Neil Mattson
VerifiedCornell University · Horticulture
Active 2001–2025
About
Neil Mattson is a professor involved in research related to plant science and environmental engineering at Cornell CALS. His work focuses on improving therapeutics for Type 1 diabetes through synthetic biology, as exemplified by his collaboration with student Gaby Markle ’26, who is researching potential treatments for diabetes. Mattson's research encompasses biological and environmental engineering, contributing to advancements in plant health and sustainable agricultural practices. His role includes mentoring students and engaging in groundbreaking research that supports the university's mission of addressing major challenges through innovative scientific inquiry.
Research topics
- Biology
- Computer Science
- Agronomy
- Environmental science
- Artificial Intelligence
- Horticulture
- Ecology
- Mathematics
- Mathematical optimization
- Engineering
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Cell biology
- Biochemistry
- Meteorology
- Materials science
- Geography
- Environmental engineering
Selected publications
Preprints.org · 2025-05-12
preprintOpen accessSenior authorPrevious research has shown benefits of splitting nutrient application to plant roots either temporally or spatially. A split-root nutrient film technique (SR-NFT) was developed for lettuce where an NFT channel is divided longitudinally into two separate channels, each with their own input and drain line. In this system, plant roots can be intentionally divided to supply different nutrient solutions without mixing them. Plant growth was observed using combinations of 3 different hydroponic fertilizer concentrations: EC 0.5 dS∙m-1 (L, tap water), EC 1.8 dS∙m-1 (M, nutrient solution), and EC 3.1 dS∙m-1 (H, nutrient solution). For the same average concentration of solution (EC 1.8 dS∙m-1), SR-NFT that supplied different concentrations of solution on the left and right side (SHL) increased the shoot fresh and dry weight by weight by 15%, shoot dry weight by 14%, and root dry weight by 25% without increasing number of tipburn leaves compared to conventional NFT (MM). In addition, the lowest concentration with SR-NFT (SML) reduced the number of tipburn leaves without reducing the shoot fresh weight in all conditions except SMM. In other words, the use of tap water on one side is expected to suppress tipburn or increase yield.
Evaluation of Fish Biosolids as a Fertilizer for Organic Tomato Transplant Production
Horticulturae · 2025-01-08
articleOpen accessSenior authorCorrespondingInterest among consumers in the availability of organically produced fruits and vegetables is increasing. Seafood demand is increasingly being met by fish raised using aquaculture methods that provide fish excretory products that can meet organic standards for nutrient sources for organic vegetables. We conducted an experiment in a glass greenhouse to evaluate fish biosolids as a substrate amendment for organic tomato transplant production. We compared the fish biosolids treatment to several different organic fertilizers, along with a commonly used inorganic slow-release fertilizer (Osmocote). All treatments used a target N concentration of 400 mg/L incorporated into the substrate and we also included fish biosolids treatments of 200 and 800 mg N/L. Plant performance was monitored for 4 weeks starting with commercially available 2-week-old seedlings. The results showed that the 800 mg N/L fish biosolids treatment compared very favorably with the conventional Osmocote treatment at the conclusion of the trial. The 800 mg N/L fish biosolids treatment exceeded the Osmocote treatment for chlorophyll content and for leaf number for the first 3 weeks of the 4-week trial. Grower management protocols could further improve seedling performance by providing additional top dressings of fish biosolids or fish effluent waters as plants age.
Acta Horticulturae · 2025-03-01
articleSenior authorHortTechnology · 2025-08-29
articleOpen accessSenior authorCold atmospheric plasma applied to water results in a multitude of direct and indirect chemical reactions at the interface, generating a solution referred to as plasma-activated water (PAW), which is rich in reactive nitrogen and oxygen species and has been shown to enhance several processes important to seed germination and seedling production. More specifically, a growing body of research supports the role of PAW in augmenting the seed germination rate and uniformity. Additionally, PAW has been shown to enhance growth and vigor of crop seedlings. In 2023, a survey was launched to ascertain information about the current knowledge of and interest in this technology and, upon discovery, gauge plant producers’ willingness to learn about and adopt PAW in their own operations. Responses from young plant producers were collected between Aug 2023 and Mar 2024 using an anonymous survey. Of the 82 respondents, only 18% were aware of PAW. Despite its obscurity, 78% indicated that they were interested in learning more about PAW and 55% were in favor of trying PAW in their cultural practices. Farmers growing in larger production areas, using indoor vertical farms, or producing herb crops were among the most inclined to learn about and try PAW to enhance their production. Additionally, the frequency with which farmers have experienced poor seed germination positively correlated with overall willingness to try PAW.
Agriculture · 2025-06-24
articleOpen accessSenior authorCorrespondingPrevious research has shown the benefits of splitting nutrient application to plant roots either temporally or spatially. A split-root nutrient film technique (SR-NFT) was developed for lettuce where an NFT channel is divided longitudinally into two separate channels, each with its own input and drain line. In this system, plant roots can be intentionally divided to supply different nutrient solutions without mixing them. Plant growth was observed using combinations of three different hydroponic fertilizer concentrations: EC 0.5 dS∙m−1 (L, tap water), EC 1.8 dS∙m−1 (M, nutrient solution), and EC 3.1 dS∙m−1 (H, nutrient solution). For the same average concentration of solution (EC 1.8 dS∙m-1), SR-NFT that supplied different concentrations of solution on the left and right side (SHL, Left; EC 0.5 dS∙m−1, Right; EC 3.1 dS∙m−1) increased the shoot fresh and dry weight by 15%, shoot dry weight by 14%, and root dry weight by 25% without increasing number of tipburn leaves compared to conventional NFT (MM, EC 1.8 dS∙m−1). In addition, the lowest concentration with SR-NFT (SML, Left; EC 1.8 dS∙m−1, Right; EC 0.5 dS∙m−1) reduced the number of tipburn leaves without reducing the shoot fresh weight in all conditions except SMM (Left; EC 1.8 dS∙m−1, Right; EC 1.8 dS∙m−1). In other words, the use of tap water on one side is expected to suppress tipburn or increase yield.
Horticulturae · 2025-06-16
articleOpen accessSenior authorCorrespondingTrehalose is a nonreducing disaccharide critical for cellular integrity and stress adaptation in plants, and its synthesis relies on trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP). Despite their established roles in abiotic stress responses across model plants, these gene families remain underexplored in ornamental species like Petunia hybrida. Here, TPS and TPP genes in two wild petunia progenitors, P. axillaris and P. inflata, underwent a genome-wide analysis, with 10 TPS and 8–9 TPP genes being identified in each species. According to phylogenetic analysis, petunia TPS proteins cluster into two clades, while TPP proteins were classified into three clades, showing closer evolutionary ties to tomato homologs. Cis-acting elements profiling identified hormone- and stress-responsive regulatory elements (e.g., ABRE, TC-rich repeats). Expression analysis under drought, heat, and salt stress revealed dynamic temporal regulation. For instance, PaTPS4/PaTPS9 were early responders (peak at 6 h) under drought and salt stress, while PaTPS8 exhibited sustained upregulation during salt treatment. Heat stress uniquely suppressed PaTPS1,2 and PaTPP1, contrasting with broad upregulation of other members. Notably, PaTPP3 displayed delayed induction under heat. These findings underscore the functional diversity within TPS/TPP families, with specific members governing stress-specific responses. This study provides a foundational resource for leveraging these genes to enhance stress resilience and ornamental value in petunia.
Crops · 2025-06-06 · 13 citations
articleOpen accessGlobal agriculture remains dependent on nitrogen fertilizers produced through fossil fuel-based processes, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and supply chain vulnerabilities. This review introduces plasma-activated water (PAW) as a novel, electricity-driven alternative for sustainable nitrogen delivery. Generated by non-thermal plasma, PAW infuses water with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, offering a clean, decentralized substitute for conventional synthetic fertilizers derived from the Haber–Bosch and Ostwald processes. It can be produced on-site using renewable energy, reducing transportation costs and depending on fertilizers. Beyond its fertilizer properties, PAW enhances seed germination, plant growth, stress tolerance, and pest resistance, making it a multifunctional input for controlled environment agriculture. We also assess PAW’s techno-economic viability, including energy requirements, production costs, and potential scalability through renewable energy. These factors are crucial for determining its feasibility in both industrial systems and localized agricultural applications. Finally, the review examines PAW’s contribution to the ten United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in climate action, clean energy, and sustainable food production. By combining agronomic performance with circular production and emissions reduction, PAW presents a promising path toward more resilient, low-impact, and self-sufficient agricultural systems.
Unoxygenated Kratky systems are a viable alternative to active deep water culture approaches.
2024-09-02 · 1 citations
preprintOpen accessUrban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · 2024-01-01
articleOpen accessAbstract Greenhouse crop nutrient management recommendations based on foliar tissue testing rely heavily on human interpretation, which can result in recommendation variations and errors. Critical nutrient ranges vary for each species, and the potential for error in interpretation increases due to this complexity. Machine learning can be utilized to develop algorithms to accurately classify new information using models developed on known data from a training dataset. This study examines four different machine learning algorithms (J48, random forest [RF], sequential minimal optimization [SMO], and multilayer perceptron [MLP]) by two different cross‐validation strategies (10‐fold and 66% split) to determine if machine learning can be utilized to accurately classify foliar tissue samples within corresponding nutrient ranges. Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.) foliar tissue samples ( n = 1950) from a variety of controlled experiments and diagnostic samples from state and private labs were compiled and assigned to one of five nutrient ranges of deficient, low, sufficient, high, or excessive for each of 11 plant essential nutrients of interest based on Gamma or Weibull distributions. Individual machine learning algorithms were developed for each nutrient. For all examined essential nutrients, J48 or RF yielded the >98% greatest percentage correct classification when compared to MLP or SMO. This study establishes the novel use of machine learning for lettuce foliar nutrient analysis results interpretation with a higher accuracy rate than by traditional statistical methods.
Horticulturae · 2024-10-18 · 6 citations
articleOpen accessSenior authorCorrespondingPetunia stands as the top-selling bedding plant in the U.S., and improved lighting control in greenhouses holds the potential to reduce crop production time and optimize crop quality. This study investigated the impact of four distinct daily light integral (DLI) conditions with and without supplemental far-red (FR) radiation on the growth of petunia liners and subsequent development of finish plants. Two experiments were conducted in spring (9 April to 18 June 2021) and winter (28 October 2021 to 6 January 2022). Petunia cuttings were rooted in a common environment and then transferred to four greenhouse sections with different DLI treatments: 6, 9, 12, and 15 mol·m−2·d−1 for four weeks. Within each DLI condition, half of the plants were exposed to 28 μmol·m−2·s−1 supplemental FR radiation for 16 h daily (equivalent to 1.61 mol·m−2·d−1 light integral). The number of flower buds and open flowers were tracked daily. Representative liners were destructively harvested and evaluated after four weeks of lighting treatments. The remaining plants were transplanted and moved to a common DLI condition of 15 mol·m−2·d−1 for an additional three weeks before being destructively harvested and evaluated as finish plants. The primary finding reveals the promoting effect of DLI on flowering, branching, morphology, and biomass accumulation of petunia liners, with many effects persisting into the finish stage. A threshold DLI of 9 mol·m−2·d−1 was identified, as lower DLI (6 mol·m−2·d−1) resulted in extensive stem elongation, rendering the plants unmarketable. Higher DLI levels were found to be optimal in terms of flowering and morphology. Supplemental FR accelerated flowering by up to three days in the summer experiment and up to 12 days in the winter experiment. However, FR had limited impact on the number of flower buds and open flowers, branching, and shoot and root weight of the finish plants. Interactions between DLI and FR were observed on some parameters, whereby FR effects were more pronounced under lower DLI. Overall, both higher DLI and supplemental FR exhibited beneficial effects, but DLI had a more pronounced effect. Thus, DLI during petunia liner production appears more important than adding FR. This study well simulated the commercial propagation and production of petunia plants, providing practical insights for decision-making regarding lighting strategies.
Recent grants
Frequent coauthors
- 38 shared
Rashad Mukhtar Balal
- 37 shared
Francisco García‐Sánchez
- 35 shared
Muhammad Adnan Shahid
University of Florida
- 28 shared
Tahira Abbas
- 28 shared
Zafar Iqbal
King Faisal University
- 26 shared
Vicente Gimeno
- 26 shared
Muhammad Ashfaq
Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture
- 25 shared
Muhammad Mumtaz Khan
Awards & honors
- 40 under 40 leaders in horticulture/floriculture (2015)
- Inducted member (2013) Pi Alpha Xi, National Honor Society f…
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