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July 14, 2026: James, Yuta, and Gunho drove down to Dixon Springs Agricultural Center for an Extension event where James spoke with the vegetable growers about heat stress and its effects on plant reproduction. One interesting effect of heat stress on tomato fruit is the development of a white core, which impacts tomato marketability.
May 19, 2026: James went to Taiwan for collaborator meetings at National Taiwan University, National Chung-Hsing University, and National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, and to give a seminar. Finally, James visited a vertical farm where they grow beautiful lettuce and other leafy greens.
May 12, 2026: The Santiago lab just finished a full academic year at UIUC. Looking forward to more!
January 16, 2026: Undergraduate researcher, Madalynn Tymkiw, joined the lab. Welcome to the lab, Madalynn!!!
August 12, 2025: Along with Dr. Kacie Athey and Dr. Mohammad Babadoost, James visited Mennonite farms in Arcola, IL for a produce walk where the farmers are given an opportunity to voice out their concerns about what they are seeing in their fields and also ask us questions regarding pests, diseases, and crop management.
July 16, 2025: James visited four Mennonite farms to ask the stakeholders to participate in next year's research study. Located just outside of Vandalia in southern Illinois, the farms sit on a beautiful area surrounded by nature and other farms. The hardworking Mennonites primarily sell their produce including tomato, apple, peach, pumpkin, eggplant, peppers, cantaloupe, and watermelon to the greater Saint Louis area. Next summer, the Santiago Lab will establish research trials in these Mennonite farms and we are looking forward to years of research collaboration.
June 12, 2025: James attended the Summer Horticulture Field Day at Cobden, IL organized by the Illinois State Horticultural Society. The field day was held at Flamm's Orchard, a family farm founded in 1888 and is currently operated by the 5th and 6th generation members of the family. While the central to the northern part of Illinois is flat and home to soybean and maize fields, the rolling hills of southern Illinois is full of fruit orchards (apple and peach) and numerous vegetable patches.
March 16, 2025: The Santiago Lab is officially open! We are looking for students to join our lab. If interested, contact James at jpsant7@illinois.edu
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