Sadanand A. Dhekney

Assistant Professor of Horticulture
Sheridan Research and Extension Center
Phone: 307-735-2415
Email: sdhekney@uwyo.edu

Education
2004 – Ph.D. (Horticulture), University of Florida
1999 – M.S. (Horticulture), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India
1997 – B.S. (Agriculture), Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, India

Experience
2012 – current, Assistant Professor of Horticulture, University of Wyoming
2010 – 2011, Graduate Faculty/Research Manager, Fort Valley State University
2007 – 2010, Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Florida
2004 – 2006, Post-Doctoral Research Associate, University of Florida

Research Interests
My program will utilize techniques in breeding and biotechnology along with improved management practices for expanding grapevine production in Wyoming. Screening Vitis germplasm for yield, quality and cold-hardiness, and evaluation of production systems for seedless grape cultivars in high tunnels will be a major focus area. Additionally, the program will also incorporate recent advances in grapevine genomics and biotechnology for improving abiotic stress tolerance of elite cultivars and rootstocks.

Selected Publications

Dhekney, S.A., Z.T. Li and D.J. Gray. 2011. Grapevines engineered to express cisgenic Vitis vinifera thaumatin-like protein exhibit fungal disease resistance. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology: Plant, 47:458-466.

Dhekney, S.A., Z.T. Li and D.J. Gray. 2011. Factors influencing induction and maintenance of Vitis rotundifolia Michx. embryogenic cultures. Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, 105:175-180.

Dhekney, S.A., Z.T. Li, T.W. Zimmerman and D.J. Gray. 2009. Factors influencing genetic transformation and plant regeneration of Vitis. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 60:285-292.

Dhekney, S.A., Z.T. Li, M.E. Compton and D.J. Gray. 2009. Optimizing initiation and maintenance of Vitis embryogenic cultures. HortScience, 44:1400-1406.

Gray, D.J., Z.T. Li., S.A. Dhekney, D.L. Hopkins, and C.L. Sims. 2009. ‘Delicious’: An early ripening, self-fertile, multipurpose black muscadine grape. HortScience, 44:200-201.

Gray, D.J., Z.T. Li., S.A. Dhekney, D.L. Hopkins, and C.L. Sims. 2009. ‘Southern Jewel’: A self-fertile black muscadine grape with fruit produced on bunches. HortScience, 44:1476-1477.

Complete CV (pdf - 38KB)

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