Ivan Simko

Post-Doctoral Research Associate

Late blight and Verticillium wilt are diseases that cause substantial loss on potatoes in the USA. Together with Dr. Jones and Dr. Haynes we are identifying resistance genes against these devastating pathogens using molecular genetics tools. This research is expected to advance our understanding of plant-pathogen interaction and to generate molecular markers closely linked to the resistance genes. The long-term goal is to use molecular markers for marker-assisted selection and thus improve the efficiency of breeding new potato varieties with disease resistance.

Email:  simkoi@ba.ars.usda.gov

Other Information

Education	Post-Graduate Employment
Professional Societies	Publications

Education

Ph.D. Plant Biology, Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra, Slovak Republic, 1993
M. S. Plant Breeding and Genetics, Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra and Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, 1987

Post-Graduate Employment

USDA-ARS, Vegetable Laboratory, Research Associate, 2000 to present
Cornell University, Department of Horticulture, Research Associate 1997 - 2000
Cornell University, Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Horticulture, 1993 - 1997

Professional Societies

Potato Association of America

Publications

1995 – Present

Jones RW, Simko I (in press): Resistance to Late blight and other fungi. In (Razdan MK, Mattoo AK eds.): Genetic Improvement of Solanaceous Crops. Volume 1: Potato. Science Publishers. Enfield, New Hampshire, USA.

Simko I, Costanzo S, Haynes KG, Christ B, Jones RW (in press): Identification of molecular markers linked to the Verticillium wilt resistance gene homologue in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Acta Horticulturae.

Lee TY, Simko I, Fry WE (2002): Genetic control of aggressiveness in Phytophthora infestans to tomato. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 24: 471-480.
 
Simko I (2002): Comparative analysis of quantitative trait loci for foliage resistance to Phytophthora infestans in tuber-bearing Solanum species. American Journal of Potato Research 79: 125-132.

Ewing EE, Simko I, Smart CD, Bonierbale MW, Mizubuti ESG, May GD, Fry WE (2000): Genetic mapping from field tests of qualitative and quantitative resistance to Phytophthora infestans in a population derived from Solanum tuberosum and Solanum berthaultii. Molecular Breeding 6: 25-36.
 
Simko I, Vreugdenhil D, Jung CS, May GD (1999): Similarity of QTLs detected for in vitro and greenhouse development of potato plants. Molecular Breeding 5: 417-428.
 
Davies PJ, Simko I, Mueller SM, Yencho GC, Lewis C, McMurry S, Taylor MA, Ewing EE (1999): Quantitative trait loci for polyamine content in an RFLP-mapped potato population and their relationship to tuberization. Physiologia Plantarum 106: 210-218.
 
Simko I, McMurry S, Yang HM, Manschot A, Davies PJ, Ewing EE (1997): Evidence from polygene mapping for a causal relationship between potato tuber dormancy and abscisic acid content. Plant Physiology 115: 1453-1459.
 
Simko I, Omer EA, Ewing EE, McMurry S, Koch JL, Davies PJ (1996): Tuberonic (12-OH-jasmonic) acid glucoside and its methyl ester in potato. Phytochemistry 43: 727-730.
 
van den Berg JH, Simko I, Davies PJ, Ewing EE, Halinska A (1995): Morphology and [14C] gibberellin A12 metabolism in wild-type and dwarf Solanum tuberosum spp andigena grown under long and short photoperiods. Journal of Plant Physiology 146: 467-473.

Before 1995

Simko I (1994): Sucrose application causes hormonal changes associated with potato tuber induction. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 13: 73-77.
 
Simko I (1994): Effect of paclobutrazol on in vitro formation of potato micro tubers and their sprouting after storage. Biologia Plantarum 36: 15-20.
 
Simko I (1993): Gibberellic acid-reversion of paclobutrazol-inhibited growth on in vitro cultured potato nodal segments. Biologia 48: 447-450.

Simko I (1993): Effect of kinetin, paclobutrazol and their interactions on the microtuberization of potato stem segments cultured in vitro in the light. Plant Growth Regulation 12: 23-27.
 
Simko I (1991): In vitro potato tuberization after the treatment with paclobutrazol. Biologia 46: 251-256.
 
Simko I (1991): Potato tuberization in the hydroponic conditions. Biologia 46: 89-92.

Simko I (1991): Comparison of the effect of some plant growth inhibitors on rate of in vitro potato tuberization. Polnohospodarstvo 37: 409-418.

Bezo M, Simko I, Kutisova J (1991):Production of virus-free seedlings of potato cultivar Eta by meristematic plant propagation in the greenhouse. Polnohospodarstvo 37: 305-313.

Simko I (1991): Effect of high nitrogen level and bud physiological age on potato growth in vitro. Genetika a Slechteni 27: 61-69.

Simko I (1990): Effect of sodium 2,3-dichloroisobutyrate (DCIB-Na) on in vitro tuberization of potatoes. Rostlinna Vyroba 36: 1201-1206.
 
Simko, I (1990): Effect of growth regulators on potato growth in vitro. Polnohospodarstvo 36: 616-627.
 
Brindza J, Michalova A, Simko I (1988): Evaluation of compensatory relationships between the number and weight of grains in ears of winter wheat. Acta Fytotechnica 44: 3-24.

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