Sateesh Kagale

Roles and responsibilities

  • Senior Research Scientist, Crop Genetics and Genomics
  • Team Leader, Advanced Data Analytics
  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan
  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary

Current research and/or projects

Current research focuses on integrating high-throughput genomic analysis, functional validation, and CRISPR-based editing to develop predictive and prescriptive breeding workflows that translate genotype–phenotype models into targeted, deployable improvements in crop performance and resilience.

Research and/or project statements

  • Building climate-resilient pea through genomic innovation: Leveraging advanced omics and data analytics to develop climate-resilient pea varieties to overcome major challenges like root rot and drought that restrict pea adoption in Canadian agriculture. This work contributes to a resilient, eco-friendly future for Canadian agriculture by advancing pea production and decarbonization.
    • Funding sources: Genome Canada, Genome Alberta, Genome Prairie, Results Driven Agriculture Research, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, Alberta Pulse Growers, Western Grains Research Foundation, Corteva Agriscience, NRC, AAFC, PacBio, Province of Saskatchewan (ADF)
  • Canola functional genomics platform: Optimization of canola seed quality traits, including the quantity, quality and processability of seed protein, oil and fibre.
    • Funding sources: Corteva Agriscience, NRC, Province of Saskatchewan (ADF)
  • Enriching the wheat genome with natural variation: Developing advanced genetic and genomic resources to characterize and enhance meiotic recombination to create novel gene combinations for crop breeding. Microspore-based single cell genomic sequencing and genotyping strategy for monitoring the frequency of meiotic recombination in plants. Harnessing the precision of gene editing in wheat breeding.
    • Funding sources: Genome Canada, AAFC Partnership, Canadian Wheat Research Coalition, Western Grains Research Foundation, Illumina, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, Alberta Wheat Development Commission, Manitoba Wheat and Barley Development Commission, Viterra, Province of Saskatchewan (ADF), Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Genome Alberta, Frontier Agri-Science Inc., NRC

Education

  • Ph.D. Biology, Western University (formerly University of Western Ontario), Canada
  • M.Sc. Plant Pathology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India
  • B.Sc. Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences Dharwad, India

Professional activities/interests

  • Lead, Pisum 60+ International Pea Pan Genome Sequencing Consortium: The Pisum 60+ project is a global partnership (Canada, Australia, Germany, UK, USA, Spain) aimed at characterizing the pea pan-genome to capture the full genetic diversity of Pisum species, contributing to breeding, research, and global agricultural improvements.
  • Co-Lead, PeaCE (Pea Climate Efficient): Genome Canada - Climate-smart agriculture and food systems (CSAFS) - interdisciplinary challenge team (ICT).
  • Lead, Canola Functional Genomics Platform: Enable rapid gene discovery, trait characterization, and optimization, offering critical insights for canola breeding and genetic improvements to enhance seed composition traits.
  • Lead, Orphan Crop Genomics: Little millet Genome Sequencing and Crop Improvement.

Affiliations

  • Member, Canadian Society of Plant Biologists
  • Member, SynBio Canada
  • Member, Cereals Canada Wheat Research Strategy Task Group
  • Member, International Meiosis and Recombination Collaborative Research expert working group

Awards

  • C. D. Nelson Award, Canadian Society of Plant Biologists
  • SEB-Wiley-The Plant Journal Outstanding Resource Article Award (2023)
  • Outstanding Achievement in Science Award, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (2017)
  • Leadership Excellence Award, Aquatic and Crop Resource development Research Centre (2016) 
  • Gold Harvest Award, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (2015)
  • NSERC Visiting Fellowship (2008-2010) 
  • Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (2005-2006) 
  • President’s Scholarship for Graduate Studies, University Western Ontario (2002-2003)
  • Hexamer Gold Medal and best thesis award, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (2002)
  • Mr. P. S. Jivanna Rao best student award, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (2002)
  • University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad Gold medal, University of Agricultural Sciences  Dharwad (1999)
  • Agricultural College, Dharwad Silver Jubilee Gold medal, University of Agricultural Sciences  Dharwad (1999)
  • Prof. R. W. Mensinkai Gold medal, University of Agricultural Sciences  Dharwad (1999)
  • Prof. H. R. Arakeri Gold medal, University of Agricultural Sciences  Dharwad (1999)
  • Sri Rudragouda S. Patil Memorial Gold medal, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (1999)
  • Entomology Club Silver Jubilee Gold medal, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (1999)

Key publications

  • Ma, X., Kthiri, D., Gill, M.S., Pozniak, C.J., and Kagale, S.* (2025). Cas9 endonuclease: a molecular tool for in vitro cloning and CRISPR edit detection. Frontiers in Genome Editing 7: 1565297.
  • Harish, J., Prasannakumar, M.K., Venkateshbabu, G., Karan, R., Mahesh, H.B., Devanna, P., Sarangi, A.N., Patil, S.S., Tejashwini, V., Lohithaswa, H.C., and Kagale, S. (2025). Molecular and genomic insights into the pathogenicity of Sarocladium zeae causing maize stalk rot disease. Microbiological Research 296: 128146.
  • Pahari, S., Vaid, N., Soolanayakanahally, R., Kagale, S., Pasha, A., Esteban, E., Provart, N., Stobbs, J.A., Vu, M., Meira, D., Karunakaran, C., Boda, P., Prasannakumar, M.K., Nagaraja, A., Jain, A. 2024. Nutri-cereal developmental transcriptome atlas: functional integration of gene expression to identify mineral uptake pathways in little millet (Panicum sumatrense). Plant Journal 19, 577–594.
  • Sertse, D., Haile, J. K., Sari, E., Klymiuk, V., N’Diaye, A., Pozniak, C. J., Cloutier, S., & Kagale, S.* (2023). Genome scans capture key adaptation and historical hybridization signatures in tetraploid wheat. Plant Genome, e20410.
  • Da Ros, L., Bollina, V., Soolanayakanahally, R., Pahari, S., Elferjani, R., Kulkarni, M., Vaid, N., Risseuw, E., Cram, D., Pasha, A., Esteban, E., Konkin, D., Provart, N., Nambara, E., and Kagale, S.* (2023). Multi-omics atlas of combinatorial abiotic stress responses in wheat. Plant Journal 116, 1118-1135.
  • Jiang, Y., N'Diaye, A., Koh, C.S., Quilichini, T.D., Shunmugam, A.S.K., Kirzinger, M.W., Konkin, D., Bekkaoui, Y., Sari, E., Pasha, A., Esteban, E., Provart, N.J., Higgins, J.D., Rozwadowski, K., Sharpe, A.G., Pozniak, C.J., and Kagale, S.* (2023). The coordinated regulation of early meiotic stages is dominated by non-coding RNAs and stage-specific transcription in wheat. Plant Journal 114: 209-224.
  • Chaudhary, R., Koh, C.S., Perumal, S., Jin, L., Higgins, E.E., Kagale, S., Smith, M.A., Sharpe, A.G., and Parkin, I.A.P. (2023). Sequencing of Camelina neglecta, a diploid progenitor of the hexaploid oilseed Camelina sativa. Plant Biotechnology Journal. 21, 521-535.
  • Ramsay, L., Koh, C.S., Kagale, S., Gao, D., Kaur, S., Haile, T., Gela, T.S., Chen, L.-A., Cao, Z., Konkin, D.J., Toegelová, H., Doležel, J., Rosen, B.D., Stonehouse, R., Humann, J.L., Main, D., Coyne, C.J., McGee, R.J., Cook, D.R., Varma Penmetsa, R., Vandenberg, A., Chan, C., Banniza, S., Edwards, D., Bayer, P.E., Batley, J., Udupa, S.M., and Bett, K.E. (2021). Genomic rearrangements have consequences for introgression breeding as revealed by genome assemblies of wild and cultivated lentil species. BioRxiv 2021.2007.2023.453237.
  • Lyzenga, W.J., Pozniak, C.J., and Kagale, S. (2021). Advanced domestication: harnessing the precision of gene editing in crop breeding. Plant Biotechnology Journal 19, 660-670.
  • Lyzenga, W.J., and Kagale, S. (2021). Wheat improvement using genome editing technology. BioTechniques 71:577-579.
  • Gao, P., Quilichini, T.D., Yang, H., Li, Q., Nilsen, K.T., Qin, L., Babic, V., Liu, L., Cram, D., Pasha, A., Esteban, E., Condie, J., Sidebottom, C., Zhang, Y., Huang, Y., Zhang, W., Bhowmik, P., Kochian, L.V., Konkin, D., Wei, Y., Provart, N.J., Kagale, S., Smith, M., Patterson, N., Gillmor, C.S., Datla, R., and Xiang, D. (2021). Evolutionary divergence in embryo and seed coat development of U’s Triangle Brassica species illustrated by a spatiotemporal transcriptome atlas. New Phytologist 233:30-51.
  • Kagale, S. and Close T.J. (2021) Legume: Embracing the Genome Era. Legume Science 3: e113.
  • Bhowmik, P., Konkin, D., Polowick, P., Hodgins, C.L., Subedi, M., Xiang, D., Yu, B., Patterson, N., Rajagopalan, N., Babic, V., Ro, D.-K., Tar'an, B., Bandara, M., Smyth, S.J., Cui, Y., and Kagale, S. (2021). CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in legume crops: Opportunities and challenges. Legume Science 3: e96.
  • Moghaddam, S.M., Oladzad, A., Koh, C., Ramsay, L., Hart, J.P., Mamidi, S., Hoopes, G., Sreedasyam, A., Wiersma, A., Zhao, D., Grimwood, J., Hamilton, J.P., Jenkins, J., Vaillancourt, B., Wood, J.C., Schmutz, J., Kagale, S., Porch, T., Bett, K.E., Buell, C.R., and McClean, P.E. (2021). The tepary bean genome provides insight into evolution and domestication under heat stress. Nature communications 12, 2638.
  • Walkowiak, S., Gao, L., Monat, C., Haberer, G., Kassa, M.T., Brinton, J., Ramirez-Gonzalez, R.H., Kolodziej, M.C., Delorean, E., Thambugala, D., Klymiuk, V., Byrns, B., Gundlach, H., Bandi, V., Siri, J.N., Nilsen, K., Aquino, C., Himmelbach, A., Copetti, D., Ban, T., Venturini, L., Bevan, M., Clavijo, B., Koo, D.-H., Ens, J., Wiebe, K., N’Diaye, A., Fritz, A.K., Gutwin, C., Fiebig, A., Fosker, C., Fu, B.X., Accinelli, G.G., Gardner, K.A., Fradgley, N., Gutierrez-Gonzalez, J., Halstead-Nussloch, G., Hatakeyama, M., Koh, C.S., Deek, J., Costamagna, A.C., Fobert, P., Heavens, D., Kanamori, H., Kawaura, K., Kobayashi, F., Krasileva, K., Kuo, T., McKenzie, N., Murata, K., Nabeka, Y., Paape, T., Padmarasu, S., Percival-Alwyn, L., Kagale, S., Scholz, U., Sese, J., Juliana, P., Singh, R., Shimizu-Inatsugi, R., Swarbreck, D., Cockram, J., Budak, H., Tameshige, T., Tanaka, T., Tsuji, H., Wright, J., Wu, J., Steuernagel, B., Small, I., Cloutier, S., Keeble-Gagnère, G., Muehlbauer, G., Tibbets, J., Nasuda, S., Melonek, J., Hucl, P.J., Sharpe, A.G., Clark, M., Legg, E., Bharti, A., Langridge, P., Hall, A., Uauy, C., Mascher, M., Krattinger, S.G., Handa, H., Shimizu, K.K., Distelfeld, A., Chalmers, K., Keller, B., Mayer, K.F.X., Poland, J., Stein, N., McCartney, C.A., Spannagl, M., Wicker, T., and Pozniak, C.J. (2020). Multiple wheat genomes reveal global variation in modern breeding. Nature. 588, 277-283.
  • Perumal, S., Koh, C.S., Jin, L., Buchwaldt, M., Higgins, E.E., Zheng, C., Sankoff, D., Robinson, S.J., Kagale, S., Navabi, Z.-K., Tang, L., Horner, K.N., He, Z., Bancroft, I., Chalhoub, B., Sharpe, A.G., and Parkin, I.A.P. (2020). A high-contiguity Brassica nigra genome localizes active centromeres and defines the ancestral Brassica genome. Nature Plants 6, 929-941.
  • Cram, D., Kulkarni, M., Buchwaldt, M., Rajagopalan, N., Bhowmik, P., Rozwadowski, K., Parkin, I.A.P., Sharpe, A.G., and Kagale, S. (2020). WheatCRISPR: a web-based guide RNA design tool for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in wheat. BMC Plant Biology 19, 474.
  • Huang D., Zheng Q., Melchkart T., Bekkaoui Y., Konkin D.J.F., Kagale S., Martucci M., You FM., Clarke M., Adamski N.M., Chinoy C., Steed A., McCartney C., Cutler A.J., Nicholson P., Feurtado J.A. (2020). Dominant Inhibition of Awn Development by a Zinc-Finger Transcriptional Repressor Expressed at the B1 Locus in Wheat. New Phytologist 225: 340-355.
  • Shunmugam, A.S.K., Bollina, V., Dukowic-Schulze, S., Bhowmik, P.K., Ambrose, C., Higgins, J.D., Pozniak, C., Sharpe, A.G., Rozwadowski, K., and Kagale, S. (2018). MeioCapture: an efficient method for staging and isolation of meiocytes in the prophase I sub-stages of meiosis in wheat. BMC plant biology, 18: 293.

  • Bhowmik, P., Ellison, E., Polley, B., Bollina, V., Kulkarni, M., Ghanbarnia, K., Song, H., Gao, C., Voytas, D.F., and Kagale, S. (2018). Targeted mutagenesis in wheat microspores using CRISPR/Cas9. Scientific reports, 8: 6502.

  • Kulkarni, M., Soolanayakanahally, R., Ogawa, S., Uga, Y., Selvaraj, M.G., and Kagale, S. (2017). Drought response in wheat: key genes and regulatory mechanisms controlling root system architecture and transpiration efficiency. Frontiers in Chemistry, 5: 106.

  • Kagale, S., Nixon, J., Khedikar, Y., Pasha, A., Provart, N.J., Clarke, W.E., Bollina, V., Robinson, S.J., Coutu, C., Hegedus, D.D., Sharpe, A.G., and Parkin, I.A. (2016). The developmental transcriptome atlas of the biofuel crop Camelina sativa. Plant journal, 88: 879-894.

  • Kagale, S., Robinson, S.J., Nixon, J., Xiao, R., Huebert, T., Condie, J., Kessler, D., Clarke, W.E., Edger, P.P., Links, M.G., Sharpe, A.G., and Parkin, I.A. (2014). Polyploid evolution of the Brassicaceae during the Cenozoic era. Plant cell, 26: 2777-2791.

  • Kagale, S., Koh, C., Nixon, J., Bollina, V., Clarke, W.E., Tuteja, R., Spillane, C., Robinson, S.J., Links, M.G., Clarke, C., Higgins, E.E., Huebert, T., Sharpe, A.G., and Parkin, I.A. (2014). The emerging biofuel crop Camelina sativa retains a highly undifferentiated hexaploid genome structure. Nature communications, 5: 3706.

  • Parkin, I.A., Koh, C., Tang, H., Robinson, S.J., Kagale, S., Clarke, W.E., Town, C.D., Nixon, J., Krishnakumar, V., Bidwell, S.L., Denoeud, F., Belcram, H., Links, M.G., Just, J., Clarke, C., Bender, T., Huebert, T., Mason, A.S., Pires, J.C., Barker, G., Moore, J., Walley, P.G., Manoli, S., Batley, J., Edwards, D., Nelson, M.N., Wang, X., Paterson, A.H., King, G., Bancroft, I., Chalhoub, B., and Sharpe, A.G. (2014). Transcriptome and methylome profiling reveals relics of genome dominance in the mesopolyploid Brassica oleracea. Genome biology, 15: R77.

  • Borg, M., Rutley, N., Kagale, S., Hamamura, Y., Gherghinoiu, M., Kumar, S., Sari, U., Esparza-Franco, M.A., Sakamoto, W., Rozwadowski, K., Higashiyama, T., and Twell, D. (2014). An EAR-Dependent Regulatory Module Promotes Male Germ Cell Division and Sperm Fertility in Arabidopsis. Plant cell, 26: 2098-2113.

  • Kagale, S., and Rozwadowski, K. (2011). EAR motif-mediated transcriptional repression in plants: an underlying mechanism for epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Epigenetics, 6: 141-146.

  • Kagale, S., Links, M.G., and Rozwadowski, K. (2010). Genome-wide analysis of ethylene-responsive element binding factor-associated amphiphilic repression motif-containing transcriptional regulators in Arabidopsis. Plant physiology, 152: 1109-1134.

Additional links

Sateesh Kagale

Sateesh Kagale

Senior Research Officer
Aquatic and Crop Resource Development
110 Gymnasium Place
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0W9
Preferred language: English
Telephone: 639-220-1206
Email: Sateesh.Kagale@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

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Expertise

Agriculture, Genomics

From: National Research Council Canada

 
 
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