Ralph L. Obendorf Professor of Crop Physiology   Seed Biology Department of Crop and Soil Sciences 617 Bradfield Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853-1901 Tel. (607) 255-1709 FAX (607) 255-2644 email: rlo1@cornell.edu

B.S. 1960 (Purdue University)

M.S. 1962 (University of California at Davis)

Ph.D. 1966 (University of California at Davis)

Ralph L. Obendorf, professor of crop physiology since 1978, joined the Cornell faculty as assistant professor in 1966 and was associate professor 1971-1978. His Ph.D. was in Plant Physiology with a concentration in Biochemistry. He was a visiting scientist at the Institute for Cancer Research, FoxChase Cancer Center in Philadelphia in 1972-73, and 1983 he was a visiting plant physiologist at the Plant Growth Laboratory, University of California at Davis. He was a visiting scientist in Chemical Physiology of Plants, Institut fuer Pflanzenphysiologie, University of Vienna in 1997.

AWARDS

• 2000 Harry A. MacDonald Award for Excellence in Agronomy, Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University
• Seed Science Award, Crop Science Society of America, 2000
• Elected Fellow, American Society of Agronomy, 1996
• Elected Fellow, Crop Science Society of America, 1995
• Medal from Warsaw Agricultural University in 1992
• 1989 teaching award of the Northeast Branch of the American Society of Agronomy
• IBM Corporation Advanced Education Project Award in 1988
• Medal from Poznan Agriculture University in 1987
• Medal from Polish Ministry of Agriculture in 1987

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Owner/Editor, SEED-BIOLOGY-L@cornell.edu, an electronic mailing list to foster an exchange of seed biology research information.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• American Association of Cereal Chemists
• American Chemical Society
• American Institute of Biological Sciences
• American Society of Agronomy (Fellow, 1996; Member, Board of Directors, 1995-1998)
• American Society of Plant Physiologists
• Botanical Society of America
• Crop Science Society of America (Seed Science Award, 2000; Fellow, 1995; Member, Board of Directors, 1991-1993, 1995-1998; 1995-1998 Board Representative, 1992 Chair-elect and 1993 Chair, Div. C-4 Seed Physiology, Production and Technology)
• Gamma Sigma Delta (Honor Society of Agriculture)
• Fagopyrum Review Board (1998-present)
• Journal of New Seeds Editorial Board (1999-present)
• Acta Physiologiae Plantarum Editorial Board (2001-present)
• International Society for Seed Science (President-elect, 1999-present)
• New York Academy of Sciences
• Seed Science Research review board 1990-1993.
• Society for In Vitro Biology

RESEARCH

Our seed biology research emphasizes regulation of seed and embryo growth, maturation, and germination in vitro and in planta; somatic embryogenesis, desiccation tolerance, and seed water relations; pectin methyl esterase purification, characterization; cell wall polysaccharides in seeds; role of sugars, cyclitols and methanol in seed deterioration and germplasm preservation; regulation of seed set in buckwheat; molecular structure and biosynthesis of galactosyl cyclitols; enzymes and genes regulating pathways of soluble carbohydrate biosynthesis and degradation in seeds. Early work characterized imbibitional chilling in soybean and maize, stelar lesions and hydrational damage, respiration, energy metabolism and transcription.

TEACHING

• Crop and Soil Sciences 311- Grains and Nutriceuticals (Fall)
• Crop and Soil Sciences 612- Seed Physiology and Biotechnology (Spring)
• Crop and Soil Sciences 499- Undergraduate Research (Fall/Spring) recent topics
• FOOD 447-International Postharvest Food Systems (Fall) (Mycology of Stored Grain; Grain Grading)
• BIO G 499-Undergraduate Research (Fall/Spring) recent topics
• BIOPL 742-Current Topics in Plant Molecular Biology (Spring 1996)
• BIOPL 840-Current Topics in Plant Physiology (Fall 1997)
• Post Harvest Losses Workshop (an International Agriculture training workshop)
• Three to nine undergraduate students are trained in contemporary research each semester
• Plant Science Research Honors Program

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Obendorf, R.L. and Horbowicz, M. (2000) Preparation of fagopyritols and uses therefor. United States Patent Number 6,162,795. Date of Patent: December 19, 2000. 35 pages.

Brenac, P., Horbowicz, M., Dickerman, A.M., Miseray, F., Smith, M.E. and Obendorf, R.L. (2000) Up-regulation of raffinose and stachyose accumulation in buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) seedling hypocotyls during drying. Planta (accepted).

Obendorf, R.L., Steadman, K.J., Fuller, D.J., Horbowicz, M. and Lewis, B.A. (2000) Molecular structure of fagopyritol A1 (O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-3)-D-chiro-inositol) by NMR. Carbohydrate Research 328 (4), 623-627.

Slawinska, J. and Obendorf, R.L. (2000) Buckwheat seed set in planta and during in vitro inflorescence culture: evaluation of temperature and water deficit stress. Seed Science Research 10, (tentatively accepted).

Steadman, K.J., Fuller, D.J. and Obendorf, R.L. (2000) Purification and molecular structure of two digalactosyl D-chiro-inositols and two trigalactosyl D-chiro-inositols from buckwheat seeds. Carbohydrate Research 000, (in press).

Steadman, K.J., Burgoon, M.S., Lewis, B.A., Edwardson, S.E. and Obendorf, R.L. (2000) Buckwheat milling fractions: Description, macronutrient composition, and dietary fiber. Journal of Cereal Science 000, (in press).

Steadman, K.J., Burgoon, M.S., Schuster, R.L., Lewis, B.A., Edwardson, S.E. and Obendorf, R.L. (2000) Fagopyritols, D-chiro-inositol, and other soluble carbohydrates in buckwheat seed milling fractions. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 48, 2843-2847.

Steadman, K.J., Burgoon, M.S., Lewis, B.A., Edwardson, S.E. and Obendorf, R.L. (2000) Minerals, phytate, tannin and rutin in buckwheat milling fractions. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture (submitted).

Taylor, D.P. and Obendorf, R.L. (2000) Quantitative assessment of some factors limiting seed set in buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum, Polygonaceae). Crop Science 40, (tentatively accepted).

Koch, J.L., Horbowicz, M. and Obendorf, R.L. (1999) Methanol, pectin and pectin esterase changes during soybean seed maturation. Seed Science Research 9, 311-320.

Taylor, A.G., Johnson, C.F., Kataki, P.K. and Obendorf, R.L. (1999) Ethanol production from hydrated seeds: A high resolution index of seed quality. Acta Horticulturae 504, 153-160.

Horbowicz, M., Brenac, P., Obendorf, R.L. (1998) Fagopyritol B1, O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-2)-D-chiro-inositol, a galactosyl cyclitol in maturing buckwheat seeds associated with desiccation tolerance. Planta 205, 1-11.

Markovic, O. and Obendorf, R.L. (1998) Soybean seed pectinesterase. Seed Science Research 8, 455-461.

Obendorf, R.L. (1998) Buckwheat fagopyritols. pp III-65-III-71. In Campbell, C. and Pryzybylski, R. (Eds) Advances in Buckwheat Research, Seventh International Symposium on Buckwheat, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (August 12-14, 1998). Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada, Published by Organizing Committee under the auspices of the International Buckwheat Research Association.

Obendorf, R.L., Dickerman, A.M., Pflum, T.M., Kacalanos, M.A. and Smith, M.E. (1998) Drying rate alters soluble carbohydrates, desiccation tolerance, and seedling growth of soybean zygotic embryos during in vitro maturation. Plant Science 132, 1-12.

Obendorf, R.L., Horbowicz, M., Dickerman, A.M., Brenac, P. and Smith, M.E. (1998) Soluble oligosaccharides and galactosyl cyclitols in maturing soybean seeds in planta and in vitro. Crop Science 38, 78-84.

Steadman, K.J. and Obendorf, R.L. (1998) The use of buckwheat bran milling fraction in bread. pp III-21-III-26. In Campbell, C. and Pryzybylski, R. (Eds) Advances in Buckwheat Research, Seventh International Symposium on Buckwheat, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (August 12-14, 1998). Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada, Published by Organizing Committee under the auspices of the International Buckwheat Research Association.

Szczecinski, P., Gryff-Keller, A., Horbowicz, M. and Obendorf, R.L. (1998) NMR investigation of the structure of fagopyritol B1 from buckwheat seeds. Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences Chemistry 46, 9-13.

Brenac, P., Horbowicz, M., Downer, S.M., Dickerman, A.M., Smith, M.E. and Obendorf, R.L. (1997) Raffinose accumulation related to desiccation tolerance during maize (Zea mays L.) seed development and maturation. Journal of Plant Physiology 150, 481-488.

Brenac, P., Smith, M.E. and Obendorf, R.L. (1997) Raffinose accumulation in maize embryos in the absence of a fully functional Vp1 gene product. Planta 203, 222-228.

Brenac, P., Smith, M.E. and Obendorf, R.L. (1997) Raffinose series oligosaccharides and desiccation tolerance of developing viviparous maize embryos. pp 95-101 in Ellis, R.H., Black, M., Murdoch A.J. and Hong, T.D. (Eds) Basic and Applied Aspects of Seed Biology: Proceedings of the 5^th International Workshop on Seeds, Reading, 1995. Dordrecht, The Netherlands, Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Górecki, R.J. and Obendorf, R.L. (1997) Galactosyl cyclitols and raffinose family oligosaccharides in relation to desiccation tolerance of pea and soybean seedlings. pp 119-128 inEllis, R.H., Black, M., Murdoch, A.J. and Hong, T.D. (Eds) Basic and Applied Aspects of Seed Biology: Proceedings of the 5^th International Workshop on Seeds, Reading, 1995. Amsterdam, Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Górecki, R.J., Piotrowicz-Cieslak, A., Lahuta, L.B. and Obendorf, R.L. (1997) Soluble carbohydrates in desiccation tolerance of yellow lupin seeds during maturation and germination. Seed Science Research 7, 107-115.

Górecki, R.J., Piotrowicz-Cieslak, A. and Obendorf, R.L. (1997) Soluble sugars and flatulence-producing oligosaccharides in maturing yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.) seeds. Seed Science Research 7, 185-193.

Kataki, P.K., Horbowicz, M., Taylor, A.G. and Obendorf, R.L. (1997) Changes in sucrose, cyclitols and their galactosyl derivatives with seed aging. pp 515-522 in Ellis, R.H., Black, M., Murdoch A.J. and Hong, T.D. (Eds) Basic and Applied Aspects of Seed Biology: Proceedings of the 5^th International Workshop on Seeds, Reading, 1995. Amsterdam, Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Obendorf, R.L. (1997) Oligosaccharides and galactosyl cyclitols in seed desiccation tolerance (Review Update). Seed Science Research 7, 63-74.

Górecki, R.J., Brenac, P., Clapham, W.M., Willcott, J.B. and Obendorf, R.L. (1996) Soluble carbohydrates in white lupin (Lupinus albus L. cv. Ultra) seed matured at 13° and 28° C. Crop Science 36, 1277-1282.

Blackman, S.A., Obendorf, R.L. and Leopold, A.C. (1995) Desiccation tolerance in developing soybean seeds: The role of stress proteins. Physiologia Plantarum 93, 630-638.

Horbowicz, M., Obendorf, R.L., McKersie, B.D., and Viands, D.R. (1995) Soluble saccharides and cyclitols in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) somatic embryos, leaflets, and mature seeds. Plant Science 109, 191-198.

Horbowicz, M. and Obendorf, R.L. (1994) Seed desiccation tolerance and storability: Dependence on flatulence-producing oligosaccharides and cyclitols--review and survey. Seed Science Research 4, 385-405.

Obendorf, R.L., Horbowicz, M., and Taylor, D.P. (1993) Structure and chemical composition of developing buckwheat seed. pp. 244-251 in Janick, J. and Simon, J.E. (Ed.) New Crops. John Wiley & Sons, New York. View paper

Blackman, S.A., Obendorf, R.L. and Leopold, A.C. (1992) Maturation proteins and sugars in desiccation tolerance of developing soybean seeds. Plant Physiology 100, 225-230.

Horbowicz, M. and R.L. Obendorf. (1992) Changes in sterols and fatty acids of buckwheat endosperm and embryo during seed development. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 40, 745-750.

Obendorf, R.L. (1992) Relationship of methanol accumulation to preharvest seed deterioration and germplasm preservation. Search 27, 1-12.

Blackman, S.A., Wettlaufer, S.H., Obendorf, R.L. and Leopold, A.C. (1991). Maturation proteins associated with desiccation tolerance in soybean. Plant Physiology 97, 868-874.

Polanowski, A.J. and Obendorf, R.L. (1991) Soybean isocitrate lyase: purification, properties, immunoassay and N-terminal sequence. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 29, 119-129.

Slawinska, J. and Obendorf, R.L. (1991) Soybean somatic embryo maturation: Composition, respiration, and water relations. Seed Science Research 1, 251-262.

Wettlaufer, S.H. and Obendorf, R.L. (1991) Ureides and amides as nitrogen sources for soybean seed growth and maturation in vitro. Crop Science 31, 1319-1323.

Obendorf, R.L., Koch, J.L., Górecki, R.J., Amable, R.A. and Aveni, M.T. (1990) Methanol accumulation in maturing seeds. Journal of Experimental Botany 411, 489-495.

Saab, I.N., and Obendorf, R.L. (1989) Soybean seed water relations during in situ and in vitro growth and maturation. Plant Physiology 89, 610-616.