Geza Hrazdina
Department of Food Science and Technology, Cornell University
NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, New York 14456
Tel: 315-787-2285; Fax: 315-787-2284; Email: gh10@cornell.edu

Education
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology - Zuerich, Dr. Sc. Techn., Agricultural BioChemistry, 1966
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology - Zuerich, Dip. Ing. Agr., Agricultural Chemistry, 1963


Major Research and Professional Interests
My laboratory's work concerns the quality of fruits and vegetables. We are using modern biochemical and molecular tools to investigate the disease resistant principle of selected crop plants and certain aspects of fruit ripening to eliminate the need for chemical sprays.

Resistance mechanism of apples against scab -- Our goal is to understand the biochemical mechanism of phytoalexin production, identify, isolate and characterize the enzymes of the pathway, clone and sequence the genes of the rate-controlling enzymes and transform scab-susceptible apple cultivars to confer scab-resistance.
Biosynthesis and genetic control of the raspberry aroma -- We have been studying the biosynthesis of the raspberry ketone in raspberries and their tissue cultures. We have purified the first enzyme of the pathway,benzalacetone synthase that is a member of the aromatic polyketide synthases and are investigating presently its genetic control. Our ultimate goal is to introduce multiple copies of the benzalacetone synthase gene into raspberries to increase aroma production
Prevention of softening in apples -- The softening of fruits occurs during the last stages of ripening. It is caused mainly by the action of cell wall modifying enzymes. These enzymes are under the control of ethylene, the plant ripening hormone. We are investigating the molecular properties and expression of ACC synthase in apple fruits and are transforming apple cultivars with sense and antisense ACC synthase constructs to down regulate ethylene synthesis.
Professional Experience
Professor of Biochemisty, Cornell University,
7/81 - present
Program Director, Cell Biology, National Science Foundation,9/93- 8/94
Visiting, Universitaet Koeln, 9/81-5/82
Associate Professor, 7/73-6/81
Visiting Professor, Technical University Budapest, 3/79-9/79
Visiting Professor, Universitaet Freiburg, 9/74-8/75
Assistant Professor, Cornell University, 1/68-6/73
Post Doctorate Res. Assoc., Cornell University, 11/66-12/67

Professional Activities
Member Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS) 2001- present
Cornell Genomic Initiative
Co-Chair, NASA/NSF Joint Program in Plant Biology, 1994
Agricultural Biotechnology Research Advisory Committee, OSTP, 1993-1994
Panel Member, Cell Biology Program, NSF 1993
Faculty Council Representative, 1988-1992
CALS-CIFAD Eastern European Program, 1991 - present
Member, Executive Committee, Phytochemical Society of North America, 1981-84
Advisory Committee to the President, PSNA, 1986-91. Chairman, 1989-91
President, PSNA, 1982-83
Chairman, Graduate Student Award Committee of PSNA, 1985
Radiation Safety Committee, Cornell University, 1985-present
Member of diverse University Ad hoc committees

 

Membership in Professional Organizations American Society of Plant Physiologists, Phytochemical Society of Europe, Phytochemical Society of North America, President, 1982-83; Member, Executive Committee, 1981-84; Advisory Commitee, 1986-91; International Society for Plant Molecular Biology; American Association for the Advancement of Science

Honors and Awards Alexander von Humboldt Fellow; Biological Institute, 9/74-8/75; University of Freiburg (Germany), Department of Plant Biochemistry; National Academy of Sciences (USA) Exchange Fellow, 4/79-8/79; Institute of Organic Chemistry; Technical University, Budapest; Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, Institute of Botany, 9/81-5/82, University of Cologne, Germany


Links:

Publications

Seminars and Lectures

NATO Advanced Research Workshop

 

Projects:

Natural disease resistance of apples against scab

Biosynthesis and genetic control of the raspberry aroma

Prevention of softening in apples

People in the Lab:

Desen Zheng

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