Dr. Milad Eskandari

Dr. Milad Eskandari

Soybean Breeding and Genetics, Associate Professor

Agronomy Building
1st Floor, office number 111

519-674-1500 Ext. 63283

meskanda@uoguelph.ca

Degrees

• Ph.D. Plant Breeding and Genetics - University of Guelph
• M.Sc. Plant Breeding - University of Karaj
• B.Sc. Agronomy and Plant Breeding - University of Arsenjan

Research Interests

Our research program focuses on using high throughput phenotyping and genotyping technologies for the development of Ontario-adapted high-yielding soybean cultivars with value-added traits (e.g., high protein with enhanced amino acid profiles, high oil with altered fatty acid compositions, high sugar, high isoflavone, lipoxygenase-free, and low phytate) that help farmers to maintain a competitive edge and improve the quality of soybean for both food and industrial implications. Current projects include:

• Developing high-yielding high protein cultivars with resistance to the Soybean Cyst Nematodes (SCN)
• Developing high-yielding high isoflavone soybeans with resistance to the SCN
• Developing high-yielding high oil soybeans with modified fatty acid profiles and resistance to the SCN
• Studying the genetic control of oil and protein biosynthesis using molecular markers and the candidate gene (CG) approach
• Studying the DGAT1 gene deficiency on soybean seeds oil biosynthesis and its fatty acid profiles
• Developing advanced mathematical tools such as deep and machine learning algorithms for analyzing large datasets in breeding programs

Research Technicians

Graduate Students & Post-Doctoral Fellows

Refereed Publications

View the complete list of Dr. Milad Eskandari’s scientific publications on Google Scholar.

Recent Publications

• Yoosefzadeh-Najafabadi M, Tulpan D, Eskandari M (2021) Application of machine learning and genetic optimization algorithms for modeling and optimizing soybean yield using its component traits. PLoS ONE 16(4): e0250665. • https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250665
• Torabi, S., Sukumaran, A., Dhaubhadel, S., Johnson, S.E., LaFayette, P., Parrott, W.A., Rajcan, I., and Eskandari, M. (2021) Effects of Type I Diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase (DGAT1) Genes on Soybean (Glycine max L.) Seed Composition. Sci Rep 11, 2556 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82131-5
• Yoosefzadeh-Najafabadi, M., Earl, H., Tulpan, Dan., Sulik, J., and Eskandari, M. (2021) Application of Machine Learning Algorithms in Plant Breeding: Predicting Yield from Hyperspectral Reflectance in Soybean. Front. Plant Sci., 12 January 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.624273
• Whiting, R.M., Torabi, S., Lukens, L., Eskandari, M. Genomic regions associated with important seed quality traits in food-grade soybeans. BMC Plant Biol 20, 485 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-020-02681-0
• Malle, S., Eskandari, M., Morrison, M. et al. Genome-wide association identifies several QTLs controlling cysteine and methionine content in soybean seed including some promising candidate genes. Sci Rep 10, 21812 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78907-w
• Bruce, R.W., Torkamaneh, D., Grainger, C.M. et al. Haplotype diversity underlying quantitative traits in Canadian soybean breeding germplasm. Theor Appl Genet 133, 1967–1976 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-020-03569-1
• Bruce, RW., Torkamaneh, D., Grainger, CM., Belzile, F., Eskandari, M., and Rajcan, I. (2019). Genome-wide genetic diversity is maintained through decades of soybean breeding in Canada. Theor. Appl. Genet. 132(11):3089-3100.
• Bruce, RW., Grainger, CM., Ficht, A., Eskandari, M., and Rajcan, I. (2019). Trends in Soybean Trait Improvement over Generations of Selective Breeding. Crop Science. Vol. 59 No. 5, p. 1870-1879
• Whaley, R., and Eskandari, M. (2019). Genotypic main effect and genotype-by-environment interaction effect on seed protein concentration and yield in food-grade soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merrill). Euphytica (2019) 215: 33.
• Carter, A., Woodrow, L., Rajcan, I., Navabi, A., & Esakndari, M. (2018). Genotype, environment, and genotype by environment interaction for seed isoflavone concentration in soybean grown in soybean cyst nematode infested and non-Infested environments. Field Crops Research
• Carter, A., Tenuta, A., Rajcan, I., Welacky, T., & Eskandari, M. (2018). Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci for Seed Isoflavone Concentration in Soybean (Glycine max) against Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) Stress. Plant Breeding.
• Torabi, S., Stirling, B., Kobler, J., & Eskandari, M. (2018). OAC Bruton Soybean. Canadian Journal of Plant Science.
• Torabi, S., Stirling, B., Kobler, J., & Eskandari, M. (2018). OAC Ramsay Soybeab. Canadian Journal of Plant Science.
• Eskandari, M., Ablett, G., Rajcan, I., Stirling, B., & Fischer, D. (Published online, 2016). Candor Soybean. Canadian Journal of Plant Science.
• Eskandari, M., Rajcan, I., Ablett, G., Stirling, B., & Fischer, D. (Published online, 2016). OAC Brooke Soybean. Canadian Journal of Plant Science.
• Eskandari, M., Rajcan, I., Ablett, G., Stirling, B., & Fischer, D. (in press, 2016). OAC Prosper Soybean. Canadian Journal of Plant Science.
• Hemingway, J. Eskandari, M. Rajcan, I.(2015). Genetic and Environmental Effects on Fatty Acid Composition in Soybeans with Potential Use in Automotive Industry. Crop Science. Vol. 55 No. 2, p. 658-668.
• Eskandari M, ER. Cober, and I. Rajcan. 2013. Using the candidate gene approach in detecting genes underlying seed oil concentration and yield in soybean. Theor. Appl. Genet. 126(7):1839-50.
• Eskandari M, ER. Cober, and I. Rajcan. 2013. Genetic control of soybean seed oil: II. QTL and genes that increase oil concentration without decreasing protein or with increased seed yield. Theor. Appl. Genet. 126(6):1677-87.
• Eskandari M, ER. Cober, and I. Rajcan. 2013. Genetic control of soybean seed oil: I. QTL and genes associated with seed oil concentration in RIL populations derived from crossing moderately high oil parents. Theor. Appl. Genet. 126(2):483-95.
• Eskandari M. 2012. Identification and localization of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and genes associated with oil concentration in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] seed. PhD Thesis, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. 181 p.
• Eskandari M. 1998. Studying the importance of agronomic traits on quality and quantity of white sugar in sugar beet using multivariate statistical and stability analysis methods. MSc. Thesis, University of Karaj, Tehran, Iran, 136 p.