Plant Breeding & Genetics

The goals of the plant breeding and genetics program are to develop new and improved cultivars of wheat, soybean, canola, sorghum, and pearl millet. A major emphasis of the wheat, soybean, and canola projects is to develop improved varieties and germplasm through a combination of conventional plant breeding and modern genomic-assisted methods. The sorghum, pearl millet, and canola projects emphasize the development of germplasm, parental inbred lines, and hybrids that combine desired agronomic traits with greater yield potential. In addition to variety and germplasm development, plant breeding and genetics research in Agronomy also emphasizes:

• Germplasm characterization
• Gene mapping and manipulation
• High-throughput phenotyping and genotyping
• Genomic selection
• Grain and forage quality
• Biotic and abiotic stresses

Faculty and students have access to well-equipped laboratories with instrumentation for molecular genetics and genomics research. Extensive controlled environment chambers, greenhouses, and field research facilities enable the characterization of plants under a wide range of environmental conditions.

The plant breeding and genetics program has a tradition of excellence in graduate training. Students involved in various projects develop a combination of field, lab, and analytical skills throughout their training. Our graduates hold many high-level positions in industry and academia.