Jim Mattsson, Simon Fraser University

Research

candidate gene association study fungal rot defenses Injection-Induced Gene Silencing in vitro and in vivo functional analysis lignans RNA interference SNP analysis specialized/secondary metabolism

Latest papers

Characterization of Novel Luteoviruses in Canadian Highbush Blueberries Using High-Throughput Sequencing
Viruses · 2025 · senior author
The Effects of Auxin Transport Inhibition on the Formation of Various Leaf and Vein Patterns.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024 · senior author
Histological, chemical and gene expression differences between western redcedar seedlings resistant and susceptible to cedar leaf blight.
Frontiers in plant science · 2024

All 13 publications

Latest funding

Functional genomic analysis of heartwood formation in Western redcedar (Thuja plicata) towards marker-assisted selection for rot resistance
NSERC · 2020 · Principal investigator
$168,000
Evaluation of spray-induced gene silencing as a method to reduce the spread of Blueberry Shock virus in Canadian blueberry farms
NSERC · 2019 · Principal investigator
$24,974
Digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and high-capacity multiplex PCR for next-generation sequencing
NSERC · 2015 · Co-investigator
$126,802

All 13 grants and awards

13 publications.

01

Characterization of Novel Luteoviruses in Canadian Highbush Blueberries Using High-Throughput Sequencing

Kannangara S, Gilewski A, Lopez JR, de Villiers G, Ellis M, Ellis P, Gerbrandt E, Mattsson J

Viruses2025Senior author

DOI: 10.3390/v17101286

02

The Effects of Auxin Transport Inhibition on the Formation of Various Leaf and Vein Patterns.

Wenzel CL, Holloway DM, Mattsson J

Plants (Basel, Switzerland)2024Senior author

DOI: 10.3390/plants13182566 PMID: 39339541

03

Histological, chemical and gene expression differences between western redcedar seedlings resistant and susceptible to cedar leaf blight.

Aldana JA, Moa B, Mattsson J, Russell JH, Hawkins BJ

Frontiers in plant science2024

DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1309762 PMID: 38379949

04

OsARF11 Promotes Growth, Meristem, Seed, and Vein Formation during Rice Plant Development.

Sims K, Abedi-Samakush F, Szulc N, Macias Honti MG, Mattsson J

International journal of molecular sciences2021Senior author

DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084089 PMID: 33920962

05

Identification of Three Monofunctional Diterpene Synthases with Specific Enzyme Activities Expressed during Heartwood Formation in Western Redcedar (Thuja plicata) Trees.

Tasnim S, Gries R, Mattsson J

Plants (Basel, Switzerland)2020Senior author

DOI: 10.3390/plants9081018 PMID: 32806789

06

Identification of Auxin Response Factor-Encoding Genes Expressed in Distinct Phases of Leaf Vein Development and with Overlapping Functions in Leaf Formation.

Schuetz M, Fidanza M, Mattsson J

Plants (Basel, Switzerland)2019Senior author

DOI: 10.3390/plants8070242 PMID: 31340490

07

The gymnosperm cytochrome P450 CYP750B1 catalyzes stereospecific monoterpene hydroxylation of (+)-sabinene in thujone biosynthesis in western redcedar.

Gesell A, Blaukopf M, Madilao L, Yuen MM, Withers SG, Mattsson J, Russell JH, Bohlmann J

Plant physiology2015

DOI: 10.1104/pp.15.00315 PMID: 25829465

08

Identification of genes in Thuja plicata foliar terpenoid defenses.

Foster AJ, Hall DE, Mortimer L, Abercromby S, Gries R, Gries G, Bohlmann J, Russell J, Mattsson J

Plant physiology2013Senior author

DOI: 10.1104/pp.112.206383 PMID: 23388118

09

SHORT INTERNODES/STYLISH genes, regulators of auxin biosynthesis, are involved in leaf vein development in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Baylis T, Cierlik I, Sundberg E, Mattsson J

The New phytologist2013Senior author

DOI: 10.1111/nph.12084 PMID: 23293954

10

Multiple MONOPTEROS-dependent pathways are involved in leaf initiation.

Schuetz M, Berleth T, Mattsson J

Plant physiology2008Senior author

DOI: 10.1104/pp.108.119396 PMID: 18685044

Functional genomic analysis of heartwood formation in Western redcedar (Thuja plicata) towards marker-assisted selection for rot resistance

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Mattsson, Jim

Keywords: transcriptome analysis; candidate gene association study; specialized/secondary metabolism; terpenoids and tropolones; lignans; fungal rot defenses; snp analysis; in vitro and in vivo functional analysis; injection-induced gene silencing; rna interference

$168,000

Evaluation of spray-induced gene silencing as a method to reduce the spread of Blueberry Shock virus in Canadian blueberry farms

Principal investigatorNSERC2019Engage Grants Program

Principal investigators: Mattsson, Jim

$24,974

Digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and high-capacity multiplex PCR for next-generation sequencing

Co-investigatorNSERC2015Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Principal investigators: Morin, Ryan

$126,802

Genetic engineering of higher leaf vein density in rice towards improved yield

Principal investigatorNSERC2014Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Mattsson, Jim

$170,000

Next-generation sequencer for evolutionary genomics

Co-investigatorNSERC2012Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Principal investigators: Hart, Michael

$136,083

Enabling selection for heartwood rot resistance and durability of Western red cedar lumber, a key resource for the value-added forest industry in Canada.

Principal investigatorNSERC2010Strategic Projects - Group

Principal investigators: Mattsson, Jim

$506,203

Genetic analysis of leaf formation and fiber differentiation

Principal investigatorNSERC2009Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Mattsson, Jim

$190,000

Genetic dissection of vascular differentiation in arabidopsis and poplar

Principal investigatorNSERC2007Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Mattsson, Jim

$60,000

The application of novel genomics technologies in the breeding of hybrid poplar for ethanol production

Principal investigatorNSERC2007Strategic Projects Supplemental Competition

Principal investigators: Mattsson, Jim

$195,800

Facility for plant molecular breeding and genomics at Simon Fraser University

Co-investigatorNSERC2006Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Principal investigators: Kermode, Allison

$75,974

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Biological Sciences
Oncology

Co-authors at Simon Fraser University, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Peter Ellis

Oncology

1 shared papers, latest 2025

Gerhard Gries

Biological Sciences

1 shared papers, latest 2013

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2020

Subject: Prospective PhD student: candidate gene association study Dear Professor Mattsson, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Characterization of Novel Luteoviruses in Canadian Highbush Blueberries Using High-Throughput Sequencing" (2025), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Functional genomic analysis of heartwood formation in Western redcedar (Thuja plicata) towards marker-assisted selection for rot resistance" (2020), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]