About

Alan George Taylor is a professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science, Horticulture Section, at Cornell AgriTech. His research program is centered on modern seed technology, with an emphasis on post-harvest topics including seed treatment and coatings, bio-stimulants, and seed quality. His projects encompass applied seed technology as well as fundamental seed biology, focusing on vegetable crops, industrial hemp, agronomic crops, cover crops, and weed seeds. Taylor's work involves developing seed coating delivery systems, studying seed coat permeability, and investigating seed treatments to protect seeds and seedlings from insects and diseases. He utilizes laboratory-scale coating equipment and explores systemic seed treatment uptake, seed germination, and seed storage. Taylor has contributed to advancing seed technology through research, publications, and leadership in seed industry initiatives, including organizing conferences and advisory committees. His expertise supports seed producers, growers, and seed companies, and he has been recognized with awards and honors for his contributions to seed science and technology.

Research topics

• Agronomy
• Biology
• Horticulture
• Botany
• Nanotechnology
• Materials science

Selected publications

• Systemic Uptake of Rhodamine Tracers Quantified by Fluorescence Imaging: Applications for Enhanced Crop–Weed Detection

  AgriEngineering · 2025-02-20 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Systemic fluorescence tracers introduced into crop plants provide an active signal for crop–weed differentiation that can be exploited for precision weed management. Rhodamine B (RB), a widely used tracer for seeds and seedlings, possesses desirable properties; however, its application as a seed treatment has been limited due to potential phytotoxic effects on seedling growth. Therefore, investigating mitigation strategies or alternative systemic tracers is necessary to fully leverage active signaling for crop–weed differentiation. This study aimed to identify and address the phytotoxicity concerns associated with Rhodamine B and evaluate Rhodamine WT and Sulforhodamine B as potential alternatives. A custom 2D fluorescence imaging system, along with analytical methods, was developed to optimize fluorescence imaging quality and facilitate quantitative characterization of fluorescence intensity and patterns in plant seedlings, individual leaves, and leaf disc samples. Rhodamine compounds were applied as seed treatments or in-furrow (soil application). Rhodamine B phytotoxicity was mitigated by growing in a sand and perlite media due to the adsorption of RB to perlite. Additionally, in-furrow and seed treatment methods were tested for Rhodamine WT and Sulforhodamine B to evaluate their efficacy as non-phytotoxic alternatives. Experimental results demonstrated that Rhodamine B applied via seed pelleting and Rhodamine WT used as a direct seed treatment were the most effective approaches. A case study was conducted to assess fluorescence signal intensity for crop–weed differentiation at a crop–weed seed distance of 2.5 cm (1 inch). Results indicated that fluorescence from both Rhodamine B via seed pelleting and Rhodamine WT as seed treatment was clearly detected in plant tissues and was ~10× higher than that from neighboring weed plant tissues. These findings suggest that RB ap-plied via seed pelleting effectively differentiates plant seedlings from weeds with reduced phytotoxicity, while Rhodamine WT as seed treatment offers a viable, non-phytotoxic alternative. In conclusion, the combination of the developed fluorescence imaging system and RB seed pelleting presents a promising technology for crop–weed differentiation and precision weed management. Additionally, Rhodamine WT, when used as a seed treatment, provides satisfactory efficacy as a non-phytotoxic alternative, further expanding the options for fluorescence-based crop–weed differentiation in weed management.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Investigations into Selected Pollinator-Friendly Plant Species: Seed Lot Germination, Breaking Dormancy with Plant Hormone Priming and the Influence of Water Stress on Germination

  Horticulturae · 2025-12-26 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The lack of protocols for breaking seed dormancy, inconsistent seed quality, and abiotic stress factors such as drought impede large-scale restoration efforts of pollinator-friendly native plant species. This research explores the germination response, dormancy-breaking techniques, and water stress tolerance in selected pollinator-friendly plant species with characteristics facilitating mechanized rehabilitation protocols and biodiversity enhancement. Forty-two commercial seed lots representing seven plant families with 28 species were evaluated under two alternating temperature regimes (15/25 °C and 20/30 °C) with and without gibberellic acid (GA3) priming treatments. Six of the twenty-eight species were selected based on pollinator requirements for the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus L.) and further examined by priming seeds for 24 h in solutions containing GA3, kinetin (KIN), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), or their combinations, to evaluate their dormancy-breaking responses. The effect of water stress on seed germination was assessed in controlled chambers at soil water potentials of −1.08, −0.75, −0.13, and 0 MPa. Initial seed quality of the 42 seed lots revealed that only 62% had greater than 50% germination, while of the same 42 lots, 98% had greater than 50% viability based on the commercial seed label. The difference was largely attributed to seed dormancy. In laboratory studies of the 42 seed lots, GA3 significantly enhanced germination percentage, and reduced T50 (time to 50% germination) across most seed lots. Overall, germination was higher and faster at 20/30 °C than 15/25 °C. Priming the six selected species with 1.0 mM GA3 in 0.3% H2O2 consistently improved germination compared to the non-primed control after 14 days. Asclepias species (A. incarnata, A. syriaca, and A. tuberosa) exhibited consistently high germination across a broad moisture range of −0.75 to 0 MPa. In contrast, Echinacea purpurea required high moisture levels (−0.13 to 0 MPa) for optimal germination. Monarda fistulosa and Rudbeckia hirta showed their best performance under moderate moisture conditions (−0.13 MPa). Collectively, the use of GA3 priming to break physiological seed dormancy offers a promising approach to enhance germination and improving the establishment potential of native pollinator species in restoration programs.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Influence of Seed Quality, Dormancy Breaking, and Water Stress on Germination of Pollinator Species for Biodiversity Enhancement

  Preprints.org · 2025-10-20

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  The lack of protocols for breaking seed dormancy, inconsistent seed quality, and abiotic stress factors such as drought impede large-scale restoration efforts of pollinator seed species. This research explores the germination response, dormancy-breaking techniques, and water stress tolerance in selected pollinator-friendly plant species with characteristics facilitating mechanized rehabilitation protocols and biodiversity enhancement. Furthermore, this study supports utilization of Multiple Seed Pellets (MSP), to facilitate mechanical sowing of pollinator seeds. Forty-two commercial seed lots representing seven plant families with 28 species were evaluated under two alternating temperature regimes (15/25°C and 20/30°C) with and without gibberellic acid (GA₃) pre-treatment. GA₃ significantly enhanced germination percentage, and reduced T₅₀ (time to 50% germination) across most seed lots. Overall, germination was higher and faster at 20/30°C than 15/25°C. Six species were further examined for dormancy-breaking responses to GA₃ and kinetin applied in a hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), soak. GA₃ + H₂O₂ had the greatest germination compared to other treatments. The effect of water stress on seed germination was assessed in controlled chambers at soil water potentials of −1.08, −0.75, −0.13, and 0 MPa. Milkweed species (A. incarnata, A. syriaca, and A. tuberosa) exhibited consistently high germination across a broad moisture range of -0.75 to 0 MPa. In contrast, Echinacea purpurea required high moisture levels (-0.13 to 0 MPa) for optimal germination. Monarda fistulosa and Rudbeckia hirta showed their best performance under moderate moisture conditions (-0.13 MPa). The use of GA₃ to break physiological seed dormancy offers a promising approach to enhance germination. With the utilization of MSP technology, these strategies provide scalable, practical tools to improve native seed performance and advance pollinator habitat restoration in agroecosystems.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Seed treatment of cool-season turfgrasses with entomopathogenic fungi stimulated plant growth but had limited effects as a biocontrol agent

  Journal of Invertebrate Pathology · 2025-01-01

  preprintOpen access

  Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) such as Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana are well-known biological control agents of soil-dwelling insects worldwide. Moreover, there is growing interest in applying EPF as seed treatments to serve as biostimulants for improving plant growth and stress tolerance. In this study, we examined the effects of M. anisopliae (ESF-1) and B. bassiana (GHA) seed treatments on the growth and development of turfgrasses (Lolium arundinaceum (syn. Festuca arundinacea) and Poa pratensis) in growth chamber, greenhouse, and field experiments, and also tested whether the seed treatments were a viable method of introducing EPF into the soil to increase insect suppression following soil contact using Galleria mellonella as a model. We found that EPF applied as dry powder seed treatments had overall positive or neutral effects on turfgrass growth and establishment in the greenhouse and field. In the greenhouse, we observed low to moderate levels of insect infection in G. mellonella bioassays, with infection levels varying based on the fungal species. In the field, insect infections from Beauveria spp. were much lower than in the greenhouse, while infections from Metarhizium spp. were higher than in the greenhouse, though infection levels of both fungi varied seasonally. Our findings suggest that treating turfgrass seed with EPF may aid in turfgrass establishment and improve stand density early on; however, the potential secondary benefits for biological control of soil-dwelling insects were limited.

  PublisherDOI

• Practical resistance to spinosad in an onion maggot (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) population in New York

  Journal of Economic Entomology · 2025-02-21 · 1 citations

  article

  Onion maggot, Delia antiqua (Meigen), is a significant constraint on onion production across the temperate regions of North America. Early season infestations can reduce plant stands up to 75% if untreated. Effective management of D. antiqua has historically relied on insecticide seed treatments, with spinosad being among the most commonly used options. However, declining control efficacy observed on a New York onion farm over several years raised concerns about the potential development of insecticide resistance. The purpose of this research was to (i) evaluate the efficacy of spinosad seed treatment in managing D. antiqua in the affected field from 2021 to 2024 and (ii) to assess the population's susceptibility to spinosad using a laboratory bioassay. Results from field trials revealed that the percentage of control of D. antiqua using spinosad seed treatment relative to a noninsecticide treatment declined from 51% in 2021 to -83% in 2024. Laboratory bioassay results showed an increase in LC50 values from insects collected from nontreated and spinosad-treated plants in 2023. These results document the first case of reduction in spinosad seed treatment efficacy in D. antiqua that has practical consequences for pest control (practical resistance). Given the critical role of spinosad seed treatment in onion maggot management, these results underscore the need for evaluating resistance prevalence in other populations across North America.

  PublisherDOI

• Effects of methyl jasmonate seed treatments on adult oviposition preference and larval performance of seed corn maggot ( <i>Delia platura</i> ) in corn ( <i>Zea mays</i> )

  Pest Management Science · 2024-08-31 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Eliciting host plant resistance using plant hormones such as jasmonates has the potential to protect seeds and seedlings against insect pests; however, several hurdles exist for adapting it for pest management. This includes determining a dose that promotes resistance without limiting plant growth, an application method that growers could use, and ensuring the plants are responsive in the abiotic conditions when the pest occurs. In laboratory and field assays, we tested if treating corn seeds with multiple concentrations of methyl jasmonate would reduce the preference of ovipositing seed corn maggot adults and the performance of larvae feeding on seeds. RESULTS: We found that corn seeds soaked in aqueous 0.2 mM methyl jasmonate solution showed marginally lower seedling growth, but the adult oviposition preference was ~60% lower on these seeds compared to control water-soaked seeds. Seeds that were treated with methyl jasmonate using a conventional polymer-based seed coating showed no effect on seedling growth but reduced adult oviposition preference. In no-choice bioassays with adult flies, we found reduced oviposition on seeds soaked with aqueous methyl jasmonate compared to controls. Larval survival to pupation was also lower in methyl jasmonate-treated seeds. Lastly, the methyl jasmonate-induced resistance also occurred at the lower temperatures typical of the spring soil conditions when this fly is most damaging. CONCLUSION: Methyl jasmonate seed treatment in aqueous solution or using conventional polymer-based technology, has the potential to deter adult oviposition and reduce maggot performance in spring temperature conditions with minor effects on seed germination and growth. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Development of Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) Seed Coating Technology to Enhance Germination and Stand Establishment in Red Clover Cover Crop

  Agronomy · 2023-02-01 · 15 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Drought conditions after sowing threaten the seedling establishment of all seeds, including cover crops. Cover crops are commonly broadcast and, thus, are often susceptible to drought stress after sowing. Our hypothesis was that seed coating with superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) would enhance germination in the lab and stand establishment in the field by increasing water availability to single seeds. Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) seeds were coated with the following selected SAP formulations at 2% of their seed weight: cross-linked potassium polyacrylate (PAL), cross-linked polyacrylamide-based polymer (PAM), PAM with graphite (PAM+G), and Starch-g-2-Propenoic acid (potassium salt) (STR). The water absorbency of each SAP formulation was &gt;200 g water/g of polymer; STR had the greatest absorbency, at 352 g water/g of polymer. A seed coating method was developed, resulting in the uniform application of SAP from seed to seed. All SAP coating treatments increased germination compared to the 0% SAP coating in controlled environment studies in the lab. Three field trials were conducted for each seed coating treatment, providing a range of climatic soil conditions. Within each field trial, the STR with the greatest water absorbency had a higher stand for treatments sown by broadcasting followed by raking to incorporate seeds. The first two trials were conducted under more stressful conditions. PAM+G performed best in the first two trials by broadcasting seeds with no raking. Collectively, the selected SAP seed coating improved field stands compared to the non-treated controls.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Multi-Seed <i>Zea</i> Pellets (MSZP) for increasing agroecosystem biodiversity

  Weed Science · 2023-02-14 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Intensive agricultural crop production is typically associated with low biodiversity. Low biodiversity is associated with a deficit of ecosystem services, which may limit crop yield (e.g., low pollination of insect-pollinated crops) at the individual field level or exacerbate the landscape-level impacts of intensive agriculture. To increase biodiversity and enhance ecosystem services with minimal loss of crop production area, farmers can plant desirable non-crop species near crop fields. Adoption of this practice is limited by inefficiencies in existing establishment methods. We have developed a novel seed-molding method allowing non-crop species to be planted with a conventional corn ( Zea mays L.) planter, reducing labor and capital costs associated with native species establishment. Common milkweed ( Asclepias syriaca L.) was selected as a model native species, because Asclepias plants are the sole food source for monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus L.) larvae. Stratified A. syriaca seeds were added to a mixture of binder (maltodextrin) and filler (diatomaceous earth and wood flour) materials in a 3D-printed mold with the dimensions of a corn seed. The resulting Multi-Seed Zea Pellets (MSZP), shaped like corn seeds, were tested against non-pelleted A. syriaca seeds in several indoor and outdoor pot experiments. Molding into MSZP did not affect percent emergence or time to emergence from a 2-cm planting depth. Intraspecific competition among seedlings that emerged from an MSZP did not differ from competition among seedlings that emerged from a cluster of non-pelleted seeds. These findings demonstrate the potential of MSZP technology as a precise and efficient method for increasing agroecosystem biodiversity.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Evaluation of Industrial Hemp Seed Treatments for Management of Damping-Off for Enhanced Stand Establishment

  Agriculture · 2022-04-23 · 14 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  The purpose of this research was to collect efficacy data on biological, biochemical, and chemical fungicide seed treatments on hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) to mitigate damping-off and enhance field stand establishment. Seed treatments were evaluated in fields in New York (NY), North Dakota (ND), and Virginia (VA) and at two planting dates in each state in 2020. A single seed lot of a dual-purpose (fiber + grain) cultivar (‘Anka’) was treated using a laboratory-scale rotary pan coater. Five biological, two biochemical, and four chemical seed treatments were tested. A laboratory germination test revealed that seed treatments did not exhibit phytotoxicity when compared to the non-treated control. A laboratory bioassay with naturally infested soil was used to assess the preliminary activity of seed treatments for protection against damping-off. The biochemical seed treatment Ultim® (active ingredient; organic copper) performed as well as the chemical treatments Apron XL® + Maxim® 4FS and Mertect® 340F in preventing damping-off whereas the biological treatments did not differ from the non-treated control in terms of disease incidence. In all field tests, biological seed treatments did not improve plant stands compared to the non-treated control. Biochemical seed treatments Prudent 44® with Nutrol® (active ingredient; phosphite) and Ultim®, along with chemical seed treatments, had acceptable efficacy and improved stand establishment compared to the non-treated control across field locations. Based on efficacy results from laboratory and field trials, the copper seed treatment has potential for both conventional and organic hemp production.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The pest control and pollinator protection dilemma: The case of thiamethoxam prophylactic applications in squash crops

  PLoS ONE · 2022-05-20 · 19 citations

  articleOpen access

  A major challenge in sustainable agriculture is finding solutions to manage crop-damaging pests such as herbivores while protecting beneficial organisms such as pollinators. Squash is a highly pollinator-dependent crop that is also attractive to herbivores like the striped cucumber beetle. While synthetic insecticides can provide control of insect pests, they can also affect non-target organisms such as pollinators. Thus, growers need to balance pest management with pollinator protection to ensure optimal yield. Thiamethoxam is a commonly used systemic insecticide that translocates throughout plants, leaving residues in nectar and pollen. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there are uses of this insecticide that provides efficient pest control while minimizing pesticide pollinator exposure. Specifically, we tested how different prophylactic application methods (seed treatments, in-furrow applications, and early foliar sprays) of commercially available thiamethoxam products impact pest control, bee visitation, yield, and pesticide residues in flowers of squash crops. We found that among the different methods of thiamethoxam application, in-furrow application best prevented defoliation and resulted in the highest fruit weight and number. However, it also produced the most frequent and highest concentrations of thiamethoxam in nectar and pollen, reaching lethal levels for squash bees. Our study provides evidence that under current application methods, thiamethoxam does not provide a sustainable solution for squash growers and further research is required on more efficient pesticide delivery methods, as well as non-pesticide pest control measurements.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• D. Paine

  University of Tennessee at Knoxville

  25 shared

• Masoume Amirkhani

  Cornell University

  22 shared

• Gary E. Harman

  Cornell University

  17 shared

• B.A. Joyce

  12 shared

• Wen‐Cheng Huang

  National Taiwan Ocean University

  11 shared

• Brian A. Nault

  Cornell University

  11 shared

• Martyn E. Pemble

  11 shared

• Hilary Mayton

  Cornell University

  10 shared

Labs

• Seed Industry ProgramPI

Awards & honors

• Invited guest editor of a Special Issue on Modern Seed Techn…
• Leadership, dedication and service to the New York State See…
• CALS Appreciation letter for dedicated leadership of the NYS…
• NYS Dept of Ag and Mkts from Richard Ball, Commissioner of A…
• Atlantic Seed Association Best Paper (2013)