C. Ryan Penton
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Phone: 480-727-5738
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Mail code: 2780Campus: Poly
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C. Ryan Penton is a microbial ecologist whose research covers a broad range of ecological issues. In particular, Penton focuses on the mechanisms behind suppression of crop disease and how the soil microbiome can be manipulated in order to improve crop production in a sustainable fashion. Along those lines, his research also addresses how the soil microbiome responds to different crop management strategies, thus deciphering strategies that may improve overall soil health. In addition, he is also interested in the nitrogen cycle, particularly denitrification and nitrogen fixation, and how changes in these N-functional communities caused by continuous crop management impact the fate of fertilizer N and the subsequent plant response. His research also addresses changes in soil microbial communities and their functional guilds under climate warming in rangeland and permafrost systems, with a particular interest in how the impacts on nitrogen cycling communities alter N availability as a "latch" for carbon decomposition.
Within the context of agriculture, Penton also researches the impact of biochar and other carbon additions to varying soils on the soil microbiome under bioenergy crops in order to establish whether biochar serves as a stable carbon input that increases soil fertility. Additionally, he is researching the impact of microalgae on plant productivity and disease resistance. To address these issues Penton utilizes next-generation high-throughput platforms for the targeted sequencing of functional genes as well as shotgun metagenomics, direct culturing, quantitative PCR, and stable isotope probing. His overall goal is to decipher the intimate connections that exist between soil fungi and bacteria, biogeochemical cycling and the relationship with plant health and productivity.
His work encompasses collaborative relationships with international partners from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) of Australia and Nanjing Agricultural University (China) and local industry (MyLand.ag).
- Ph.D. Microbial Ecology, Michigan State University
- M.Sc. Biogeochemistry, University of Florida
- B.S. Microbiology, University of Florida
Ryan Penton's research concerns changes in functional gene, fungal and bacterial community structure as related to: Artificial warming in Alaska and Oklahoma soils, natural suppression of crop fungal diseases, biochar amendment in agroecosystems, and nitrogen fixation/cycling. Other interests include improving primer coverage for next-next generation sequencing and high throughput quantitative PCR (qPCR) for functional genes involved in nitrogen and carbon cycling. He is also involved in the development of targeted assays for the identification and quantification of fungal pathogens as related to crop disease. In addition, he is pursuing the relationship between plant phytohormone production and rhizosphere bacterial and fungal community structure in relation to total plant biomass production.
Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, The Biodesign Institute, ASU
Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability, ASU
53. Das P., Barker C., Park Y., Perrault F., Westerhoff P., Penton C.R. 2025. Impact of graphite nano amendments on soil enzyme activities, functional genes and microbiome composition in a soil-plant system. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 203, 109714.
52. Das P., Penton C.R., Westerhoff P., Perrault F. 2023. Prospects of 2D graphene nanomaterials in agriculture: A critical review. Environmental Science: Nano, Royal Society of Chemistry. 10(11): 2936-2956.
51. Das P., Penton C.R., Westerhoff P. 2023. Unraveling mechanisms behind reduced nitrate leaching with graphite nanomaterials addition with fertilizers in soil column experiments. Chemosphere 139417.
50. Buessecker S., Sarno A.F., Reynolds M., Chavan R., Park J., Ortiz M.F., Perez A.G., Pisco G.P., Urquiza-Munoz J.D., Reis L.P., Ferreira-Ferreira J., Maia J.M.F., Holbert K.E., Penton C.R., Hall S.J., Gandhi H., Boechat I.G., Gucker B., Ostrom N.E., Cadillo-Quiroz H. 2022. Coupled abiotic-biotic cycling of nitrous oxide in tropical peatlands. Nature Ecology and Evolution 1-10.
49. Regmi, R., Penton C.R., Anderson J., Vadakattu G. 2022. Do small RNAs unlock the belowground microbiome-plant interaction mystery? Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences.
48. Wen T., Xie P., Penton C.R., Hale L., Thomashow L., Yang S., Su Y., Shen Q. 2021. Specific metabolites drive the deterministic community assembly of Fusarium wilt-diseased rhizosphere microbiome. Submitted to ISME J
47. Das, P., Davis K., Penton C.R., Westerhoff P., Bi Y. 2021. Impacts of graphitic nanofertilizers on nitrogen cycling in a sandy, agricultural soil. Submitted to Science of the Total Environment.
46. Finn D.R., Maldonado J., de Martini F., Yu J., Penton C.R., Fontenele R.S., Schmidin K., Kraberger S., Varsani A., Gile G., Barker B., Koliath D.R., Muenich R.L., Herckes P., Fraser M., Garcia-Pichel F. 2021. Agricultural practices drive biological loads, seasonal patterns and potential pathogens in the aerobiome of a mixed-land-use dryland. Science of the Total Environment.
45. Zhang B., Penton C.R., Yu Z., Xue C., Chen Q., Chen Z., Yan C., Zhang Q., Zhao M., Quensen J.F., Tiedje J.M. 2021. A new primer set for clade I nosZ that recovers genes from a broader range of taxa. Biology and Fertility of Soils 57(4), 523-531.
44. Qiao C., Penton C.R., Liu C., Tao C., Deng X., Ou Y., Liu H., Li R. 2021. Patterns of fungal community succession triggered by C/N ratios during composting. J. Hazardous Materials. 401(5) 123344.
43. Shen Q., Yuan J., Wen T., Zhang H., Zhao M., Penton C.R., Thomashow L. 2020. Predicting disease occurrence with high accuracy based on soil macroecological patterns of Fusarium wilt. ISME J. 14(12), 2936-2950.
42. Tao X., Feng J., Yang Y., Wang G., Tian R., Fan F., Ning D., Bates C.T., Hale L., Yuan M., Wu L., Gao Q., Lei J., Schuur E.A.G., Yu J., Bracho-Garillo R.G., Luo Y., Konstantinidis K.T., Johnson E.R., Cole J.R., Penton C.R., Tiedje J.M., Zhou J. 2020. Winter warming in Alaska accelerates lignin decomposition governed by Proteobacteria. Microbiome 8(1), 1-12.
41. Feng J., Wang C., Lei J., Yang Y., Yan Q., Zhou X, Tao X., Ning D., Yuan M.M., Qin Y., Shi Z.J., Guo X, He Z., Van Nostrand J.D., Wu L., Bracho R., Penton C.R., Cole J.R., Konstantinidis K.T., Luo Y., Schuur E.A.G., Tiedje J.M., Yang Y., Zhou J. 2020. Warming-induced permafrost thaw exacerbates tundra soil carbon decomposition mediated by microbial community. Microbiome 8(1): 1-12 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-019-0778-3.
40. Guo X., Gao Q., Yuan M., Wang G., Zhou X., Feng J., Shi Z., Hale L., Wu L., Zhou A., Tian R., Liu F., Wu B., Chen L., He Z., Van Nostrand J.D., Ning D., Cole J.R., Penton C.R., Luo Y., Tiedje J., Zhou J. 2020. Gene-informed decomposition model predicts lower soil carbon loss due to persistent microbial adaptation to warming. Nature Communications 11(1), 1-12.
39. Finn D., Yu J., Ilhan E., Fernandes V., Penton C.R., Krajmalnik-Brown R., Garcia-Pichel F., Vogel T. 2020. MicroNiche: An R package for assessing microbial niche breadth and overlap from amplicon sequencing data. FEMS Microbiology Ecology DOI:10.1093/femsec/fiaa131
38. Finn D., Yu J., Penton C.R. 2020. Soil quality shapes the composition of microbial community stress response and core cell metabolism functional genes. Applied Soil Ecology. 148:103483 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.103483
37. Yu J., Pavia M.J., Deem L.M., Crow S.E., Deenik J.L., Penton C.R. 2020. DNA-stable isotope probing shotgun metagenomics reveals the resilience of active microbial communities to biochar amendment in Oxisol soil. Frontiers in Microbiology 11.
36.Recommendations for soil microbiome analyses. 2019. Nannipieri P., Penton C.R., Purahong W., Schloter M., Van Elsas J.D. Biology and Fertility of Soils DOI:10.1007/s00374-019-01409-z.
35.Ou Y., Penton C.R., Geisen S., Shen Z., Sun Y., Lv N., Wang B., Ruan Y., Xiong W., Li R., Shen Q. 2019. Deciphering underlying drivers of disease suppressiveness against pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum. Frontiers in Microbiology10:2535 DOI:10.3389/fmicb.2019.02535
34. Vadakattu G., Zhang B., Penton C.R., Yu J.,Tiedje J.M. 2019. Diazotroph diversity and nitrogen fixation in summer active perennial grasses in a Mediterranean region agricultural soil. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences6:115 DOI:10.3389/fmolb.2019.00115.
33. Qiao C., Li R., Penton C.R., Liu C., Shen Z., Ou Y., Liu Z., Xu X., Rong L., Shen Q. 2019. Key extracellular enzymes triggered high-efficiency composting associated with bacterial community succession. Bioresource Technology 288:121576.
32. Hale, L., Feng W., Yin H., Guo X., Zhou X., Bracho R., Pegoraro E., Penton C.R., Wu L., Cole J., Konstantinidis K.T., Luo Y., Tiedje J.M., Schuur E.A.G., Zhou J. 2019. Tundra microbial community taxa and traits predict decomposition parameters of stable, old soil organic carbon. International Society of Microbial Ecology Journal (ISMEJ). ISMEJ-18-01242AR1.
31. Qiao C., Penton C.R., Zhang R., Wang S., Xong W., Liu C., Wang R., Liu W., Yu J., Shen Q. 2019. Reshaping the rhizosphere microbiome by bio-organic amendment to enhance crop yield in a maize-cabbage rotation system. Applied Soil Ecology. DOI:10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.04.014
30.Yu J., Deem L.M., Crow S.E., Deenik J.L., Penton C.R. 2019. Comparative Metagenomics Reveals Enhanced Nutrient Cycling Potential After Two Years of Biochar Amendment in a Tropical Oxisol. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. DOI:10.1128/AEM.02957-18
29.Feng J., PentonC.R.,HeZ., Van NostrandJ.D., YuanM.M., WuL., QinY, ShiZ.J., GuoX., SchuurE.A.G., LuoY., BrachoR., KonstantinidisK.T., TiedjeJ.M., ColeJ.R., YangY., Zhou J. 2019. Long-term winter warming in Alaska enlarges the diazotrophic community in deep soils. mBIO 10(1) e02521-18. DOI: 10.1128/mBio.02521-18.
28.Shen Z., Xue C., Penton C.R., Thomashow L.S., Zhang N., Wang B., Ruan Y., Li R., Shen Q. 2019. Suppression of banana Panama disease induced by soil microbiome reconstruction through an integrated agricultural strategy. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 128:164-174. DOI:10.1016/j.soilbio.2018.10.016
27. Xue C., Penton C.R., Zhang C., Wang Q., Zhao M., Zhang B., Chandler J.E., Shen Q, Tiedje J.M. 2019. Effect of LSU and ITS genetic markers and reference databases on analyses of fungal communities. Biology and Fertility of Soils 1-10. DOI:10.1007/S00374-018-1331-4.
26. Liang J., Zhou Z., Huo C., Shi Z., Cole J.R., Huang L., Konstantinidis K.T., Li X., Liu B., Luo Z., Penton C.R., Schuur E.A.G., Tiedje J.M., Wang Y.-P., Wu L., Xia J., Zhou J., Luo Y. 2018. More replenishment than priming loss of soil organic carbon with additional carbon input. Nature Communications 9(1) 1375. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05667-7
25. Liang J., Xia J., Shi Z., Jiang L., Ma S., Lu X., Mauritz M., Natali S.M., Pegoraro E., Penton C.R., Plaza C., Salmon V.G., Cole J.R., Konstantinidis K.T., Tiedje J.M., Zhou J., Schuur E.A.G., Luo Y. 2018. Biotic responses buffer warming-induced SOC loss in arctic tundra. Global Change Biology DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14325
24. Yu J., Deem L., Crow S., Deenik J., Yanagida J., Penton C.R.2018. Biochar application influences microbial assemblage complexity and composition due to soil and bioenergy crop type interactions. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 117:97-107.DOI:10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.11.017.
23. Shen Z., Penton C.R.,Xue C., Ly N., Ruan Y., Li R., Shen Q. 2018. Banana Fusarium wilt disease incidence is influenced by shifts of soil microbial communities under different monoculture spans. Microbial Ecology.1-12. DOI:10.1007/s00248-017-1052-5.
22. Xue C., Penton C.R., Zhu C., Chen H., Duan Y., Peng C., Guo S., Ling N., Shen Q. 2018. Alterations in soil fungal community composition and network assemblage structure by different long-term fertilization regimes are correlated to the soil ionome. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 1-12. DOI: 10.1007/s00374-017-1241-x.
21. Yuan, M.M., Zhang J., Xue K., Wu L., Deng Y, Deng J., Hale L., Zhou X., He Z., Yang Y., Van Nostrand J.D., SchuurE.A.G., Konstantinidis K.T., PentonC.R.,ColeJ.R., Tiedje J.M., Luo Y.,Zhou J.2018. Microbial functional diversity covaries with permafrost thaw-induced environmental heterogeneity in tundra soil. Global ChangeBiology.DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13820.
20. Zhang, B., Penton C.R., Xue, C., Roley S.S., Guo J., Garoutte A., Zheng T., Tiedje, J.M. 2017. Soil depth and crop determinants of bacterial communities under ten biofuel cropping systems.Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 112: 140-152. DOI:10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.04.019.
19. Fu L.,Li R., Penton C.R., Ruan Y., Shen Z., Xue C., Li R., Shen Q. 2017. Inducing the rhizosphere microbiome by biofertilizer application to suppress banana Fusarium wilt disease. Soil Biology and Biochemistry.104:39-48. DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.10.008.
18. Ontiveros-Valencia A., Penton C.R., Krajmalnik-Brown R., Rittmann B.E. 2016. Hydrogen-fed biofilm reactors reducing selenite and sulfate: community structure and location of elemental selenium within the biofilm. Biotechnology and Bioengineering.DOI:10.1002/bit.25945
17. Penton C.R., Vadakattu V.V.S.R, Yu J., Tiedje J.M. 2016. Size matters: Assessing optimum soil sample size for fungal and bacterial community structure analyses using high throughput sequencing of rRNA gene amplicons. Frontiers in Microbiology.DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00824.
16. Xue, C., Penton C.R., Zhang B., Zhao M., Rothstein D.E., Mladenoff D.J., Forrester J.A., Shen Q., Tiedje J.M. 2016. Soil fungal and bacterial responses to conversion of open land to short rotation woody biomass crops.Global Change BiologyDOI:10.1111/gcbb.12303.
15. Penton C.R., Yang C., Tiedje J., Liu F., Ma J., Yuan M., Zhang J., Xue K., Van Nostrand J., Yuan T., Wu L., He X., Schuur E.A.G. Zhou J. 2016. NifH-harboring bacterial community composition across an Alaskan permafrost thaw gradient.Frontiers in Microbiology. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01894.
14. Zhou B., Penton C.R., Cole J., Tiedje J.M. 2015. Evaluation of the PGM for gene targeted studies using amplicons of the nitrogenase gene, nifH. Applied and Environmental MicrobiologyDOI:10.1128/AEM.00111015.
13. Penton C.R., St. Louis D., Pham A., Cole J.R., Wu L., Luo Y., Schurr E.A.G., Zhou J., Tiedje J.M. 2015. Denitrifying and diazotrophic community responses to artificial warming in permafrost and prairie soils. Frontiers in MicrobiologyDOI:10.3389/fmicb.2015.00746
12. Xue C., Penton C.R.,Shen Z., Zhang R., Huang Q., Rong L. Yunze R., Shen Q. 2015. Manipulating the banana rhizosphere microbiome for the rehabilitation of severe Panama disease incidence. Scientific ReportsDOI:10.1038/srep11124.
11. Penton C.R., Deenik J., Popp B.N., Bruland G., Engstrom P., Mueller J., Worden A.,St. Louis D.,Tiedje J.M. 2014. Assessing nitrogen transformations in a flooded agroecosystem using the isotope pairing technique and nitrogen functional gene abundances.Soil Science.
10. Penton C.R., Vadakattu V.V.S.R., Tiedje, J.M., Ophel-Keller K., Neate S.M., Gillings M., Harvey P., Roget D.K. 2014. Fungal community structure in disease suppressive soils assessed by 28S LSU gene sequencing. PLoS One 9(4):e93893.
9. Penton C.R., Deeknik J., Popp B., Bruland G., Engstrom P, St. Louis D., Tiedje J.M. 2013. Importance of sub-surface rhizosphere-mediated coupled nitrification-denitrification in a flooded agroecosystem in Hawaii. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 57:362-373.
8. Penton C.R., St. Louis D., Luo Y., Cole J., Zhou J., Schuur T., Tiedje J.M. 2013. Fungal diversity in permafrost and tallgrass prairie soils under experimental warming. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 79(22) 7063 DOI: 10.1128 /AEM.01702-13.
7. Penton C.R., Johnson T., Quensen J., Tiedje J. 2013. Functional genes to assess nitrogen cycling and aromatic hydrocarbon degradation: primers and processing matter. Frontiers in Microbiology 17: Sept 2013 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00279.
6. Sul W.J., Asuming-Brempong S., Wang Q., Tourlousse D.M.,Penton C.R., Rodrigues J.L.M., Adiku S.G.K, Jones J.W., Cole J.R., Tiedje J.M. 2013. Tropical agricultural land management influences on soil microbial communities through its effect on soil organic carbon. Soil Biology and BiochemistryDOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2013.05.007.
5. Vital M., Penton C.R., Wang Q., Young V.B., Antonopoulos D.A., Sogin M.M., Morrison H.G., Harrel L., Chang E.B., Huffnagel G.B., Schmidt T.M., Cole J.R., Tiedje J.M. 2013. A gene-targeted approach to investigate the intestinal butyrate producing bacterial community. BMC Microbiome 1(8) 03/2013.
4.Engström P.,Penton C.R., Devol A.H. 2009. Anaerobic ammonium oxidation in deep-sea sediments off the Washington margin. Limnology and Oceanography 54(5):1643-1652.
3. Penton C.R., & Newman S. 2008. Enzyme based resource allocated decomposition and landscape heterogeneity in the Florida Everglades. Journal of Environmental Quality.37:972-976.
2. Penton C.R., & Newman S. 2007. Enzyme activity responses to nutrient loading in subtropical wetlands. Biogeochemistry. 84:83-98.
1. Penton C.R., Devol A.H., Tiedje J.M. 2006. Molecular evidence for the broad distribution of anammox in freshwater and marine sediments. Applied and Environmental Microbiology.72(10):6829-6832.
- PI: Yuqiang Bi, Co-PI: Penton, C. Ryan. Application of graphitic nanoparticles in reducing nitrogen loss from Agricultural systems (08/2020-08/2024)
- PI: Gillian Gile, Co-PI: Penton, C. Ryan. Four – “Domain” Microbial Metagenome of the Termite Hindgut (08/2019-08/2022)
- PI: Jonathan Deenik , Co-PI: Penton, C. Ryan. Practical benefits of biochar amendment to agricultural systems: Linking soil and microbial processes to economic feasibility and sustainability . Univ of Hawaii (8/15/2014 - 4/30/2016).
- PI: Patrick Inglett, Co-PI: Penton, C. Ryan. Climate sensitivity of microbial processes and their implication for carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas fluxes in subtropical pastures. Univ of Florida (8/01/2016-7/31/2019)
- Recharge Center Agreement. Penton, C. Ryan. Microbial functional communities associated with deep Florida aquifer water and sediment samples associated with land use changes. Univ of Florida (4/01/2015-6/01/17)
- Recharge Center Agreement. Penton, C. Ryan. Design of Illumina sequencing primers for ACC deaminase. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO, Australia) (11/01/2015-10/31/2017)
Courses
2026 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| MIC 205 | Microbiology |
| ABS 434 | Soil Ecology |
2025 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ABS 484 | Internship |
| ABS 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| ABS 493 | Honors Thesis |
| ABS 318 | Unseen Life on Earth |
| MIC 205 | Microbiology |
| ABS 484 | Internship |
2025 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
2025 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ABS 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| ABS 493 | Honors Thesis |
| ABS 595 | Continuing Registration |
| ABS 590 | Reading and Conference |
| MIC 205 | Microbiology |
| ABS 484 | Internship |
| ABS 434 | Soil Ecology |
| ABS 484 | Internship |
| ABS 484 | Internship |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| ABS 595 | Continuing Registration |
| ABS 484 | Internship |
| ABS 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| ABS 493 | Honors Thesis |
| ABS 593 | Applied Project |
| ABS 318 | Unseen Life on Earth |
| MIC 205 | Microbiology |
| ABS 484 | Internship |
2024 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
| ABS 592 | Research |
2024 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ABS 493 | Honors Thesis |
| ABS 595 | Continuing Registration |
| ABS 590 | Reading and Conference |
| MIC 205 | Microbiology |
| ABS 484 | Internship |
| ABS 434 | Soil Ecology |
| ABS 484 | Internship |
2023 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| MIC 205 | Microbiology |
| ABS 595 | Continuing Registration |
| ABS 484 | Internship |
| ABS 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| ABS 493 | Honors Thesis |
| ABS 318 | Unseen Life on Earth |
2023 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ABS 493 | Honors Thesis |
| ABS 590 | Reading and Conference |
| MIC 205 | Microbiology |
| ABS 434 | Soil Ecology |
2022 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| MIC 205 | Microbiology |
| ABS 493 | Honors Thesis |
| ABS 318 | Unseen Life on Earth |
2022 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
2021 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
2021 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| MIC 205 | Microbiology |
| ABS 434 | Soil Ecology |
| ABS 598 | Special Topics |
2020 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| MIC 205 | Microbiology |
| ABS 318 | Unseen Life on Earth |
C.R. Penton. 2025. Altering Microbiomes for Sustainable Agricultural Productivity. CISA SASA Colloquium Series.
Gupta VVSR and C.R. Penton. 2025. Diversity and Dysbiosis: Microbial Solutions for Climate Change Impacts in Agricultural Systems. Australian Society for Microbiology National Meeting. Adelaide, Queensland, Australia.
Penton C.R., Barker C. (2024) Impact of microalgal addition on soil and rhizosphere microbiomes of lettuce. International Society of Microbial Ecology. Cape Town, South Africa.
Penton C.R., Regmi R., Hicks M., Gupta V.V.S.R (2024) Type of carbon amendment influences pathogen growth and microbiome functional potential. International Society of Microbial Ecology. Cape Town, South Africa.
Penton C.R., Barker C. (2024) Impact of microalgae (Chlorella sp.) addition on soil and rhizosphere microbiomes, soil carbon and plant productivity. CSSA-ASA—SSSA International Annual Meeting. San Antonio, TX.
Penton C.R., Hicks M., Kroker S., Morrison S., Smith L., Gupta V.V.S.R. (2023) Biological Disease Suppression: Carbon amendment type impacts pathogen growth and functional microbial communities. CSSA-ASA—SSSA International Annual Meeting. St. Louis MO.
Das P., Bi Y., Penton C.R., Grimm N., Westerhoff P. (2023) Application of graphitic nanoparticles in reducing nitrogen loss from agricultural systems. USDA A1511 Nanotechnology Project Meeting, Knoxville TN
Gupta,V.V.S.R., Penton C.R. (2022) Microbial Diversity or Functional Resilience for Sustainable Crop Production and Soil Biological Health. ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting. Baltimore, MD.
Penton C.R. (2022) Assessing microbial function in relation to plant growth promotion and agricultural sustainability. CISA Faculty of Science and Mathematics Colloquium Presentation. Nov, 2022.
Penton C.R. (2022) Ecological application of -omics tools to decipher plant endophyte colonization. Microbiomes for One System Health Future Science Platform, Commonwealth and Scientific Research Organization (CSIRO), Canberra, Australia. -Invited
Penton C.R. (2022) Functional gene approach: Ecological application of -omics tools. Interactive Microbiomes International Working Group, Virtual presentation -Invited
Das P., Penton C.R., Bi Y., Westerhoff P. (2022) Nitrogen fertilizer mobility in sandy soil amended with graphitic nano-additive in saturated and unsaturated soil column systems. CSSA-ASA—SSSA International Annual Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland.
Cherry H., Davis K., Chen Z., Penton C.R., Park Y. (2021) Characterizing plant growth and microbial communities under a sustainable food waste fertilizer in hydroponic leafy green production. CSSA-ASA—SSSA International Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah
Das P., Davis K., Penton C.R., Bi Y. (2021) Reduced leaching of nitrate from soils amended with graphitic nanomaterials in saturated packed soil columns. CSSA-ASA—SSSA International Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah
Bi Y., Das P., Davis K., Penton C.R. (2021) Influence of graphitic nanofertilizers on soil nitrogen transformations and nitrogen cycling communities. CSSA-ASA—SSSA International Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah
Cadillo-Quiroz, H., Ostrom N.E., Urquiza-Munoz J.D., Perez A.G., Holbert K.E., Samo A.F., Reynolds M., Buessecker S., Gucker B., Penton C.R., Boechat I., Pisco G.P., Ortiz M.F. (2020) A novel coupled cycling of abiotic denitrification and N2O reduction is frequent across tropical peatlands. American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, Califormia
Vadakattu G., Franco C., Manter D., Greenfield P., Sharma A., Yu J., Penton C.R. (2019) Diversity of ACC Deaminase-positive Bacteria – plant and soil factors. Australian Society of Microbiology, Canberra, Australia.
Yu J., Deem L.M., Crow S.E., Deenik J.L., Penton C.R. (2018) Soil microbial community responses to two years biochar amendment revealed by metagenomics. International Society of Microbial Ecology. Leipzig, Germany.
Penton C.R. (2017) Natural suppression of crop disease by manipulating the soil microbiome. Invited speaker, Spring Environmental Engineering Seminar Series, Biodesign Institute.
Penton C.R. (2017) Functional gene analysis and technical considerations for functional gene multiplexing. ASU Biodesign Institute, Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Functional Gene Workshop
Yu J., Deem L., Crow S., Deenik J., Penton C.R. (2016) Stable isotope probing (SIP)-enabled metagenomics of active microbial degraders in response to priming under biochar amended soils. International Society of Microbial Ecology. Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Xue C., Penton C.R., Zhang B., Guo J., Gomes E.A., Shen Q. (2016) Distinctive rhizo-microbial community between annual and perennial biofuel crops. International Society of Microbial Ecology. Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Yu J., Deem L., Crow S., Deenik J., Penton C.R. (2016) Stable isotope probing (SIP)-enabled metagenomics of active microbial degraders in response to priming under biochar amended soils. Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ. Awarded 3rd place in graduate student poster competition.
Markut C., Yu J., Schuur E., Konstantinidis K., Johnston E.R., Zhou J., Tiedje J.M., Penton C.R. (2016) Isolating and characterization of metagenomic derived targeted microbial taxa from permafrost soils. Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ.
Penton C.R., Gupta V.V.S.R. (2016) Scalar Drivers of N-Fixing Diazotroph Community Composition in Agricultural Systems and Their Network-Derived Sensitivity to Change. Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ.
Konstantinidis K.T., Johnston E.R., Penton C.R, Yu J., Wu, L. Zhou S., Guo X., Zhang P., He Z., Yuan M.M., Luo Y., Schuur E.A.G., Cole J.R., Tiedje J.M., Zhou J. (2016) Metagenomics recovers 100s of population genomes from Alaskan permafrost and Oklahoma prairie soils and provides insights into their roles in microbial community response to warming. Department of Energy Genomics GTL Meeting. Washington, D.C.
China 111 plan – The Innovative Foreign Experts Introduction Plan for the National Key Discipline of Agricultural Resources and Environment at Nanjing Agricultural University: International Workshop on Agricultural Resources and Environment (2016). Invited presentation as part of a group of 20 international experts recruited to engage researchers and students at Nanjing Agricultural University in Nanjing, China: Penton, C.R. “Microbial Community and Functional Heterogeneity Across Spatial Scales: A Case for Network Resistance and Resilience”. Invited Oral Presentation.
Penton, C.R. “Writing Scientific Manuscripts: Common Issues in Chinese-English Language Conversion”. Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China. Invited Oral Presentation.
Penton C.R., Gupta V.V.S.R., Neate S. Natural disease suppression of Rhizoctonia by a network of players: Evidence of direct competition and competitive exclusion. Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting. Minneapolis, MN.
Penton C.R., Crow S., Deenik J., Yanagida J. (2015) Practical benefits of biochar amendment to agricultural systems: Linking microbial processes to economic feasibility and sustainability. 2015 USDA-AFRI PI Meeting, Greensboro, N.C.
Penton C.R. (2015) Denitrifying and diazotrophic community responses to artificial warming in permafrost and tallgrass prairie soils. 2015 Department of Energy Genomics GTL Conference, Washington, D.C.
Penton C.R. (2015) (Invited) Natural disease suppression of Rhizoctonia solani AG8 in Australian cropping systems: Drivers of spatial heterogeneity. Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. Invited Oral Presentation.
Penton C.R. (2015) (Invited) Natural disease suppression of Rhizoctonia solani AG8 in Australian cropping systems: Drivers of spatial heterogeneity. Hainan University Research Station, Hainan Province, China. Invited Oral Presentation.
Penton C.R. (2015) (Invited) Natural disease suppression of Rhizoctonia solani AG8 in Australian cropping systems: Drivers of spatial heterogeneity. Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden Spice and Beverage Crop Research Institute of China, Tropical Agriculture Research, Datang, Hainan Province, China. Invited Oral Presentation.
Gupta V.V.S.R, Penton C.R., Tiedje J.M. (2015) Edaphic and plant associated factors regulate diazotroph diversity and function in Australian soils. BAGECO 13, Bacterial Genetics and Ecology, Milan, Italy. Oral Presentation.
Yu J., Crow S., Deenik J., Deem L., Penton C.R. (2015) The effect of biochar amendment on microbial community composition. American Society of Microbiology Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA.
Gupta V.V.S.R., Neate S., Penton C.R., Tiedje J.M. (2015) Biological suppression of crop disease: Role of microbial communities and microflora-faunal interactions. Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN. Oral Presentation.
Deem L., Crow S.E., Deenik J., Meulemans J., Penton C.R., Yu J (2015) The evaluation of biochar effects at both the field and laboratory scale; soil carbon, microbial community composition and carbon dioxide efflux. 5th International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter (SOM2015). Göttingen, Denmark.
Penton C.R., Gupta V.V.S.R, Kroker S., Hicks M., Bell M., Neate S.M., Murphy D, Smith C.,Tiedje J. (2014). Diversity of diazotrophic bacteria and non-symbiotic N2-fixation in Australian cropping soils. ASSA-CSSA-ASA International Annual Meeting. Long Beach, CA. Oral Presentation
Penton C.R., Gupta V.V.S.R., Yu J., Tiedje J.M. (2014) Soil sample size affects fungal and bacterial community structure and richness: An update using targeted amplicon sequencing. ASSA-CSSA-ASA International Annual Meeting. Long Beach, CA.
Penton C.R., Gupta V.V.S.R., Yu J., Tiedje J.M. (2014) Soil sample size affects fungal and bacterial community structure and richness: An update using targeted amplicon sequencing. Argonne National Lab Metagenomics Annual Meeting. Lemont, IL.
Penton C.R., Gupta V.V.S.R., Yu J., Tiedje J.M. (2014) Soil sample size affects fungal and bacterial community structure and richness: An update using targeted amplicon sequencing. International Society of Microbial Ecology (ISME). Seoul, Korea.
Gupta V.V.S.R., Penton C.R., Kroker S., Hicks M., Bell M. Neate S.M., Murphy D., Smith C., Tiedje J. (2014) Diversity of nifH-harbouring bacteria and non-symbiotic N2 fixation in Australian cropping soils. Australian Nitrogen Fixation Conference (ANFC). Melbourne Australia.
Deem L.M., Crow S.E., Deenik J., Penton C.R., Yanagida J. (2013) Biochar soil amendment for waste-stream diversion, nutrient holding capacity and carbon sequestration in two contrasting soils. American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA.
Penton C.R., Gupta V.V.S.R., Tiedje J.M., Ophel Keller K, Neate S.M., Gillings M., Harvey P., Roget D.K. (2013) Oral Presentation: Fungal community structure in disease suppressive soils from the Mediterranean climatic region assessed by 28S LSU gene sequencing. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Tampa, FL.
Penton C.R. (2013) Invited talk: Potential ecosystem function predicted by fungal and functional microbial communities and N isotope tracing. University of Hawaii, Dept. of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences
Penton C.R. (2013) Invited talk: Importance of sub-surface rhizosphere-mediated coupled nitrification-denitrification in a flooded agroecosystem in Hawaii. University of Hawaii, Water Resources Research Center
Penton C.R. (2013) Invited talk: Fungal and functional gene diversity as predictors of ecosystem function. Washington State University, Crop and Soil Science Department.
Penton C.R. (2013) Invited talk: Fungal and functional gene diversity as predictors of ecosystem function. University of Houston.
Penton C.R., St. Louis D, Luo Y, Cole J, Zhou J, Schuur E.A.G., Tiedje J. (2013) Assessment of classified and unclassified fungal diversity by 28S LSU pyrosequencing in permafrost and tallgrass prairie soils subject to experimental warming. Genomic Sciences Contractors-Grantees Meeting XI USDA-DOE Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy Awardee Meeting 2013.
Gupta V.V.S.R., Penton C.R., Tiedje J.M., Ophel-Keller K., Neate S.M., Gillings M., Harvey P., Roget D.K. (2012) High-throughput sequencing of fungal communities in disease suppressive soils. International Society for Microbial Ecology. Copenhagen, Denmark.
Penton C.R., Schuur E.A.G., Wu L., Zhou J., Cole J., Chai B., Pham A., St. Louis D., Tiedje J. (2012) Changes in eco-functional gene community composition as a response to artificial warming in grassland and permafrost soils. International Society for Microbial Ecology. Copenhagen, Denmark.
Penton C.R., Schuur E.A.G., Wu L., Zhou J., Cole J., Chai B., Pham A., St. Louis D., Tiedje J. (2012) Changes in eco-functional gene community composition as a response to artificial warming. American Society for Microbiology. San Francisco, CA.
Schuur T., Zhou J., Wu L., Hue K., Cheng L, Yuan M., Zhang J., Deng Y., Van Nostrand J.D., He Z., Penton C.R., Cole J., Tiedje J.M., Bracho-Garrillo R., Luo C., Konstantantinidis K., Xu X., Li D., Luo Y. (2011) From community structure to function: Metagenomics-enabled predictive understanding of microbial communities to climate warming in Alaska Tundra. DOE Project Meeting.
Zhou J., Wu L., Xue K., Cheng L., Yuan M., Zhang J., Deng Y., Van Nostrand J.D., He Z., Penton C.R., Cole J., Tiedje J.M., Schuur T., Luo C., Konstantinindis K., Xu X., Li D., Luo Y. (2011) From Community structure to function: Metagenomics-enabled predictive understanding of microbial communities to climate warming at the temperate grassland ecosystems in Oklahoma. DOE Project Meeting.
Penton C.R., Deenik J., Popp B., Engstrom P., Bruland G.L., Worden A., Brown G., Tiedje J. (2011) Use of novel whole-core incubations to measure the fate of fertilizer N in a flooded agricultural system. American Society for Microbiology. New Orleans, LA.
Deenik J., Penton C.R., Bruland G, Tiedje J. (2010) Quantifying nitrogen loss from flooded Hawaiian taro fields. American Geophysical Union. San Francisco, CA.
Penton C.R. (2010) Invited talk: Deciphering the black box: Linking microbial community structure to higher-order level processes. Virginia Tech Department of Biology Seminar.
Penton C.R., Deenik J., Bruland G., Tiedje J. (2010) Quantifying nitrogen transformations in flooded vegetated sediments using a novel whole core 15N technique. American Geophysical Union. San Francisco, CA.
Penton C.R., Young V., Antonopoulos D., Harrell L., Chang E.B., Wang Q., Cole J., Tiedje J. (2010) Temporal changes of bacterial butyrate functional gene communities in ulcerative colitis: A role for the gut microbiome in health and disease. 13th International Society of Microbial Ecology (ISME). Seattle, WA.
Gupta V.V.S.R., Penton C.R., Lardner R., Tiedje J. (2010) Catabolic and genetic diversity of microbial communities in Australian soils are influenced by soil type and stubble management. World Congress of Soil Science. Brisbane, Australia.
Gupta V.V.S.R., Penton C.R., Lardner R., Tiedje J. (2010) Response of soil microfloral communities to stubble addition differs between suppressive and non-suppressive soils. 6th Australian Soilborne Diseases Symposium. Twin Waters, Queensland, Australia.
2009
Penton C.R., Deenik J., Bruland G., and Tiedje J.M. (2009) Nitrogen cycling in Hawaiian Taro fields. NRI USDA Principal Investigator’s Meeting. Washington, D.C.
Penton C.R. (2009) Invited talk: The missing link: Relating microbial community structure and function using novel molecular methods. Iowa State University, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology.
2008
Penton C.R. Sul W.J., Tiedje J.M. (2008) Comparison of microbial community structure among diverse sediments using pyrosequencing. 12th International Society of Microbial Ecology (ISME). Cairns, Australia.
Wang Q., Chai B., Sul W., Tourlousse D.M., Penton C.R., Kulam-Syed-Mohideen A.S., McGarrell D.M., Tiedje J.M., Cole J.R. (2008) A protocol for rapid and efficient bacterial community analysis using pyrosequencing. American Society for Microbiology. Boston, MA.
2007
Penton C.R. and Tiedje J.M. (2007) Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox): Aperplexing global N sink. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA.
Penton C.R., Engstrom P., Devol A.H., Tiedje J.M. (2007) Invited talk: Quantitative PCR for the detection and enumeration of anammox in marine and freshwater sediments: Anammox activity predictions in the Florida Everglades. Smithsonian Environmental Research Council Conference on Novel Anaerobic Pathways. Annapolis, Maryland.
Penton C.R., Engstrom P., Devol A.H., Tiedje J.M. (2007) Quantitative PCR for the detection and enumeration of anammox bacteria in marine and freshwater sediments. American Society Limnology Oceanography. Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Engstrom P., Penton C.R., Devol A.H. (2007) Oral presentation: The role of anammox as a nitrogen sink in deep sea sediments off the Washington Margin. American Society Limnology Oceanography. Santa Fe, New Mexico.
2006
Engstrom P., Penton C.R., Devol A.H. (2006) Importance of anammox to the nitrogen removal in deep Cascadia Basin sediments. American Geophysical Union. San Francisco, California.
Johnson H.P., Hautala S.L., Hammond D.E., Bjorklund T.A., Evans R., Esther T., Engstrom P., Worsnopp M., Lagerloef M., Kevin J., Penton R., Paukert A., Chung E., Schwartz R., Morello A. (2006) Cascadia Basin Sediments as a Source of the North Pacific Silica Plume. American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, California.
Penton C.R., Tiedje J.M. (2006) Molecular evidence for the broad distribution of anammox in aquatic sediments. American Society of Microbiology 106th General Meeting. Orlando, Florida.
2005
Penton C.R., Gray I. (2005) Enzyme activity and litter decomposition in the northern Everglades. 25th Annual Soil and Water Science Conference. Seattle, Washington.
2004
Penton C.R. (2004) Oral presentation: Nutrient loading effects on enzyme regulated decomposition in the Florida Everglades. University of Florida Annual Soil and Water Science Research Forum. Gainesville, Florida.
Newman S., Penton C.R., Jacoby M., Gray I. (2004) Integrating carbon and nitrogen with organic phosphorus turnover during litter decomposition in the Everglades. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. Savannah, Georgia.
Newman S., Penton C.R., Jacoby M. (2004) Enzyme mediated decomposition in wetlands. INTECOL: International Association for Ecology. Utrecht, The Netherlands.
2003
Newman S., Penton C.R., Gray I., Jacoby M. (2003) Litter quality versus environmental conditions: What regulates decomposition? GEER, Joint Conference on the Science and Restoration of the Greater Everglades and Florida Bay Ecosystem “From Kissimmee to the Keys”. Palm Harbor, Florida.
2002
Penton C.R., & Newman S. (2002) Oral Presentation: Nutrient and habitat influences on soil and detrital enzyme activity in the Everglades. 23rd Annual Soil and Water Science Conference. Lake Placid, New York.
2016-2017: Junior Faculty Excellence in Research Award
2025-current: Book Editor, "Biological Indicators of Soil Health", CABI
2022-current: Subject Editor, Soil Biology and Biochemistry
2022: Special Topic Issue Editor, Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, "Phenotypic and functional diversity of microbiota and consequences to disease suppression and plant health"
2017- current: Editorial Board, Biology and Fertility of Soils
International Society of Microbial Ecology, American Society for Microbiology, Soil Science Society of America, Crop and Soil Science Society of America
- 2024-current Committee member, Jake Drews PhD (SoLS)
- 2021-2025 Committee member, Jonathan Hileman, PhD (SoLS)
- 2020-2024 Committee member, Michael Pavia, PhD (SoLS)
- 2020-2024 Committee member, Partho Das, PhD (Fulton)
- 2021-2022 Committee member, Nicholas McClintic, MSc (CISA-SASA)
- 2020-2021 Committee member: Deyang Qi, MSc (CISA-SASA)
- 2020-2021 Chair: Kelsie Davis, MSc (CISA-SASA)
- 2016-2021 Committee member: Corey Nelson, PhD (SoLS)
- 2014-2020 Chair/Mentor: Julian Yu, PhD (SoLS)
- 2014-2020 Committee member: Vanessa Fernandes, PhD (SoLS)
- 2016-2018 Committee member: Lauren Deem, M.Sc., University of Hawaii, 2014-2016
F2019-current Associate Professor
College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, ASU Polytechnic Campus
Honors Faculty, Barrett, The Honor’s College
Sustainability Scientist, Global Institute of Sustainability
F2014-2019 Assistant Professor
College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, ASU Polytechnic Campus
Honors Faculty, Barrett, The Honor’s College
Sustainability Scientist, Global Institute of Sustainability
2016-2024 Affiliated Faculty
ASU Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Biodesign
Institute, ASU
2009-2014 Post-doctoral Researcher and Instructor
Center for Microbial Ecology, Michigan State University
2004-2008 Graduate Assistant
Center for Microbial Ecology, Michigan State University
2003-2004 Graduate Assistant
Soil and Water Science Department, University of Florida
1999-2003 Senior Scientific Associate
Everglades Research Division, South Florida Water Management District
To the Profession (see editorships):
- 2019: Contributor, Response to the U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. 2019. Chapter 7. “Prioritize soil quality to capture carbon” pp. 37-38.
- 2023-present Editorial Board, Soil Biology and Biochemistry Journal
- 2020-2023 Guest Special Topic Editor, Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences
- 2017-2023 Editorial Board, Biology and Fertility of Soils
- 2015 Special Session Seminar Chair, Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting (SSSA) “Linking Crop Disease with Soil and Rhizospheric Microbial Communities”
- 2015 Research Task Force Member, ASU Analytics@ASU
-
2014 Judge, SSSA Annual Meeting Graduate Student Competition
To the University and College:
- 2025: Member, Faculty Annual Report (FAR) Rubric Special Summer Committee
- 2023-current: Biology Program Lead, School of Applied Sciences and Arts (SASA)
- 2023-current: ACETS University Transfer Credit Reviewer
- 2023-current: Chair, Tenure Track Faculty Annual Review (FAR) Committee
- 2023-current: Member, Facility/Lab Improvement Committee
- 2022-current: Barrett Faculty Head Advisor
- 2023-2024: Member, Search Committee for Genetics Faculty
- 2022-2023: Member, Graduate Studies Committee
- 2020-2020: Member, College Curriculum Committee
- 2019-2021 Member, College Assessment Committee
- 2019-2020 Chair, Search Committee for Tenure-Track Horticulture Faculty
- 2018-2019 Member, Search Committee for Tenure-Track Horticulture Faculty
- 2017-2018 Member, Search Committee for Tenure-Track Chemistry Faculty
- 2017: Chair, Faculty Teaching Review Committee
- 2017: Member, Faculty Tenure-Track Faculty Search Committee
- 2015-2017: Chair, Departmental Colloquium Series
- 2015-2016: Member, Faculty Teaching Review Committee
- 2015: Member, ASU Big Data Analytics Initiative Committee
- 2014-2015: Member, Applied Ecology Major Map committee
- 2014-2015: Member, Search Committee for SOLS Tenure-Track Faculty
- 2014: Member, Curriculum Committee for Natural Resources-Ecology Major Map
To the community:
- 2016: Judge for the Intel Science Fair, Phoenix, AZ
-
2015-current: PTO treasurer for Riggs Elementary, Gilbert, AZ
Consulting for microbial analysis - MyLand.ag (2023-current)