Research Interests

I came back to the University of Illinois following 20 years of industry experience working in dent corn line development (FR1064) and trait introgression.  My research focus is as follows: 1) genealogy and genetic diversity of field and vegetable crops; and 2) gene expression; 3) applications of molecular markers to crop breeding.

Education

• Bachelor of Science (1978) from Purdue University, Dept of Botany and Plant Pathology
• Master of Science (1980) from University of Illinois, Dept of Plant Pathology
• Doctor of Philosophy (1983) from University of Illinois, Dept. of Plant Pathology

Professional Experience:

2006 — Present, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
2003 — Present, Associate Director, Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
1999 — 2003, Director of Biotechnology. Illinois Foundation Seeds Inc., Champaign, Illinois.
1982 — 1999, Research Station Manager. Illinois Foundation Seeds Inc., Arcanum, Ohio.
1978 — 1982, Graduate Research Assistant. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Publications (peer reviewed)

• Mikel, M.A. 2008. Genetic diversity and improvement of contemporary proprietary North American dent corn. Crop Science (In press).
• Mikel, M.A. and F.L. Kolb. 2008. Genetic diversity of contemporary North American barley. Crop Science 48:1399-1407.
• Bushman, B.S., S.R. Larson, I.W. Mott, P.F. Cliften, R. Wang, N.J. Chatterton, A.G. Hernandez, S. Ali, R.W. Kim, J. Thimmapuram, G. Gong, L. Liu, M.A. Mikel. 2008. Development and comparative potential of perennial Triticeae ESTs. Genome (In press).
• Kaur, P., I.W. Mott, S.R. Larson, B.S. Bushman, A.G. Hernandez, W.R. Kim, L. Liu, and M.A. Mikel. 2008. Gene expression polymorphisms and ESTs associated with gravitropic response of subterranean branch meristems and growth habit in Leymus wildryes. Plant Science (In press).
• Mikel, M.A. 2007. Genealogy of Contemporary North American Lettuce. HortScience 42:489-493.
• Lokko, Y., J.V. Anderson, S. Rudd, A. Raji, D. Horvath, M.A. Mikel, R. Kim, L. Liu, A. Hernandez, A.G.O. Dixon, and I.L. Ingelbrecht. 2007. Characterization of an 18,166 EST database for cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) enriched for drought-responsive genes. Plant Cell Reports 26:1605-1618.
• Anderson, J., Horvath, D., Chao, W., Foley, M., Hernandez, A., Thimmapuram, J., Liu, L, Gong, G., Band, M., Kim, R., Mikel, M.A. 2007. Characterization of an EST database for the perennial weed leafy spurge: an important source for weed biology research. Weed Science 55:193-203.
• Mikel, M.A. 2006. Availability and analysis of proprietary dent corn inbred lines with expired U.S. plant variety protection. Crop Science 46:2555-2560.
• Mikel, M.A. and Dudley, J.W. 2006. Evolution of North American dent corn from public to proprietary germplasm. Crop Science 46:1193-1205.
• Carey, E.E., Mikel, M.A., and Dickinson, D.B. 1986. Influence of maize dwarf mosaic virus infection on the sugar and sorbitol contents of sweet corn kernels. Plant Dis. 70:36-37.
• Mikel, M.A., D'Arcy, C.J., Rhodes, A.M., and Ford, R.E. 1984. Genetics of resistance of two dent corn inbreds to maize dwarf mosaic virus and transfer of resistance into sweet corn. Phytopathology 74:467-473.
• Mikel, M.A., D'Arcy, C.J., and Ford, R.E. 1984. Seed transmission of maize dwarf mosaic virus in sweet corn. Phytopath. Z., 110:185-191.
• Mikel, M.A., D'Arcy, C.J., Rhodes, A.M., Carey, E.E., and Juvik, J.A. 1983. Sugary (su) sweet corn germplasm with resistance to the maize dwarf mosaic virus. HortScience 18(6): 964-965.
• Juvik, J.A., Mikel, M.A., Carey, E.E., and Rhodes, A.M. 1983. Release of six Illinois sweet corn inbreds with the sugary enhancer (se) gene. HortScience 18(6): 965-966.
• Mikel, M.A., D'Arcy, C.J., Rhodes, A.M., and Ford, R.E. 1982. Effect of maize dwarf mosaic virus infection on sweet corn pollen and silk. Phytopathology 72:428-431.
• Mikel, M.A., D'Arcy, C.J., Rhodes, A.M., and Ford, R.E. 1981. Yield loss in sweet corn correlated with time of inoculation with maize dwarf mosaic virus. Plant Disease 65:902-
• Mikel, M.A., D'Arcy, C.J., Rhodes, A.M., and Ford, R.E. 1981. Yield response of sweet corn to maize dwarf mosaic virus. Plant Disease 65:900-901.

U.S. Patents

Mikel, M. A. 2002.  Inbred Corn Line FR3351.  United States Patent Number 6,395,967.
Mikel, M. A. 2002.  Inbred Corn Line FR3383.  United States Patent Number 6,410,830.
Mikel, M. A. 2002.  Inbred Corn Line FR3303.  United States Patent Number 6,414,228.
Mikel, M. A. 2002.  Inbred Corn Line FR3311.  United States Patent Number 6,420,636.
Mikel, M. A. 2002.  Inbred Corn Line FR3361.  United States Patent Number 6,483,015

Return to previous page.