Tim Setter

My current research focuses on reproductive and kernel development in maize under water deficit, as well as the associated yield-determining processes. By utilizing gene expression assays, this work aims to identify molecular networks that assist in the development of climate-resilient crop cultivars, ultimately supporting food security for farmers in drought-prone regions worldwide.

Selected Publications

Google Scholar profile and publications.

• Setter, T.L., and Morrison, A. (2026). Water Stress and Shade Elicit Similar Convergent Responses in Maize Kernel Development and Gene Expression During Early Post-Pollination. Plants 15(14), 2130. doi: 10.3390/plants15142130.
• Chen, X.-M., Wang, Z.-W., Liang, X.-G., Li, F.-Y., Li, B.-B., Wu, G., Yi, F., Setter, T.L., Shen, S., and Zhou, S.-L. (2024). Incomplete filling in the basal region of maize endosperm: timing of development of starch synthesis and cell vitality. The Plant Journal 110, 228. doi: 10.1111/tpj.17043.
• Hyde, P.T., Esan, O., Diebiru-Ojo, E.M., Iluebbey, P., Kulakow, P.A., Peteti, P., and Setter, T.L. (2024). Development of Methods for Improving Flowering and Seed Set of Diverse Germplasm in Cassava Breeding. Plants 13(3), 382. doi: doi:10.3390/plants13030382.
• Rodrmguez, E.P.B., Morante, N., Salazar, S., Hyde, P.T., Setter, T.L., Kulakow, P.A., Aparicio, J.S., and Zhang, X. (2023). Flower-inducing Technology Facilitates Speed Breeding in Cassava. Frontiers in Plant Science 14, 1172056. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1172056.
• Hyde, P.T., and Setter, T.L. (2022). Long-day photoperiod and cool temperature induce flowering in cassava: Expression of signaling genes. Frontiers in Plant Science 13, 973206. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.973206.
• Li, Y., Zou, J., Zhu, H., He, J., Setter, T.L., Wang, Y., Meng, Y., Chen, B., Zhao, W., Wang, S., Hu, W., and Zhou, Z. (2022). Drought deteriorated the nutritional quality of cottonseed by altering fatty acids and amino acids compositions in cultivars with contrasting drought sensitivity. Environmental and Experimental Botany 194, 104747. doi: 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2021.104747.
• Oluwasanya, D., Esan, O., Hyde, P.T., Kulakow, P., and Setter, T.L. (2021). Flower Development in Cassava Is Feminized by Cytokinin, While Proliferation Is Stimulated by Anti-Ethylene and Pruning: Transcriptome Responses.Frontiers in Plant Science 12(975). doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.666266.
• Oluwasanya, D.N., Gisel, A., Stavolone, L., and Setter, T.L. (2021). Environmental responsiveness of flowering time in cassava genotypes and associated transcriptome changes. PLOS ONE 16(7), e0253555. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253555.
• Chen, C.-T., and Setter, T.L. (2021). Role of Tuber Developmental Processes in Response of Potato to High Temperature and Elevated CO2. Plants 10(5), 871. doi: 10.3390/plants10050871.
• Pineda, M., Morante, N., Salazar, S., Cuásquer, J., Hyde, P.T., Setter, T.L., and Ceballos, H. (2020). Induction of Earlier Flowering in Cassava through Extended Photoperiod. Agronomy 10(9), 1273. doi: org/10.3390/agronomy10091273.
• Pineda, M., Yu, B., Tian, Y., Morante, N., Salazar, S., Hyde, P., Setter, T. L., & Ceballos, H. (2020). Effect of Pruning Young Branches on Fruit and Seed Set in Cassava. Frontiers in Plant Science. 11:1107.
• Hyde, P. T., Guan, X., Abreu, V., & Setter, T. L. (2019). The anti-ethylene growth regulator silver thiosulfate (STS) increases flower production and longevity in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). Plant Growth Regulation. 90:441-453.
• Adeyemo, O. S., Hyde, P. T., & Setter, T. L. (2018). Identification of FT family genes that respond to photoperiod, temperature and genotype in relation to flowering in cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz). Plant Reproduction. 32:181-191.
• Adeyemo, O. S., Chavarriaga, P., Tohme, J., Fregene, M., Davis, S. J., & Setter, T. L. (2017). Overexpression of Arabidopsis FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene improves floral development in cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz). PLOS One. 12:e0181460.
• Zhang, X., Warburton, M. L., Setter, T., Liu, H., Xue, Y., Yang, N., Yan, J., & Xiao, Y. (2016). Genome‑wide association studies of drought‑related metabolic changes in maize using an enlarged SNP panel. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 129:1449-1463.
• Yu, L., & Setter, T. L. (2016). Comparative transcriptomes between viviparous1 and wildtype maize developing endosperms in response to water deficit. Environmental and Experimental Botany. 123:116-124.
• Duque, L. O., & Setter, T. L. (2013). Cassava response to water deficit in deep pots: root and shoot growth, ABA, and carbohydrate reserves in stems, leaves and storage roots. Tropical Plant Biology. 6:199-209.
• Boyer, J. S., Byrne, P., Cassman, K. G., Cooper, M., Delmer, D., Greene, T., Gruis, F., Habben, J., Hausmann, N., Kenny, N., Lafitte, R., Paszkiewicz, S., Porter, D., Schlegel, A., Schussler, J., Setter, T. L., Shanahan, J., Sharp, R. E., Vyn, T. J., Warner, D., & Gaffney, J. (2013). The U.S.drought of 2012 in perspective: A call to action. Global Food Security. 2:139-143.
• Chen, C., & Setter, T. L. (2012). Response of potato dry matter assimilation and partitioning to elevated CO2 at various stages of tuber initiation and growth. Environmental and Experimental Botany. 80:27Ð34.
• Setter, T. L., Yan, J., Warburton, M., Ribaut, J. M., Xu, Y., Sawkins, M., Buckler, E. S., Zhang, Z., & Gore, M. (2011). Genetic association mapping identifies single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes that affect abscisic acid levels in maize floral tissues during drought. JXB: Journal of Experimental Botany. 62:701-716.