Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Cytogenetics

Overview

The plant breeding programs in maize, soybean, and small grains are an integral part of efforts to develop sustainable, environmentally friendly agricultural production systems. Plant breeders seek to:

• improve varieties and genetic stocks for grain quality, yielding ability, and resistance to diseases and insect pests;
• maintain and evaluate diversity of genetic stocks; and
• develop special use varieties of species, such as soybean with improved seed composition for food use, or corn with high and low protein or oil contents and higher levels of vitamin E.

Specific examples of maize research include long-term selection for chemical composition of the corn kernel, the use of molecular markers to aid in selection for quantitative traits and to understand genetic control of chemical composition of the corn kernel, improvement of germplasm for disease resistance and other traits, and the maintenance of the Maize Genetics Stock Center. This research will lead to improved varieties with higher yields, new commercial uses and markets, and basic information to provide a framework for future sustained progress.

Soybean breeders evaluate and use the diversity of the germplasm collection to increase knowledge of soybean genetics, develop soybean for specific food uses, and develop improved disease and nematode resistance. Progress will lead to improved soybean germplasm and varieties that survive environmental stress and are competitive in domestic and international markets.

The small grains program focuses on development of improved varieties and parental lines of soft red winter wheat and on spring oat, combining enhanced nutritional quality with high yield and other desirable agronomic traits.

Opportunities for Study

Study in plant breeding and genetics leads to the M.S. or Ph.D. degrees. A specialization in genetics is available for students interested in a broad background in molecular, population, and development genetics.

Course work and thesis research are designed to meet the objectives of the student. Research opportunities may be either field- or laboratory-oriented and range from studies of transformation to selection for and study of genetics of disease resistance in the field. Modern laboratories and a field research center located nearby provide excellent facilities for research.

Assistantships and fellowships are available for students seeking education in plant breeding and genetics.

Career Opportunities

Employment opportunities for M.S. and Ph.D. graduates are generally excellent. The demand for M.S. graduates to become assistant research station managers for commercial plant breeding companies is greater than the supply. Ph.D. graduates with degrees in plant breeding are in demand by commercial companies. In addition, opportunities exist for Ph.D. graduates in academic institutions and the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service.

Faculty Researching Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Cytogenetics

Specific areas of study are listed below by faculty member. More extensive information on these research programs is readily available from faculty web pages or through personal contact with faculty members.

Name	Specializations
Martin O. Bohn	quantitative genetics and breeding methodology
Hans J. Bohnert	functional genomics - gene tagging & global transcript profiles
Steven J. Clough	soybean genomics and plant-pathogen interactions
Brian W. Diers	soybean breeding and genetics
John W. Dudley	quantitative genetics of maize
Theodore Hymowitz	soybean genetics and evolution
Fred L. Kolb	small grain breeding and genetics
Stephen P. Moose	maize functional genetics
Randall L. Nelson	soybean genetics and germplasm
Jerald K. Pataky	sweet corn pathology and breeding
Wayne L. Pedersen	soybean pathology and genetics
Michael J. Plewa	mutation genetics
A. Lane Rayburn	cytogenetics
Torbert R. Rocheford	maize breeding and genetic stocks
Martin M. Sachs	maize genetics and genetic stocks
Lila O. Vodkin	soybean molecular genetics
Donald G. White	maize pathology and genetics
Jack M. Widholm	plant biochemistry, tissue culture, transformation