Jim Giovannoni

Professor, USDA Scientist
Jim Giovannoni
jjg33@cornell.edu
Office/Lab: 429/426
Phone: 607-254-1414
Office/Lab: 301
Email: jjg33@cornell.edu
Office Phone: 607-254-1414
Lab Phone: 607-255-1259
Affiliations: Adjunct Professor, Section of Plant Biology / School of Integrative Plant Science / Cornell University
Graduate Fields: Horticulture; Plant Breeding; Plant Biology
Research Overview

USDA affiliation: Plant Molecular Biologist, USDA-ARS Robert W. Holley Center james.giovannoni@ars.usda.gov

The focus of research in the Giovannoni laboratory is molecular and genetic analysis of fruit ripening and related signal transduction systems with emphasis on the relationship of fruit ripening to nutritional quality. We are also involved in development of tools for genomics of the Solanaceae including participation in the International Tomato Sequencing Project. We employ several experimental systems but the majority of our work involves the use of tomato. The broad objectives of the lab include deciphering the underlying molecular basis of components of ripening regulation conserved through evolution and how these regulatory networks coordinate ripening events including those related to quality and nutritional content.

Experimental approaches include: 1) positional cloning of loci known via mutation to harbor genes necessary for normal fruit development and ripening, and 2) isolation of candidate ripening regulatory genes based on expression pattern or relationship to ripening-related signal transduction systems (e.g. ethylene, light), and functional analysis in transgenic plants.

Lab Members
In the News
Intern Projects
Ripening is a process by which the texture, color, flavor, and nutritional content of fruit is enhanced. These traits contribute to the healthfulness and desirability of the fruit as a food source. Clearly, understanding the processes behind fruit ripening are important in terms of nutrition, but also for commercial applications such as transportation and shelf-life. Thus, the focus of research in the Giovannoni lab is molecular and genetic analysis of fruit ripening and related signal transduction systems, using tomato as the model system. Recently, researchers in the lab isolated two genes, RIN and NOR, that are part of the master switch to induce ripening in tomatoes. In addition to identifying important regulatory components of ripening, the lab also investigates lycopene production. Lycopene is the pigment that gives tomatoes their red coloring and which is also suggested to inhibit degenerative diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Using a genomics approach, the lab is investigating the regulatory mechanisms behind accumulation of this important compound in different tomato varieties.

For more information about the Giovannoni lab, please visit the Plant Biology website. Additionally, the Giovannoni lab, in conjunction with other labs on campus has developed a resource for tomato genomics, the Tomato EST Database. Additional resources and information resulting from tomato genomics activities on the Cornell campus can be found at the Solanaceae Genomics Network site.

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Interns
Publications
Differential metabolism of L–phenylalanine in the formation of aromatic volatiles in melon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit
2018.
Gonda, I., Davidovich-Rikanati, R., Bar, E., Lev, S., Jhirad, P., Meshulam, Y., Wissotsky, G., Portn…
Phytochemistry.
148
:
122–131
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High-resolution spatiotemporal transcriptome mapping of tomato fruit development and ripening
2018.
Shinozaki, Y., Nicolas, P., Fernandez-Pozo, N., Ma, Q., Evanich, D. J., Shi, Y., Xu, Y., Zheng, Y., …
Nature Communications.
9
:
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The Tomato Expression Atlas
2017.
Fernandez-Pozo, N., Zheng, Y., Snyder, S. I., Nicolas, P., Shinozaki, Y., Fei, Zhangjun, Catala, Car…
Bioinformatics (Oxford, England).
33
:
2397–2398
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AtPDS overexpression in tomato: Exposing unique patterns of carotenoid self-regulation and an alternative strategy for the enhancement of fruit carotenoid content
2017.
Mcquinn, R. P., Wong, B., Giovannoni, James J.
Plant Biotechnology Journal.
16
:
482–494
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The Epigenome and Transcriptional Dynamics of Fruit Ripening
2017.
Giovannoni, James J., Nguyen, C., Ampofo, B., Zhong, S., Fei, Zhangjun
Annual Review of Plant Biology.
68
:
61–84
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Delayed response to cold stress is characterized by successive metabolic shifts culminating in apple fruit peel necrosis
2017.
Gapper, N. E., Hertog, M. LATM, Lee, J., Buchanan, D. A., Leisso, R. S., Fei, Zhangjun, Qu, G., Giov…
BMC Plant Biology.
17
:
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An InDel in the Promoter of Al-ACTIVATED MALATE TRANSPORTER9 Selected during Tomato Domestication Determines Fruit Malate Contents and Aluminum Tolerance
2017.
Ye, J., Wang, X., Hu, T., Zhang, F., Wang, B., Li, C., Yang, T., Li, H., Lu, Y., Giovannoni, James J…
The Plant Cell.
29
:
2249–2268
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Carotenoid profiling of the leaves of selected African eggplant accessions subjected to drought stress
2017.
Mibei, E. K., Ambuko, J., Giovannoni, James J., Onyango, A. N., Owino, W. O.
Food Science and Nutrition.
5
:
113–122
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Metabolomic analyses to evaluate the effect of drought stress on selected African Eggplant accessions
2017.
Mibei, E. K., Owino, W. O., Ambuko, J., Giovannoni, James J., Onyango, A. N.
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.
98
:
205–216
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Transient regulation of three clustered tomato class-I small heat-shock chaperone genes by ethylene is mediated by SlMADS-RIN transcription factor
2017.
Shukla, V., Upadhyay, R. K., Tucker, M. L., Giovannoni, James J., Rudrabhatla, S. V., Mattoo, A. K.
Nature Scientific Reports.
7
:
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Next-generation sequencing-based QTL mapping for unravelling causative genes associated with melon fruit quality traits
2017.
Portnoy, V., Gonda, I., Galpaz, N., Tzuri, G., Lev, S., Kenigswald, M., Fei, Zhangjun, Barad, O., Ha…
II INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON TOMATO DISEASES.
1151
:
9–16
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Overexpression of the class D MADS-box gene Sl-AGL11 impacts fleshy tissue differentiation and structure in tomato fruits
2017.
Huang, B., Routaboul, J. M., Liu, M., Deng, W., Maza, E., Mila, I., Hu, G., Zouine, M., Frasse, P., …
Journal of Experimental Botany.
68
:
4869–4884
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iTAK: A Program for Genome-wide Prediction and Classification of Plant Transcription Factors, Transcriptional Regulators, and Protein Kinases
2016.
Zheng, Y., Jiao, C., Sun, H., Rosli, H. G., Pombo, M. A., Zhang, P., Banf, M., Dai, X., Martin, Greg…
Molecular Plant.
9
:
1667–1670
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Involvement of an ethylene response factor in chlorophyll degradation during citrus fruit degreening
2016.
Yin, X. R., Xie, X. L., Xia, X. J., Yu, J. Q., Ferguson, I. B., Giovannoni, James J., Chen, K. S.
The Plant Journal.
86
:
403–412
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Banana MaMADS Transcription Factors Are Necessary for Fruit Ripening and Molecular Tools to Promote Shelf-Life and Food Security
2016.
Elitzur, T., Yakir, E., Quansah, L., Zhangjun, F., Vrebalov, J., Khayat, E., Giovannoni, James J., F…
Plant Physiology.
171
:
380–391
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Correction for Zhang et al., Chilling-induced tomato flavor loss is associated with altered volatile synthesis and transient changes in DNA methylation
2016.
Zhang, B., Tieman, D. M., Jiao, C., Xu, Y., Chen, K., Fei, Zhangjun, Giovannoni, James J., Klee, H. …
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
113
:
E8007–E8007
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Gene expression and metabolism preceding soft scald, a chilling injury of ‘Honeycrisp’ apple fruit
2016.
Leisso, R. S., Gapper, N. E., Mattheis, J. P., Sullivan, N. L., Watkins, C. B., Giovannoni, James J.…
BMC Genomics.
17
:
View
Identification of a Solanum pennellii Chromosome 4 Fruit Flavor and Nutritional Quality-Associated Metabolite QTL
2016.
Liu, Z., Alseekh, S., Brotman, Y., Zheng, Y., Fei, Zhangjun, Tieman, D. M., Giovannoni, James J., Fe…
Frontiers in Plant Science.
7
:
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Gr and hp-1 tomato mutants unveil unprecedented interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and fruit ripening
2016.
Chialva, M., Zouari, I., Salvioli, A., Novero, M., Vrebalov, J., Giovannoni, James J., Bonfante, P.
Planta.
244
:
155–165
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Fruit carotenoid-deficient mutants in tomato reveal a function of the plastidial isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase (IDI1) in carotenoid biosynthesis
2016.
Pankratov, I., McQuinn, R., Schwartz, J., Bar, E., Fei, Zhangjun, Lewinsohn, E., Zamir, D., Giovanno…
The Plant Journal.
88
:
82–94
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View All Publications
Patents
Rin gene compositions and methods for use thereof
Jim Giovannoni
Technology Area:Fruit Quality
US Patent/Application(s): 6,787,687
Publication: Science 2002
Ripening inhibition in the tomato Green-ripe mutant results from ectopic expression of a novel protein which disrupts ethylene signal transduction
Jim Giovannoni
Technology Area:Fruit Quality
US Patent/Application(s): 7,947,867
Publication: PNAS 2006
NOR gene for use in manipulation of fruit quality and ethylene response
Jim Giovannoni
Technology Area:Fruit Quality
US Patent/Application(s): 6,762,347
Publication: Plant Cell 2004
Endo-1,4-.beta.-glucanase genes and their use in plants
Jim Giovannoni
Technology Area:Fruit Quality
US Patent/Application(s): 5,585,545
Publication: Plant J 1998
Banana MADS-Box Genes for Banana Ripening Control
Jim Giovannoni
Technology Area:Fruit Quality
US Patent/Application(s): Provisional
Publication: J Exp Bot 2010
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