45 Projects Funded in Virginia

Total Approved Budget: $11,483,200  |  Sum of Board Approved: $11,483,200
5752 – 2025 Panel: Crop Health  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $600,000
Host determinants of virus host range: From systems biology identification to validation and virus control in crops
X. Wang Virginia Tech; M. Schuldiner Weizmann Inst.;
5730 – 2025 Panel: Animal Production  |  Duration: 1 yrs  |  Budget: $100,000
Setting the foundation for optimized use of recombinant Interferon-Tau in pregnancy and health in cattle
M. Ehrlich U Tel Aviv ; A. Ealy Virginia Tech;
5666 – 2024 Panel: Crop Production  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $600,000
Creation and validation of a digital twin model for improving almond production      
T. Paz-Kagan U Ben Gurion ; L. Wang George Mason U; P. Brown UC, Davis; S. Baram ARO, Min. Ag.; O. Sperling ARO, Min. Ag.;
5653 – 2024 Panel: Aquaculture  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $305,000
From agricultural waste to resource: expanding the reuse of plant waste thought BSFL for fish and crop production    
D. Zilberg U Ben Gurion ; P. Brown U Purdue; S. Penno-Winters Arava-Tamar R&D; I. Khozin-Goldberg U Ben Gurion ; M. Kissinger U Ben Gurion ; N. Romano USDA, ARS; S. Gu Virginia State Uni.;
5486 – 2022 Panel: Crop Health  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $310,000
A holistic approach towards development of bacterial fruit blotch resistance in cucurbits
S. Burdman U Hebrew ; R. Walcott U Georgia; B. Zhao Virginia Tech; G. Welbaum Virginia Tech;
5455 – 2021 Panel: Food Product  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $310,000
The functional microbiome of apple fruit and its interplay with the host metabolome and postharvest pathogens
S. Droby ARO, Min. Ag.; S. Whitehead Virginia Tech; S. Freilich ARO, Min. Ag.; M. Wisniewski Virginia Tech;
5400 – 2021 Panel: Crop Production  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $310,000
Leveraging genomics and temporal high-throughput phenotyping to enhance association mapping and yield prediction of sesame
Z. Peleg U Hebrew ; G. Morota Virginia Tech; I. Herrmann U Hebrew ;
5389 – 2021 Panel: Crop Health  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $310,000
Gene discovery through systems biology approaches to develop broad-spectrum antiviral strategies in crops
X. Wang Virginia Tech; M. Schuldiner Weizmann Inst.;
5257 – 2020 Panel: Animal Production  |  Duration: 1 yrs  |  Budget: $100,000
Feasibility Study: Using in vitro embryo production and gene editing to study embryology in sheep
E. Gershon ARO, Min. Ag.; A. Ealy Virginia Tech;
5074 – 2018 Panel: Animal Production  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $280,000
Modulating intestinal cellular maturation and differentiation in broilers by in ovo feeding
E. Wong Virginia Tech; Z. Uni U Hebrew ;
5040 – 2017 Panel: Food Product  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $310,000
Microbial networks on harvested apples and the design of antagonistic consortia to control postharvest pathogens
S. Droby ARO, Min. Ag.; C. Dardick USDA, ARS; S. Freilich ARO, Min. Ag.; J. Norelli USDA, ARS; A. Faigenboim ARO, Min. Ag.; M. Wisniewski Virginia Tech;
5029 – 2017 Panel: Crop Health  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $310,000
Systems biology approaches to dissect virus-host interactions to develop crops with broad-spectrum virus resistance
X. Wang Virginia Tech; M. Schuldiner Weizmann Inst.;
5023 – 2017 Panel: Crop Health  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $290,000
Bacterial fruit blotch: Elucidating the mechanisms of fruit infection by Acidovorax citrulli
S. Burdman U Hebrew ; R. Walcott U Georgia; B. Zhao Virginia Tech; G. Welbaum Virginia Tech;
4899 – 2016 Panel: Animal Production  |  Duration: 1 yrs  |  Budget: $100,000
Fibroblast growth factor signaling requirements for embryonic and placental development in ruminants         
E. Gershon ARO, Min. Ag.; A. Ealy Virginia Tech;
4745 – 2014 Panel: Crop Production  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $290,000
How temperature stress changes carrot flavor: Elucidating the genetic determinants of undesired taste in carrots
M. Ibdah ARO, Min. Ag.; D. Tholl Virginia Tech; P. Simon USDA, ARS;
4734 – 2014 Panel: Crop Health  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $290,000
Identifying pathogenic determinants of Acidovorax citrulli toward the control of bacterial fruit blotch of cucurbits
B. Zhao Virginia Tech; S. Burdman U Hebrew ; R. Walcott U Georgia; T. Pupko U Tel Aviv ; G. Welbaum Virginia Tech;
4616 – 2013 Panel: Crop Health  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $315,000
Identifying the genes involved in host root perception by root parasitic weeds: Genetic and transcriptomic analysis of Orobanche hybrids differing in signal response specificity
J. Westwood Virginia Tech; Y. Tadmor ARO, Min. Ag.; H. Eizenberg ARO, Min. Ag.;
4455 – 2011 Panel: Environ/Water/Ren. Res.  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $300,000
Desalination of brackish water for agricultural application via novel bio-electrochemical approaches 
Z. He Virginia Tech; C. Dosoretz Technion; R. Semiat Technion;
4216 – 2009 Panel: Crop Health  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $330,000
Control of Bacterial Fruit Blotch of Cucurbits Using the Maize Non-Host Disease Resistance Gene Rxo1
B. Zhao Virginia Tech; S. Burdman U Hebrew ; R. Walcott U Georgia; G. Welbaum Virginia Tech;
4199 – 2009 Panel: Animal Production  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $300,000
Epigenetic Adaptation: The Regulatory Mechanisms of Hypothalamic Plasticity that Determine Stress-Response Set Point
N. Meiri ARO, Min. Ag.; Z. Madar Virginia Tech; C. Denbow Virginia Tech;
4134 – 2008 Panel: Crop Production  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $318,000
Identification and Allelic Variation of Genes Involved in the Potato Glycoalkaloid Biosynthetic Pathway
I. Ginzberg ARO, Min. Ag.; R. Veilleux Virginia Tech; J. Tokuhisa Virginia Tech;
4113 – 2008 Panel: Animal Production  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $300,000
Nutrition of the Developing Chick Embryo: Nutrient Uptake Systems of the Yolk Sac Membrane and Embryonic Intestine
E. Wong Virginia Tech; Z. Uni U Hebrew ;
3997 – 2007 Panel: Aquaculture  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $320,000
Genetic Basis of Cyprinid Herpes Virus-3 Resistance in Common Carp
L. David U Hebrew ; Y. Palti USDA, ARS; M. Kotler U Hebrew ; G. Hulata ARO, Min. Ag.; E. Hallerman Virginia Tech;
3048 – 1999 Panel: Crop Health  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $265,000
A Novel Approach to Parasitic Weed Control Based on Inducible Expression of Cecropin in Transgenic Plants
R. Aly ARO, Min. Ag.; J. Westwood Virginia Tech; C. Cramer Virginia Tech;
2664 – 1996 Panel: Aquaculture  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $350,000
Creating and Characterizing Genetic Variation in Tilapia through the Creation of an Artificial Center of Origin
G. Gall UC, Davis; G. Hulata ARO, Min. Ag.; E. Hallerman Virginia Tech; B. May UC, Davis; U. Nakdimon ARO, Min. Ag.;
2422 – 1995 Panel: Crop Production  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $320,000
Environmental, Developmental and Physiological Determinants of Curcurbit Seed Quality
K. Bradford UC, Davis; H. Nerson ARO, Min. Ag.; G. Wellbaum Virginia Tech; M. Edelstein ARO, Min. Ag.;
2342 – 1994 Panel: Crop Production  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $350,000
Molecular Analysis by SSR of Genes Associated with Alkaloid Synthesis in a Segregating Monoploid Potato Family
R. Veilleux Virginia Tech; J. Hillel U Hebrew ; R. Miller U Ohio St.; D. Levy ARO, Min. Ag.;
2053 – 1992 Panel: Crop Production  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $190,000
Potato Germplasm Development for Warm Climates
R. Veilleux Virginia Tech; D. Levy ARO, Min. Ag.;
2043 – 1992 Panel: Crop Production  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $230,000
Mechanisms of Oxidant Resistance in Weed and Crop Species
R. Grene Virginia Tech; J. Gressel Weizmann Inst.; C. Cramer Virginia Tech; A. Warshawsky Weizmann Inst.; E. Grabau Virginia Tech;
1929 – 1992 Panel: Environ/Water/Ren. Res.  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $230,000
Contaminant Transport in Spatially-Heterogeneous Field Soils
D. Russo ARO, Min. Ag.; J. Parker Virginia Tech; J. Zaidel ARO, Min. Ag.;
1685 – 1990 Panel: Animal Production  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $250,000
Optimization of Early Growth in Chickens
P. Siegel Virginia Tech; Z. Nitsan ARO, Min. Ag.; A. Dunnington Virginia Tech; I. Nir U Hebrew ;
1646 – 1990 Panel: Environ/Water/Ren. Res.  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $220,000
Development of Parameter Estimation Methods for Field Scale Unsaturated Transient Water Flow Models
D. Russo ARO, Min. Ag.; J. Parker Virginia Tech; E. Bresler ARO, Min. Ag.; . Mishra Virginia Tech; U. Shani Southern Arava R&D;
1557 – 1989 Panel: Animal Production  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $200,000
Use of DNA "Fingerprints" as Genetic Markers in Poultry Breeding
A. Dunnington Virginia Tech; J. Hillel U Hebrew ; P. Siegel Virginia Tech; A. Cahaner U Hebrew ;
1272 – 1988 Panel: Ag. Innovation & Engi  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $220,000
Non-Destructive Quality Control in Fruit and Vegetables through Dynamic Response to Acoustic Exitation
N. Galili Technion; G. Haugh Virginia Tech; G. Rosenhouse Technion; K. Diehl Virginia Tech; A. Mizrach ARO, Min. Ag.; Y. Aharoni ARO, Min. Ag.; I. Shmulevich Technion;
1196 – 1987 Panel: Crop Production  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $190,000
Potato Germplasm Development for Warm Climates
R. Veilleux Virginia Tech; D. Levy ARO, Min. Ag.;
938 – 1986 Panel: Animal Health  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $190,000
Genetic Relationships between the Imune Response, Resistance to Infectious Agents and Production Performance of Chickens
D. Heller U Hebrew ; P. Siegel Virginia Tech; A. Cahaner U Hebrew ; . Gross Virginia Tech; B. Peleg Isr. Vet. Inst.;
707 – 1984 Panel: Crop Health  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $180,000
Basic Research Toward Management of Liriomyza trifolii Leafminer in the US and Israel
. Poe Virginia Tech; . Yathom ARO, Min. Ag.; . Pienkowski Virginia Tech;
675 – 1984 Panel: Animal Production  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $180,000
Effects of Food Restriction on Growth, Sexual Maturity and Reproduction Traits in Chickens: Genetic and Non-Genetic Aspects
P. Siegel Virginia Tech; M. Soller U Hebrew ; . Cherry Virginia Tech; I. Nir U Hebrew ; Y. Eitan U Hebrew ; Z. Nitsan ARO, Min. Ag.;
571 – 1983 Panel: Aquaculture  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $110,000
Oyster Production in the Outflow of Salt Water Fish Ponds
M. Shpigel Isr. Ocean. Res.; . Castagna I. Marine Scien;
215 – 1983 Panel: Ag. Econ. & Rural Devel.  |  Duration: 2 yrs  |  Budget: $49,700
The Impact of Inflation on Investment in Agricultural Capital
Y. Plessner Cent Ag Econ Re; . Reid, Jr. Virginia Tech;
276 – 1981 Panel: Crop Health  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $150,000
Studies on Broomrape (Orobanche spp) Biology and Control
. Jacobsohn ARO, Min. Ag.; C. Foy Virginia Tech;
140 – 1980 Panel: Crop Health  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $120,000
Management of Bulb Mites (Rhizoglyphus spp)through a Study of Their Biology and Ecology
U. Gerson U Hebrew ; . Poe Virginia Tech; . Yathom ARO, Min. Ag.;
135 – 1980 Panel: Crop Production  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $165,000
Plastom Manipulation in Plant Protoplast Systems
S. Izhar ARO, Min. Ag.; F. Ausubel Mass Gen. Hosp.; J. Beckmann ARO, Min. Ag.; M. Hanson U Virginia; R. Frenkel ARO, Min. Ag.;
89 – 1979 Panel: Animal Production  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $139,000
Genetic Variation in Minimum Body Weight Required for the Onset of Sexual Maturity in Broiler Chickens and Its Genetic Covariation with Growth-Rate Comp
M. Soller U Hebrew ; P. Siegel Virginia Tech; . Brody U Hebrew ; . Cherry Virginia Tech; I. Nir U Hebrew ; Z. Nitsan ARO, Min. Ag.;
67 – 1979 Panel: Aquaculture  |  Duration: 3 yrs  |  Budget: $186,500
Oyster Production in the Outflow of Salt Water
. Hughes-Games Isr. Ocean. Res.; . Lynch I. Marine Scien; . Perkins I. Marine Scien; . Castagna I. Marine Scien;