Crop Physiology

The overall goal of  the crop physiology research is to improve production systems' sustainability in Virginia and mid-Atlantic region. This has been accomplished through research addressing abiotic stress adaptation of field crops and development of high-throughput phenotypic methods, and participation in nationally recognized Multi-State Hatch projects, S 1069 and S 1079.

The research focusses on phenomics of the currently grown crops, with emphasis on peanut, and future crops to fit the Commonwealth environment. This has been driven by climate change along with the lack of knowledge in plant adaptation to drought and heat during otherwise “good rainy” years. Employing direct and aerial measurements of the plant physiological, morphological, and agronomic characteristics, this research determined that water is undoubtedly a significant factor limiting yield in the sub-humid Virginia, where each degree Centigrade increase in temperature (5˚C increase is expected by 2080) can reduce peanut yield by 11%.

Additionally, Dr. Balota and her team are piloting a $2.7 million multistate project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crops Research Initiative to introduce the faba bean as a sustainable fall and winter crop in the mid-Atlantic region. 

Current projects:

Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Peanut

Peanut Variety and Quality Evaluation Harnessing Multiscale Data for Trait Prediction to Support Cultivar Release Decisions

Professor Maria Balota is piloting a $2.7 million multistate project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crops Research Initiative to introduce the faba bean as a sustainable fall and winter crop in the mid-Atlantic region. 

Read more: Faba Bean: A Multipurpose Specialty Crop for the Mid-Atlantic USA

1. Kumar, N., Haak, D.C., Dunne, J.C., Balota, M. (2024). Phenotypic dissection of drought tolerance in Virginia and Carolinas within a Recombinant Inbred Line population involving a spanish and a virginia-type peanut lines. Agriculture 2024, 14, 908. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14060908.
2. Balota, M.; Sarkar, S*.; Bennett, R.S.; Burow, M.D. (2024). Phenotyping Peanut Drought Stress with Aerial Remote-Sensing and Crop Index Data. Agriculture 2024, 14, 565. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14040565.
3. Chapu, I*.; Chandel, A.; Sie, E.K.; Okello, D.K.; Oteng-Frimpong, R.; Okello, R.C.O.; Hoisington, D.; Balota, M. (2024). Comparing Regression and Classification Models to Estimate Leaf Spot Disease in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) for Implementation in Breeding Selection. Agronomy 2024, 14, 947. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050947
4. Seidu, A.; Abudulai, M.; Dzomeku, I.K.; Mahama, G.Y.; Nboyine, J.A.; Appaw, W.; Akromah, R.; Arthur, S.; Bolfrey-Arku, G.; Mochiah, M.B.; et al. (2024). Evaluation of Production and Pest Management Practices in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) in Ghana. Agronomy 2024, 14, 972. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy 14050972
5. Oakes, J*., Balota, M., Cazenave, A. -B., & Thomason, W. (2024). Using Aerial Spectral Indices to Determine Fertility Rate and Timing in Winter Wheat. Agriculture, 14(1), 95. doi:10.3390/agriculture14010095 Published online: 2024-01-03.
6. Jordan, D. L., Anco, D., Balota, M., Langston, D., Lux, L., Shew, B., & Brandenburg, R. L. (2024). Survey of herbicide and fungicide use in peanut in North Carolina and Virginia in the United States. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management, 10(1), e20263.
7. Jordan, D. L., Anco, D., Balota, M., & Brandenburg, R. L. 2024. Farmer insights on harvesting peanut: A survey from the Virginia–Carolina region of the United States. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management, 10(1), e20262.