Yiftach Vaknin Ph.D.
Senior research scientist
- Institute of Plant Sciences
- Natural Resources
- Institute of Plant Sciences, Room #3046
- +972-506220486
- +972-39683486
Biography
I received my PhD from Tel-Aviv University and completed postdoctoral studies at UC Davis, Pomology Department, CA, and UMR INRA/UAPV Ecologie des Invertébrés, France. I am currently a senior researcher at the Department of Natural Resources, Volcani Center in Israel, where I specialize in pollination biology of wild and cultivated plants and develop new plants and innovative agro-technological methods for the food, pharmaceutical and bioenergy industries.
Education
-
1989 – 1992
B.Sc. in Department of Biology at Bar Ilan University (summa cum laude)
-
1992 – 1994
M.Sc. in Department of Zoology at Tel-Aviv University Title of thesis: Nectarinia osea osea (Bonaparte) - Loranthus acaciae Zucc., a study of interrelationships in an extreme habitat Supervision by: Prof. Yoram Yom-Tov and Prof. Dan Eisikowitch
-
1995 – 2000
Ph.D. in Department of Plant Sciences at Tel-Aviv University Title of thesis: The use of electrostatic methods in pollination of cultivated plants Supervision by: Prof. Dan Eisikowitch Dr. Samuel Gan-Mor
-
2000 – 2002
Postdoctoral position at Pomology Department, UCDavis, Davis CA, USA with Prof. Vito Polito and Prof. Steve Weinbaum Research subject: (1) Effects of immaturity on reproductive success of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.); (2) Analysis of pollen flow in walnuts using genetic markers.
-
2001 (4 months)
Postdoctoral position at UMR INRA/UAPV Ecologie des Invertébrés, Site Agroparc - Domaine Saint-Paul 84914 AVIGNON Cedex 09, France with Dr. Bernard Vaissiere Research subject: Dispersal dynamics of wind borne pollen in onion (Allium cepa L.) for hybrid seeds
Research Interests
My research focuses on developing and implementing innovative solutions in the areas of plant sexual reproduction (pollination ecology), functional foods, alternative energy crops (first and second-generation biofuels), and alternative protein sources for the food industry. This encompasses fundamental research as well as the development and practical application of novel methodologies in the fields of pollination, plant reproduction, agro-technology, genetic breeding, and alternative energy crops.
Research Areas
- Pollination ecology and pollination and fertilization biology of wild and cultivated crop plants
- Jatropha curcas L. as a rich non-edible oil crop for biodiesel production
- Edible sprouts as functional food from native Israeli plants
- Lemon eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) as a novel fresh leaf herb for infusion
- Moringa oleifera as a rich oil crop for biodiesel production and medicinal cosmetics
- Moringa oleifera as a rich source for alternative plant-based proteins for the food-tech industry
Publications/Articles
- Vaknin, Y., Yom-Tov Y. and Eisikowitch, D. (1996). Flowering seasonality and flower characteristics of Loranthus acaciae Zucc. (Loranthaceae): implications for advertisement and bird-pollination. Sexual Plant Reproduction. 9: 279-285
- Bechar, A., Gan-Mor, S., Vaknin, Y., Shmulevich, I., Ronen B. and Eisikowitch, D. (1997). An image analysis technique for accurate counting of pollen on the stigmas. New Phytologist. 137: 639-643
- Vaknin, Y., Gan-Mor, S. and Eisikowitch, D. (1999). Pollen supplementation in almond and pistachio orchards using electrostatic techniques. NUCIS. 8: 20-23
- Vaknin, Y., Gan-Mor, S., Bechar, A., Ronen B. and Eisikowitch, D. (1999). Effects of desiccation and dilution on germinability of almond pollen. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology. 74: 321-327
- Bechar, A., Shmulevich, I., Eisikowitch, D., Vaknin, Y., Ronen B. and Gan-Mor, S. (1999). Simulation and testing of an electrostatic pollination system. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers. 42: 1511-1516, (Received the “2000 ASAE Superior paper Award”)
- Vaknin, Y., Gan-Mor, S., Bechar, A., Ronen B. and Eisikowitch, D. (2000). The role of electrostatic forces in pollination. Plant Systematics and Evolution. 222: 133-142
- Vaknin, Y. and Eisikowitch, D. (2000). Effects of short-term storage on germinability of pistachio pollen. Plant Breeding. 119: 347-350
- Vaknin, Y., Gan-Mor, S., Bechar, A., Ronen B. and Eisikowitch, D. (2000). Electrostatic pollination of cultivated plants – A novel method of pollen supplementation in agriculture. Australian Journal of Nutgrowers 14: 14-16
- Vaknin, Y., Gan-Mor, S., Bechar, A., Ronen B., and Eisikowitch, D. (2001). Improving pollination of almond (Amygdalus communis L.; Rosaceae) using electrostatic techniques. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology. 76: 208-212
- Vaknin, Y., Gan-Mor, S., Bechar, A., Ronen B. and Eisikowitch, D. (2001). Are flowers morphologically adapted to take advantage of electrostatic forces in pollination? New Phytologist. 152: 301-306
- Benzioni, A. and Vaknin, Y. (2002). Effect of female and male genotypes and of environmental factors on wax composition of Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schneider). Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 79: 297-302
- Vaknin, Y., Gan-Mor, S., Bechar, A., Ronen B. and Eisikowitch, D. (2002). Effects of pollen supplementation on cropping success and fruit quality of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.; Anacardiaceae). Plant Breeding. 121: 451-455
- Polito, V., Aradhya, M., Dangl, J., Grant, J., Pinney, K., Vaknin, Y., Simon, C., & Woeste, K. (2003). Walnut pollination dynamics: pollen flow and pollen loads in walnut orchards. HortScience. 38, 741
- Gan-Mor S., A. Bechar, B. Ronen D. Eisikowitch, Vaknin Y. (2003). Electrostatic Pollen Applicator Development and Tests for Almond, Kiwi, Date and Pistachio – An Overview. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 19: 119-124
- Gan-Mor S., A. Bechar, B. Ronen D. Eisikowitch, Vaknin Y. (2003). Improving Electrostatic Pollination inside Tree Canopy via Simulations and Field Tests. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers. 46: 839-843
- Vaknin, Y., Mills, D. and Benzioni, A. (2003). Pollen production and pollen viability in male Jojoba plants. Industrial Crops and Products. 18: 117-123
- Martinez-Gomez, P*., Sanchez-Perez, R., Vaknin, Y., Dicenta, F. and Gradziel, T. M. (2005). Improved technique for counting chromosomes in almond. Scientia Horticulturae. 105: 139-143
- Broucqsault, L-M. Vaissiere, B. Morison, N. Vaknin, Y. Cambon, G. (2006). Oignon: des pistes pour gerer les risques de pollution pollinique a grande distance. Bulletin Semences. 191: 34-37
- Vaknin, Y. (2006). Effects of immaturity on productivity and nut quality in pistachio (Pistacia vera L.). Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology. 81: 593-598
- Vaknin, Y. Hadas, R. Schafferman, D. Murkhovsky, L and Bashan, N. (2007). The potential of milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.), an Israeli native, as a source of edible sprouts rich in antioxidants. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. 20: 1-8
- Vaknin, Y. Barr, N. and Saranga, Y. (2008). Preliminary investigations into the significance of floral applications of calcium, boron and polyphenols for increased seed set in confection sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.). Field Crops Research. 107: 155-160
- Steinitz, B., Tabib Y., Gaba, V., Gefen, T. Vaknin, Y. (2008). Vegetative micro-cloning sustaining biodiversity of threatened Moringa species. In Vitro Cell.Dev.Biol.-Plant. 45: 65-71
- Vaknin, Y. Dudai, N. Murkhovsky, L. Gelfandbein, L. Fischer, R and Degani, A. (2009). Effects of pot size on leaf production and essential oil content and composition of Eucalyptus citriodora Hook. (Lemon-scented gum). Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants. 15: 1-1
- Gan-Mor, S., Ronen, B. Vaknin, Y. Glik, Y. Samocha, Y. Eisikowitch, D. (2009). Further Studies on Electrostatic Date Pollination – from the Laboratory Bench to Field Unit Performance Test. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. 25: 643-646
- Vaknin, Y. (2009). Electric field imposed by pollen vectors, as a selective force in the evolution of floral morphology - an evolutionary hypothesis. Israel Journal of Plant Sciences. 57: 165-170
- Steinitz, B. Barr, N. Tabib, Y. Vaknin, Y. and Bernstein, N. (2010). Control of in vitro rooting and plant development in Corymbia maculata by silver nitrate, silver thiosulfate and thiosulfate ion. Plant Cell Reports. 29: 1315-1323
- Zaidman, B., Ghanim, M and Vaknin, Y. (2010). Effect of seed weight on seed vigor and early seedling growth of Jatropha curcas, a biodiesel plant. Seed Science and Technology. 38: 758-767
- Vaknin, Y. Ghanim, M. Samra, S. Dvash, L. Hendelsman, E. Eisikowitch, D. and Samocha, Y. (2011). Predicting Jatropha curcas seed-oil content, oil composition and protein content using near-infrared spectroscopy – a quick and non-destructive method. Industrial Crops and Products. 34: 1029-1034
- Vaknin, Y. (2012). The significance of pollination services for biodiesel feedstocks, with special reference to Jatropha curcas L.: a review. Bioenergy Research. 5: 32-40
- Samra, S., Samocha, Y. Eisikowitch, D. and Vaknin, Y. (2014). Can ants equal honeybees as effective pollinators of the energy crop Jatropha curcas L. under Mediterranean conditions? GCB Bioenergy. 6: 756-767
- Shemer, A. Biton, I. Many, Y. Vaknin, Y. Lavee, S. Avidan B. and Ben-Ari, G. (2014). The olive cultivar ‘Picual’ is an optimal pollen donor for ‘Barnea.’. Scientia Horticulturae. 172: 278-284
- Samocha, Y., Eisikowitch, D. and Vaknin, Y. (2014). Pollen source effects on fruit and seed traits of Jatropha curcas L. - a renewable biodiesel feedstock. Bioenergy Research. 7: 1270-1279
- Vaknin, Y. Samocha, Y. Eisikowitch, D. (2015). Temporary incidence of polygamomonoecy in the biodiesel plant Jatropha curcas L. is associated with style polymorphism promoting automatic self-pollination. Journal of Pollination Ecology. 15: 38-43
- Vaknin, Y., Yermiyahu, U., Bar-Tal, A. (2015). Jatropha curcas L. as a new biofuel feedstock for semi-arid and arid regions and its agro-ecological sustainability issues. In: Sustainable Biofuels Paradigm: An Ecological Assessment of the Future Energy (A. K. Bhardwaj, T. Zenone, and J. Chen, eds.). The Ecosystem Science and Application (ESA) Series. Published by the Higher Education Press (HEP) in De Gruyter, Germany, and China
- Degani, A.V. Dudai, N. Bechar, A. and Vaknin, Y. (2016). Shade effects on leaf production and essential oil content and composition of the novel herb Eucalyptus citriodora Hook. Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants. 19: 410-420
- Cohen-Zinder, M. Leibovitz, H. Vaknin, Y. Sagi, G. Shabtay, A. Ben-Meir, Y. Nikbachat, M. Portnik, Y. Yishai, M. Miron, J. (2016). Effect of feeding Moringa oleifera Lam. silage to lactating cows on digestibility and efficiency of milk Production. Animal Feed Science and Technology. 211: 75-83
- Vaknin, Y. Mishal, A. (2017). The potential of the tropical "miracle tree" Moringa oleifera and its desert relative Moringa peregrina as edible seed-oil and protein crops under Mediterranean conditions. Scientia Horticulturae. 225: 431-437
- Vaknin, Y. Yermiyahu, U., Bar-Tal, A. Samocha, Y. (2018). Global maximization of Jatropha oil production under semi-arid conditions by balancing vegetative growth with reproductive capacity. GCB Bioenergy. 10: 382-392
- Ben-Simchon, E. Sapir, E. Vaknin, Y. Shelef, O. (2019). Malvaceae spp. leaves as a novel crop for food. International Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences. 3: 279-286
- Vaknin, Y. Mogilevsky, I. (2019). Adaptive variation in vegetative, reproductive and chemical traits of the Mediterranean Silybum marianum L., under desert-adjacent conditions. Israel Journal of Plant Sciences. 66: 112-126
- Tel-Zur, N. Rothschild, R. Zurgil, U. Vaknin, Y. (2020). Characterization of Flowering Time and Pollen Production in Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) towards a Strategy for the Selection of Elite Male Genotypes. Agronomy-Basel. 10.4: 592
- Vaknin, Y. Eisikowitch, D. Mishal, A. (2021). Floral and Pollen Traits of Moringa oleifera Lam. and Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori Provide Reproductive Adaptations for Arid Conditions. Agronomy-Basel. 11: 1090
- Cattan, Y., Patil, D., Vaknin, Y., Rytwo, G., Lakemond, C., & Benjamin, O. (2022). Characterization of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed protein extract functionality in emulsion model system. Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, Vol. 75. 102903
- Vaknin, Y. Korol, L. (2023). Preliminary Results on the Effects of Initial Stand Density and Supplemental Irrigation on Biomass of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. Grown as a Short Rotation Woody Crop under Semi-Arid Conditions. Agronomy-Basel. 13, 1216