Erik Ohlson

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Erik Ohlson

USDA Research Geneticist (Plants) and Assistant Adjunct Professor

erik.ohlson@usda.gov

330-287-1384

Office:

Selby Hall (Wooster)

1680 Madison Ave., Wooster OH 44691

Professional Information

Degrees & Credentials:

PhD Genetics, Pennsylvania State University

BA Biology, Minor Geology, Franklin & Marshall College, PA

Biography:

Publications under the "Works" tab

Research Experience

Research Geneticist (Plants), USDA-ARS

Corn and Soybean Virus Research (2020-Present)

Mapping virus resistance loci and characterization of host resistance
Identification and development of virus resistant germplasm
Characterization of emerging and high-impact maize and soybean virus diseases
Virus seed transmission studies
Host-pathogen interactions

Research Associate, University of Virginia (2016-2020)

Cowpea Genetics and Plant-Parasite Interactions

Investigated witchweed resistance mechanisms in cowpea
Mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring resistance to Striga gesnerioides, Alectra vogelii, and Colletotrichum capsici
Mapped and characterized nitrogen fixation and nodulation QTL
Fine mapped S. gesnerioides and A. vogelii resistance genes
Evaluated S. gesnerioides population diversity in West Africa
Trained undergraduate and graduate students in plant pathology, molecular plant breeding, and statistical genetics
Collaborated with plant breeders in West Africa to deploy new genetic markers for molecular improvement of cowpea

Graduate Program in Genetics, The Pennsylvania State University
Genetic studies of late blight resistance in the wild tomato species, Solanum pimpinellifolium

Determined the heritability of late blight resistance and mapped new resistance QTL using genotyping by sequencing (GBS) and allele-specific SNP markers
Developed tomato breeding lines with improved late blight resistance
Evaluated wild tomato germplasm to identify desirable agronomic traits and new sources of late blight resistance

Department of Biology, Franklin & Marshall College (Aug 2009 - May 2010)
Population genetics of Linaria vulgaris (Common Toadflax) self-incompatibility locus

Department of Earth & Environment, Franklin & Marshall College (2007 - 2009)
Soil erosion, geochemical fingerprinting, and ecosystem reconstruction studies

Teaching Experience

Plant Breeding and Genetics (2014-2015)
Biology: Populations and Communities (2012)
Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (2011, 2013)

Works

Publications

Ohlson, E.W. and M.P. Timko. 2022. Mapping and validation of Alectra vogelii resistance in the cowpea landrace B301. Agronomy 12:2654.

Ohlson, E.W. and J.R. Wilson. 2022. Maize lethal necrosis: Impact and disease management. Outlooks on Pest Management 33:45-51.

Gentzel, I.N., E.W., Ohlson, M.G. Redinbaugh, G.-L.Wang. 2022. VIGE: Virus-induced genome editing for improving abiotic and biotic stress traits in plants. Stress Biology 2:2.

Ohlson, E.W., M.G. Redinbaugh, M.W. Jones. 2022. Mapping Maize chlorotic mottle virus tolerance loci in the maize 282 association panel. Crop Science 62:1497-1510.

Jones, M.W. and E.W. Ohlson. 2022. Registration of the maize synthetic population OhMCMV-1. Journal of Plant Registrations 16:394-399.

Ohlson, E.W. and M.P. Timko. 2020. Race structure of cowpea witchweed (Striga gesnerioides) in West Africa and its implications for Striga resistance breeding of cowpea. Weed Science 68:125-133.

Essem, F., E.W. Ohlson, A.T. Asare, M.P. Timko. 2019. Genetic markers linked to Striga gesnerioides resistance for the improvement of Ghanaian cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) cultivars. Plant Breeding 138:599-604.

Liu, C., T. Liu, E.W. Ohlson, L. Wang, D. Wu, Q. Guo, M.P. Timko, G. Liang. 2019. Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) circadian clock gene cloning and heterosis studies of artificial triploid loquat. Scientia Horticulturae, 246, 328-337.

Ohlson, E.W., H. Ashrafi, M.R. Foolad. 2018. Identification and mapping of late blight resistance QTLs in tomato accession PI 163245. The Plant Genome 11:180007.

Ohlson, E.W., G.I. Thio, M. Sawadogo, P. Sérémé, M.P. Timko. 2018. Quantitative trait loci analysis of brown blotch resistance in cowpea variety KN1. Molecular Breeding 38:110.

Ohlson, E.W., S.L. Seido, S. Mohammed, C.A. Santos, M.P. Timko. 2017. QTL mapping of ineffective nodulation and nitrogen utilization-related traits in the IC-1 mutant of cowpea. Crop Science 58:264-272.

Ohlson, E.W. and M.R. Foolad. 2016. Genetic analysis of resistance to tomato late blight in Solanum pimpinellifolium accession PI 163245. Plant Breeding 135:391-398.

Ohlson, E.W. 2015. Genetic characterization and mapping of late blight resistance genes in the wild tomato accessions PI 163245 and PI 224710. (Doctoral dissertation). The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

Ohlson, E.W. and M.R. Foolad. 2015. Heritability of late blight resistance in tomato conferred by Solanum pimpinellifolium accession PI 224710. Plant Breeding 134:461-467.

Foolad, M.R., M.T. Sullenberger, E.W. Ohlson, B.K. Gugino. 2014. Response of accessions within tomato wild species, Solanum pimpinellifolium to late blight. Plant Breeding 133:401-411.

Merritts D, Walter R, Rahnis M, Hartranft J, Cox S, Gellis A, Potter N, Hilgartner W, Langland M, Manion L, Lippincott C, Siddiqui S, Rehman Z, Scheid C, Kratz L, Shilling A, Jenschke M, Datin K, Cranmer E, Reed A, Matuszewski D, Voli M, Ohlson E, Neugebauer A, Ahamed A, Neal C, Winter A, Becker S (2011) Anthropocene streams and base-level controls from historic dams in the unglaciated mid-Atlantic region, USA. Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci 369:976-1009

Voli M, Merritts D, Walter R, Ohlson E, Datin K, Rahnis M, Kratz L, Deng W, Hilgartner W, Hartranft J (2009) Preliminary reconstruction of a pre-European settlement valley bottom wetland, southeastern Pennsylvania. Water Resources Impact 11:11-13

Presentations

Ohlson, E.W. 2022. High Plains wheat mosaic virus: An emerging trade issue for corn seed. ASTA’s CSS and Seed Expo, Chicago, IL.

Ohlson, E.W. 2022. Managing maize lethal necrosis using host resistance. Plant Pathology Seminar. The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH.

Ohlson, E.W. 2020. Molecular breeding of cowpea: Improving resistance to key disease constraints in West Africa. Horticulture and Crop Science Autumn Seminar Series. The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH.

Ohlson, E.W. 2019. Marker development for current and emerging constraints of cowpea. West African Cowpea Consortium, Cotonou, Benin.

Ohlson, E.W. 2019. Striga and Alectra diversification in West Africa. West African Cowpea Consortium, Cotonou, Benin.

Ohlson, E.W. 2018. Population development and new constraints. West African Cowpea Consortium, Abuja, Nigeria.

Ohlson, E.W. 2018. New allele-specific SNP primers for cowpea. West African Cowpea Consortium, Abuja, Nigeria.

Ohlson, E.W. 2017. Best practices for genotyping. African Bean Consortium, University of Embu, Kenya.

Ohlson, E.W. 2017. QTL mapping using high density SNP markers in cowpea. West African Cowpea Consortium, Accra, Ghana

Ashrafi, H., E.W. Ohlson, M.T. Sullenberger, K. Stoffel, M. Massoudi, A. Van Deynze, M.R. Foolad. 2014. SNP marker discovery for tomato breeding using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). 45^th Tomato Breeders Roundtable (TBRT) Meeting, Mills River, NC.

Posters

Ohlson, E.W., M.T. Sullenberger, M.R. Foolad. 2015. Genetic characterization of late blight resistance in Solanum pimpinellifolium accessions ‘PI 163245’ and ‘PI 224710’. Gamma Sigma Delta Annual Graduate and Undergraduate Research Expo, University Park, PA.

Ohlson, E.W. and J. Mena-Ali. 2010. Population genetics and self-incompatibility in the invasive weed Linaria vulgaris. Franklin & Marshall College Spring Research Fair, Lancaster, PA.

Ohlson, E.W., K. Datin, R.C. Walter, D.J. Merritts. 2009. The viability of ancient wetland seedbanks. Franklin & Marshall College Fall Research Fair, Lancaster PA.

Datin, K., E.W. Ohlson, R.C. Walter, D.J. Merritts. 2009. The impact of milldam sediments on plant ecology. Franklin & Marshall College Fall Research Fair, Lancaster PA.

Ohlson, E.W. and R.C. Walter. 2008. Geochemical fingerprinting of upland soil, stream bank sediments, and suspended stream sediments in a small agricultural watershed. Franklin & Marshall College Fall Research Fair, Lancaster, PA.

Ohlson, E.W. and R.C. Walter. 2007. A soil erosion study on a small agricultural watershed using cesium¹³⁷ analysis. Franklin & Marshall College Fall Research Fair, Lancaster, PA.

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