About

Dr. Jeongim Kim is an associate professor in the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida and a member of the Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology (PMCB) graduate program. She earned her PhD at Purdue University, where she studied auxin biosynthesis and plant abiotic stress physiology. During her post-doctoral training at Purdue, Dr. Kim focused on phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and participated in several projects aimed at increasing biofuel production. Her research interests center on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying metabolic networks that integrate plant stress responses and growth.

Research topics

• Biochemistry
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Botany
• Food science

Selected publications

• Hydroxycinnamoyl compounds, flavonols, anthocyanins, sugar profiles, and antioxidant activity of low-chill peach, nectarine, and plum cultivars grown in Florida, USA

  Food Chemistry · 2026-02-27

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Escarolas y endivias: hortalizas nutritivas con alto potencial para Florida

  EDIS · 2025-12-17

  articleOpen access

  Las escarolas y las endivias son dos hortalizas de hoja en la familia Compositae, ricas en nutrientes y minerales. Estas hortalizas no son muy comunes en el mercado de los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica, pero ambas se plantan en el invierno en la Florida y en otros estados como California y Nueva Jersey. Esta publicación tiene como objetivo informar al público acerca de su uso como hortalizas de hoja en el estado de la Florida. Como en otras hortalizas de hoja, las escarolas y las endivias son susceptibles a plagas y enfermedades, así como también a trastornos fisiológicos como el “pink rib” (por su nombre en inglés) o descoloración en la postcosecha. El uso de las prácticas correctas de manejo y el uso de cultivares adaptado a la Florida pueden ayudar a los productores de campo y en huertos caseros a obtener un buen cultivo.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The airborne herbivore‐induced plant volatile indole is converted to benzoxazinoid defense compounds in maize plants

  New Phytologist · 2025-02-25 · 9 citations

  articleOpen access

  Herbivore-induced plant volatiles act as danger signals to prime defense responses in neighboring plants, yet in many cases the mechanism behind this priming is not known. Volatile signals may be recognized directly by receptors and/or converted into other active compounds. Here we investigate the metabolic fate of volatile indole, a known priming signal in maize (Zea mays), to determine if its conversion to other compounds could play a role in its priming of defenses. We identified benzoxazinoids as major products from volatile indole using heavy isotope-labeled volatile indole and Pathway of Origin Determination in Untargeted Metabolomics (PODIUM) analysis. We then used benzoxazinoid biosynthesis maize mutants to investigate their role in indole-mediated priming. Labeled volatile indole was converted into DIMBOA-glucoside in a bx2 (benzoxazinone synthesis2)-dependent manner. The bx2 mutant plants showed elevated green leaf volatile (GLV) production in response to wounding and Spodoptera frugiperda regurgitant irrespective of indole exposure. Thus, volatile indole is converted into benzoxazinoids, and part of its priming mechanism may be due to the enhanced production of these phytoanticipins. However, indole-mediated enhanced GLV production does not rely on the conversion of indole to benzoxazinoids, so indole also has other signaling functions.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Tomato pollen tube growth requires flavonol glycosylation

  PLANT PHYSIOLOGY · 2025-10-31 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Flavonols are a subclass of flavonoids widely found in plants and typically exist in glycosylated forms, decorated with various sugars at different positions on the flavonol aglycone. The composition and abundance of flavonol glycosides vary across species and among tissues within a species. Although flavonols are collectively known for their antioxidant activity, the specific physiological functions of individual flavonol structures remain poorly understood. Here, we show that 2 flavonol glycosides, kaempferol 3-O-glucosyl(1 → 2)galactoside (K2) and quercetin 3-O-glucosyl(1 → 2)galactoside (Q2), predominantly accumulate in the pollen of Solanaceae plants. K2 is evolutionarily conserved across Solanaceae, while Q2 has been lost in species such as tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Our transcriptome profiling and biochemical analysis revealed SlUGT78D-B (78-B) as a pollen-specific flavonol 3-O-galactosyltransferase responsible for K2 production in tomato. Disruption of 78-B abolished K2 accumulation, leading to defective pollen tube growth in our in vitro assays. Supplementation with kaempferol 3-O-galactoside (K2 precursor) restores pollen tube growth, whereas quercetin 3-O-galactoside (Q2 precursor) or flavonol aglycones do not, suggesting distinct roles for individual flavonol structures. We further show that 3 key amino acid residues of 78-B dictate its sugar specificity, favoring galactosylation over glucosylation. Substitution of any one of these residues enables 78-B to acquire glucosyltransferase activity. However, 78-B remains evolutionarily constrained from gaining this activity, suggesting selective pressure to maintain flavonol galactoside accumulation in pollen. These findings indicate that individual flavonol glycosides can have specific physiological roles beyond enhancing solubility and stability.

  PublisherDOI

• Biosynthesis and Physiological Significance of Organ-Specific Flavonol Glycosides in Solanaceae

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2025-03-28

  preprintOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Abstract Flavonols are subclasses of flavonoids, with hundreds of structures identified in plants. This chemical diversity primarily arises from glycosylation, where sugars are selectively added to the flavonol backbone. While flavonol profiles vary across species and organs, the evolutionary forces shaping this chemodiversity and the physiological significance of specific glycosides remain a mystery. Here, we reveal that finely tuned transcriptional regulation and the sugar selectivity of glycosyltransferases drive the formation of distinct organ specific flavonol profiles and a specific flavonol is necessary for male fertility. In Solanaceae pollen, two flavonol glycosides, K2 (kaempferol 3- O -glucosyl(1 → 2)galactoside) and Q2 (quercetin 3- O -glucosyl(1 → 2)galactoside), are exclusively accumulated. K2 is evolutionarily conserved, while Q2 was lost over time. Consistently, K2 is essential for male fertility, whereas Q2 and aglycones fail to rescue fertility defects. These findings suggest that individual flavonol glycosides have distinct physiological roles, either actively maintained or discarded through evolutionary selection.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Aldoximes: compounds at the crossroads of multiple metabolic pathways in plant

  Phytochemistry Reviews · 2024-03-24 · 2 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Genome-wide gene network uncover temporal and spatial changes of genes in auxin homeostasis during fruit development in strawberry (F. × ananassa)

  BMC Plant Biology · 2024-09-20 · 9 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: The plant hormone auxin plays a crucial role in regulating important functions in strawberry fruit development. Although a few studies have described the complex auxin biosynthetic and signaling pathway in wild diploid strawberry (Fragaria vesca), the molecular mechanisms underlying auxin biosynthesis and crosstalk in octoploid strawberry fruit development are not fully characterized. To address this knowledge gap, comprehensive transcriptomic analyses were conducted at different stages of fruit development and compared between the achene and receptacle to identify developmentally regulated auxin biosynthetic genes and transcription factors during the fruit ripening process. Similar to wild diploid strawberry, octoploid strawberry accumulates high levels of auxin in achene compared to receptacle. RESULTS: Genes involved in auxin biosynthesis and conjugation, such as Tryptophan Aminotransferase of Arabidopsis (TAAs), YUCCA (YUCs), and Gretchen Hagen 3 (GH3s), were found to be primarily expressed in the achene, with low expression in the receptacle. Interestingly, several genes involved in auxin transport and signaling like Pin-Formed (PINs), Auxin/Indole-3-Acetic Acid Proteins (Aux/IAAs), Transport Inhibitor Response 1 / Auxin-Signaling F-Box (TIR/AFBs) and Auxin Response Factor (ARFs) were more abundantly expressed in the receptacle. Moreover, by examining DEGs and their transcriptional profiles across all six developmental stages, we identified key auxin-related genes co-clustered with transcription factors from the NAM-ATAF1,2-CUC2/ WRKYGQK motif (NAC/WYKY), Heat Shock Transcription Factor and Heat Shock Proteins (HSF/HSP), APETALA2/Ethylene Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF) and MYB transcription factor groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results elucidate the complex regulatory network of auxin biosynthesis and its intricate crosstalk within the achene and receptacle, enriching our understanding of fruit development in octoploid strawberries.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Seaweed Extract and Microbial Biostimulants Show Synergistic Effects on Improving Organic Strawberry Production

  HortScience · 2024-07-25 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  The application of seaweed extract and microbial biostimulants has been suggested as a promising approach to overcome yield-limiting factors in organic farming. Yet, information regarding their impact on organic strawberry production is limited. This 2-year field study evaluated the effect of seaweed extract and microbial biostimulants and their synergistic effects on strawberry plant growth, nutrient uptake, fruit yield, and quality under organic production. The biostimulant effects were compared on two strawberry cultivars: Sweet Sensation ® Florida127 and Florida Brilliance. Over two seasons, the combination of seaweed extract plus microbial biostimulants applied biweekly consistently resulted in a significant increase of whole-season marketable and total strawberry fruit yields by 23% and 20% on average, respectively, compared with the no-biostimulant control. Application of either biostimulant alone did not consistently show positive effects on strawberry productivity. Modified strawberry root system architecture, enhanced N uptake, increased number of crowns, and higher soil respiration were observed in the biostimulant combination treatment in contrast to the no-biostimulant control. The biostimulant impact was not influenced by strawberry cultivar, but genotypic difference in yield performance under organic production was observed. ‘Florida Brilliance’ produced significantly higher total fruit number and yield than ‘Florida127’ by 26% and 12%, respectively, in the first season, and by 34% and 11%, respectively, in the second season. Marketable fruit number (by 18%) and yield (by 9%) of ‘Florida Brilliance’ were also higher in the first season, along with greater marketable fruit number (by 31%) in the second season. In addition, ‘Florida Brilliance’ showed significantly higher values of SPAD index, photosynthetic rate (early harvest), and fruit mineral contents based on dry weight (late harvest) than ‘Florida127’ in both seasons. Although the biostimulant treatments exhibited little influence on the fruit quality attributes including soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), SSC/TA, and total anthocyanin content, varietal differences were observed with significantly higher levels of SSC and lower contents of total anthocyanins in ‘Florida 127’ vs. ‘Florida Brilliance’ during each season. The benefits of combined application of seaweed extract and microbial biostimulants demonstrated in this study suggest the need to further elucidate their synergistic functions in promoting nutrient uptake and fruit yield in organic strawberry production systems under different soil and environmental conditions.

  PublisherDOI

• Genome-Wide Transcriptome Dynamics in Auxin Homeostasis During Fruit Development in Strawberry ( <i>F</i> . x <i>ananassa</i> )

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2024-04-28

  preprintOpen access

  Abstract The plant hormone auxin plays a crucial role in regulating important functions in strawberry fruit development. Although a few studies have described the complex auxin biosynthetic and signaling pathway in wild diploid strawberry ( Fragaria vesca ), the molecular mechanisms underlying auxin biosynthesis and crosstalk in octoploid strawberry fruit development are not fully characterized. To address this knowledge gap, comprehensive transcriptomic analyses were conducted at different stages of fruit development and compared between the achene and receptacle to identify developmentally regulated auxin biosynthetic genes and transcription factors during the fruit ripening process. Similar to wild diploid strawberry, octoploid strawberry accumulates high levels of auxin in achene compared to receptacle. Consistently, genes functionating in auxin biosynthesis and conjugation, such as TRYPTOPHAN AMINOTRANSFERASE OF ARABIDOPSIS (TAAs), YUCCA (YUCs), and GRETCHEN HAGEN 3 (GH3s) were found to be primarily expressed in the achene, with low expression in the receptacle. Interestingly, several genes involved in auxin transport and signaling like PIN-FORMED (PINs), AUXIN/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID proteins (Aux/IAAs), TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESPONSE 1 / AUXIN-SIGNALING F-BOX (TIR/AFBs) and AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR (ARFs) were more abundantly expressed in the receptacle. Moreover, by examining DEGs and their transcriptional profiles across all six developmental stages, we identified key auxin-related genes co-clustered with transcription factors from the NAM-ATAF1,2-CUC2/ WRKYGQK motif (NAC/WYKY), BASIC REGION/ LEUCINE ZIPPER motif (bZIP), and APETALA2/Ethylene Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF) groups. These results elucidate the complex regulatory network of auxin biosynthesis and its intricate crosstalk within the achene and receptacle, enriching our understanding of fruit development in octoploid strawberries.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Genome-Wide Gene Network Uncover Temporal and Spatial Changes of Genes in Auxin Homeostasis During Fruit Development in Strawberry (F. ×ananassa)

  Research Square · 2024-07-05

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• CAREER:Unraveling the metabolic networks underlying plant stress adaptation

  NSF · $1.1M · 2022–2027

Frequent coauthors

• Clint Chapple

  Purdue University West Lafayette

  30 shared

• Xuebin Zhang

  Henan University

  15 shared

• Jian Shi

  University of Kentucky

  12 shared

• Nickolas Anderson

  Pepsi (United States)

  12 shared

• Anna K. Block

  United States Department of Agriculture

  12 shared

• Ray A. Bressan

  10 shared

• Ru Dai

  University of Florida

  9 shared

• Blake A. Simmons

  9 shared

Labs

• Biochemical Genetics LabPI