Sarah Kezar
Postdoctoral Associate, School of Integrative Plant Science, Soil and Crop Sciences Section
My research focuses on a weed species of global significance, Parthenium hysterophorus (Parthenium). I selected Parthenium as a model species for my research because I am curious about the divergence and drivers of native, introduced, and invasive populations and how a changing climate could influence US populations. Parthenium also has an interesting story. The current native range of Parthenium is limited to the subtropical Americas and a few southern US states, but it is considered an invasive species in 50 countries worldwide that all started with contaminated grain exports from Texas and Mexico that introduced Parthenium into India and Australia in the 1950s. Characteristics aiding the extreme plasticity of Parthenium include drought avoidance, both cold and heat tolerance, and increased growth and allelopathic toxicity under elevated CO2 levels. I seek to understand how native populations (from Texas, US) and introduced and invasive populations (from Queensland, Australia, Tamil Nadu, India, Ramat-Yishay, Israel) respond to diverse climate-stress scenarios, in competition with C3 and C4 crops, and in a common garden experiment across the US. Additionally, I will use a CLIMEX model to determine the risk posed by Parthenium to US cropping systems under current and future climates. This research will inform risk assessments for Parthenium that can be implemented in US cropping systems and develop a framework to integrate knowledge about range shifts, phenotypic plasticity, and adaptive evolution in the context of climate change.
Long term, I aim to be a part of a team of diverse, creative thinkers, to uncover the impact of climate change on weed demography and work towards agricultural climate adaptation solutions- whether that is with an accredited research university, ARS, or a global research institution.
When I’m not researching Parthenium, you can find me fly fishing in a trout stream, hiking, skiing, playing piano, or hanging out with my cat.
Research Affiliates
- NIFA (Grant #2023-67012-40011)
- Texas A&M University
- University of Queensland
- Tamil Nadu University
- The Volcani Institute
Publications
Scientific publications:
- Kezar, S., Ballagh, S., Kankarla, V., Sharma, S., Sharry, R., Lofton, J. (2023). Response of simulated stress in soybean production systems: Growth parameters and yield. Agronomy, 13(3), 927. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030927
- Zander, A., Lofton, J., Harris, C., & Kezar, S. (2021). Grain sorghum production: Influence of planting date, hybrid selection, and insecticide application. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, 4(2), e20162. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20162
- Ballagh, A., Kezar, S., Harris, S. C., & Lofton, J. (2021). Grain sorghum desiccation: Impacts on plant and grain dry‐down. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, 4(4), e20222. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20222
Extension publications:
- Lofton, L., Damicone, J., Zander, A., Kezar, S. (2021). Green-stem syndrome in soybean. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. PSS-3003. https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/green-stem-syndrome-in-soybean.html
- Kezar, S., Lofton, L., Baughman, T. (2020). Meshing soybean weed management with agronomic practices in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. PSS-2794. https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/meshing-soybean-weed-management-with-agronomic-practices-in-oklahoma.html
- Lofton, L., Strickland, G., Harris, C., Zander, A., Kezar, S. (2019). Grain sorghum performance trials in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. CR-2162. https://agresearch.okstate.edu/research/research-archives/oklahoma-crop-variety-trials/sorghum-variety-trials/
- Lofton, L., Zander, A., Harris, C., Kezar, S. (2019). 2018-2019 Winter canola performance trial results. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. PSS-2191. https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/2018-2019-winter-canola-performance-trial-results.html
Popular media articles:
- Focus on Cotton & Plant Management Network, Webinar sharing research with Cotton Incorporated (2023): https://www.planthealthexchange.org/cotton/Pages/GROW-COT-02-23-405.aspx
- Crop Science Society of America, National press release highlighting doctoral research (2022): https://www.crops.org/news/science-news/fighting-weeds-changing-world/
- AGRILIFE TODAY, Research press release (2021): https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2021/12/13/palmer-amaranth-control-matters-throughout-life-cycle/
- Foundation for Food and Agriculture, Research blog (2020): https://foundationfar.org/impact/insights/herbicide-resistant-weeds-looking-below-the-soil-surface/
More Information
Contact Information
903 Bradfield Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
sk2955 [at] cornell.edu
Education
2018 B.S. in Plant and Soil Sciences, Double-Minor in Animal Science and Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
2020 M.S. in Plant and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
2023 Ph.D. in Agronomy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX