Mike Thornton

• Conduct applied research to resolve production issues identified by the potato and onion industries
• Potato research focuses on cultural management of new potato cultivars, with emphasis on appearance of specialty cultivars
• Onion research focuses on thrips control and reducing decay in storage

• Hendricks, R.L., N. Olsen, M. Thornton and P. Hatzenbuehler. 2022. Susceptibility of potato cultivars to blackspot and shatter bruise at three impact heights. American Journal of Potato Research 99:358-368.
• Novy, R.G., J.L. Whitworth, J.C. Stark, R.R. Spear, B.L. Schneider, M.J. Pavek, N.R. Knowles, L.O. Knowles, B.A. Charlton, V. Sathuvalli, S. Yilma, C.R. Brown, T.L. Brandt, M. Thornton, and N. Olsen. 2021. La Belle Russet: an early maturing, dual-purpose variety having a high percentage of marketable yield, long tuber dormancy, and a reduced incidence of sugar ends. American Journal of Potato Research 98:395-410.
• Olsen, N., L. Woodell, M.J. Frazier, M. Thornton and A.V. Karasev. 2021. Simple tools for rapid diagnostics and decision making. American Journal of Potato Research 98:1-4.
• Spear. R.R., R.G. Novy, J.L. Whitworth, J.C. Stark, M.J. Pavek, N.R. Knowles, L.O. Knowles, B.A. Charlton, V. Sathuvalli, S. Yilma, M. Thornton, N. Olsen, T. Brandt and Y. Wang. 2021. Galena Russet: A long dormancy, dual-purpose potato cultivar exhibiting low asparagine, cold-sweetening resistance, and enhanced protein content. American Journal of Potato Research 98:51-63.
• Sadeghi, R., Y. Lin, W.J. Price, M. Thornton and A. Lin. 2021. Instrumental indicators of desirable texture attributes of French fries. LWT – Food Science and Technology (doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2021.110968).
• Dahan, J., E.J. Wenninger. M. Thornton, C.A. Corral, N. Olsen and A.V. Karasev. 2021. Haplotyping the potato psyllid (Hemiptera:Triozidae) and the associated pathogenic bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibactor solanacearum’ in non-crop alternate hosts in southern Idaho. Environmental Entomology 50(2):382-389.
• Hollingshead, A.K., N. Olsen, M. Thornton, N. Olsen, J.S. Miller, D. Schisler and P.J. Slininger. 2020. Evaluation of biological control agents and conventional products for post-harvest application on potato (Solanum tuberosum) to manage leak. American Journal of Potato Research 97:477-488.
• Hollingshead, A.K., N. Olsen, M. Thornton, N. Olsen, J.S. Miller and A. Lin. 2020. Potato cultivar susceptibility to Pythium Leak as influenced by harvest and early storage temperatures. American Journal of Potato Research 97:393-403.
• Wenninger, E.J., J. Dahan, M. Thornton and A. Karasev. 2019. Associations of potato psyllid and “Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” in Idaho with non-crop host plants bittersweet nightshade and field bindweed. Environmental Entomology 48:747-754.
• Waxman, A., J. Stark, M. Thornton, N. Olsen, J. Guenthner and R. Novy. 2019. The effects of harvest timing on textural quality of three processing potato varieties: Russet Burbank, Alpine Russet and Clearwater Russet. American Journal of Potato Research 96:33-47.

Recent Peer Reviewed UI Extension Bulletins

• Spear R., N. Olsen, M. Thornton and A. Karasev. 2021. Cultural management of Clearwater Russet potatoes. Extension Bulletin 992, University of Idaho.

• Walsh, O.S., X. Liang, M. Thornton and C. Rogers. 2020. Uniform plant stand is key to crop yield and quality. Extension Bulletin 951, University of Idaho.

• Hollingshead A.K., R. Hendricks, N.L. Olsen and M. Thornton. 2020. Monitoring tools for potato bruise prevention. Extension Bulletin 966, University of Idaho.

• Duellman, K.M., M.K. Thornton and A. A. Westra. 2020. Potato seed certification and selection in Idaho. Extension Bulletin 983, University of Idaho.

• Potato Association of America Honorary Life Member, 2022
• Idaho Agriculture in the Classroom Advocate for Idaho Agriculture Award, 2016
• University of Idaho College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean’s Award, 2014
• Governor’s Award for Excellence in Agricultural Innovation and Technology, 2011
• University of Idaho Alumni Service Award, 2001