Christopher Saski

Professor of Systems Biology
Plant and Environmental Sciences Department

Office: 306B Biosystems Research Complex
Phone: 864-656-6929

Email: SASKI@clemson.edu

Educational Background

Ph.D. Genetics
Clemson University 2007

B.S. Microbiology
Clemson University 1999

Courses Taught

PES 4050/6050 Introduction to Plant Breeding (Spring semesters)
PES 3500 Practicum
PES 4550/8250 PES/ENT Seminar

Profile

Dr. Christopher A. Saski is a Professor in Clemson University’s Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences whose research integrates genomics, plant breeding, biotechnology, and systems biology to solve high-value problems in agriculture. His program focuses on translating crop and weed genome discovery into practical outcomes that improve disease resistance, crop quality, production resilience, and sustainability across diverse agricultural systems. Working across Rosaceous crops, Upland cotton, and invasive weeds, Dr. Saski develops innovative tools and knowledge that support healthier foods, more sustainable production systems, and new opportunities for agricultural commercialization.

Research Interests

Dr. Saski’s research interests center on plant genomics, biotechnology, and translational crop improvement, with emphasis on solving critical challenges in cotton, Rosaceous crops, and agricultural weeds. In cotton, his work focuses on disease resistance, particularly Fusarium wilt race 4, as well as cottonseed oil quality, fiber traits, somatic embryogenesis, gene function, and technologies that accelerate breeding and gene editing. In peach and other specialty crops, his research explores gene editing, plant regeneration, and rootstock improvement to enhance disease resistance, orchard longevity, and production resilience. He is also interested in the genome dynamics of rapid adaptation in weeds, including the role of extrachromosomal circular DNA in herbicide resistance, with broader implications for both weed management and crop innovation. More broadly, Dr. Saski’s program integrates basic discovery with applied research and strategic partnerships to advance sustainable agriculture, support South Carolina producers, and develop next-generation agricultural and plant-based technologies.

Publications

Kirkbride, R.C.; Ando, A.; Park, D.; Li, Z.; Kumar, S.; Saski, C.; Jones, D.; Chen, Z.J. scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq reveal dual transcriptional and translational regulation in fiber cells in Upland and Pima cotton. Plant Physiol 2026, doi:10.1093/plphys/kiag094.

MacGregor, D.R.; Saski, C.A. Extrachromosomal circular DNA are functional, heritable units that expand genomic plasticity and confer resilience. Front Plant Sci 2026, 17, 1770110, doi:10.3389/fpls.2026.1770110.

†Badavath, H.; Saski, C.A. Plant Adaptation to Salinity: Physiological Pathways and Prospects for Crop Improvement-A Review. Genes (Basel) 2026, 17, doi:10.3390/genes17030253.

Synoground, B.F.; Gowtham, Y.; Lindquist, T.; Pressley, J.; Scott, D.C.; Saski, C.S.; Harcum, S.W. Transcriptomic Insights Into Serum-Free Medium Adaptation and Temperature Reduction in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Cultures. Biotechnol J 2025, 20, e70055, doi:10.1002/biot.70055.

†Kangben, F.; Kumar, S.; Xing, A.; Wen, L.; Li, W.; Parris, S.; Lawson, J.; Li, Z.; Carneal, L.; Cobb, M.; et al. CRISPR-Cas9-Mediated Knockout of MLO3 Confers Enhanced Resistance to Reniform Nematode in Upland Cotton. Plants (Basel) 2025, 14, doi:10.3390/plants14223491.

†Wang, Z.E.; Saski, C.; Campbell, B.; Huang, L.B.; Ye, R.Z. Cover crops and manure compost shift microbial functions and diversity in Southeastern sandy soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 2025, 89, doi:ARTN e7014910.1002/saj2.70149.

Huang, P.K.; Manganaris, G.A.; Gasic, K.; Saski, C.A.; Beckles, D.M.; Crisosto, C.H. Comprehensive transcriptional analysis of ethylene and softening regulation in plums with distinct climacteric ripening behaviors. BMC Plant Biol 2025, 25, 908, doi:10.1186/s12870-025-06932-w.

Popa-Baez A. D., Smith L. J., Stiller W. N., Soliveres M., Pandey G., Saski C. A., Jones D. C., Wilson I. W.: Comparative Genomics Reveals Ancient and Unique Pathogenicity Features in Australian f. sp. J Fungi 2025, 11(7) ARTN 48110.3390/jof11070481.

†Kumar Sonika, El-Hawaz Rabia, Li Zhigang, Lawson John, Parris Stephen, Kangben Foster, Carneal Lauren, Hopkins Jeff, Naylor-Adelberg Jacqueline, Adelberg Jeffrey, Reighard Gregory, Gasic Ksenija, Carr Chalmers, Saski Christopher A.: Optimized Auxin and Cytokinin Interactions Enable Direct Somatic Embryogenesis in the Peach Rootstock ‘Guardian®’ from Immature Cotyledons. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2025, 26(17):8698

Liao Y., Islam T., Noorai R., Streich J., Saski C., Cohnstaedt L. W., Cooper E. A.: Climate Adaptation and Genetic Differentiation in the Mosquito Species Culex tarsalis. Genome Biol Evol 2025, 17(8) 10.1093/gbe/evaf143.

†Parris Stephen, Kumar Sonika, Li Zhigang, Olvey Jim, Olvey Mike, Jones Don C., Saski Christopher A.: Casparian Strip Fortification as a Defense Mechanism to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum Race 4 Infection in a Highly Resistant Gossypium barbadense Cultivar. Genes-Basel 2025, 16(10):1158

Raiyemo DA, Montgomery JS, Cutti L, Abdollahi F, Llaca V, Fengler K, Lopez AJ, Morran S, Saski CA, Nelson DR, Patterson EL, Gaines TA, Tranel PJ. (2025) Chromosome-level assemblies of Amaranthus palmeri, Amaranthus retroflexus, and Amaranthus hybridus allow for genomic comparisons and identification of a sex-determining region. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology, Feb;121(4):e70027.

†Parris, S., Lovell, J. T., Ding, F., Zhang, Z., Olvey, J., Olvey, M., Schmutz, J., Grimwood, J., Sreedasyam, A., Kumar, S., Li, Z., Joshi, P., Jenkins, J. W., Plott, C., Stewart, A., Webber, J., Stiller, W. N., Jones, D. C., & Saski, C. A. (2025). Polyploidy-mediated variations in glutamate receptor proteins linked to Fusarium wilt resistance in upland cotton. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology, 122(1), e70125.

Muñoz M, Bridges WC, Saski CA, Schnabel G, Faust JE. (2025) Unveiling the potential of calcium chloride for Botrytis blight management in cut roses using untargeted metabolomics analysis. Postharvest Biol Tec. 2025;227.

Hall N, Montgomery J, Chen JY, Saski C, Matzrafi M, Westra P, Gaines T, Patterson E. (2025) Transposable elements generate adaptive genetic variation in the genome. Pest Management Science. doi: 10.1002/ps.8798.

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