Meet the Associated Faculty and Staff

Andy Thomas, M.S.

Southwest Center
14548 Hwy. H
Mt. Vernon, MO 65712
thomasal@missouri.edu

Research interests including working with a wide variety of horticultural and tree crops and crop production techniques, with most projects being relevant to agroforestry. Projects at the Center include black walnuts, pecans, hickories, pawpaws, persimmons, Ozark chinkapins, elderberries, apples, asparagus, wildflowers, medicinal herbs and a solar-heated greenhouse. Additionally, Andy has consulted on international agricultural projects in Russia, Cameroon, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Korea and Bolivia.

Refereed Journal Articles

• Byers, Patrick L., Andrew L. Thomas, and Eileen Nichols. 2019 (in press). Blackberries: A Model for Integrating Research with Outreach and Education to Farmers and the Public. Acta Horticulturae.
• McGowan, Kelly G., Patrick L. Byers, Shibu Jose, Michael Gold, and Andrew L. Thomas. 2019 (in press). Flower Production and Effect of Flower Harvest on Berry Yields within Six American Elderberry Genotypes. Acta Horticulturae.
• Schneider, S. Jacob, Anna Y. Hwang, Sadie D. Land, Li-Ling Chen, Andrew L. Thomas, and Chin-Feng Hwang. 2019. Genetic Diversity of Ten Black Walnut (Juglans nigra L.) Cultivars and Construction of a Mapping Population. Tree Genetics and Genomes 15:62.
• Yang, Bo, Andrew L. Thomas, and C. Michael Greenlief. 2019. Comparative Proteomic Analysis Unveils Critical Pathways Underlying the Role of Nitrogen Fertilizer Treatment in American Elderberry. Proteomes 7:10.
• Dold, Christian, Andrew L. Thomas, Amanda Ashworth, Dirk Philipp, David Brauer, and Thomas J. Sauer. 2019 (in press). Carbon Sequestration and Nitrogen Uptake in a Temperate Silvopasture System. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems.
• Lei, Zhentian, Clayton Kranawetter, Barbara Sumner, David Huhman, Daniel J. Wherritt, Andrew L. Thomas, Charles Rohla, and Lloyd W. Sumner. 2018. Metabolomics of Two Pecan Varieties Provides Insights into Scab Resistance. Metabolites 8:56. DOI:10.3390/metabo8040056.
• Johnson, Mitch C., Matheus Dela Libera Tres, Andrew L. Thomas, George E. Rottinghaus, and C. Michael Greenlief. 2017. Discriminant Analyses of the Polyphenol Content of American Elderberry Juice from Multiple Environments Provide Genotype Fingerprint. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 65:4044-4050.
• Thomas, Andrew L., Jackie L. Harris, Elijah A. Bergmeier, and R. Keith Striegler. 2017. Establishment Techniqueand Rootstock Impact ‘Chambourcin’ Grapevine Morphology and Production in Missouri. HortTechnology 27(2):248-256.
• Zhang, Yu-zhu, Wen-Xian Du, Yuting Fan, Jiang Yi, Shu-Chen Lyu, Kari C. Nadeau, Andrew L. Thomas, and Tara McHugh. 2016. Purification and Characterization of a Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) Allergen, Jug n 4. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 65:454-462.
• Warmund, Michele, Misha Kwasniewski, Janelle Elmore, Andrew Thomas, and Koushik Adhikari. 2016. Sensory Attributes of Juice from North American-Grown Elderberry Cultivars. HortScience 51(12):1561-1565.
• Brownstein, Korey, Andrew L. Thomas, George E. Rottinghaus, Briana A. Lynch, David R. Gang, and William R.
• Folk. 2016. Harpagide and Related Iridoid Glycosides in Vegetative Tissues of Cultivated Scrophularia marilandica and Scrophularia lanceolata. Acta Horticulturae 1125:83-90.
• Luo, R., G. Rottinghaus, A.L. Thomas, D. Monroe, K. Tran, and R.E. Smith. 2016. Identification of Unknown Compound in Apocynum cannabinum by High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) and 600 MHz NMR. Journal of Regulatory Science 3:14-19.
• Thomas, Andrew L. and Jordan T. Prindle. 2016. Grafting Mature Unproductive Black Walnut Trees to Improved Cultivars Demonstrates Horticultural and Economic Feasibility in Missouri, USA. Acta Horticulturae 1109:101-106.
• Johnson, Mitch C., Andrew L. Thomas, and C. Michael Greenlief. 2015. Impact of Frozen Storage on the Anthocyanin and Polyphenol Contents of American Elderberry Fruit Juice. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 63:5653-5659.
• Thomas, Andrew L. 2015. Establishment and Early Development of Improved Nut-producing Hickory Cultivars Grafted to Pecan Rootstocks in Missouri, USA. Acta Horticulturae 1070:137-141.
• Thomas, Andrew L., William R. Reid, and Thomas J. Sauer. 2015. Establishment and Early Development of ‘Kanza’, ‘Peruque’, and other Pecan Cultivars in Northern U.S. Growing Regions. Acta Horticulturae 1070:143-147.
• Simonyi, Agnes, Zihong Chen, Jinghua Jiang, Yijia Zong, Dennis Y. Chuang, Zezong Gu, Chi-Hua Lu, Kevin L. Fritsche, C. Michael Greenlief, George E. Rottinghaus, Andrew L. Thomas, Dennis B. Lubahn, and Grace Y. Sun. 2015. Inhibition of Microglial Activation by Elderberry Extracts and its Phenolic Components. Life Sciences 128:30-38.
• Levine, Robert A., Kristy M. Richards, Kevin Tran, Rensheng Luo, Andrew L. Thomas, and Robert E. Smith. 2015
• Determination of Neurotoxic Acetogenins in Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) Fruit by LC-HRMS. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 63(4):1053-1056.
• Thomas, Andrew L., John D. Avery, Jr., Patrick L. Byers, Skip Easter, and Kenneth Hunt. 2015. Ozark Chinkapin Demonstrates Compatibility as a Scion Grafted to Chinese Chestnut Rootstocks: Implications for ex situ Conservation. Native Plants Journal 16(2):117-125.
• Wu, Hanzhi, Mitch C. Johnson, Chi-Hua Lu, Kevin L. Fritsche, Andrew L. Thomas, Yongquan Lai, Zongwei Cai,and C. Michael Greenlief. 2015. Peptidomics Study of Anthocyanin-rich Juice of Elderberry. Talanta 131:640-644.
• Wu, Hanzhi, Mitch C. Johnson, Chi-Hua Lu, Kevin L. Fritsche, Andrew L. Thomas, Zongwei Cai, and C. Michael Greenlief. 2015. Determination of Anthocyanins and Total Polyphenols in a Variety of Elderberry Juices by UPLC/MS and Other Methods. Acta Horticulturae 1061:43-51.
• Thomas, Andrew L., Patrick L. Byers, Sanjun Gu, John D. Avery, Jr., Martin Kaps, Abhinandya Datta, Lakdas Fernando, Paula Grossi, and George E. Rottinghaus. 2015. Occurrence of Polyphenols, Organic Acids, and Sugars among Diverse Elderberry Genotypes Grown in Three Missouri (USA) Locations. Acta Horticulturae 1061:147-154.
• Jiang, Jinghua, Yijia Zong, Dennis Y. Chuang, Wei Lei, Chi-Hua Lu, Zezong Gu, Kevin L. Fritsche, Andrew L. Thomas, Dennis B. Lubahn, Agnes Simonyi, and Grace Y. Sun. 2015. Effects of Elderberry Juice from Different Genotypes on Oxidative and Inflammatory Responses in Microglial Cells. Acta Horticulturae 1061:281-288.
• Perkins-Veazie, P., A.L. Thomas, P.L. Byers, and C.E. Finn. 2015. Fruit Composition of Elderberry (Sambucus spp.) Genotypes Grown in Oregon and Missouri, USA. Acta Horticulturae 1061:219-224.
• Keller, K.E., N.J. Mosier, A.L. Thomas, D.F. Quito-Avila, and R.R. Martin. 2015. Identification of Two New Carlaviruses in Elderberry. Acta Horticulturae 1061:161-164.
• Thomas, Andrew L., Patrick L. Byers, John D. Avery, Jr., Martin Kaps, and Sanjun Gu. 2015. Horticultural Performance of Eight American Elderberry Genotypes at Three Missouri Locations. Acta Horticulturae 1061:237-244.
• Thomas, Andrew L., Patrick L. Byers, John D. Avery, Jr., Martin Kaps, Sanjun Gu, Hwei-Yiing Johnson, and Marge Millican. 2015. ‘Marge’: A European Elderberry for North American Producers. Acta Horticulturae 1061:191-199.
• Byers, Patrick L., Andrew L. Thomas, and Manjula P. Nathan. 2015. Effect of Genotype, Environment, Growth Stage, and Foliage Type on American Elderberry Leaf Elemental Status. Acta Horticulturae 1061:183-189.
• Sauer, Thomas J., Wayne K. Coblentz, Andrew L. Thomas, Kris R. Brye, David K. Brauer, J. Vaughn Skinner, J. Van Brahana, Sherri L. DeFauw, Phillip D. Hays, David C. Moffitt, James L. Robinson, Travis A. James, and Kevin A. Hickie. 2015. Nutrient Cycling in an Agroforestry Alley Cropping System Receiving Poultry Litter or Nitrogen Fertilizer. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 101:167-179. DOI 10.1007/s10705-014-9667-0.
• Richards, Kristy M., Kevin Tran, Robert A. Levine, Rensheng Luo, José G.S. Maia, Armando A.U. Sabaa-Srur, Maria I.S. Maciel, Enayde de A. Melo, Maria R. de Moraes, Helena T. Godoy, Modesto A. Chaves, Célio K. do Sacramento, Andrew L. Thomas, Doug Monroe, and Robert E. Smith. 2014. Improved Extraction of Soluble Solids from Some Brazilian and North American Fruits. The Natural Products Journal 4:201-210.
• Chuang, Dennis Y., Jiankun Cui, Agnes Simonyi, Victoria A. Engel, Shanyan Chen, Kevin L. Fritsche, Andrew L. Thomas, Wendy L. Applequist, William R. Folk, Dennis B. Lubahn, Albert Y. Sun, Grace Y. Sun, and Zezong Gu. 2014. Dietary Sutherlandia and Elderberry Mitigate Cerebral Ischemia-induced Neuronal Damage and Attenuate p47phox and Phospho-ERK1/2 Expression in Microglial Cells. ASN Neuro 6(6):1 14; 1759091414554946. DOI: 10.1177/1759091414554946.
• Thomas, Andrew L., Penelope Perkins-Veazie, Patrick L. Byers, Chad E. Finn, and Jungmin Lee. 2013. A Comparison of Fruit Characteristics among Diverse Elderberry Genotypes Grown in Missouri and Oregon. Journal of Berry Research 3(3):159-168.
• Reid, William R. and Andrew L. Thomas. 2013. Influence of Foliar Fertilization on Foliar Zinc Levels and Nut Production in Black Walnut. In: J.W. Van Sambeek et al. (Eds.) Managing Fine Hardwoods after a Half Century of Research; Proceedings of the Seventh Walnut Council Research Symposium. U.S. Forest Service General Technical Report NRS-P-115:101-105.
• Thomas, Andrew L., Wendy L. Applequist, George E. Rottinghaus, and James S. Miller. 2011. Black Cohosh Rhizome and Phytochemical Production in Response to Shading, Spacing, and Age. In: A. Máthé, A.M. Barata, C. Carlen, and L. Craker (eds.). A New Look at Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Acta Horticulturae 925:175-183.
• Graves, W.R., and A.L. Thomas. 2011. Survival and Growth of Callicarpa americana (American Beautyberry) of Northern and Southern Origin in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 and 6. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 29(1):9-13.
• Byers, P.L. and A.L. Thomas. 2011. ‘Bob Gordon’ Elderberry. Journal of the American Pomological Society 65(2):52-55.
• Byers, P.L., A.L. Thomas, and M. Millican. 2010. ‘Wyldewood’ Elderberry. Cultivar and Germplasm Release. HortScience 45(2):312-313.
• Charlebois, D., P.L. Byers, C.E. Finn, and A.L. Thomas. 2010. Elderberry: Botany, Horticulture, Potential. Horticultural Reviews 37:213-280. Wiley-Blackwell.
• Brauer, D., A. Ares, and A. Thomas. 2009. Cultivars of eastern black walnut trees (Juglans nigra L.) have greater nut yields than native trees at similar trunk cross-sectional areas. Journal of the American Pomological Society 63(2):42-50.
• Thomas, A.L., P.L. Byers, and M.R. Ellersieck. 2009. Productivity and characteristics of American elderberry in response to various pruning methods. HortScience 44(3):671-677.
• Finn, C.E., A.L. Thomas, P.L. Byers, and S. Serçe. 2008. Evaluation of American (Sambucus canadensis) and European (S. nigra) Elderberry Genotypes Grown in Diverse Environments and Implications for Cultivar Development. Hortscience 43(5):1385-1391.
• Thomas, A.L., D.K. Brauer, T.J. Sauer, M.V. Coggeshall, and M.R. Ellersieck. 2008. Cultivar Influences Early Rootstock and Scion Survival in Grafted Black Walnut. Journal of the American Pomological Society 62(1):3-12.
• Thomas, A.L., P.L. Byers, C.E. Finn, Y.-C. Chen, G.E. Rottinghaus, A.M. Malone, and W.L. Applequist. 2008. Occurrence of Rutin and Chlorogenic Acid in Elderberry Leaf, Flower, and Stem in Response to Genotype, Environment, and Season. In: G. Gardner and L.E. Craker (eds.). Plants as Food and Medicine: The Utilization and Development of Horticultural Plants for Human Health. Acta Horticulturae 765:197-206.
• Thomas, A.L., R.J. Crawford, Jr., G.E. Rottinghaus, J.K. Tracy, W.L. Applequist, B.E. Schweitzer, L.J. Havermann, S.F. Woodbury, J. Miller, M.R. Ellersieck, and D.E. Gray. 2007. Occurrence of 23-epi-26-deoxyactein and Cimiracemoside A in Various Black Cohosh Tissues Throughout the Growing Season. HortScience 42(3):535-539.
• Thomas, A.L., R.J. Crawford, Jr., L.J. Havermann, W.L. Applequist, B.E. Schweitzer, S.F. Woodbury, and J.S. Miller. 2006. Effect of Planting Depth, Planting Season, and Fungicide Treatment on Establishment of Black Cohosh in a Poorly-drained Soil. HortScience 41(2):374-376.
• Thomas, A.L. and W.R. Reid. 2006. Hardiness of Black Walnut and Pecan Cultivars in Response to an Early Hard Freeze. Journal of the American Pomological Society 60:90-94.
• Brauer, D., A. Ares, W. Reid, A. Thomas, and J.P. Slusher. 2006. Nut-yield Variations and Yield-Diameter Relationships in Open-canopy Black Walnut Trees in Southern USA. Agroforestry Systems 67(1):63-72.
• Thomas, A.L., S. Gibson, and N.J. Holmberg. 2005. The Flora and Natural History of Woods Prairie, a Nature Reserve in Southwestern Missouri. Missouriensis 25:1-19. Missouri Native Plant Society, St. Louis, MO.
• Thomas, A.L. and D. Schrock. 2004. Performance of 67 Native Midwestern U.S. Perennials in a Low-maintenance Landscape. HortTechnology 14(3):381-388.
• Thomas, A.L., M.E. Muller, B.R. Dodson, M.R. Ellersieck, and M. Kaps. 2004. A Kaolin-based Particle Film Suppresses Certain Insect and Fungal Pests while Reducing Heat Stress in Apples. Journal of the American Pomological Society 58(1):42-51.
• Thomas, A.L., and T.C. Kaspar. 1997. Maize Nodal Root Response to Time of Soil Ridging. Agronomy Journal 89:195-200.
• Thomas, A.L., and L.A. Carpenter-Boggs. 1995. Mycorrhizal Colonization of Ancistrocladus korupensis, a New Tropical Forest Species with Anti-HIV Activity. Journal of Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants 3(2):51-54.
• Thomas, A.L. and T.C. Kaspar. 1995. Maize Nodal Root Response to Soil Ridging and Three Tillage Systems. Agronomy Journal 87:853-858.
• Polacco, J.C., A.L. Thomas, and P.J. Bledsoe. 1982. A Soybean Seed Urease-Null Produces Urease in Cell Culture. Plant Physiology 69:1233-1240.

Published Abstracts and Proceedings

• Johnson, H.-Y., P. Byers, J. Hu, A. Thomas, and S. Tesfaye. 2008. Assessment of Genetic Diversity among Elderberry (Sambucus sp.) Species, Cultivars, and Wild Selections by TRAP Technique. HortScience 43(4):1137-1138.
• Thomas, A.L, and W.R. Reid. 2007. Productivity and Characteristics of Six Black Walnut Cultivars in Missouri. In: A. Olivier and S. Campeau (Eds.) When Trees and Crops Get Together. Proceedings of the 10th North American Agroforestry Conference: 197. The Association for Temperate Agroforestry.
• Abad, Z.G., J. Phillips, and A.L. Thomas. 2005. Black root and crown rot of black cohosh (Actaea racemosa L.) is associated to Phytophthora and Pythium species. Phytopathology 95:S1.
• Byers, P. and A.L. Thomas. 2005. Elderberry Research and Production in Missouri. Proceedings of the 25th Missouri Small Fruit and Vegetable Conference 25:91-97. Southwest Missouri State University. Springfield, MO.
• Brauer, D., A. Ares, and A. Thomas. 2004. Relationships between Tree Size and Nut Production for Eastern Black Walnuts. Black Walnut in a New Century: Proceedings of the 6th Walnut Council Research Symposium. Lafayette, IN.
• Sauer, T.J., S.L. DeFauw, K.R. Brye, J.V. Brahana, J.V. Skinner, W.K. Coblentz, A.L. Thomas, P.D. Hays, D.C. Moffitt, J.L. Robinson, T.A. James, and K.A. Hickie. 2004. N and P Assimilation in a Silvopastoral System Receiving Poultry Litter or Inorganic Fertilizer. Proceedings of the First World Congress of Agroforestry: Working Together for Sustainable Land Use Systems. Orlando, FL.
• Thomas, A.L., S.L. DeFauw, T.J. Sauer, and D. Brauer. 2004. Hydrologic Influences on the Growth of Young Grafted Black Walnut Trees in Arkansas, USA. Proceedings of the First World Congress of Agroforestry: Working Together for Sustainable Land Use Systems. Orlando, FL.
• Brauer, D., A. Ares, and A.L. Thomas. 2004. Economics of Eastern Black Walnut Agroforestry Practices: Nut Production of Black Walnut in Relation to Genotype and Tree Size. Proceedings of the First World Congress of Agroforestry: Working Together for Sustainable Land Use Systems. Orlando, FL.
• Coggeshall, M.V., A.L. Thomas, and J.W. Van Sambeek. 2003. Scion and Rootstock Effect on the Performance of Grafted Black Walnut Cultivars. Combined Proceedings of the International Plant Propagators’ Society 53:555-557.
• Thomas, A.L., D. Brauer, J. Rhoads, and J.P. Slusher. 2003. Long-term Effect of Tall Fescue Cover Crop on Black Walnut Growth and Nut Production. In Agroforestry and Riparian Buffers for Productivity and Environmental Stability. Proceedings of the 8th North American Agroforestry Conference, p 342. The Association for Temperate Agroforestry.
• Thomas, A.L., D. Brauer, T. Sauer, M. Coggeshall, and J. Jones. 2003. Effects of Varieties on Survival of Trees during the Establishment of Nut-forage Alley Cropping Systems at Two Upland Locations in Western Arkansas. In S. Sharrow (Ed.) Agroforestry and Riparian Buffers for Productivity and Environmental Stability. Proceedings of the 8th North American Agroforestry Conference, p 343. The Association for Temperate Agroforestry.
• Thomas, A.L., and G. Galbraith. 2003. Innovative Land Acquisition and Fund-raising Techniques Used to Preserve a Threatened Missouri Prairie. Proceedings of the 18th North American Prairie Conference. Truman State University Press, Kirksville, MO.
• Schrock, D., and A. Thomas. 2001. Performance of Native Midwestern Herbaceous Perennials in a Low-maintenance Landscape. Hortscience 36(3):477.
• Thomas, A.L. and P. Byers. 2000. Multi-locational Elderberry Cultivar and Management Study. Proceedings of the 20th Missouri Small Fruit Conference 20:37-40. Southwest Missouri State University. Springfield, MO.
• Thomas, A.L. and T.C. Kaspar. 1993. Maize Nodal Root Response to Soil Ridging. 1993 Agronomy Abstracts. American Society of Agronomy.
• Yamoah, C., V. Eylands, S. Ndiaye, and A. Thomas. 1991. On-farm Research Methods for Hedgerow Intercropping: Agroforestry Research and Extension Methodologies for Soil Fertility Management in Rwanda. In Sara J. Scherr (ed.) Methods for Participatory On-farm Agroforestry Research. International Centre for Research in Agroforestry.

Other Publications

• Thomas, A.L. 1996 - present. Quarterly articles on horticulture research projects and activities. In Ruminations. University of Missouri-Columbia, Southwest Research Center, Mt. Vernon, MO.
• Hofherr, P., J. Horner, T. Rickard, G. Stevens, A. Thomas, C. Boessen, M. Morgan and J. Nelson. 2007. Report on Agriculture Assessment for Pyeongtaek City (Korea) and the Characteristics of a High Technology Agriculture Complex. 106 pp. Global Cluster, Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea.
• Byers, P.L. and A.L. Thomas. 2005. Elderberry research and production in Missouri. New York Berry News 4(10):14-17.
• Jett, L.W., and A.L. Thomas. 2005. Growing Asparagus in Missouri. Horticultural Guide G6405. University Extension, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.
• Thomas, A.L. and L. Jett. 2004. Performance of Eleven Asparagus Cultivars in Southwest Missouri. Midwest Vegetable Variety Trial Report for 2004. Purdue University Bulletin No. 2004-B17538. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
• Thomas, A.L., A. Becker, and R.J. Crawford, Jr. Nov. 2004. Metal or Plastic? Which Barrels are Best for Holding Water and Heat in a Passively-heated Greenhouse? Small Farm Today 21(6):32-34. Missouri Farm Publishing, Inc. Clark, MO
• Thomas, A.L. 2004. Evaluation of Kaolin-based Particle Film Coatings on Insect and Disease Suppression and Heat Stress in Apples. Organic Farming Research Foundation Information Bulletin 13:15-18. Santa Cruz, CA.
• Thomas, A.L., A. Becker, and R.J. Crawford, Jr. March 2003. An Energy-efficient, Solar-heated Greenhouse Produces Cool-season Vegetables all Winter Long. Small Farm Today 20(2):29-32. Missouri Farm Publishing, Inc. Clark, MO
• Thomas, A.L. 1999. Woods Prairie: A New Prairie Preserve in Southwest Missouri. Missouri Prairie Journal 20(2):16-17. The Missouri Prairie Foundation.
• Thomas, A.L. 1997. Tillage Systems: Soil Tillage and Root Development. In McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science & Technology, 1998. McGraw-Hill, New York.
• Thomas, A.L. 1996. Kunga... or No Hard Feelings. In At Home in the World: The Peace Corps Story. The United States Peace Corps.
• Wieland, G.D. and A.L. Thomas. 1995. A Bibliography for Orthodox and Recalcitrant Seed Storage and Management. In Gregory D. Wieland (ed.) Guidelines for the Management of Orthodox Seeds (also in Spanish). Center for Plant Conservation, St. Louis, MO.
• Thomas, A.L. and C.F. Yamoah. 1995. Keeping Tabs on Pests (in Agroforestry Systems): Leafhoppers and Sesbania. Agroforestry Today 7(2):12.