Dr. Manjul Dutt

Contact Information

Citrus Research and Education Center
Lake Alfred, Florida
Horticulture
Phone: 863.956.1151 ext. 1472
Email: manjul@ufl.edu

Education

Ph.D. Horticulture, University of Florida.
Dissertation Title: Methods to genetically transform grapevines

M.S. Plant and Soil Science, University of Kentucky.

B.Sc. Agriculture, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India.

Positions

2007 onwards: Post-Doctoral Associate, Department of Horticultural Science, University of Florida, Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), Lake Alfred, FL, USA.

2003 - 2006: Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Horticulture Sciences, University of Florida, Mid-Florida Research and Education center (MREC), Apopka, FL, USA.

2001-2003: Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Horticulture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.

Specialization

• Plant genetics and applied cell biology
• Analysis of gene expression in plants
• Transgene mediated plant defense mechanisms
• Plant seed physiology

Ongoing Research

• Design, cloning, and genetic transformation of codon optimized antibacterial peptide genes for resistance to major citrus diseases.
• Cloning and evaluation of insecticidal genes to target the Asian citrus psyllid and other citrus pests.
• Cloning of constitutively expressed and phloem specific promoters. Analysis of their expression in citrus.
• Development of alternate systems for genetic transformation of citrus.
• Conventional and in vitro breeding for citrus improvement..

Refereed Publications

Chae, C. W., M. Dutt, S. H. Yun, J. H. Park and D. H. Lee. Marker-assisted selection using SRAP and SCAR markers for detection of male sterility in citrus breeding. Euphytica (under review)

Dutt, M.,D. H. Lee and J. W. Grosser. Bifunctional selection-reporter systems for genetic transformation of citrus: mannose and kanamycin based systems. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Plant (in press).

Dutt M., M. Vasconcellos, K. Song, F. Gmitter, J.W.Grosser. 2010.  In vitro production of autotetraploid Ponkan mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) using cell suspension cultures. Euphytica 173:235-242

Dutt, M., J. Madhavaraj and J. W. Grosser. 2010. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation and plant regeneration from a complex tetraploid hybrid citrus rootstock. Scientia Horticulturae 123:454-458.

Biswas, M. K., M. Dutt, U. K. Roy, R. Islam and M. Hossain.2009.In vitro somaclonal variation in strawberry: Development and evaluation of improved somaclones. Scientia Horticulturae 122:409-416.

Dutt, M. and J.W. Grosser. 2009. Evaluation of parameters affecting Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Citrus. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 98: 331-340.

Dutt, M., Z.T. Li, S.A. Dhekney and D.J. Gray. 2008. A co-transformation system to produce transgenic grapevines free of marker genes. Plant Science 175 (3):423-430.

Geneve, R.L. and M. Dutt (2008) Using sequential digital images to study seed germination and dormancy. Propagation of Ornamental Plants 8(1):13-16.

Dhekney, S.A., Z.T. Li, M. Dutt and D.J. Gray (2008)  Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of embryogenic cultures and plant regeneration in Vitis rotundifolia Michx. (Muscadine grape). Plant Cell Reports 27(5):865-72.

Li,  Z.T., S.A. Dhekney, M. Dutt, T.W. Zimmerman, and D.J. Gray (2008) An improved protocol for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of grapevine. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 93(3):311-321.

Dutt M., Z.T. Li, S.A. Dhekney and D.J. Gray (2007) Transgenic plants from shoot apical meristems of Vitis vinifera L. “Thompson Seedless” via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Plant Cell Reports 26(12):2101-2110.

Dutt, M. and R.L. Geneve (2007) Using sequential imagery to evaluate germination rate and seedling growth in seeds of different vigor. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences 132:423-428.

Li, Z.T., S.  Dhekney, M. Dutt, M. Van Aman, J. Tattersall, K.T. Kelley, and D.J. Gray (2006) Optimizing Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of grapevine. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant 42(3):220-227.

Downie, A.B., L.M.A. Dirk, Q. Xu, J. Drake, M. Dutt, A. Levy, D.A. Butterfield, R.L. Geneve, J.W. Corum III, K.G. Lindstrom, and J.C. Snyder (2004) A physical, enzymatic, and genetic characterization of perturbations in the brownseed mutants of tomato. Journal of Experimental Botany 55:961-973.

Conference Proceedings

Dutt, M.,V. Orbovic and J.W. Grosser.  2009. Cultivar dependent gene transfer into citrus using Agrobacterium. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society 122: 85 – 89.

Geneve, R. L. and M. Dutt.  2008. A closer look at seed germination and dormancy. Combined Proceedings International Plant Propagator's Society 58: 561-565.

Dutt, M., A.A. Omar, V. Orbovic, G. Barthe, J. Gmitter, M. Vasconcellos, C. Dunning and J.W. Grosser. 2008. Combating Huanglongbing and Canker via Genetic Engineering of Citrus. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society 121:124-129.

Dutt, M., Z. T. Li, K. Kelley, S. A. Dhekney, M. Van Aman, J. Tattersall and D. J. Gray. 2007. Transgenic rootstock protein transmission in grapevines. Acta Horticulturae 738: 749-753.

Li, Z. T., S. A. Dhekney, M. Dutt, M. Van Aman, J. Tattersall, K. Kelley and D. J. Gray. 2007.  Isolation and characterization of the 2S albumin gene and promoter from grapevine. Acta Horticulturae 738: 759-765.

Dutt, M., S. T. Kester and R. L. Geneve. 2004. Elevated levels of ethylene during germination reduces the time to radicle emergence in impatiens. Acta Horticulturae 631: 43 – 47.

Dutt, M. and R. L. Geneve. 2002. Use of computer imaging to evaluate the initial stages of germination in woody tree seeds. Combined Proceedings International Plant Propagator's Society 52: 484-488.

Dutt, M. and R. L. Geneve. 2002. Using sequential digital images captured with a flat bed scanner to evaluate woody plant seeds with different germination requirements. Proceedings of Southern Nursery Association Research Conference 47: 352-356.

Selected Abstracts

Dutt, M., G. A. Barthe, M. I.  Francis, J. H. Graham and J. W. Grosser. 2009. Resistance to bacterial spot can be correlated with resistance to canker in transgenic citrus. Phytopathology 99:S30.

Dutt, M., J.W. Grosser, A. Omar and G. A. Barthe. 2009. Multiple approaches for genetic engineering of citrus for disease and pest resistance. Hortscience 43(4):1008.

Dutt, M. and J.W. Grosser. 2009. Comparison between mannose and kanamycin selection systems for genetic transformation of citrus. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Animal 43

Grosser, J.W., M. Dutt, A. Omar, V. Orbovic and G.A. Barthe. 2008. Towards the ultimate solution: genetic resistance to HLB in commercial citrus. Proceedings of the International Research Conference on Huanglongbing p.330.

Dutt,M., A.A. Omar, V. Orbovic, G. Barthe and J.W. Grosser (2008) Progress towards incorporation of antimicrobial peptides for disease resistance in citrus. (11th International Citrus Congress).

Dutt,M., G. Barthe and J.W. Grosser (2008) Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in citrus: Genetic transformation with SAR genes to combat Huanglongbing and Canker. (11th International Citrus Congress).

Omar, A.A., M. Dutt, G. Barthe, V. Orbovic and J.W. Grosser (2008) Phloem specific transgene expression driven by AtSUC2 gene promoter in transgenic citrus plants to develop citrus greening resistance. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology 44:S54

Dutt, M., V. Orbovic, G. Barthe, G. Pasquali, Z.T. Li, D.J. Gray and J.W. Grosser. 2008. Genetic engineering with antimicrobial peptides to improve disease resistance in citrus. HortScience 43(4):1286.

Gray, D. J., Z. T.Li, S. A. Dhekney, M. Dutt, D. Hopkins and T. W. Zimmerman (2007) Field testing of transgenic grapevine for bacterial and fungal disease resistance. HortScience 42(4):858.

Dutt, M., D. J. Gray, Z. T. Li, S. Dhekney and M. M. Van Aman (2006) Micropropagation cultures for genetic transformation of grapevine. HortScience 41(4):972.

Dutt, M., Z. T. Li, S. Dhekney and D. J. Gray (2006) Characterization of a composite promoter from genomic sequences of grapevine. HortScience 41(4):1053.

Dhekney, S.A., Z. T. Li, M. Dutt, M. Van Aman and D. J. Gray (2005) Genetic transformation and transgenic plant recovery from species of grape. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant. 41:29.

Gray, D. J., Z. T. Li, D. L. Hopkins, M. Dutt, S. A. Dhekney, M. Van Aman, J. Tattersall and K. T. Kelley (2005) Transgenic Grapevines Resistant to Pierce’s Disease. HortScience 40(4):1104.

Dutt, M., Z. T. Li and D .J. Gray (2004) Development of an alternate genetic transformation system for Vitis. Florida Scientist 67. Supl. 1 :1.

Dutt, M., M. Van Aman and D. J. Gray (2004) Liquid culture for rapid in vitro propagation of Vitis. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant. 40:56.

Dutt, M. and R. L. Geneve (2003) Germination rate and seedling growth rate measures different aspects of seed vigor in Impatiens. HortScience 38(5):781.

Book Chapters

Geneve, R.L., M. Dutt, and A.B. Downie (2006) Development of a sequential digital imaging system for evaluating seed germination. In: S. Navie, S. Adkins and S. Ashmore (eds.). Seeds: Biology, Development and Ecology. CAB International. London. pp. 315-323.

Siriwitayawan, G., M. Dutt, S.T. Kester, A.B. Downie, and R.L. Geneve (2003) Seed ageing in tomato reduces the capacity of seeds to produce ethylene, while priming increases ethylene evolution during germination. In: K. J. Bradford, D. Come, G. Nicolas and H. Pritchard (eds.) The Biology of Seeds: Recent Research Advances. CAB International. pp. 441-446.

Professional Membership

• International Society for Horticultural Science
• American Society for Horticultural Science
• Florida State Horticultural Society
• The Horticultural Society of India