MARIA FATIMA T. BEGONIA Associate Professor Department of Biology Jackson State University Jackson, MS 39217 Telephone No.: (601)-973-3469; 968-2586 Email: maria.fatima.begonia@jsums.edu

EDUCATION:

University of Missouri at Columbia, Ph.D., 1989
Major: Soil Microbiology; Minor: Plant Pathology
Mississippi State University, M.S., 1981
Major: Soil Microbiology /Microbiology; Minor: Botany - Plant Physiology

University of the Philippines at Los Banos, No degree (Earned 15 graduate credits)
Major: Microbiology; Minor: Food Science
University of the Philippines at Los Banos, B.S., 1975
Major: Microbiology
CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Microbially enhanced phytoremediation of toxic metal contaminated soil and water; microbial/plant rhizosphere effects on toxic metal biosorption, bioaccumulation, mobilization and transport; microbial degradation and phytodegradation of pesticides and other compounds in soil and water; and ecology of microbes in soil, plant rhizospheres and water.
Basic and applied research on soil-microorganism-plant interactions that may lead to: a) biological control/reduction of weed propagules by microbes, and b) utilization of microbes and their metabolites in cuntrolling plant pathogens affecting agronomic and horticultural plants.

PUBLICATIONS (REFEREED; AND OTHER PAPERS):

Begonia, M.F.T. and R.J. Kremer. 1999. Chemotaxis of deleterious rhizobacteria to birdsfoot trefoil. Appl. Soil Ecol. 11:35-42.

Begonia, G.B., M.F.T. Begonia, B.R. Ousby and M. Johnson. 1999. Vegetative and reproductive responses of cotton to stage-specific CO2 enrichment and drought stress. J. Mississippi Acad. Sci. 44(4): 190-196.
Begonia, G.B., C.D. Davis, M.F.T. Begonia and C.N. Gray. 1998. Growth responses of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern] and its phytoextraction of lead from a contaminated soil. Bull. Environ. Contam.Toxicol. 61(1): 38-43.
Begonia, M.F.T., R.J. Kremer and G.B. Begonia. 1998. Biological control of weeds: effects of rhizobacterial inoculation on the growth of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik). J. Mississippi Acad. Sci. 43(2):107-117.
Begonia, G.B., M. F. T. Begonia and A. Robinson. 1996. Effects of boron and an ectomycorrhizal fungus on growth and carbon partitioning in shortleaf pine. J. Miss. Acad. Sci. 41(3):131-135.
Begonia, M.F.T., R. J. Kremer and P.R. Beuselinck. 1995. Association of rhizobacteria and birdsfoot trefoil roots. Transactions 27:1-8.
Begonia, M.F.T. and R.J. Kremer. 1994. Chemotaxis of deleterious rhizobacteria to velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik.) seeds and seedlings. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 15:227-236.
Kremer, R.J., M.F.T. Begonia and L. Stanley. 1991. Deleterious rhizobacteria for biocontrol of weed seeds and seedlings in soil. In D.L. Keister and P.B. Cregan (eds.) The Rhizosphere and Plant Growth, p. 301. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands.
Begonia, M.F.T., R.J. Kremer, L. Stanley and A. Jamshedi. 1990. Association of bacteria with velvetleaf roots. Transactions 24:17-26.
Kremer, R.J., M.F.T. Begonia, L. Stanley and E.L. Lanham. 1990. Characterization of rhizobacteria associated with weed seedlings. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 56:1649-1655.
Begonia, M.F.T. 1985. Serological classification of Rhizobium spp. from some tropical legumes. Philippine J. Sci. 16:49-56.
Begonia, M.F.T. and H.L. Peterson. 1985. A colorimetric procedure for determining the numbers of rhizobia in legume inocula. Philippine J. Sci. 16:57-66.
Mamaril, J.C., M.F.T. Begonia and R. B. Aspiras. 1985. The utilization of coconut water as growth medium for rhizobia. Philippine J. Sci. 16:123-133.
Aspiras, R. B., S.C. Halos, M.F. Tejada and L.O. Jusgado. 1977. Biological nitrogen fixation. Natl. Sci. Dev. Bd. Tech. J. 2(3):74-81.
Begonia, M.F.T. 1989. Characterization of attraction of rhizobacteria to weed seeds and seedlings. Ph.D. Dissertation. The University of Missouri Library, Columbia, MO 65211 U.S.A.
Begonia, M.F.T. 1981. A colorimetric procedure for determining the numbers of rhizobia in legume inocula. M.S. Thesis. Mississippi State University Library. Mississippi State, MS 39762 U.S.A.
Tejada, M.F. 1975. Yeasts associated with tuba and lambanog toddy. B.S. Thesis. University of the Philippines at Los Banos Library, College, Laguna, Philippines 3720.
ABSTRACTS OF SCIENTIFIC PAPERS PRESENTED AT SOCIETY MEETINGS and WORKSHOPS:

Begonia, M.F.T., G.B. Begonia, G. Miller, J. Owens, M. Brown, M. Johnson and C. Burks. 1999. EDTA-assisted phytoextraction of lead from contaminated soils using coffeeweed (Sesbania exaltata). National Minority Research Symposium (NMRS) Abstracts, p. 74. (Phoenix, AZ, Nov. 10-13, 1999).
Begonia, G.B., M.F.T. Begonia, G. Miller, M. Brown, J. Owens, M. Johnson and C. Burks. 1999. Chelate-enhanced phytoextraction of lead from contaminated soils using morningglory (Ipomoea lacunosa L.). NMRS Abstracts, p. 75. (Phoenix, AZ, Nov. 10-13, 1999).
Begonia, G.B., M.F.T. Begonia, C. Rhyne, G. Miller and M. Johnson. 1999. Chelate enhanced phytoextraction of lead from contaminated soils using Sesbania exaltata Raf.). Agron. Abstracts, Amer. Soc. Agron., p. 30. (Salt Lake City, UT, Oct, 31-Nov. 4, 1999).
Begonia, G.B., M. S. Kambhamphati, M.F.T. Begonia, Y. Bufford, M. Johnson and K. Bell. 1999. Chelate-enhanced phytoextraction of lead from contaminated soils using morningglory (Ipomoea lacunosa L.). Workshop on Environmental Pathology and Toxicology '99:Environmental and Health Effects of Trace Elements and Metal Ions. (Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, April 29-30, 1999).

Begonia, M.F.T., R.J. Kremer , G.B. Begonia, Y. Bufford and M. Johnson. 1999. Effects of seed and seedling root exudates of velvetleaf and birdsfoot trefoil on growth of rhizobacteria. J. Mississippi Acad. Sci. 44(1):14-15. (Tupelo, MS, Feb. 25-26, 1999).
Kambhampati, M.S., G.B. Begonia, M.F.T. Begonia, Y. Bufford, M. Johnson and K. Bell. 1999. Chelate-enhanced phytoextraction of lead from contaminated soils using morningglory (Ipomoea lacunosa L.). J. Mississippi Acad. Sci. 44(1):14. (Tupelo, MS, Feb. 25-26, 1999).
Begonia, G.B., M.F.T. Begonia and M.S. Khambampati. 1998. Chelate-assisted phytoextraction of lead from contaminated soils. Agron. Abstracts, American Soc. Agronomy/Crop Science Soc America, p. 30. (Baltimore, MD, Oct. 18-22, 1998).
Begonia, M.F.T. , R.J. Kremer and G.B. Begonia. 1998. Attraction of rhizobacteria to velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik.) seeds and seedlings in vitro and in soil. J. Mississippi Acad. Sci. 43(1):12. (Biloxi, MS, Feb. 26-27, 1998).

Begonia, G.B., C.D. Davis, M.F.T. Begonia and C.N. Gray. 1998. Phytoextraction of lead-contaminated soils. J. Mississippi Acad. Sci. 43(1):11. (Biloxi, MS, Feb. 26-27, 1998).
Begonia, G.B., M.F.T. Begonia, K. Hardy and L. Robinson. 1997. Comparative lead uptake and responses of some plants grown on lead contaminated soils. J. Mississippi Acad. Sci.42(1):16. (Biloxi, MS, Feb. 20-21, 1997).
Begonia, G. B., M.F.T. Begonia and A. Robinson. 1996. Interactive effects of boron and Pisolithus tinctorius on growth and carbon partitioning in shortleaf pine. J. Mississippi Acad. Sci. 41:41. (Jackson, MS, Feb. 22-23, 1996).
Begonia, G.B., M.F.T. Begonia and R. Moore. 1995. Morphophysiological responses of cotton to foliar methanol applications. Sixth Gatlinburg Symposium Abstracts p. 5. (University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, July 12-15, 1995).
Begonia, G.B., M.F.T. Begonia and A. Robinson. 1995. Effects of boron and Pisolithus tinctorius on growth and carbon partitioning in shortleaf pine. Sixth Gatlinburg Symposium Abstracts, p. 5. (University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, July 12-15, 1995).

Begonia, M.F.T. 1989. Characterization of attraction of rhizobacteria to weed seeds and seedlings. In 1990 Dissertation Abstract International 50B (11):4829B.
Kremer, R.J., M.F.T. Begonia and L.S. Stanley. 1989. Deleterious rhizobacteria for biocontrol of weed seeds and seedlings in soil. The Rhizosphere and Plant Growth Symposium XIV Abstracts, p. 67. (Beltsville, MD, May 8-11, 1989).
Begonia, M.F.T. and R.J. Kremer. 1988. Chemotaxis of deleterious rhizobacteria to velvetleaf seeds and seedlings. Agronomy Abstracts, American Society of Agronomy, p. 210. (Anaheim, CA, Nov. 27-Dec. 2, 1988).
Mamaril, J.C., M.F.T. Begonia and R.B. Aspiras. 1985. The utilization of coconut water as growth medium for rhizobia. p. 350. In C. Veeger and W.E. Newton (eds): Advances in Nitrogen Fixation Research.
Begonia, M.F.T. and H.L. Peterson. 1983. A colorimetric procedure for determining the numbers of rhizobia in legume inocula. Philippine J. Biol. Abstracts 11(2-3):377. (12th Annual Meeting - Philippine Society for Microbiology (PSM), Forest Research Institute (FORI), University of the Philippines at Los Banos (UPLB), Philippines, April, 1983).
Mamaril, J.C., M.F.T. Begonia and R.B. Aspiras. The utilization of coconut water as growth medium for rhizobia. Philippine J. Biol. Abstracts 11(2-3). (12th Annual Meeting - PSM, FORI, UPLB, Philippines, April, 1983).
Aspiras, R.B., M.F. T. Begonia and M.T. Tulao. 1978. Effect of nitrogen on asymbiotic nitrogen fixation. Philippine J. Biol. Abstracts 7(3): 327. (7th Annual Meeting - PSM, P.J. Garcia Hall, National Institute of Science and Technology, April 19, 1978; and Magnolia Dairy Plant, Manila Philippines, April 20, 1978).
Tejada, M.F. and R.B. Aspiras. 1977. Effect of initial pH of medium on the growth and nitrogen fixing ability of Beijerinckia spp.. Philippine J. Biol. Abstracts 6. (6th Annual Meeting - PSM, United Laboratories, Manila, Philippines, April, 1977).

Aspiras, R.B., M.F. Tejada and L.O. Jusgado. 1976. Microbial content of sulfurous thermal mudspring in Mt. Makiling, Los Banos. Philippine J. Biol. Abstracts, 5. (5th Annual Meeting - PSM, The Heart Center for Asia, Manila, Philippines, April 22-23, 1976).
LIST OF COURSES TAUGHT/PRESENTLY TEACHING:
Biology (BIO) 313 - Introduction to Microbiology - Lecture
BIOL 313 - Introduction to Microbiology - Laboratory
BIO 213 - Principles of Microbiology - Lecture
BIOL 213 - Principles of Microbiology - Laboratory
BIO 119 - General Botany - Lecture
BIOL 119 - General Botany - Laboratory
BIO 112 - General Biology - Lecture
BIOL 112 - General Biology - Laboratory
BIO 111 - General Biology - Lecture
BIOL 111 - General Biology - Laboratory
BIO 101 - Introduction to Biological Science (including Honors section) - Lecture
BIOL 101 - Introduction to Biological Science - Laboratory
BIO 100 - Concepts in Biology - Lecture
BIO 599 - Master's Thesis
BIO 392 - Independent Study
BIO 390 - Undergraduate Seminar
AGN 312 - Soil Microbiology
AGN 6314/MIC (Microbiology) 6314 - Soil Microbiology