Dennis T. Ray

University Distinguished Professor - School of Plant Sciences, Arid Lands Resource Sciences Graduate Interdisciplinary Program , School of Natural Resources and the Environment
520-621-7612 / 520-621-2817 (Lab)

Educational Background

  • B.S. Zoology University of Arizona 1970
  • M.S. Zoology University of Arizona 1974
  • Ph.D. Genetics University of Arizona 1981

Research Interests

  • Evaluate New Crops and Products for Cultivation and Processing in Arid Environments

Selected Publications

Abdel-Haleem, H., Z. Luo, D. T. Ray. 2019. Genetic Improvement in Guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray): An Alternative Rubber Crop. In. J. M. Al-Khayri et al. (eds.) Advances in Plant Breeding Strategies: Industrial and Food Crops, Chapter 6, Volume 4: Nut and Industrial Crops. Springer Nature Switzerland AG, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23265-8_6.
Ottman, M. J., Ray, D. T. 2018. Irrigated Sweet Sorghum Yield as Affected by Plant Spacing and Row Width. Agronomy Journal 100:1008-1016.
Abdel-Haleem, H., Foster, M., Ray, D., Coffelt, T. 2018. Phenotypic variations, heritability and correlations in dry biomass, rubber and resin production among guayule improved germplasm lines. Industrial Crops and Products 112: 691-697.
Pearson, B. J., Moore, K. A., Ray, D. T. 2017. Introduction: Developing soft skills in tomorrow’s leaders. HortTechnology 27: 579.
Ray, D. T., Winzerling, J. J., Staten, M. E. 2017. Career skills: Our process and where we are today. HortTechnology 27: 586-590.
Teetor, V. H., Schmalzel, C., Ray, D. T. 2017. Growing sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L] Moench) in clumps potentially reduces lodging in the arid-southwestern United States. Industrial Crops and Products 107: 458-462.
Cruz, V. M. V., Lynch, A. L., Ray, D. T., Niaura, W. S., Purdy, P. H., Dierig, D. A. 2017. Analysis of mode of reproduction of guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray) using flow cytometry and identification of polyhaploids for breeding. Industrial Crops and Products 107: 618-623.
Coffelt, T. A., D. T. Ray and D. A. Dierig. 2015. 100 Years of Breeding Guayule. Industrial Crops: Breeding for Bioenergy and Bioproducts/Springer Series, Industrial Crops Breeding for Bioeneregy and Bioproducts. Eds. M. V. Cruz and D. A. Dierig, New York, p. 351-367.
Jiangang Liu, Kevin F. Bronson, Kelly R. Thorp, Jarai Mon, Mohammad Badaruddin, William B. McCloskey, Dennis T Ray, Qingquan Chu, Guangyao Wang. 2014. Lesquerella seed and oil yield response to split-applied N fertilizer. Industrial Crops and Products 60: 273-279.
Duclos, D. V., D. T. Ray and A. G. Taylor. 2013. Investigating seed dormancy in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.): understanding the physiology and mechanisms of coat imposed seed dormancy. Industrial Crops and Products 45: 377-387.
Dierig, D. A., G. H. Dahlquist, T. A. Coffelt, D. T. Ray, T. A. Isbell and G. Wang. 2013. Registration of WCL-LO4-Gail Lesquerella with Improved Harvest Index. Journal of Plant Registrations 7: 339-341.
Pessarakli, M., Harivandi, M. A., Kopec, D. M., Ray, D. T. 2012. Growth Responses and Nitrogen Uptake by Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata L.), a Halophytic Plant Species, Under Salt Stress, Using the N15 Technique. International Journal of Agronomy, Volume 2012, Article ID 896971, 9 pages, doi:10.1155/2012/896971.
Dierig, D. A., A. E. Thompson, D. T. Ray and T. A Coffelt. 2006. Registration of three day-neutral Vernonia germpalsms. Crop Sci. 46: 2335-2336.
Ray, D. T., D. A. Dierig, A. E. Thompson and T. A. Coffelt. 1999. Registration of Six Guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) Germplasms with High Yielding Ability. Crop Science 39: 300.
Ray, D. T. and R. E. Stafford. 1985. Registration of `Santa Cruz' guar. Crop Science 25:1124-1125.
Stafford, R. E. and D. T. Ray. 1984. Registration of `Lewis' guar. Crop Science 25:365.
Stafford, R. E., D. T. Ray, D. L. Johnson and R. K. Thompson. 1983. Five guar germplasm lines. Crop Science 23:808.

Teaching Responsibilities

  • Plants and Our World, Pl S 170C1
  • First Year Colloquium, Pl S 195A, How will we feed and clothe 9-billion people in 2050?
  • Animal and Plant Genetics, Pl S 312
  • Senior Capstone Course, Pl S 498

Research Areas

  • Crop and Horticultural Management and Production
  • Genetics and Epigenetics