Sonia Philosoph-Hadas Ph.D.

Email:	vtsoniap@volcani.agri.gov.il
Tel:	+972-3-9683604
Fax:	+972-3-9683787

Institute for Technology & Storage of Agricultural Products
Dept. of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce
Agricultural Research Organization,
The Volcani Center,
P.O.Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel

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Research Interests

Postharvest physiology of ornamentals, including cut flowers, ornamental branches and flower bulbs.
Gravitropism of flowering stalks – physiological, cellular and molecular aspects.
Calcium-mediated signal transduction pathways.
Ethylene biosynthesis pathway and action.
Biochemical and physiological aspects of leaf and flower petal senescence.
Application of plant growth regulators to solve postharvest problems of senescence, abscission, water-balance, chilling-injury, wilting and gravitropic bending in cut flowers and ornamental branches.
Storage of ornamental bulbs and corms.

Recent Publications

Huang, F-Y.*, Philosoph-Hadas, S.*, Meir, S., Callaham, D.A., Sabato, R., Zelcer, A. and Hepler, P.K. (1997). Increases in cytosolic calcium in parsley mesophyll cells correlate with leaf senescence. Plant Physiol. 115: 51-60.
Borochov, A., Spiegelstein, H. and Philosoph-Hadas, S. (1997). Ethylene and flower petal senescence: interrelationship with membrane lipid catabolism. Physiol. Plant. 100: 606-612. (Invited review).
Cohen, V., Philosoph-Hadas, S. and Borochov, A. (1997). Inducing freezing tolerance in Narcissus bulbs by growth retardants. Acta Hortic. 430: 459-464.
Meir, S., Philosoph-Hadas, S., Droby, S., Reuveni, Y., Horev, B., Davidson, H. and Stav, D. (1997). Treatments for improving water balance of cut wax flowers exported to Japan under unfavorable transport conditions. Bulletin of Israeli Flower Growers 7: 56-61. (In Hebrew).
Droby, S., Meir, S., Philosoph-Hadas, S., Horev, B., Reuveni, Y. and Stav, D. (1997). Treatments for reducing decay and abscission in cut wax flowers exported under unfavorable transport conditions. Bulletin of Israeli Flower Growers 8: 60-62, 86. (In Hebrew).
Droby, S., Philosoph-Hadas, S., Horev, B., Rosenberger, I. and Luria, G. (1997).
Potential use of biological control strategies against storage rots of flower corms and bulbs. Bulletin of Israeli Flower Growers, 6: 66,72. (In Hebrew).
Borochov, A., Kolotilin, I., Weiss, D. and Philosoph-Hadas, S. (1997). Effect of environmental conditions on growth and pigmentation of Gypsophila flowers cv. ‘Arbel’. Bulletin of Israeli Flower Growers 11: 70-72. (In Hebrew).
Luria, G., Gutman, S., Droby, S., Philosoph-Hadas, S. and Borochov, A. (1998). Hot water treatments in Aconitum tubers: effect on parameters of growth and flowering. Bulletin of Israeli Flower Growers 11: 68-71. (In Hebrew).
Meir, S., Reuveni, Y., Davidson, H. and Philosoph-Hadas, S. (1998). Commercial application of postharvest gibberellin treatments for improving quality of pelargonium cuttings during transport. Bulletin of Israeli Flower Growers 7: 67-68. (In Hebrew).
Meir, S., Reuveni, Y., Rosenberger, I., Manor, Y. and Philosoph-Hadas, S. (1998).
Improving quality of limonium beltleard cut flowers by pulsing treatments with floral preservatives and sucrose. Bulletin of Israeli Flower Growers 10: 67-71,86. (In Hebrew).
Meir, S., Droby, S., Davidson, H., Alsevia, S., Cohen, L., Horev, B. and Philosoph-Hadas, S. (1998). Suppression of Botrytis blight in cut rose flowers induced by postharvest application of methyl jasmonate. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 13: 235-243.
Friedman, H., Meir, S., Rosenberger, I., Halevy, A.H., Kaufman, P.B. and Philosoph- Hadas, S. (1998). Inhibition of the gravitropic response of snapdragon spikes by the calcium channel blocker lanthanum chloride. Plant Physiol. 118: 483-392.
Droby, S., Porat, R., Cohen, L., Weiss, B., Shapiro, B., Philosoph-Hadas, S. and Meir, S. (1999). Suppression green mold decay in grapefruit with postharvest jasmonate application. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 124(2): 184-188.
Michaeli, R., Philosoph-Hadas, S., Riov, J. and Meir, S. (1999). Chilling-induced leaf abscission of Ixora coccinea plants. I. Induction by oxidative stress via increased sensitivity to ethylene. Physiol. Plant. 107: 166-173.
Michaeli, R., Riov, J., Philosoph-Hadas, S. and Meir, S. (1999). Chilling-induced leaf abscission of Ixora coccinea plants. II. Alteration of auxin economy by oxidative stress. Physiol. Plant. 107: 174-180.
Michaeli, R, Philosoph-Hadas S, Riov, J. and Meir S. (1999). Role of ethylene sensitivity in mediating the chilling-induced leaf abscission of ixora plants. In: Biology and Biotechnology of the Plant Hormone Ethylene II (A.K. Kanellis, C. Chang, H. Klee, A.B. Bleecker, J.C. Pech and D. Grierson, eds.), pp. 19-26. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Tamari, G., Salim, S., Philosoph-Hadas, S. and Meir, S. (1999). Prevention of floret abscission in Cestrum cut flowers. Bulletin of Israeli Flower Growers 5: 55-57. (In Hebrew).
Meir, S., Philosoph-Hadas, S., Salim, S., Davidson, H., Tamari, Y. and Gutman, S. (1999). Prevention of floret abscission in Cestrum cut flowers by pulsing treatments with synthetic chlorophenoxy auxins and STS. Bulletin of Israeli Flower Growers 4: 83-89 (In Hebrew).
Philosoph-Hadas, S., Friedman, H., Berkovitz-Simantov, R., Rosenberger, I., Woltering, E.J., Halevy, A.H. and Meir, S. (1999). Involvement of ethylene biosynthesis and action in regulation of the gravitropic response of cut flowers. In: Biology and Biothechnology of the Plant Hormone Ethylene II (A.K. Kanellis, C. Chang, H. Klee, A.B. Bleecker, J.C. Pech and D. Grierson, eds.), pp. 151-156. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Meir, S., Philosoph-Hadas, S., Salim, S., Tamari, G., Kirshner-Engel, R., Carmeli, A., Sizel, J. and Lavee, A. (2000). Kangaroo paw: development of treatments for preserving the quality of cut flowers. Bulletin of Israeli Flower Growers 3: 49-52. (In Hebrew).
Tamari, G., Salim, S., Vardi, J., Philosoph-Hadas, S. and Meir, S. (2000). Roses: examination of the necessity of STS presence in the pulsing solution and the effect of preservatives and gibberellin on quality of summer cut flowers. Bulletin of Israeli Flower Growers 4: 46-47. (In Hebrew).
Sandler-Ziv, D., Haurel, Y., Cohen, A., Kornellio, P., Rosenberger, I., Davidson, H. and Philosoph-Hadas, S. (2000). Hippeastrum: effect of storage temperature regims of bulbs and their origin on flowering quality of bulbs from various cultivars. Bulletin of Israel Flower Growers 10: 77-80. (In Hebrew).
Michaeli, R., Riov, J., Philosoph-Hadas, S. and Meir, S. (2001). Chilling-induced leaf abscission of Ixora coccinea plants. III. Enhancement by high light via increased oxidative processes. Physiol. Plant. 113: 338-345.
Philosoph-Hadas, S., Friedman, H., Meir, S., Berkovitz-Simantov, R., Rosenberger, I., Halevy, A.H., Kaufman, P.B., Balk, P. and Woltering E.J. (2001). Gravitropism in cut flower stalks of snapdragon. Advances in Space Research 27(5): 921-932.
Halevy, A.H., Torre, S., Borochov, A., Porat, R., Philosoph-Hadas, S., Meir, S. and Friedman H. (2001). Calcium in regulation of postharvest life of flowers. Acta Hortic. 543: 345-351.
Oren-Shamir, M., Dela, G., Ovadia, R., Nissim-Levi, A., Philosoph-Hadas, S., and Meir, S. (2001). Differentiation between petal blueing and senescence of cut ‘Mercedes’ rose flowers. J. Hortic. Sci. Biothechnol 76(2): 195-200.
Rosenberger, I., Philosoph-Hadas, S., Meir, S., Zuberi, G., Amar, E and Caspi, P. (2001). Limonium: effect of growing conditions in the Arava and postharvest treatments on flower quality of various cultivars. Bulletin of Israeli Flower Growers 9: 43-45. (In Hebrew).
Meir, S., Tamari, G., Salim, S., Tamari, Y. and Philosoph-Hadas, S. (2001). Cotinus: new possibilites for improving vase life. Bulletin of Israeli Flower Growers 7: 67-70. (In Hebrew).
Shahak, Y., Lahav, T., Shpigel, E., Philosoph-Hadas, S., Meir, S., Orenshtein, H., Gussakovsky, Y., Ratner, K., Giller, Y., Shaptzisky, S, Zur, N., Rosenberger, I., Gniloyn, R. and Gal, Z. (2002). Growing Aralia and Monstera leaves under colored shading nets. Olam Poreah 13: 60-62. (In Hebrew).
Zur, N., Gilad, Z., Meir, A., Kamenetzky, R., Barzilay, A., Philosoph-Hadas, S., Droby, S. and Luria, G. (2002). Eremurus corms: adaptation of storage techniques to the conditions of the Jordan Valley. Olam Poreah 13: 58-59. (In Hebrew).
Friedman, H., Vos, J.W., Hepler, P.K., Meir, S., Halevy, A.H. and Philosoph-Hadas, S. (2003). The role of actin filaments in the gravitropic response of snapdragon flowering shoots. Planta 216 (6): 1034-1042.
Friedman, H., Meir, S., Halevy, A.H. and Philosoph-Hadas, S. (2003). Characterization of the asymmetric growth of gravistimulated snapdragon spikes by stem and cell dimension analyses. Am. J. Bot. 90 (6): 849-856.
Friedman, H., Meir, S., Philosoph-Hadas, S. and Halevy, A.H. (2003). Effect of octanoic acid on ethylene-mediated processes in Arabidopsis. Plant Growth Regulation: 40(3): 239-247.
Friedman, H., Meir, S., Halevy, A.H. and Philosoph-Hadas, S. (2003). Inhibition of the gravitropic bending response of flowering shoots by salicylic acid. Plant Science: 165: 905-911.
Philosoph-Hadas, S., Berkovits-Simantov, R., Friedman, H., Meir, S. and Halevy, A.H. (2003). Role of ethylene in modulating auxin action during the gravitropic response of cut snapdragon spikes. In: Biology and Biotechnology of the Plant Hormone Ethylene III (M. Vendrell, H. Klee, J.C. Pech and F. Romojaro, eds.), pp. 311-312. IOS Press, Amsterdam.
Shlomo, E., Salim, S., Philosoph-Hadas, S. and Meir, S. (2003). Euphorbia fulgens: preliminary observations towards development of treatments with preservative solutions and growth regulators for extending vase life. Olam Poreah 23: 50-52 (In Hebrew).
Meir, S., Philosoph-Hadas, S., Salim, S. and Tamari, G. (2004). Ornamental branches of Pelargonium acerifolium: application of spray treatments with gibberellin and rovral before harvest for extending vase life. Olam Poreah: 31: 46-50. (In Hebrew).
Meir, S., Salim, S. and Philosoph-Hadas, S. (2004). Leonotis leonurus: Development of postharvest treatments for cut flowers. Olam Poreah: 34: 56-59. (In Hebrew).
Meir, S., Salim, S., Mor, Y. and Philosoph-Hadas, S. (2003). Lisianthus - improving vase life by addition of cytokinin to the recommended pulsing solution. Olam Poreah 29: 44-46 (In Hebrew).
Philosoph-Hadas, S., Golan, O., Rosenberger, I., Salim, S., Kochaneck, B. and Meir, S. (2004). Efficiency of 1-MCP in neutralizing ethylene effects in cut flowers and potted plants following simultaneous or sequential application. Acta Hortic. (In press).
Meir, S., Droby, S., Kochaneck, B., Salim, S. and Philosoph-Hadas, S. (2004). Use of methyl jasmonate for suppression of Botrytis rot in various cultivars of cut rose flowers. Acta Hortic. (In press).
Woltering, A.J., Balk, P.A., Mariska, A., Nijenhuis de Vries, A., Faivre, M., Ruys, G., Somhorst, D., Philosoph-Hadas, S., and Freidman, H. (2004). A tissue-specific auxin-responsive 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase is responsible for differential ethylene production in gravistimulated Antirrhinum majus L. flower stems. Planta (In press).
Woltering, E.J., Balk, P.A., Nijenhuis-de Vries, M.A., Faivre, M., Ruys, G., Somhorst, D., Philosoph-Hadas, S. and Friedman, H. (2004). Regulation and role of differential ethylene biosynthesis in gravistimulated Antirrhinum majus flower stems. Acta Hortic. (In press).

Current Projects

Inhibition of the gravitropic shoot bending in stored cut flowers through control of their gravi-perception: involvement of the cytoskeleton and cytosolic calcium.
Developing innovative techniques to protect greenhouse-grown orchids from ethylene contamination.
Sea transport of green ornamental branches: examination of treatments and packing to improve quality and establish protocols for growers.
Improving quality of ornamental branches for export by postharvest treatments.
Development of washing, cleaning and shining treatments for ornamental branches exported by sea transport.
Development of new treatments to inhibit rapid opening and senescence of cut flower petals by using inhibitors of proteases.
1-MCP: Developing means for its practical application in cut flowers and potted plants during air and sea transport, and understanding its mode of action
Examination of a postharvest treatment with the bacterium Bacillus subtilis for improving rooting during storage of ornamental bulbs, and as means for improving their size and growth.

Teaching

Physiology and Handling of Cut Ornamentals and their Care - Undergraduate Course for 3rd year, first semester; at the Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot.

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