Peer-Reviewed Publications

1. Jahed, K. R., & Sherif, S. M. (2025). Whole-Tree Dormancy Dynamics in Peach: Carbohydrate Reservoirs and Crosstalk with Hormones and Fatty Acids. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 110183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.110183

2. Zarrabian, M., Adhikary, L., Nita, M., Sriyanka, L., & Sherif, S. M. (2025). Toxicological and Functional Assessment of Minicell-Encapsulated dsRNA on Biocontrol Agents in Agriculture. ACS Environmental Au. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00067

3.  Saini, A. K., Jahed, K. R., Neres, D. F., Wright, C., & Sherif, S. M. (2025). Investigating frost response, rootstock-dependent cold tolerance, and floral bud mortality in apple cultivars through transcriptomic insights. Plant Stress, 16, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stress.2025.100829

4. 4.       Johnson, K., Douglas, R.K., Allen, W.C., Yoder, K., Sherif, S.M., Cox, K., Jurick, W., Weber, A. & Villani, S.M., (2025). Evaluation of Fungicides for the Management of Glomerella Leaf Spot and Bitter Rot on Apple in North Carolina. Plant Disease, (ja). https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-12-24-2773-RE

5. Das, P. R., Islam, M. T., Liu, J., Liu, Z., Dardick, C., & Sherif, S. M. (2024). Temporal changes in the proanthocyanidins to anthocyanins ratio during dormancy associate with bloom time variations in peach. Current Plant Biology, 40, 100393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpb.2024.100393

6.  Zarrabian, M. and Sherif, S.M., (2024). Silence is not always golden: A closer look at potential environmental and ecotoxicological impacts of large-scale dsRNA application. Science of The Total Environment, doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175311.

7. Tipu, M. M. H., & Sherif, S. M. (2024). Ethylene and its crosstalk with hormonal pathways in fruit ripening: mechanisms, modulation, and commercial exploitation. Frontiers in Plant Science, 15, 10.3389/fpls.2024.1475496

8. Gajjar, P., Ismail, A., Islam, T., Moniruzzaman, M., Darwish, A. G., Dawood, A. S., Mohamed, A.G., Haikal, A.M., El-Saady, A.M., El-Kereamy, A., Sherif, S.M. and El-Sharkawy, I. (2024). Transcriptome Profiling of a Salt Excluder Hybrid Grapevine Rootstock ‘Ruggeri’ throughout Salinity. Plants, 13(6), 837. 10.3390/plants13060837

9. Jahed, K.R., Saini, A.K., & Sherif, S.M. (2023). Coping with the cold: unveiling cryoprotectants, molecular signaling pathways, and strategies for cold stress resilience. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14. 10.3389/fpls.2023.1246093

10. Gajjar, P., Ismail, A., Islam, T., Darwish, A. G., Moniruzzaman, M., Abuslima, E., Dawood, A. S., El-Saady, A. M., Tsolova, V., El-Kereamy, A., Nick, P., Sherif, S.M., Abazinge, M. D., & El-Sharkawy, I. (2023). Physiological Comparison of Two Salt-Excluder Hybrid Grapevine Rootstocks under Salinity Reveals Different Adaptation Qualities. Plants, 12 (18). 10.3390/plants12183247 

11. Sapkota, S., Salem, M., Jahed, K.R., Artlip, T.S., Sherif, S.M. (2023). From endodormancy to ecodormancy: the transcriptional landscape of apple floral buds. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13. doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1194244

12. Huang, D., Gao, L., McAdams, J., Zhao, F., Lu, H., Wu, Y., Martin, J., Sherif, S.M., Subramanian, J., Duan, H., Liu, W. (2023). Engineered cleistogamy in Camelina sativa for bioconfinement. Horticulture Research. https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhac280

13. Liu, J., Islam, M.T., Laliberte, S., Haak, D.C., and Sherif, S.M. (2022). Fall applications of ethephon modulates gene networks controlling bud development during dormancy in peach (Prunus Persica). International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(12), 6801. doi: 10.3390/ijms23126801 

14. Islam, M., Liu, J., Das, P., Singh, A., and Sherif, S.M. (2022). Rootstock effects on bitter pit incidence in ‘Honeycrisp’ apples are associated with changes in fruit’s cell wall chemical properties. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1034664

15. Liu, J.; Islam, M.T.; and Sherif, S.M. (2022). Effects of Aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on the pre-harvest drop rate, fruit quality, and stem-end splitting in ‘Gala’ Apples. Horticulturae, 8, 1100. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8121100

16. Das, P.R., Darwish, A.G., Ismail, A., Haikal, A.M., Gajjar, P., Balasubramani, S.P., Sheikh, M.B., Tsolova, V., Soliman, K.F., Sherif, S.M. and El-Sharkawy, I. (2022). Diversity in blueberry genotypes and developmental stages enables discrepancy in the bioactive compounds, metabolites, and cytotoxicity. Food Chemistry, 374, 131632. 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131632

17. Nigg, M., de Oliveira, T.C., Sarmiento-Villamil, J.L., de la Bastide, P.Y., Hintz, W.E., Sherif, S.M., Shukla, M., Bernier, L., and Saxena, P.K. (2022). Comparative analysis of transcriptomes of Ophiostoma novo-ulmi ssp. americana colonizing resistant or sensitive genotypes of American elm. Journal of Fungi, 8(6), 637. doi: 10.3390/jof8060637 

18. 18.   Islam, M.T., Coutin, J.F., Shukla, M., Dhaliwal, A.K., Nigg, M., Bernier, L., Sherif, S.M., and Saxena, P. (2022). Deciphering the genome-wide transcriptomic changes during interactions of resistant and susceptible genotypes of American elm with Ophiostoma novo-ulmi. Journal of Fungi, 8, 120. doi.org/10.3390/jof8020120 

19. Misk, E., Huber, P., Maclnnes, J., Sherif, S.M., Abo-Ismail, M., and Lumsden, J. (2022). Innate response of rainbow trout gill epithelial (RTgill-W1) cell line to ultraviolet-inactivated VHSV and FliC and rhabdovirus infection. Fish and Shellfish Immunology Reports, 68, 395-403. doi:10.1016/j.fsirep.2021.100043 

20.  Darwish A.G., Das, P.R., Ismail, A., Gajjar, P., Balasubramani, S.P., Sheikh, M.B., Tsolova, V., Sherif, S.M., and El-Sharkawy, I. (2021). Untargeted Metabolomics and antioxidant capacities of muscadine grape genotypes during berry development. Antioxidants, 10, 914. doi.org/10.3390/antiox10060914 

21. Hezema, Y.S., Shukla, M.R., Ayyanath, M.M., Sherif, S.M., and Saxena, P.K. (2021). Physiological and molecular responses of six apple rootstocks to osmotic stress. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22, 16. doi:10.3390/ijms22158263 

22.  Hezema, Y.S., Shukla, M.R., Goel, A., Ayyanath, M.M., Sherif, S.M., and Saxena, P.K. (2021). Rootstocks overexpressing stnpr1 and stdreb1 improve osmotic stress tolerance of wild-type scion in transgrafted tobacco plants. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22, 29. doi:10.3390/ijms22168398 

23. Liu, J., Islam, M.T., *Sapkota, S., Ravindran, P., Kumar, P.P., Artlip, T.S., and Sherif, S.M. (2021). Ethylene-mediated modulation of bud phenology, cold hardiness, and hormone biosynthesis in Peach (Prunus persica). Plants, 10, 23. doi:10.3390/plants10071266  

24. Allen, W.C., Kon, T., and Sherif, S.M. (2021). Evaluation of blossom thinning spray timing strategies in apple. Horticulturae, 7, 12. doi:10.3390/horticulturae7090308 

25. Sapkota, S., Liu, J., Islam, M.T., and Sherif, S.M. (2021). Changes in reactive oxygen species, antioxidants and carbohydrate metabolism in relation to dormancy transition and bud break in apple (Malus x domestica Borkh) cultivars. Antioxidants, 10, 16. doi:10.3390/antiox10101549 

26.  Islam, M.T., Liu, J., and Sherif, S.M. (2021). Ethephon-mediated bloom delay in peach is associated with alterations in reactive oxygen species, antioxidants, and carbohydrate metabolism during dormancy. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12, 15. doi:10.3389/fpls.2021.765357 

27.  Sapkota, S., Liu, J., Islam, M.T., Ravindran, P., Kumar, P.P., and Sherif, S.M. (2021). Contrasting bloom dates in two apple cultivars linked to differential levels of phytohormones and heat requirements during ecodormancy. Scientia Horticulturae, 288, 9. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110413 

28. Cline, J.A., Autio, W., Clements, J., Crassweller, R., Einhorn, T., Fallahi, E., Francescatto, P., Hoover, E., Lang, G., Lordan, J., Moran, R., Muehlbauer, M., Musacchi, S., Stasiak, M., Parra Quezada, R., Robinson, T., Sherif, S.M., and Zandstra, J. (2021). Early performance of ‘Honeycrisp’ apple trees on several size-controlling rootstocks in the 2014 NC-140 rootstock trial. Journal of American Pomological Society, 75, 189-202. http://www.pubhort.org/aps/75/v75_n4_a2.htm 

29. Islam, M.T., Davis, Z., Chen, L., Englaender, J., Zomorodi, S., Frank, J., Bartlett, K., Somers, E., Carballo, S.M., Kester, M., Shakeel, A., Pourtaheri, P and Sherif, S.M. (2021). Minicell-based fungal RNAi delivery for sustainable crop protection. Microbial Biotechnology, 14, 1847-1856. doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.13699 

30. El-Sharkawy, I., Ismail, A., Darwish, A., El Kayal, W., Subramanian, J., and Sherif, S.M. (2020). Functional characterization of a gibberellin F-box protein, PslSLY1, during plum fruit development. Journal of Experimental Botany, 72, 371-384. doi:10.1093/jxb/eraa438 

31. Marini, R.P., Baugher, T.A., Muehlbauer, M., Sherif, S.M., Crassweller, R., and Schupp, J.R. (2020). Verification and modification of a model to predict bitter pit for ‘Honeycrisp’ apples. HortScience, 55, 1882-1887. doi:10.21273/hortsci15301-20 

32. Das, P. R., and Sherif, S. M. (2020). Application of exogenous dsRNAs-induced RNAi in agriculture: Challenges and triumphs. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 946. doi:10.3389/fpls.2020.00946 

33. 33.   Islam, M.T., and Sherif, S.M. (2020). RNAi-based biofungicides as a promising next-generation strategy for controlling devastating gray mold diseases. International Journal of Molecular Science, 2020, 21, 2072. doi:10.3390/ijms21062072 

34. Ismail, A., El-Sharkawy, I. and Sherif, S.M. (2020). Salt stress signals on demand: cellular events in the right context. International Journal of Molecular Science, 30, 21, 3918. doi.org/10.3390/ijms21113918 

35. Liu, J., & Sherif, S.M. (2019). Combating spring frost with ethylene. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10, 6. doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.01408 

36. Liu, J., & Sherif, S.M. (2019). Hormonal orchestration of bud dormancy cycle in deciduous woody perennials. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10, 21. doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.01136 

37. Elsadr, H., Sherif, S.M., Banks, T., Somers, D., and Jayasankar, S. (2019). Refining the genomic region containing a major locus controlling fruit maturity in peach. Scientific Reports, 9, 12. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-44042-4 

38. Saremba, B.M., Tymm, F.J.M., Baethke, K., Rheault, M.R., Sherif, S.M., Saxena, P.K., and Murch, S.J. (2017). Plant signals during beetle (Scolytus multistriatus) feeding in American elm (Ulmus americana Planch). Plant Signaling & Behavior, 12, 11. doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2017.1296997 

39. Sherif, S.M., Erland, L.A., Shukla, M.R., and Saxena, P.K. (2017). Bark and wood tissues of American elm exhibit distinct responses to Dutch elm disease. Scientific Reports, 7, 11. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-07779-4 

40. Dek, M.S.P., Padmanabhan, P., Sherif, S.M., Subramanian, J., and Paliyath, G. (2017). Upregulation of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase (PI3K) Enhances Ethylene Biosynthesis and Accelerates Flower Senescence in Transgenic Nicotiana tabacum L. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 18, 15. doi.org/10.3390/ijms18071533 

41. El-Sharkawy, I., Sherif, S.M., Abdulla, M., and Jayasankar, S. (2017). Plum Fruit Development Occurs via Gibberellin-Sensitive and-Insensitive DELLA Repressors. PLoS ONE, 12, e0169440.  doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0169440 

42. El-Sharkawy, I., Sherif, S.M., El Kayal, W., Jones, B., Li, Z., Sullivan, A.J., and Jayasankar, S. (2016). Overexpression of plum auxin receptor PslTIR1 in tomato alters plant growth, fruit development and fruit shelf-life characteristics. BMC Plant Biology, 16, 12. doi.org/10.1186/s12870-016-0746-z

43. Sherif, S.M., Shukla, M.R., Murch, S. J., Bernier, L., and Saxena, P.K. (2016). Simultaneous induction of jasmonic acid and disease-responsive genes signifies tolerance of American elm to Dutch elm disease. Scientific Reports, 6, 15. doi.org/10.1038/srep21934

44. El-Sharkawy, I., Sherif, S.M., Qubbaj, T., Sullivan, A.J., and Jayasankar, S. (2016). Stimulated auxin levels enhance plum fruit ripening, but limit shelf-life characteristics. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 112, 215-223. doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2015.09.012

45. Jones, A.M.P., Shukla, M.R., Sherif, S.M., Brown, P.B., and Saxena, P.K. (2016). Growth regulating properties of isoprene and isoprenoid-based essential oils. Plant Cell Reports, 35, 91-102. doi.org/10.1007/s00299-015-1870-1

46. Selvaraj, D., Sherif, S.M., Dek, M.S.P., Paliyath, G., El-Sharkawy, I., and Subramanian, J. (2016). Identification and characterization of genes involved in the fruit color development of European plum. Journal of The American Society for Horticultural Science, 141, 467-474. doi.org/10.21273/JASHS03617-16

47. Bajwa, V.S., Shukla, M.R., Sherif, S.M., Murch, S.J., and Saxena, P.K. (2015). Identification and characterization of serotonin as an anti-browning compound of apple and pear. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 110, 183-189. doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2015.08.018

48. Sherif, S.M., El-Sharkawy, I., Mathur, J., Ravindran, P., Kumar, P., Paliyath, G., and Jayasankar, S. (2015). A stable JAZ protein from peach mediates the transition from outcrossing to self-pollination. BMC Biology, 13, 17. doi.org/10.1186/s12915-015-0124-6 

49. Sherif, S.M., El-Sharkawy, I., Paliyath, G., and Jayasankar, S. (2015). Molecular Insights into Plant-Phytopathogenic Bacteria Interactions. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter, 33, 1116-1130. doi.org/10.1007/s11105-014-0822-1

50. Jayanthi, M., Jerard, A., Sherif, S.M., and Jayasankar, S. (2015). Molecular characterization of somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinase (SERK) genes from plum (Prunus salicina) and peach (Prunus persica). Indian Journal of Horticulture, 71. https://indianjournals.com/ijor.aspx?target=ijor:ijh&volume=71&issue=4&article=021

51. Sherif, S.M., Jones, A.M.P., Shukla, M.R., and Saxena, P.K. (2014). Establishment of invasive and non-invasive reporter systems to investigate American elm-Ophiostoma novo-ulmi interactions. Fungal Genetics and Biology, 71, 32-41. doi: 10.1016/j.fgb.2014.08.005

52. El-Sharkawy, I., Sherif, S.M., Jones, B., Mila, I., Kumar, P.P., Bouzayen, M., and Jayasankar, S. (2014). TIR1-like auxin-receptors are involved in the regulation of plum fruit development. Journal of Experimental Botany, 65, 5205-5215. doi.org/10.1093/jxb/eru279 

53.  Bajwa, V.S., Shukla, M.R., Sherif, S.M., Murch, S.J., and Saxena, P.K. (2014). Role of melatonin in alleviating cold stress in Arabidopsis thaliana. Journal of Pineal Research, 56, 238-245. doi.org/10.1111/jpi.12115

54. El-Sharkawy, I., Sherif, S.M., El Kayal, W., Mahboob, A., Abubaker, K., Ravindran, P., Jyothi-Prakash P.A., Kumar, P.P., and Jayasankar, S. (2014). Characterization of gibberellin-signalling elements during plum fruit ontogeny defines the essentiality of gibberellin in fruit development. Plant Molecular Biology, 84, 399-413. doi.org/10.1007/s11103-013-0139-8

55. Sherif, S.M., El-Sharkawy, I., Paliyath, G., and Jayasankar, S. (2013). PpERF3b, a transcriptional repressor from peach, contributes to disease susceptibility and side branching in EAR-dependent and -independent fashions. Plant Cell Reports, 32, 1111-1124. doi.org/10.1007/s00299-013-1405-6

56. 56.   El-Sharkawy, I., Sherif, S.M., Mahboob, A., Abubaker, K., Bouzayen, M., and Jayasankar, S. (2012). Expression of auxin-binding protein1 during plum fruit ontogeny supports the potential role of auxin in initiating and enhancing climacteric ripening. Plant Cell Reports, 31, 1911-1921. DOI: 10.1007/s00299-012-1304-2

57. Sherif, S.M., El-Sharkawy, I., Paliyath, G., and Jayasankar, S. (2012). Differential expression of peach ERF transcriptional activators in response to signaling molecules and inoculation with Xanthomonas campestris pv. pruni. Journal of Plant Physiology, 169, 731-739. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22410465/

58. Sherif, S.M., Paliyath, G., and Jayasankar, S. (2012). Molecular characterization of peach PR genes and their induction kinetics in response to bacterial infection and signaling molecules. Plant Cell Reports, 31, 697-711. DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2012.02.003

59. Prasath, D., El-Sharkawy, I., Sherif, S.M., Tiwary, K.S., and Jayasankar, S. (2011). Cloning and characterization of PR5 gene from Curcuma amada and Zingiber officinale in response to Ralstonia solanacearum infection. Plant Cell Reports, 30, 1799-1809. doi.org/10.1007/s00299-011-1087-x

60. El-Sharkawy, I., Sherif, S.M., Mila, I., Bouzayen, M., and Jayasankar, S. (2009). Molecular characterization of seven genes encoding ethylene-responsive transcriptional factors during plum fruit development and ripening. Journal of Experimental Botany, 60, 907-922. doi.org/10.1093/jxb/ern354

Papers in Refereed Proceeding

1. Robinson, T. L., Gonzalez, L., Cheng, L., Ziang, Y., Peck, G., Arnoldussen, B., Gomez, M., Guerra, M., Miranda Sazo, M., Kahlke, C., Einhorn, T., Wallis, A., Musacchi, S., Serra, S., Lewis, K., Schmidt, T., Heinemann, P., He, L., Kon, T., Sherif, S.M., Clements, J., & Layer, C. (2023). Studies in precision crop load management of apple. Acta Horticulturae, 1366(25). doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2023.1366.25

2. Sherif, S.M., Yoder, K., & Peck, G. (2020). Effects of dwarfing and semi-dwarfing apple rootstocks on the growth and yield of ‘Gala’, ‘Fuji’ and ‘York’ apples. Acta Horticulturae, 1281. doi.10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1281.17