20, 2007.

Education

Ph.D. in Agronomy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
M.S. in Agronomy, UIUC
B.S. in Agricultural Sciences, UIUC

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