Zhang awarded NIFA fellowship to study pistachio

Shuxiao “Susan” Zhang wants to figure out how pistachio trees can do such a good job dealing with drought and saline soil. And, did you know? Pistachio nut shells naturally split when they ripen! She’s trying to figure that out, too.

“The environmental conditions that come from climate change that are making us stressed out are also making plants stressed out, but in a different way,” explained Zhang, a doctoral student in the lab of Georgia Drakakaki, both in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences. “Pistachio trees have high drought and salt tolerance compared to almonds, which require more water. Why is that?”

Zhang’s eyes gleam as poses this core research problem, and notes both California’s water woes and the dearth of research into this unusual nut. “I’m trying to figure that out at the cellular level.”

Zhang has received a $120,000 Pre-doctoral Fellowship from the National Institute of Food Agriculture, part of the U.S Department of Agriculture. The USDA is particularly interested in the effects of climate change on crop health and productivity, and Zhang’s NIFA project will pursue how drought and salinity, when combined, will affect pistachios. “Research in the field often focuses on drought stress or salinity stress alone, but out in the orchards, the two stresses can often occur at the same time,” Zhang explained.

In addition, Zhang was one of two students honored in May with the UC Davis Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research, with a grant of $500. The award recognizes several years of commitment to her undergrad colleagues: Zhang created and co-teaches a first-year seminar in plant anatomy (her specialty) and plant stress response. Earlier, she had been a teaching assistant for a similar course. She also is a guest lecturer for courses such as plants and society. She regularly recruits her undergrads into her pistachio research.

“Zhang is a dedicated mentor to undergraduate students, who are inspired by her enthusiasm in plant science and plant anatomy,” Drakakaki said. “Many have followed plant-specific majors after interacting with her.”

California and the nation stand to benefit: Nearly all the nation’s pistachios are grown here, where they are the state’s No. 2 tree nut crop. Farmers grew more than a billion pounds of the tasty, green nuts and generated $5.2 billion in economic impact in 2020, according to the American Pistachio Growers. Planted acreage rose from 372,000 acres that year to 520,000 acres in 2021, making pistachios the fastest-growing tree nut crop in the state, according to state and federal figures.

Early GSR award: The seed that bears much fruit

Zhang’s story is one of a seed, nurtured early on, that now is bearing much fruit  ̶  and promises to produce even more.

In 2021, early in her doctoral work, Zhang received a Graduate Student Research award from the Department of Plant Sciences. The fellowships, typically $20,000 a year for either two or four years, give grad students some financial breathing room so they can focus on their research. The department grants about 17 GSR awards each year. They are funded through the James Monroe McDonald Endowment, which is managed by the University of California Agricultural and National Resources.

“When you support students like this, you see that they take it and run to a completely different level. They come up with all sorts of activities and creative ideas,” said Drakakaki, who is inspired to see the enthusiasm of the young scientists in her lab.

Zhang grew up in the San Jose area and was an Aggie undergrad. She went in a different academic direction for several years, but never felt like she fit in, she said, and almost dropped out. Then, she found her home – in the Department of Plant Sciences, encouraged by former teachers, the now-emeriti professors Judy Jernstedt and Alison Berry, and later by Drakakaki, who encouraged Zhang to join her lab and pursue a Ph.D. focusing on plants.

Now in the plant biology graduate group, Zhang got a jump-start on her doctoral work with the department’s GSR grant. "That let me know, for at least one quarter each year, I don’t have to worry about money,” Zhang said. “It’s also a validation that I needed of my ability to do research and fit into academia. As a queer woman of color, having that validation is very important to me.”

Last year, Zhang earned a $500 Paulden F. & Dorathea I. Knowles Agronomy Scholarship. Twice, she has been awarded the Henry A. Jastro Research Scholarship Award, earning her more than $5,000. Both awards, plus others, are granted through the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

In supporting enterprising students like Zhang, GSR grants yield even larger benefits, Drakakaki said.

”I want people to see how these GSR awards are a good investment,” Drakakaki added. “This is where we need to invest our money.”

Our GSR awardees: Bettering ag in California

Learn about more of our students who have received Graduate Student Research awards. They have gone on to rewarding careers in research and outreach, contributing to the improvement of agriculture and the environment in California and beyond.

Hear from some of our Graduate Student Research awardees: GSR awards are funded through the James Monroe McDonald Endowment, which is managed by the University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources.

Apply for a Graduate Student Research award.

You can help!

You can support students like Zhang, who are making an impact on California and beyond. Donations to the Plant Sciences Student Support Fund are used for a variety of student needs. We welcome gifts of any amount! Learn about this and other funds, or make a gift to the department here. Do it today!

If you are interested in making a special gift, or know someone who would be, please contact Oliver Ramsey at owramsey@ucdavis.edu or (530) 752-2461.