Simon conducts research on developing holistic agricultural food ecosystems and strengthening food security in relationship to climate change. Using an approach that embeds environmental, cultural and economic sustainability, Simon’s focuses both on breeding plants for improved resistance to biotic and abiotic stress and in the utilization of indigenous genetic resources. More recently, Simon’s research has identified and developed new natural products as effective mosquito and tick repellents.
Journal articles:
2022. González , J., A. Lockhart, Q.L. Wu, J.E. Simon and A. Toledo. Repellency of novel catnip (Nepeta cataria) cultivar extracts against Ixodes scapularis and Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae). J. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases. Sept 15, 2022.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102046.
2022. Merchant, E.V., M. Odendo, C. Ndinya, N. Nyabinda, E. Onyango, N. Maiyo, S. Downs, D.J. Hoffman, and J.E. Simon. Barriers and facilitators of African Indigenous Vegetable preparation and consumption: a qualitative exploration. Frontiers in Sustainable Food
Systems. 6(801527). https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.801527
2022. Zivkovic A., E.V. Merchant, T. Nyawir, D.J. Hoffman, J.E. Simon, S. Downs . Strengthening vegetable production and consumption in a Kenyan informal settlement: a feasibility assessment of a sack garden intervention. Current Developments in Nutrition, nzac036. Doi. 10.1093/cdn/nzac036
2022. Homa, K., Barney, W.P., C.A. Wyenandt, D.L. Ward and J.E. Simon. Range of susceptibility of selected sweet basil cultivars and lines to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. basilici. Plant Health Progress: Published Online:25 May 2022https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-05-21-
0079-RS
2021. Simon, J.E., D. Acquaye, R. Govindasamy, J. Asante-Dartey, R. Juliani, B. Diouf, M. Diatta, P. Langenhoven, E. Van Wyk, N. Hitimana, D. Seidel, E. Merchant, L. Amekuze, S. Weller, D. Hoffman and Q.L. Wu. Building Community Resiliency through Horticultural Innovation. Scientia 134:13-21. https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA601
2020. Simon, J.E. A breakthrough in the war against basil downy mildew. Scientia: https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA540
2020. Shi, X., C. Wang, C., J.E. Simon, W. Reichert and Q.L. Wu. . Repellency of novel catnip oils against the bed bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae). J. Medical Entomology 58(2):528-534. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjaa218
2019. Reichert, W., J. Ejercito, T. Guda, X. Dong, Q.L. Wu, A. Ray and J.E. Simon. Repellency assessment of Nepeta cataria essential oils and isolated nepetalactones on Aedes aegypti. Scientific Reports 9(1):1-9. 1524. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36814-1
