Yves Castonguay

Research scientist
Soils and Crops Research and Development Centre
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
2560 Hochelaga Blvd.
Quebec, QC, G1V 2J3
Canada

Phone : (418) 657-7985 ext. 231
Fax : (418) 648-2402
E-mail : Click here to email Yves Castonguay
Web page : Click here to access the Web page of Yves Castonguay

Research Interests

Dr. Castonguay is conducting a research program focused primarily on the development of new knowledge and technologies to improve the tolerance of alfalfa and other herbaceous perennial crops to harsh winter conditions. His research work deals with the genetic and molecular bases of alfalfa frost tolerance, the impact of fall cutting management on the accumulation of organic reserves that determine the vigour of spring regrowth, as well as the impact of winter stresses in a climate change context. His work has a direct impact on the production sector through its contribution to the development of new selection methodologies including the use of molecular markers for the identification of genetic material better adapted to winter, and its support for the development of crop recommendations for producers.

Publications

Dionne, J., Y. Castonguay, P. Nadeau and Y. Desjardins. 2001a. Freezing tolerance and carbohydrate changes during cold acclimation of green-type annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) ecotypes. Crop Sci. 41: 443-451.
Dionne, J., Y. Castonguay, P. Nadeau and Y. Desjardins. 2001b. Amino acid and protein changes during cold acclimation of green-type annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) ecotypes. Crop Sci. 41: 1862-1870.
Bertrand, A., Y. Castonguay, P. Nadeau, S. Laberge, P. Rochette, R. Michaud, G. Bélanger, and M. Benmoussa. 2001. Molecular and biochemical responses of perennial forage crops to anoxia at low temperature. Plant Cell and Environ. 24: 1085-1093.
Bélanger, G., P. Rochette, Y. Castonguay, A. Bootsma, D. Mongrain and D.A.J. Ryan. 2002. Potential impacts of climate change on winter survival of perennial forage crops in Eastern Canada. Agron. J. 94: 1120-1130.
Couture, L., C. Dhont, F.-P. Chalifour, R. Drapeau, G. Tremblay, Y. Castonguay, G. Bélanger and P. Nadeau. 2002. Fusarium root and crown rot in alfalfa subjected to autumn harvests. Can. J. Plant Sci. 82: 621-624.
Dhont, C. Y. Castonguay, P. Nadeau, G. Bélanger and F.-P. Chalifour. 2002. Alfalfa root carbohydrates and regrowth potential in response to fall harvests. Crop Sci. 42: 754-765.
Cunningham, S.M., P. Nadeau, Y. Castonguay, S. Laberge and J.J. Volenec. 2003. Raffinose and stachyose accumulation, galactinol synthase expression, and winter injury of contrasting Medicago sativa germplasms. Crop Sci. 43: 562-570.
Dhont, C., Y. Castonguay, P. Nadeau, G. Bélanger and F.-P. Chalifour. 2003. Alfalfa root nitrogen reserves and regrowth potential in response to fall harvests. Crop Sci. 43: 1862-1870.
Bertrand, A., Y. Castonguay, P. Nadeau, S. Laberge, R. Michaud, G. Bélanger et P. Rochette. 2003. Oxygen deficiency affects carbohydrate reserves in overwintering forage crops. J. Exp. Bot. 54: 1-10.
Bertrand, A. et Y. Castonguay. 2003. Plant adaptation to overwintering stresses and implications of climate change. Can. J. Bot. 81: 1145-1152.
Avice, J.-C., LeDily, F.,Goulas, E., Noquet, C., Meuriot, F., Volenec, J.J. Cunningham, S.M., Sors, T.G., Dhont, C., Castonguay, Y., Nadeau, P. Bélanger, G., Chalifour, F.-P. et A. Ourry. 2003. Vegetative storage proteins in overwintering storage organs of forage legumes: Roles and regulations. Can. J. Bot. 81:1198-1212.
Dhont, C., Y. Castonguay, P. Nadeau, G. Bélanger, R. Drapeau and F.-P. Chalifour. 2004. Untimely fall harvest affects dry matter yield and root organic reserves in field-grown alfalfa. Crop Sci. 44: 144-157.
Rochette, P., G. Bélanger, Y. Castonguay, A. Bootsma and D. Mongrain. 2004. Climate change and winter damage to deciduous trees in Eastern Canada. Can. J. Plant Sci. 84: 1113-1125.
Castonguay, Y., J. Cloutier, S. Laberge, A. Bertrand et R. Michaud. 2005. A bulk segregant approach to identify genetic polymorphisms associated with cold tolerance in alfalfa. pp. 88-102. In T.H.H. Chen, M. Uemura et S. Fujikawa (eds), Cold hardiness in plants: Molecular genetics, cell biology and physiology. CAB International, Wallingford, UK.
Dhont, C., Y. Castonguay, P. Nadeau, G. Bélanger, R. Drapeau, S. Laberge, J.-C. Avice and F.-P Chalifour. 2006. Nitrogen reserves, spring regrowth, and winter survival of field-grown alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) defoliated in the fall. Ann. Bot. 97: 109-120.
Bélanger, G., Y. Castonguay, A. Bertrand, C. Dhont, P. Rochette, L. Couture, R. Drapeau, D. Mongrain, F.-P. Chalifour et R. Michaud. 2006. Winter damage to perennial forage crops in Eastern Canada : Causes, mitigation and prediction. Can. J. Plant Sci. 86 : 33-47.
Rochette, P., J. Dionne, Y. Castonguay et Y. Desjardins. 2006. Atmospheric composition under impermeable winter golf green protections. Crop Sci. (sous presse).
Castonguay, Y., Laberge, S. Brummer, C and Volenec, J.J. 2006. Alfalfa winter hardiness : a research retrospective and integrated perspective. Advances in Agronomy (sous presse).