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Lyle E. Craker

Professor
Department of Plant, Soil & Insect Sciences
Stockbridge Hall 12A
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003-0910
Tel. (413) 545-2347
Fax. (413) 545-3958
craker@pssci.umass.edu

Education

Ph.D. 1967. Agronomy & Plant Genetics, degree specialization in Plant Physiology, minor in Biochemistry, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota.

B.S., 1963. Agronomy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

Associates, 1976, Business Administration, Mass Bay Community College (evening school), Watertown, Massachusetts

Research Interests

Research directed toward the control of mechanisms regulating essential oil synthesis and composition of several herbs. Interested in the effects of light and environmental stress on physiology and biochemistry of herbs and other plants, especially as related to increasing production and quality of plant extracts. Work has been supported by funding from several government and private sources.

Teaching

Work with undergraduate, special problem, and graduate students. Teach courses in technical writing and in herb, spices, and medicinal plants. Supervise graduate students and independent study students in research projects. Organize University Herbfest for demonstration of student research in aromatic and medicinal plants.

Professional

Editor, The Journal of Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants and Editor, Past-Chairman of International Society for Horticultural Science Section on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants; organizing member of International Council on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Member editorial board for Herbalgram and Medicinal Plant Abstracts, organizer of Herb, Spice, & Medicinal Plant Working Group, American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS). Member of International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) Working Group on Culture of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Active member of the ASHS, ISHS, American Society of Pharmacognosy, American Consortium for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, and Sigma Xi. Honorary member of ISHS.

Research Bibliography

Selected Articles over the past 10 years

Craker, L.E. 1998. Medicinal and aromatic plant production for the United States. Accents 2(1):6

Zheljazkov, V.D., E.A. Jeliazkova, and L.E. Craker. 1998. Heavy metal uptake by Mentha x piperita and Mentha arvensis. Acta Horticulturae 500:111-117.

Craker, L.E. 1999. The potential for crop diversification in the new millennium. Proceedings Special Crops Conference, Edmonton, Canada.

Zheljazkov, V.D. E.A. Jeliazkova, L.E. Craker, N. Kovatcheva, S. Stanev, and A. Margina. 1999. Heavy metal uptake by mint. Acta Horticulturae 500:111-117.

Lisin, G. S. Safiyeva, and L.E. Craker. 1999. Antimicrobial activity of some essential oils. Acta Horticulturae 501:283-288.

Alasbahi, R.H., S. Safiyeva, and L.E. Craker. 1999. Antimicrobial activity of some Yemeni medicinal plants. Journ. Herb, Spices and Medicinal Plants 6(3):75-83.

Craker, L.E. 1999. Trends in medicinal and aromatic plant production in the United States. Acta Horticulturae 502:71-75.

Nikolova, A., K. Kozhuharova, V.D. Zheljazkov, and L.E. Craker. 1999. Mineral nutrition of chamomile, Chamomilla recutita (L.) K. Acta Horticulturae 502:203-208.

Margina, A. I. Lecheva, L.E. Craker, and V.D. Zheljazkov. 1999. Disease and pests on Bulgarian oil-bearing rose (Rosa kazanlika V.T.= Rosa damascena Mill. var. Kazanlika). Acta Horticulturae 502:237-241.

Jeliazkova, E.A. V.d. Zheljazkov, L.E. Craker, B. Yankov, and T. Georgieva. NPK fertilizer and yields of peppermint, Mentha x piperita. Acta Horticulturae 502:231-236.

Mamedov, N. and L.E. Craker. 2001. Medicinal plants used for the treatment of bronchial asthma in Russia and Central Asia. Journ. Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants 8(2/3):91-117.

Hussein, Al-Amier, B.M.M. Mansour, N. Toaima, L. Craker, and K. Shetty. 2001. Tissue culture selection for phenolics and rosmarinic acid in thyme. Journ. Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants 8(1):91-117.

Craker, L.E. 2002. Production and demand - A view to the future of MAP. Acta Horticulturae 597:15-27

Craker, L.E. and J. Giblette. 2002. Chinese medicinal plants. In J. Janick and A. Whipkey, ed. Trends in New Crops and New Uses. (Proceedings New Crops Symposium, Atlanta, August, 2001). pp. 491-496.

Craker, L.E. and Z. Gardner. 2002. Dietary supplements, the new herbalism. HortTechnology 13(2):239-241.

Craker, L. E. and J. Giblette. 2002. Chinese Medicinal Herbs: Opportunities for Domestic Production. In J. Janick & A. Whipkey, ed. Trends in New Crops and Uses. pp. 491-496.

Jeliazkova, E.A. and L.E. Craker, 2002. Seed germination of some medicinal and aromatic plants in a heavy metal environment. Journ. Herbs, Spice and Medicinal Plants 10(2):105-112.

Jeliazkova, Ekaterina, L.E. Craker, and B. Xing. 2003. Seed germination of anise, caraway, and fennel in heavy metal contaminated solutions. Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants 10(3):83-93.

Craker, Lyle E., Zoë Gardner, and Selma Etter. 2003. Herbs in American fields: A horticultural perspective of herb and medicinal plant production in the United States, 1903 to 2003. HortScience 38:977-983.

Mamedov, N. and L.E. Craker. 2003. Cornelian cherry: A prospective source for phytomedicine. Acta Horticulturae 629:83-86

Gardner, Zoë, and L.E. Craker. 2003. A university education and outreach program for medicinal and aromatic plants. Acta Horticulturae 629:403-407.

Mamedov, N. and L.E. Craker. 2003. Medicinal plants of Russia and Central Asia use for the treatment of skin irritations. Journal of Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants 11(1/2):191-222. .

Mestre, Lori S., Selma Etter, and Lyle Craker. 2004. Faculty and librarians spice-up instruction. Academic Exchange Quarterly 8(4):106-110.

Craker, L.E. and Zoë Gardner. 2004. Sustaining the Harvest: Challenges in Production and Markets. Acta Horticulturae 676:25-30.

Al –Amier, Hussein, A. A. EL -Hela, F. M. AL - Khadrawy and L.E. Craker. 2005. Comparative Evaluation of the Volatile Constituents in Some Verbena species Cultivated in Egypt. Journal of Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants 11(3):25-33.

Al-Amier, Hussein, B. M. M. Mansour, N. Toaima, K. Shetty , and L. Craker. 2005. .Stimulation of high biomass, rosmarinic acid and total phenolics in tissue cultures of pennyroyal in response to Pseudomonas mucidolens . Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants 11(3):13-24.

Al-Amier, H., L. Kott , A.A. El Hela, K.S. Sastry, and L. Craker. 2006. Use of mutations to improve essential oil yield and constituency in pennyroyal. Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants 11(4)91-101.

Al-Amier, H., K.A. Nasr, L. Lueck, Z.E. Gardner, and L.E. Craker. 2006. Phytochemical variation in black cohosh populations. Acta Horticulturae 720.

Mulas, G., Z. Gardner and L.E. Craker. 2006. Effect of light quality on growth and essential oil composition in rosemary. Acta Horticulturae 723

Hantz, M.A., H. Al-Amier, and L. Craker. 2006. Variation of essential oil constituents among spearmint clonal lines. Acta Horticulturae 723

Al-Amier, Hussein and Lyle Craker. 2006. Improving stress tolerance and quality of medicinal and aromatic plants. Acta Horticulturae 723

Craker, L.E. and Gardner, Z.E. 2006. Medicinal plants and tomorrow’s pharmacy. In R.J. Bogers, L.E. Craker, an D. Lange, eds. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Proceedings of the Frontis Workshop on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 17-20 April 2005. Nucleus for Strategic Expertise Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen. pp. 29-41.

Zheljazkov, V.E., L.E. Craker, and B. Xing. 2006. Effect of Cd, Pb, and Cu on growth and essential oil contents in dill, peppermint, and basil. Environmental and Experimental Botany 58:9-16.

Al-Amier, H., L. Kott , A.A. El Hela, K.S. Sastry, and L. Craker. 2006. Use of mutations to improve essential oil yield and constituency in pennyroyal. Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants 11(4)91-101.

Al-Amier, H., K.A. Nasr, L. Lueck, Z.E. Gardner, and L.E. Craker. 2006. Phytochemical variation in black cohosh populations. Acta Horticulturae 720 :95-100.

Hantz, M.A., H. Al-Amier, and L. Craker. 2006. Variation of essential oil constituents among spearmint clonal lines. Acta Horticulturae 723 :273-278.

Mulas, G., Z. Gardner and L.E. Craker. 2006. Effect of light quality on growth and essential oil composition in rosemary. Acta Horticulturae 723:427-432.

Craker, L.E. and Z. Gardner. 2006. Medicinal plants and tomorrow’s pharmacy – An American perspective. In R.J. Bogers, L.E. Craker, and D. Lange, eds. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants – Agricultural, Commercial, Ecological, Legal, Pharmacological, and Social Aspects. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. pp. 29-41.

Craker, L.E. 2007. Medicinal and aromatic plants – new opportunities. In: J. Janick and A. Whipkey, ed. Issues in New Crops and New Uses: Creating Markets for Economic Development. ASHS, Alexandria, VA. pp. 248-257. Al-Amier, Hussein and Lyle E. Craker. 2007. In vitro selection for stress tolerant spearmint. In: J. Janick and A. Whipkey, ed. Issues in New Crops and New Uses: Creating Markets for Economic Development. ASHS, Alexandria , VA. pp. 306-210.

Craker, L.E. 2007. A perspective on cultivation of medicinal plants in America. Acta Horticulturae (in press).

Jeliazkov V., L. Craker, B. Xing, N. Nielsen, A. Wilcox. 2008. Aromatic Plant production on metal contaminated soils. Science of the Total Environment (in press).

Books and Proceedings

Simon, J.E., A.S. Chadwick and L.E. Craker. 1983. Herbs: An Indexed Bibliography of 1971-1980, The Scientific Literature on Selected Herbs, and Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of the Temperate Zone. Archon Books, Hampden, CT. 770 pages. (Winner of the Association of College & Research Libraries Oberly Award).

Craker, L.E. and J.E. Simon. ed. 1985- 1989. Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants - Recent Advances in Botany, Horticulture and Pharmacology. Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4. Oryx Press, Phoenix, AZ.

Simon, J.E., A'. Mathé, and L.E. Craker, ed. 1987. Proceedings, 6 th International Symposium on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Acta Horticulturae 208. 1986. Davis, CA. International Society for Horticultural Science, Amsterdam. 279 p.

Morris, K.S.C. and L.E. Craker. 1991. Herb Gardens in America -- A Visitors Guide. HSMP Press, Amherst, MA. 191 p.

Bernáth, J., L.E. Craker, and A. Levy, ed. 1992. Proceedings, First World Congress on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants for Human Welfare. Acta Horticulturae 330. July 19-24, 1992, Maastricht, The Netherlands. International Society for Horticultural Science, Amsterdam.298 p.

Craker, L.E., L. Nolan, and K. Shetty, ed. 1996. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Acta Horticulturae 426. Aug. 27-30, 1995, Amherst, MA. International Society for Horticultural Science, Amsterdam. 669 p.

Hälvä, Seija and Lyle E. Craker. 1996. Manual for Northern Herb Growers. HSMP Press, Amherst, MA 01003. 101 p.

Craker, L.E. and K. M. Dinda. 1997. Exercises in Herb Science. HSMP Press, Amherst, MA 01003. 193 p.

Caffini, N., J. Bernáth, L. Craker, A. Jatisatienr, and G. Giberti, ed. 1999. Proceedings of the 2 nd World Congress on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants - Biological Resources, Sustainable Use, Conservation, and Ethnobotany. Acta Horticulturae 500, Mendoza, Argentina, Nov. 10-17, 1997. International Society for Horticultural Science, Leuven, Belgium.

Giberti, G. L. Craker, M. Lorenz, A. Mathé, and A. Giulietti, ed. 1999. Proceedings of the 2 nd World Congress on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants - Agricultural Production, Post-harvest Techniques, and Biotechnology . Acta Horticulturae 502, Mendoza, Argentina, Nov. 10-17, 1997. International Society for Horticultural Science, Leuven, Belgium.

Dinda, K. and L.E. Craker. 2000. Growers Guide to Medicinal Plants. HSMP Press, Amherst, MA. 2000. 103 p.

Ming, L.C., L.E. Craker, M.C. Scheffer, and F.C.M. Chaves. 2002. Proceedings of the First Latin-American Symposium on the Production of Medicinal, Aromatic and Condiments Plants. Acta Horticulturae 569, São Pedro, Brazil, July 30 - August 4, 2000. International Society for Horticultural Science, Leuven, Belgium.

Bernáth, J., E. Zámboriné-Németh, L. Craker, and O. Köck. 2002. Proceedings of the World Conference on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants – Possibilities and Limitations of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Production in the 21 st Century. Acta Horticulturae 576, Budapest, Hungary, July 8 - 11, 2001.

Craker, L.E., J.S. Simon, E.F. Lewinsohn, and A. Jatisatienr. 2003. Proceedings of Medicinal and Aromatic Congress. International Horticultural Congress, Toronto, Canada. Acta Horticulturae 629.

Craker, Lyle E. and Z.E. Gardner, eds. 2005. Proceedings of WOCMAP, the Third World Congress on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Acta Horticulturae Volumes 675-680.

Khan, I.A., T. Simllie, L. Craker and Z. Gardner, eds. 2006. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Quality and Safety Issues Related to Botanicals. Acta Horticulturae 720.

Bogers, R.J., L.E. Craker, and D. Lange, eds. 2006. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants – Agricultural, Commercial, Ecological, Legal, Pharmacological, and Social Aspects. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. 309 p.

Gardner, Gary and Lyle E. Craker, eds. 2007. Plants as Food & Medicine: The Utilization and Development of Horticultural Plants for Human Health. Proceedings of the XXVII International Horticultural Congress. Acta Horticulturae, ISHS. Acta Horticulturae (In press).

Professional presentations (2007, a representative sample of past years)

Invited seminars

Seminar highlights during the past seven years include presentations at: Office of Dietary Supplements, NIH, Rockville, MD; Mountain State University, Beckley, WV; Indiana

Growers Meetings, Indianapolis, IN; Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GE; New England Unit, Herb Society of America, Wellesley, MA.