International Journal of Plant Research

International Journal of Plant Research publishes the best original research papers in all key areas of modern plant biology from the world's leading laboratories, International Journal of Plant Research provides a dynamic forum for this ever growing international research community. It is an international publication that gathers and disseminates fundamental knowledge in all areas of plant sciences.

Nirit Bernstein

Editorial Board Member of International Journal of Plant Research

Head of Academic Department/Faculty, Volcani Research Center, Israel

Research Areas

Plant Physiology, Plant nutrition, Agronomy

Education

1992-1993PostdoctoralUniversity of Missouri, Columbia, USA
1988-1992Ph.DPlant Physiology, at the Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, USA
1986-1987Teaching CredentialAgricultural Sciences and Biology, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
1983-1986B.Sc Field and Vegetable Crops, Cum Laude, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel

Experience

Lecturer at the International Course on Irrigation and Fertigation in Controlled Environment
Lecturer at the Kurt M. Schalinger Advanced International Course on irrigation and soil management
2008-PresentLecturer at the International graduate program, Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
1997-presentLecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Membership

2004 Member of the Joined committee of the chief scientist of the Ministry of agriculture, and the extension service, Israel-evaluation of fertigation practices for palm dates
2005 Member of the committee for natural products, ARO, Volcani Center
2007-todate Head of the committee for review of Hebrew manuscripts , ARO, Volcani Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Israel
2009 Member of the research project evaluation committee for the 'Ornamental and cut-flower" projects for the 'Lachis’ experimental station. Ministry of Agriculture, Israel
2009 Head of the Scientific and Organization committee: 1st student conference, Institute of soil, water and Environmental Sciences, ARO, Volcani Center
2009 Member of the thinking team on the topic of "Utilization of saline water for irrigation in Israel". Institute of soil, water and Environmental Sciences, ARO, Volcani Center
2010 Member of the Professional Committee of fresh tomatoes, The Ministry of Agriculture, Israel
2010 Member of the thinking team on the topic of "Environmental contamination" Institute of soil and water, ARO, Volcani Center
2010 Head of the scientific and organization committee, 2nd student conference, Institute of soil, water and Environmental Sciences, ARO, Volcani Center
2010 Member of the proposal evaluation committee of the 'Extension-service fund’: 'Ornamental and cut-flower": Chief Scientist fund, Ministry of Agriculture, Israel
2011 Head of the scientific and organization committee, 3rd student conference, Institute of soil, water and Environmental Sciences, ARO, Volcani Center
2001 IAEO, International atomic energy organization, member of a committee for evaluation of technical co-operation projects INT/5/144, "Sustainable utilization of saline groundwater and wastelands for crop production"
2001-2002 IAEO , International atomic energy agency. Member of the committee for "Evaluation of novel approaches for improving crop tolerance to salinity and drought"
2009 Member of the scientific committee: International conference on Plants & Environmental Pollution. Kayseri, Turkey

Publications: Conferences/Workshops/Symposiums/Journals/Books

[1]  Lazof, D., Bernstein, N., Läuchli, A. (1991). Growth and development of the Latuca sativa shoot as affected by NaCl stress: Consideration of leaf Developmental stages. Bot. Gaz. 152(1):72-76.
[2]  Bernstein, N., Läuchli, A., Silk, W.K. (1992). Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Inorganic Solutes in Salt Affected Leaves. Curr Top Plant Biochem Physiol. 11:305-306.
[3]  Bernstein, N., Läuchli, A., Silk, W.K. (1993). Kinematics and dynamics of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) leaf development at various Na/Ca salinities. I. Elongation growth. Plant Physiol. 103:1107-1114.
[4]  Bernstein, N., A., Silk, W.K. Läuchli. (1993). Growth and development of sorghum leaves under conditions of NaCl stress. Spatial and temporal aspects of leaf growth inhibition. Planta. 191:433:439
[5]  Sharp. R.E., Voetberg, G.S., Saab, I.N., Bernstein, N. (1993). Role of abscisic acid in the regulation of cell expansion in roots at low water potentials. Curr topics Plant Physiol. 10:57-66
[6]  Bernstein, N., Silk, W.K., Läuchli, A., (1995). Growth and development of sorghum leaves under conditions of NaCl stress: Possible role of some mineral elements in growth inhibition. Planta. 196:699-705.
[7]  Martinez, V., Bernstein, N., Läuchli. (1996). Salt induced inhibition of Phosphorous transport in lettuce leaves. Physiol Plantarum 97(1):118-122.
[8]  Lazof, D., Bernstein N. (1998). The NaCl-induced inhibition of shoot growth: The case for disturbed nutrition with special consideration of Calcium nutrition. Adv. Bot. Res. 29:113-189.
[9]  Peters, W.P**., Bernstein, N. (1998) The determination of relative elemental growth rate profiles from segmental growth rates: a methodical evaluation. Plant Physiol. 113:1395-1404.
[10]  Lazof, D.B., Bernstein, N. (1999). Effect of salinization on nutrient transport to lettuce leaves: consideration of leaf developmental stage. New Phytologist, 144(1):85-94.
[11]  Meiri, A., Bernstein, N., Yanai, U., Strul, R. Zilberstaine, M. (1999). Temporal changes in soil N of drip-irrigated avocado indicate seasonal differences in N uptake. Rev. Chap. Hort. 5: 195-200.
[12]  Spollen, W.G., LeNoble M.E., Samuels, T.D., Bernstein, N., Sharp R.E. (2000). ABA accumulation maintains maize primary root elongation at low water potentials by restricting ethylene production. Plant Physiol. 122(3):967-976.
[13]  Neves-Piestun, B.G**., Bernstein, N. (2001). Salinity-induced inhibition of leaf elongation is not mediated by changes in cell-wall acidification capacity. Plant Physiol. 125:1419-1428.
[14]  Bernstein, N. Ioffe, M**., Zilberstaine, M., (2001). Salt-stress effects on avocado rootstock growth. I. Establishing criteria for determination of shoot growth sensitivity to the stress. Plant and Soil. 233:1-11.
[15]  German, M.A., Dai, N., Mastevitz, T., Hanael, R., Petreikov, M., Bernstein, N., Ioffe, M., Shahak, Y., Schaffer, A., Granot, D. (2003). Suppression of fructokinase encoded by LeFRK2 in tomato stem inhibits growth and causes wilting of young leaves. Plant J. 34(6): 837-46.
[16]  Baas, R., Van Oers, S., Silber, A., Bernstein. N., Ioffe**, M., Keinan, M. Bar-Tal, A. (2003). Calcium distribution in cut roses as related to transpiration. J. Hort. Sci. Biotech. 78: 1-9.
[17]  Bernstein, N., Meiri, A, Zilberstaine, M. (2004). Root growth of avocado [Persea Americana Mill] is more sensitive to salinity than shoot growth. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci.. 129: 188-192.
[18]  Neves-Piestun, B.G**., Bernstein, N. (2005). Salinity induced changes in the nutritional status of expanding cells may impact leaf growth inhibition in Maize. Functional Plant Biol. 32: 141-152.
[19]  Bernstein, N., Ioffe**, Bruner, M., Nishri, Y., Luria, G., Dori, I., Matan., E, Philosoph-Hadas, S., Umiel, N., Hagiladi, A. (2005). Effects of supplied nitrogen form and quantity on growth and postharvest quality of Ranunculus asiaticus flowers. HortSci. 40: 1879-1886.
[20]  Guetsky, R**., Gollop, N., Bernstein, N. (2005). Genetic diversity of Frankia strains isolated from root nodules of Casuarina in Israel. Israel J. Plant Sci. 53: 125-133.
[21]  Bernstein, N., Bar-Tal, A., Friedman, H., Snir. P., Chazan, A., Ioffe**. (2006). Application of treated wastewater for cultivation of roses (Rosa hybrida) in soil-less culture. Scientia Hort. 108: 185-193.
[22]  Bernstein N., Sela, S., Pinto, R., Ioffe, M. (2007). Evidence for internalization of Escherichia coli into the aerial parts of maize via the root system. J. Food Protect. 70: 471-475.
[23]  Bernstein, N., S. Sela, Neder-Lavon, S. (2007). Effect of irrigation regimes on persistence of Salmonella enterica serovar Newport in small experimental pots designed for plant cultivation. Irrig. Sci. 26: 1-8.
[24]  Bernstein, N., Sela, S., Neder-Lavon, S. (2007). Assessment of contamination potential of lettuce by Salmonella enterica serovar Newport added to the plant growing medium. J. Food Protect. 70: 1717-1722.
[25]  Friedman, H., Bernstein, N., Bruner, M., Rot, I., Ben-Noon, Z., Zuriel, A., Zuriel, R., Finkelstein, C., Umiel, N. Hagiladi, A., (2007). Application of secondary-treated effluents for cultivation of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and celosia (Celosia argentea L.) as cut flowers. Scientia Hort. 115: 62-69.
[26]  Bernstein, N., Guetsky, R., Friedman, H., Bar-Tal, A., Rot, I. (2008). Monitoring bacterial populations in agricultural greenhouse production system irrigated with reclaimed wastewater. J. Hort. Sci. Biotechnol. 83: 821-827.
[27]  Bernstein, N. Luria, G., Bruner, M., Nishri, Y., Dori, I., Matan, E., Ioffe, M. (2008). Development of "stem-topple" disorder in Ranunculus asiaticus is related to localised disturbances in tissue calcium levels. J. Hort. Sci. Biotechnology. 83: 525-531.
[28]  Bernstein, N., Chaimovitsh, D., Fisher, R. Kaldes, D., Dudai, N. (2009). Effect of irrigation with secondary treated effluents of essential oil, antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds, in Origanum vulgare and Rosmarinus officinalis. Agronomy J. 101: 1-10.
[29]  Bernstein, N. Kravchik, M. and Dudai, N. (2009) Salinity-induced changes in essential oil, pigments and salts accumulation in sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum), in relation to alterations of morphological development. Ann. Appl. Biol. 156: 167-177
[30]  Bernstein, N., Ioffe, M., Luria, G., Bruner, M., Nishri, Y., Philosoph-Hadas, S., Salim , S., Dori, I., Matan, E. (2010). Evaluation of a newly developed potassium and nitrogen fertilization regime for soil cultivation of Ranunculus asiaticus. Israel J. Plant Sci. 18: 33-41
[31]  Bernstein, N., Shoresh, M., Xu, Y., Huang, B. (2010). Involvement of the plant antioxidative response in the differential growth sensitivity to salinity of leaves vs. roots during cell development. Free Radicals Biology and Medicine. 49: 1161-1171.
[32]  Steinitz, B., Barr, N., Tabib, Y., Vaknin, Y., Bernstein, N. (2010). Control of in vitro rooting and plant development in Corymbia maculata by silver nitrate, silver thiosulfate and thiosulfate ion. Plant Cell Rep. 29:1315-1323.
[33]  Bernstein, N., (2011). Potential for contamination of crops by microbial human pathogens introduced to the soil by irrigation with treated-effluent. Israel J. Plant Sci. In Press.
[34]  Sacks, M., Bernstein, N. (2011). Utilization of reclaimed wastewater for irrigation of field grown melons by surface and subsurface drip irrigation. Israel J. Plant Sci. In Press.
[35]  Bernstein, N., Ioffe, M., Luria, G., Bruner, M., Nishri, Y., Philosoph-Hadas, S., Salim, S., Dori, I., Matan, E. (2011). Effects of K and N nutrition on function and production in Ranunculus asiaticus. Pedosphere. 21: 288-301.
[36]  Gollop, N., Shoresh, M., Guetsky, R., Rindner, M., Zakin, V., Bernstein, N. (2011). Differential response of Frankia strains to heavy metals. Israel J. Plant Sci. In Press.
[37]  Shoresh, M., Spivak, M., Bernstein, N. (2011). Involvement of calcium-mediated effects on ROS metabolism in regulation of growth improvement under salinity. Free Radicals Biology and Medicine. 51:1221-34.
[38]  Bernstein, N., Bar-Tal, A., Friedman, H., Ioffe, M. (2008). Potential Health Risks Associated with Utilization of Reclaimed roses For irrigation in a greenhouse production system. Acta Hort. (ISHS) 797: 327-332.
[39]  Bernstein, N., Fridman H, Bar-Tal A, Snir P, Hazan P, Tarzizki, Ioffe M (2006). Utilization of Recycled water for greenhouse-grown roses in soil-less culture. Olam Poreach.
[40]  Bernstein, N., Luria, G., Matan, E., Dori, I., Bruner, M., Nishri., Y, Philosof-Hadas, S., Salim, S. (2006). Optimization of N-nutrition for Ranunculus. Olam Poreach.
[41]  Bernstein, N., Hagiladi, A., Robinzon, M., Finkelshtain, S., Been-Nun, Z., Bruner, Z., Nizan, A., Moshkowiz, M. (2006). Reduced water application for induction of early flowering in Moran. Olam Poreach.
[42]  Sela, S., Bernstein, N., Pinto, R. (2008). New insights into microbial safety of fresh produce. Alon Hanotea. (The Planter Journal) 62: 695-698.
[43]  Bernstein, N., Meiri, A., Zilberstaine, M.. (2009). Effect of salinity on Avocado growth. Alon Hanotea. (The Planter Journal) 63: 41-44.
[44]  Bernstein, N., Sela, S., Armon, R. (2011). Screening treated effluent sources used for irrigation in Israel, for the presence of fecal coliforms. Maim Vehashkaya. In-press.
[45]  Bernstein, N., Luria, G., Snir, P., Dori, I. Matan, E., (2011). Optimization of nitrogen fertilization for production system of Anemone. In-press.
[46]  Bernstein, N., Zacks, M., Snir, P., Ziv, O., Luria, G. (2011). Effect of calcium fetigation of growth and production of Anemone for cut-flowers. In-press.
[47]  Kafkafi, U., Bernstein, N. (1995). Root growth under ionic composition and salinity stress. In: (Y. Waisel, A. Eshel, U. Kafkafi, eds.) Plant roots: the hidden half, 2nd edition. pp. 435-452.
[48]  Bernstein, N., Kafkafi, U. (2000). Root growth under salinity stress. In: Plant roots: the hidden half, (Y. Waisel, A. Eshel, U. Kafkafi, eds.), 3rd edition. pp. 787-805.
[49]  Bernstein, N., Sela, S. (2008). Potential microbial hazards associated with the utilization of recycled effluents for irrigation In: Agriculture in arid and semiarid zones: Soil, water, and environment aspects, (M. Ben-Hur, ed.), In Press.
[50]  Dudai, N., Chaimovitch, D., Bernstein, N., (2008) Utilization of secondary-treated effluents for irrigation of aromatic plants. In: Advances in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants)D. Thangadurai, ed.). Regency Publications, New Delhi; Bioscience Publications, India; and ABD Publishers, Jaipur. In Press.
[51]  Bernstein, N. (2009). Contamination of soils with microbial pathogens originating from effluent water used for irrigation. In: Contaminated Soils: Environmental Impact, Disposal and Treatment. Nova Science Publishers, NY, USA.
[52]  Bernstein, N., Field crop staff Kibbutz Yotvata, (1987). Hybrid onion H-9 in five sowing dates in the Arava desert. Hashade, 11:2276-2278 (in Hebrew).
[53]  Bernstein, N. (1988). Hybrid varieties of onions for the purpose of export from the Arava Desert Valley. Hashade, 1:62-63 (In Hebrew).
[54]  Bernstein, N. (1988). Variety test for early onions in the Arava Desert: I. In the experimental station's field. II. Semi-commercial plot at Kibbutz Yotvata. Research and Development in the Arava Desert, p. 189-195 (In Hebrew).
[55]  Bernstein, N., Artzi, N., Lisai, G., (1987). Model farm Semi-commercial plot at Kibbutz Yotvata. Research and Development in the Arava Desert, p 184-188.
[56]  Bernstein, N., Field Crop staff Kibbutz Yotvata, (1987). Autumn seeded onion, Semi-commercial plot at Kibbutz Yotvata. Research and Development in the Arava Desert, p. 184-188.
[57]  Sagi M., Rozulio T., Shemer Z., Bernstein, N. (2003). Salicornia, a plant adapted to a wide range of salinity and has a potential as a new vegetable crop for the local and export markets. Mashov.
[58]  Sela S., Pinto R., Bernstein, N. (2007). Can food-borne pathogen enter the plant from the soil solution via the root system? Maim Vehashkaya. 493:26-31