Professor of Biology

Year Joined RCNJ: 2010

Contact Information

• Phone: (201) 684-6227
• Email: yxu@ramapo.edu
• Office: G-308
• Office Hours: M 1:30-3:00; R 9:45-11:15; Other times by appointment

Education:

• B.S., Nanjing University, P.R. China
• Ph.D., Rutgers University

Courses Offered:

• Plant Physiology (BIOL 324)
• Medicinal Plants (BIOL 347)
• Food Science (BIOL 346)
• Epidemiology (BIOL 204)
• Community Health and Traditional Chinese Medicine (SCIN 220/NURS 220)
• Fundamentals of Biology II (BIOL 113)
• Introduction to Biology (BIOL 101)

Research Interests:

• Plant growth under abiotic and biotic stress conditions
• Eco-friendly plant growth regulators/hormones
• Anti-fungal and anti-bacterial effects of herbs
• Shelf life of fresh produce
• Culinary art and nutrition

Recent Publications:

• Xu, Y. and B. Huang. 2019. Cytokinin-regulated metabolic changes conferring heat and drought tolerance in perennial grass species. 4th Edition of the Handbook of Plant  & Crop Physiology (Book Chapter, Accepted)
• Liu, H., J. Li, Y. Chen, Y. Xu and J. Xu. 2018. Profiling of heat-responsive microRNAs in creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.). Current Bioinformatics 13:319-327.
• Courtney, A. (’15), J. Xu and Y. Xu*. 2016. Responses of growth, antioxidants and gene expression in smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) to various levels of salinity. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 99: 162-170.
• Jespersen, D., E. Merewitz, Y. Xu, J. Honig, S. Bonos, W. Meyer and B. Huang. 2016. Quantitative trait loci associated with physiological traits for heat tolerance in creeping bentgrass. Crop Science 56: 1314-1329.
• Mapes, C. (’13) and Y. Xu*. 2014. Photosynthesis, vegetative habit, and culinary properties of sage (Salvia officinalis) in response to low-light conditions. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 94: 881-889.
• Xu, Y., H. Du and B. Huang. 2013. Identification of metabolites associated with superior heat tolerance in thermal bentgrass through metabolic profiling. Crop Science 53: 1626-1635.
• Xu, Y., C. Zhan and B. Huang. 2011. Heat shock proteins in association with heat tolerance in grasses. International Journal of Proteomics Volume 2011 (doi:10.1155/2011/529648).
• Bernstein, N., M. Shoresh, Y. Xu and B. Huang. 2010. Involvement of the plant antioxidative response in the differential growth sensitivity to salinity of leaves vs. roots during cell development. Free Radical Biology and Medicine 49: 1161-1171.
• Xu, Y., T. Gianfagna and B. Huang. 2010. Proteomic analysis associated with expression of a gene (ipt) controlling cytokinin synthesis for improving heat tolerance in a perennial grass species. Journal of Experimental Botany 61: 3273-3289.
• Zhang, Y. C. Liang, Y. Xu, T. Gianfagna and B. Huang. 2010. Effects of ipt gene expression on leaf senescence induced by nitrogen or phosphorus deficiency in creeping bentgrass.Journal of the American Society for Horticulture Science 135: 108-115.
• Xu, Y. and B. Huang. 2010. Responses of creeping bentgrass to trinexapac-ethyl and two commercial biostimulants under summer stress. HortScience 45: 125-131.