Areas of expertise
- Agrifood Systems
- Food Quality
- Food Safety
- Plants and microbes
Background
Dr Zoltan Kevei has expertise in the field of plant-microbe interactions (Medicago-Rhizobium), cell cycle regulations and developmental epigenetics of the model plant, 'Arabidopsis' and, since joining Cranfield, in tomato and raspberry genetics. Throughout his academic career he has gained broad scientific and technical training in plant molecular biology. His diverse publication record shows the widespread interest in the research of plant development and physiology.
Research opportunities
Next Generation Technologies for Plant Breeding
Current activities
Dr Kevei is currently working on the genetics of root development in tomato and raspberry, where he is defining the genes and natural genetic variation that controls traits such as adventitious rooting (important for propagation in soft fruit), and rootstock vigour (vital for production of grafted vegetables e.g. tomato, melon). He uses the latest DNA sequencing and molecular biology techniques and collaborates closely with the Bioinformatics Group.
Clients
BBSRC, Syngenta, Rijk Zwaan, Edward Vinson, FiberLean, KWS, Elsom Seeds, Syan Farms
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Dodd S, Kevei Z, Karimi Z, Parmar B, Franklin D, .... (2025). Detection of sugar syrup adulteration in UK honey using DNA barcoding. Food Control, 167
- Anastasiadi M, Kevei Z, Dodd S, Shehata M, Karimi Z, .... (2025). Developing a new testing methodology for honey authentication. FSA Research and Evidence
- Karimi Z, Campbell K, Kevei Z, Patriarca A, Koidis A, .... (2025). A critical review of conventional and emerging technologies for the detection of contaminants, allergens and adulterants in plant-based milk alternatives. Current Research in Food Science, 10
- Creeth R, Thompson AJ & Kevei Z. (2025). DNA-free CRISPR genome editing in raspberry (Rubus idaeus) protoplast through RNP-mediated transfection. Frontiers in Genome Editing, 7
- Kevei Z, Larriba E, Romero‑Bosquet MD, Nicolás‑Albujer M, Kurowski TJ, .... (2024). Genes involved in auxin biosynthesis, transport and signalling underlie the extreme adventitious root phenotype of the tomato aer mutant. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 137(4)
- Molitor C, Kurowski TJ, Fidalgo de Almeida PM, Kevei Z, Spindlow DJ, .... (2024). A chromosome-level genome assembly of Solanum chilense, a tomato wild relative associated with resistance to salinity and drought. Frontiers in Plant Science, 15
- Shehata M, Dodd S, Mosca S, Matousek P, Parmar B, .... (2024). Application of Spatial Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS) and machine learning for sugar syrup adulteration detection in UK Honey. Foods, 13(15)
- Vicente MH, MacLeod K, Zhu F, Rafael DD, Figueira A, .... (2023). The ORGAN SIZE (ORG) locus modulates both vegetative and reproductive gigantism in domesticated tomato. Annals of Botany, 132(7)
- Stewart K, Passey T, Verheecke-Vaessen C, Kevei Z & Xu X. (2023). Is it feasible to use mixed orchards to manage apple scab?. Fruit Research, 3(1)
- Kevei Z, Silva Ferreira D, Perez Casenave CM, Kurowski TJ, Mohareb F, .... (2022). Missense mutation of a class B heat shock factor is responsible for the tomato bushy root-2 phenotype. Molecular Horticulture, 2(1)
- Martínez-Andújar C, Martínez-Pérez A, Albacete A, Martínez-Melgarejo PA, Dodd IC, .... (2021). Overproduction of ABA in rootstocks alleviates salinity stress in tomato shoots. Plant, Cell & Environment, 44(9)
- Collings ER, Alamar MC, Bogaerts Márquez M, Kourmpetli S, Kevei Z, .... (2021). Improving the tea withering process using ethylene or UV-C. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 69(45)
- González-Arcos M, de Noronha Fonseca ME, Basílio Zandonadi D, Peres LEP, Arruabarrena A, .... (2019). A loss-of-function allele of a TAC1-like gene (SlTAC1) located on tomato chromosome 10 is a candidate for the Erectoid leaf (Erl) mutation. Euphytica, 215(5)
- Silva Ferreira D, Kevei Z, Kurowski TJ, de Noronha Fonseca ME, Mohareb FR, .... (2018). BIFURCATE FLOWER TRUSS: a novel locus controlling inflorescence branching in tomato contains a defective MAP kinase gene. Journal of Experimental Botany, 69(10)
- Thompson AJ & Kevei Z. (2016). Identification of novel stress-responsive biomarkers from gene expression datasets in tomato roots. Functional Plant Biology, 43(8)
- Kevei Z, King RC, Mohareb FR, Sergeant MJ, Awan SZ, .... (2015). Resequencing at ≥ 40-fold depth of the parental genomes of a Solanum lycopersicum × S. pimpinellifolium recombinant inbred line population and characterisation of frame-shift InDels that are highly likely to perturb protein function. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics, 5(5)
- Rigal M, Kevei Z, Pélissier T & Mathieu O. (2012). DNA methylation in an intron of the IBM1 histone demethylase gene stabilizes chromatin modification patterns. The EMBO Journal, 31(13)
- Kevei Z, Baloban M, Da Ines O, Tiricz H, Kroll A, .... (2011). Conserved CDC20 Cell Cycle Functions Are Carried out by Two of the Five Isoforms in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLoS ONE, 6(6)
- Van de Velde W, Zehirov G, Szatmari A, Debreczeny M, Ishihara H, .... (2010). Plant Peptides Govern Terminal Differentiation of Bacteria in Symbiosis. Science, 327(5969)
- Alunni B, Kevei Z, Redondo-Nieto M, Kondorosi A, Mergaert P, .... (2007). Genomic Organization and Evolutionary Insights on GRP and NCR Genes, Two Large Nodule-Specific Gene Families in Medicago truncatula. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions®, 20(9)
- Kevei Z, Lougnon G, Mergaert P, Horváth GV, Kereszt A, .... (2007). 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase1 Interacts with NORK and Is Crucial for Nodulation in Medicago truncatula. The Plant Cell, 19(12)
- Perhald A, Endre G, Kevei Z, Kiss GB & Kereszt A. (2006). Strategies to obtain stable transgenic plants from non-embryogenic lines: complementation of the nn 1 mutation of the NORK gene in Medicago sativa MN1008. Plant Cell Reports, 25(8)
- González-Sama A, de la Peña TC, Kevei Z, Mergaert P, Lucas MM, .... (2006). Nuclear DNA Endoreduplication and Expression of the Mitotic Inhibitor Ccs52 Associated to Determinate and Lupinoid Nodule Organogenesis. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions®, 19(2)
- Kevei Z, Seres A, Kereszt A, Kaló P, Kiss P, .... (2005). Significant microsynteny with new evolutionary highlights is detected between Arabidopsis and legume model plants despite the lack of macrosynteny. Molecular Genetics and Genomics, 274(6)
- Fülöp K, Tarayre S, Kelemen Z, Horváth G, Kevei Z, .... (2005). Arabidopsis Anaphase-Promoting Complexes: Multiple Activators and Wide Range of Substrates Might Keep APC Perpetually Busy. Cell Cycle, 4(8)
- Kaló P, Seres A, Taylor SA, Jakab J, Kevei Z, .... (2004). Comparative mapping between Medicago sativa and Pisum sativum. Molecular Genetics and Genomics, 272(3)
- Vinardell JM, Fedorova E, Cebolla A, Kevei Z, Horvath G, .... (2003). Endoreduplication Mediated by the Anaphase-Promoting Complex Activator CCS52A Is Required for Symbiotic Cell Differentiation in Medicago truncatula Nodules. The Plant Cell, 15(9)
- Endre G, Kaló P, Kevei Z, Kiss P, Mihacea S, .... (2002). Genetic mapping of the non-nodulation phenotype of the mutant MN-1008 in tetraploid alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Molecular Genetics and Genomics, 266(6)
- Kevei Z, Vinardell JM, Kiss GB, Kondorosi A & Kondorosi E. (2002). Glycine-Rich Proteins Encoded by a Nodule-Specific Gene Family Are Implicated in Different Stages of Symbiotic Nodule Development in Medicago Spp.. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions®, 15(9)
- Endre G, Kereszt A, Kevei Z, Mihacea S, Kaló P, .... (2002). A receptor kinase gene regulating symbiotic nodule development. Nature, 417(6892)
- Cerbah M, Kevei Z, Siljak-Yakovlev S, Kondorosi E, Kondorosi A, .... (1999). FISH Chromosome Mapping Allowing Karyotype Analysis in Medicago truncatula Lines Jemalong J5 and R-108-1. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions®, 12(11)
