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SALSA!

University of Guelph!










Youbin Zheng



Youbin Zheng PhD, MPhil, MAg, BAg.
Associate Professor, Environmental Horticulture Chair
School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph


My research serves the greenhouse floriculture production, nursery production, greenhouse vegetable production, green roof and space advanced life support industries. Research Interests:
  • Growing substrates: development and evaluation of sustainable (i.e. biodegradable and recyclable) substrates for green roof, greenhouse and nursery applications
  • Irrigation: development and evaluation of sensor-based automated irrigation systems to balance water, oxygen and nutrient within the plant root zone and to improve water use efficiency
  • Plant nutrition and fertilization: research and application of technologies related to hydroponic nutrient recirculation, low nutrient strategies in greenhouse production, and fertilization systems for nursery production, green roof plant production and green roof plant maintenance, as well as organic and alternative fertilizer products
  • Disinfection technologies (e.g. electrolytically generated copper ion, ozone, chlorine etc) for water, nutrient solution and facilities in greenhouse and other controlled environment production systems (e.g. advanced life support system, nursery)
  • Root zone oxygenation: research and application of root zone oxygenation technologies to reduce disease while improving plant physiology and growth
  • Lighting for plant production in greenhouse and controlled environment (e.g. home);
  • Plant growth regulators: research and application of plant growth regulators [(e.g. Ethephon (Ethrel)] in ornamental plant production
  • CO2 enrichment and its effects on photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, nutrient uptake and crop production;
  • Medicinal and Nutraceutical crops: development and evaluation of new technologies for producing medicinal and nutraceutical crops (e.g. bitter melon, echinacea and St. John's wort) in greenhouse and controlled environment systems
  • Plant stress physiology: including plant response to O3, SO2, NOx, acid precipitation, water, heat, nutrient and heavy metal etc
  • Other research topics of interest: organic greenhouse production and urban agriculture, etc.
    •  Contact: Tel: (519) 824-4120 Ext. 52741
    Fax: (519) 837-0442
    Email: yzheng@uoguelph.ca


    SELECTED RECENT PUBLICATIONS:

    Zheng Y, Ferguson G and Dixon M. 2011. Organic Greenhouse Vegetable Production in Canada: Challenges and Opportunities. Acta Horticulturea (In press).

    Lafrenière C, Surrage V, Dixon M and Zheng Y. 2011. Evaluation of zeolite as a component in organic growing substrates for tomato transplant troduction. Acta Horticulturea (In press).

    Zheng Y, Cayanan DF Dixon M. 2010. Optimum Feeding Nutrient Solution Concentration for Greenhouse Potted Miniature Rose Production in a Recirculating Subirrigation System. HortScience. 45: 1738-1383.

    Tian XL, Dixon M and Zheng Y. 2010. First Report of Hiemalis Begonias Wilt Disease Caused by Fusarium 1 foetens in Canada. Plant Disease 94: 1261.

    Surrage VA, Lafrenière C, Dixon M and Zheng Y. 2010. Growth Substrates for Organic Greenhouse Tomato Production. HortScience. 45: 1510-1515.

    Youbin Zheng, Linping Wang, Diane Feliciano Cayanan and Mike Dixon. 2010. Greenhouse Cucumber Growth and Yield Response to Copper Application. HortScience. 45: 771 - 774.

    Huber J, Zheng Y and Dixon M. (2009). Hydroponic cucumber production using a new recyclable growth substrate and irrigation system. Acta Horticulturea. 843: 303-310.

    Zheng Y, Dombrowsky M and Dixon M. (2009). The use of compost or composting process to suppress Pythium Aphanitdermatum in used rockwool. Acta Horticulturea. 843: 327-332.

    Zheng Y, Huber J, Zhang P and Dixon M. (2009). Searching for recyclable or biodegradable growing media. Acta Horticulturae. 819:435-442.

    Graham T, Zhang P, Zheng Y and Dixon D. (2009). Phytotoxicity of Aqueous Ozone Irrigation Solutions on Five Economically Significant Perennial Nursery Species. HortScience. 44:774-780.

    Cayanan D, Llewellyn J, Dixon M and Zheng Y (2009). Response of Container-Grown Nursery Plants to Chlorine used to Disinfect Irrigation Water. HortScience. 44: 164-167.

    Cayanan D, Zhang P, Liu W, Dixon M and Zheng Y, (2009). Efficacy of Using Chlorine in Controlling Five Common Plant Diseases in Irrigation Water. HortScience. 44 (1): 157-163.

    Robinson S, Zheng Y, Graham, T and Dixon, M. (2008). Aqueous ozone can extend vase life in cut rose. Journal of Horticulture and Biotechnology. 84: 97-101.

    Blom T and Zheng Y. 2008. The response of plant growth and leaf gas exchange to the speed of lamp movement in a greenhouse Scientia Horticulturae. Scientia Horticulturae. 119:188-192.

    Cayanan DF, Dixon M and Zheng Y. 2008. Development of an automated irrigation system using wireless technology and root zone environment sensors. Acta Horticulturae 797: 167-171.

    Cayanan D.F., Zheng Y, Chong C, Zhang P, Graham T, Llewellyn J and Dixon M. 2008. Overhead Irrigation with Chlorinated Water on Five Container-Grown Nursery Species. HortScience 43:1882-1887.

    Robinson, S., Dixon, M. and Zheng, Y. (2007). The Site of Vascular Blockage That Leads to Reduced Shelf-life in Cut Roses. Journal of Horticulture and Biotechnology 82:808-814.

    Zheng, Y., Wang, L. and Dixon, M. (2007). A Threshold for Elevated Root Zone Oxygen for Tomato. Scientia Horticulturae 113:162-165.

    Zheng, Y., Dixon, M. and Saxena, P.S. (2006). Growing Environment and Nutrient Availability Affect the Content of Some Phenolic Compounds in Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea angustifolia . Planta Medica 72:1407-1414.

    Zheng, Y., Dixon, M. and Saxena, P. (2006). Greenhouse Production of Echinacea purpurea (L.) and E. angustifolia Using Different Growing media, NO3-/NH4+ ratios and Watering Regimes. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 86: 809-815.

    Blom, T. J. and Zheng, Y. (2006). The effect of moving high intensity lights on potted Campanula haylodgensis. Acta Horticulturea 711:157-16376.

    Zheng, Y., Blom, T. and Dixon, M. (2006). Fluctuating supplement lighting increases leaf photosynthetic capacity, but reduces growth of pot gerbera. Scientia Horticulturae 107(4): 380-385.

    Zheng, Y. Shimizu, H. (2005). Plant growth and water use efficiency of four Chinese conifer tree species under different air humidity. Phyton 45 (4): 575-582.

    Shimizu, H., An, P., Zheng Y.R., Sase H., Totsuka, T., Bulgan T and Zheng, Y. (2005). Response to O3 and SO2 for five Mongolian semiarid plant species. Phyton 45(4): 601-607.

    Waters, G., Gidzinski, D., Zheng, Y. and Dixon, M. (2005). Empirical relationships between light intensity and crop net carbon exchange rate at the leaf and full canopy scale: towards integration of a higher plant chamber in MELiSSA. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Technical Paper 2005-01-3071.

    Huber, J., Zheng, Y., Dixon, M. (2005). Hydroponic cucumber production using urethane foam as a growth substrate. Acta Horticulturae. 697:139-145.

    Zheng, Y., Graham, T., Richard, S., Dixon, M. (2005). Can low nutrient strategies be used for pot gerbera production in closed-loop subirrigation? Acta Horticulturae. 691: 365-372.

    Zheng, Y. Linping Wang, and Mike Dixon (2005). Greenhouse pepper growth and yield response to copper application. HortScience 40(7): 2132-2134.

    Zheng, Y., Zhang, P. and Dixon, M. (2005). Evaluation of four different lamp types for the Production of Tomato Plants in Controlled Environment. HortTechnology. 15(3): 646-652.

    Zheng, Y., Shimizu, H. (2005). Relationship between water use efficiency and stable carbon isotope discrimination of four conifer tree seedlings under different air humidity. Eco-Engineering, 17(1) 27-32.

    Zheng, Y., Graham, T., Richard, S., Dixon, M. (2004). Potted gerbera production in a subirrigation system using low-concentration nutrient solutions. HortScience, 39(6) 1283-1286.

    Zheng, Y., Linping Wang, Mike Dixon. (2003). Response to copper toxicity for three ornamental crops in solution culture. HortScience, 39:1116-1120.

    Waters G.C.R., Zheng Y., Gidzinski D., Dixon M.A., 2004. Carbon gain, water use and nutrient uptake of beet (Beta vulgaris) grown in controlled environments. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Technical Paper 2004-01-2435.

    Stasiak, M., G. Waters, Y. Zheng, B. Grodzinski, M. Dixon. (2003). Integrated multicropping of beet and lettuce and its effect on atmospheric stability. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Technical Paper Series. 2003-01-2357.

    Waters, G., D. Gidzinski, Y. Zheng, M. Stasiak, M. Dixon. (2003). Modelling and trade studies of stages production scenarios in bioregenerative life support systems. SAE Technical Paper Series. 2003-01-2359.

    Yang, L., Stulen, I., De Kok, L.J., Zheng Y. (2002). SO2, NOx and acid deposition problems in China - impact on agriculture. Phyton, 42 (3): 255-264.

    Zheng, Y., Shimizu, H., Barnes, J.D. (2002). Limitations to CO2 assimilation in ozone-exposed leaves of Plantago major L. New Phytologist, 155: 67-78.

    Emberson, L.D., Ashmore, M.R., Murray, F., Kuylenstierna, J.C.I., Percy, K.E., Izuta, T., Zheng, Y., Shimizu, H., Sheu, B.H., Lui C.P., Agrawal, M., Wahid, A., Abdel-Latif, N.M., van Tienhoven, M., de Bauer, L.I., Domingos, M. (2001). Impacts of air pollutants on vegetation in developing countries. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 130: 107-118.

    Zheng, Y., Lyon, T., Barnes, J.D. (2000) Effects of ozone on the production and utilization of assimilates in Plantago major. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 43: 171-180.

    Zheng, Y., Lyon, T., Ollerenshaw, J.H., Barnes, J.D. (2000). Ascorbate in the leaf apoplast is a factor mediating ozone resistance in Plantago Major L. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 38:403-411.

    Zheng, Y., Cloutier, G., Dutton, R.,Dixon, M.A. (2000). Open gas exchange system for the long-term continuous measurement of whole plant CO2 exchange. Life Support and Biosphere Science, 7: 47-53.

    Gimeno, B.S., Bermejo, V., Reinert, R.A., Zheng, Y., Barnes, J.D. (1999). Adverse effects of ambient ozone on watermelon yield and physiology at a rural site in Eastern Spain. New Phytologist. 144: 245-260.

    Zheng, Y., Stevenson, K.J., Barrowcliffe, R., Wang, H., Chen, S., Barnes, J.D. (1998). Ozone levels in Chongqing: A potential threat to crop plants commonly grown in the region?, Environmental Pollution, 99, 299-308.

    Annous, BA, Berrang, M, Burnett, S, Dykes, G, Frank, J, Graz, M, Karunasagar, I, Lupin, H, Matthews, K, Reilly, A, Sanderson, B and Zheng, Y. 2009. Use of Chlorine-Containing Compounds in Food Processing. WHO (In press).

    Zheng, Y., Jones, M.P.A., Dixon, M and Saxena, P.K. (2007). Conventional and emerging cultivation strategies for medicinal Echinacea production. In: Advances in Medicinal Plant Research. Ed. by Acharya, S.N. and Thomas, J.E. Research Signpost, Kerala, India. Pp 513-528.

    Barnes, JD, Zheng, Y, Lyons, T (2002). Plant resistance to ozone: the role of ascorbate. In: Air Pollution and Plant Biotechnology. Ed. by Omasa, K., Saji, H., Youssefian, S. & Kondo, N. Springer, Tokyo, pp235-252.

    Zheng, Y., Shimizu, H. (2003). Air pollution impacts on vegetation in China. In: Air Pollution Impacts on Vegetation in Developing Countries. Ed. by Emberson, L., Ashmore, M & Murray, F. Imperial College Press, London, pp123-144.

    Fisher P, Huang J, Looper A, Minsk D, Argo B, Vetanovetz R and Zheng Y. 2008. Water Sanitation Using Chlorine. GMPRO, July 2008.

    Fisher P, Argo B, Hong C, Huang J, Looper A, Wiegers D, Vetanovetz R, and Zheng Y. 2008. Sodium, Calcium Hypochlorite Can Treat Irrigation Water. GMPRO, June 2008.

    Zheng, Y. and Dixon, M. 2008. Things You Should Know When Using Copper in Irrigation Water Treatment -Part IV: Can You Use Copper for Disease Control in Greenhouse Tomato Production? Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Newsletter. 2(4): 5-6.

    Zheng, Y. and Dixon, M. 2008. Things You Should Know When Using Copper in Irrigation Water Treatment -Part III: Can You Use Copper for Disease Control in Greenhouse Cucumber Production? Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Newsletter. 2(3):2-3.

    Zheng, Y. and Dixon, M. 2008. Things You Should Know When Using Copper in Irrigation Water Treatment -Part II: Can You Use Copper for Disease Control in Greenhouse Pepper Production? Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Newsletter. 2(2): 3.

    Zheng, Y. and Dixon, M. 2008. Things You Should Know When Using Copper in Irrigation Water Treatment -Part I: Can Copper Control Green Algae? Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Newsletter. 1(3): 3.

    Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility | Ontario Agricultural College
    University of Guelph | Guelph | Ontario | Canada | N1G2W1
    PHONE: 519.824.4120 EXT 52909
    FAX: 519.837.0442
    info@ces.uoguelph.ca