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Dr. Maryam Shahrtash

Maryann ShahrtashInstructional Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
The University of Mississippi

Office: 322 Shoemaker Hall
E-mail: mshahrta@olemiss.edu
Telephone: (662) 915-3070

 

EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

PhD Biological Sciences. University of Memphis, Memphis, TN. 2022
Dissertation: “Microbial Ecology of the Invasive Plant Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) in the Southeast United States: Toward a Framework of Integrative Weed Management.”

MS Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture (Plant Nutrition and Soil Management). Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA. 2017
Thesis: “Effects of Silicon and Nitrogen Fertilization on Growth, Yield, and Leaf Rust Disease Development in Wheat.”

BS Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. 2004

 

HONORS AND AWARDS

Graduate Students Association Success Award. University of Memphis (2022)
Graduate Students Association Dean’s Award. University of Memphis (2022)
Graduate Students Association Outstanding Student Award. University of Memphis (2022)
Student Success Award. University of Memphis. (2021)
Center for Biodiversity Research (CBio) Publication Award, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis (2021)
Center for Biodiversity Research (CBio) Seed Grants Award, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis (2021)
Center for Biodiversity Research (CBio) Publication Award, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis (2020)
Level 3 Noxious Weed Management Certification; Montana State University, Bozeman, MT (2019)
Center for Biodiversity Research (CBio) Seed Grants Award, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN (2019)
First Annual Marvin Stone Memorial Poster Competition Award, University of Idaho, Boise, ID (2016)
Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association Award, Louisiana State University (2015)
Recipient of Pesticides Private Applicator Certification, Baton Rouge, LA (2017)

 

Teaching Interest

Microbiology, Microbial Systems, Microbial Ecology, Plant Microbe Interactions, Plant Ecophysiology, Plant Ecology

 

Research Interest

Microbial Systems/ / Plant-soil-microorganism systems/ Microbial Ecology, Plant Ecophysiology

The questions that drive my passion for research fall into the interactions between the plant, its microbiome, and environmental factors. The overarching questions that have motivated my research objectives are how to modify plant’s microbiome as a promising sustainable approach to improve plant stress tolerance. In my future research, I would like to investigate the role of both microbial and ecological factors in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Ultimately, I would like to extensively study the assembly of crop-associated microbiomes and the role of keystone species in stress tolerance in different ecosystems, a research area that has a prime importance in solving the future food security worldwide.

 

Selected Publications

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=IxNbix4AAAAJ&hl=en

  • Shahrtash, M., Tucker, A.E., Weaver, M.A., Brown, S.P. (2022). Control strategies for the invasive plant kudzu (Pueraria montana) only minimally impacts soil activity, chemistry, and bacterial and fungal communities. In Preparation.
  • James, J., Bach, E., Baker, K., Barber, N., Buck, R. Shahrtash, M., Brown, S.P (2022). Herbicide control of the invasive Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) does not alter soil microbial communities or activity. Ecological Solutions and Evidence. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12157
  • Shahrtash M., and Brown, S.P. (2021). A Path Forward: Promoting Microbial-Based Methods in the Control of Invasive Plant Species. Plants 10(5), 943.
  • Shahrtash, M., and Brown, S.P. (2020). Drivers of foliar fungal endophytic communities of kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) in the Southeast United States. Diversity 12: 185.
  • Shahrtash, M. (2018). Silicon Fertilization as a Sustainable Approach to Disease Management of Agricultural Crops. JPPR. 58:4.
  • Mohsenzadeh, S., Shahrtash, M. and Tiexeira da Silva, J.A. (2012). Silicon Improves Growth and Alleviates Toxicity of Cadmium in Maize Seedlings. Plant Stress. 6 (1): 39-43.
  • Mohsenzadeh, S., Shahrtash, M. and Mohabatkar, H. (2011). Interactive Effects of Salicylic Acid and Silicon on Some Physiological Responses of Cadmium Stressed Maize Seedlings. IJST. 1: 57-60.
  • Shahrtash, M., Mohsenzadeh, S., and Mohabatkar, H. (2011). Salicylic Acid Alleviates Paraquat Oxidative Damage in Maize Seedling. Asian J. Exp. Biol. Sci. 2(3): 377-382.
  • Shahrtash, M., Mohsenzadeh, S., Zare, H., and Mohabatkar, H. (2011). Role of Calcium in Alleviation of Cadmium Toxicity in Maize Seedling. Electron. J. Environ. Agric. Food Chem.
  • Mohsenzadeh, S., Esmaeili, M., Moosavi, F., Shahrtash, M., Saffari, B., and Mohabatkar, H. (2011). Plant Glutathione S-transferase Classification, Structure and Evolution. Afr. J. Biotechnol. 10 (42): 8160-8165.
  • Mohsenzadeh S., Shahrtash, M. and Mohabatkar. H. (2010). Cadmium- Induced Genotoxicity Detected by the Random Amplification of Polymorphism DNA in the Maize Seedling Roots. J. Cell. Mol. Res. 2 (1): 42- 48.
  • Shahrtash, M. and Mohsenzadeh S. (2010). The Effect of Silicon on Biochemical Characteristics of Maize Seedling Infected by Pythium aphanidermatum During Periods of High Temperature and Humidity. Asian J. Exp. Biol. Sci. 2(1): 96-101.
  • Ketabchi, S. and Shahrtash, M. (2010). Effects of Methyl Jasmonate and Cytokinin on Biochemical Responses of Maize Seedlings Infected by Fusarium moniliforme. Asian J. Exp. Biol. Sci. 2(2): 299-305.