Randy Brehm’s Post

Plant breeding symposium Universität Hohenheim 6-7 February We introduce our next speaker: Prof. Dr. Karl Schmid Topic: Advancing Quinoa Breeding: Leveraging Genetic Diversity for Improved Cultivation and Value Chain Integration in Central Europe Abstract: Quinoa, an ancient crop with favorable characteristics for cultivation in stressful environments, offers high-quality grain but has been little improved by modern plant breeding techniques. This has restricted its competitiveness in European agriculture. By leveraging the genetic diversity present in traditional quinoa cultivars and applying contemporary breeding methods, we aim to develop new quinoa varieties that are attractive for cultivation, enhance the diversity of crop rotation, and provide ecological benefits. Our work focuses on utilizing the native genetic diversity in quinoa to identify traits conducive to local adaptation in central Europe. Additionally, we aim to develop a quinoa ideotype that optimizes various phenotypic traits relevant for cultivation and utilization. Key traits targeted include yield and yield components, maturity, disease resistance, and grain quality. To achieve these goals, we employ genome-wide association studies (GWAS), QTL mapping, genomic prediction, and targeted crosses of suitable parents to develop advanced breeding material. I will present the current status of our work on quinoa and presents perspectives on how improved quinoa varieties can be integrated into a supply chain, improving both agricultural productivity and ecological sustainability. More information and registration here: https://lnkd.in/ebcvtZT5

Plant Breeding and Cultivar Development Authors: D. P. Singh, A. K. Singh, A. Singh About the book (Description) Plant Breeding and Cultivar Development features an optimal balance between classical and modern tools and techniques related to plant breeding. Written for a global audience and based on the extensive international experience of the authors, the book features pertinent examples from major and minor world crops. Advanced data analytics (machine learning), phenomics and artificial intelligence are explored in the book's 28 chapters that cover classical and modern plant breeding. By presenting these advancements in specific detail, private and public sector breeding programs will learn about new, effective and efficient implementation. The insights are clear enough that non-plant breeding majoring students will find it useful to learn about the subject, while advanced level students and researchers and practitioners will find practical examples that help them implement their work. 1. Plant Breeding - Past, Present, and Future Perspectives 2. Mode of Reproduction in Crop Plants 3. Genetics in Relation to Plant Breeding 4. Primer on Population and Quantitative Genetics 5. Plant Genetic Resources 6. Wilde Hybridization 7. Haploids and Polyploidy 8. Hybridization and Selection in Self-Pollinated Crops 9. Mass and Pure Line Selection 10. Bulk Method 11. Pedigree Method 12. Single Seed Descent Method 13. Backcross Method 14. Mutation Breeding 15. Inbreeding Depression and Heterosis 16. Population Improvement 17. Recurrent Selection in Self-pollinated Crops 18. Synthetic and Composite Varieties 19. Hybrid Varieties 20. Breeding Methods Used in Asexual Crops 21. Breeding for Resistance to Abiotic Stresses 22. Breeding for Resistance to Biotic Stresses 23. Intellectual Property Rights and Protection 24. Participatory Plant Breeding 25. Breeding of Crop Ideotypes 26. Field Plot Designs in Plant Breeding 27. Molecular Tools in Crop Improvement and Cultivar Development 28. Phenomics and Machine Learning in Crop Improvement https://lnkd.in/g8zVBGak

Module 1; Introduction After a three year attempt, the admission for my undergraduate came in and I got an offer into the Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Technology after I had applied for Microbiology. I felt a little bit awkward 😬, told my father bout it and he said “if you re given an offer in that program, take it and make the best of yourself out of it” That was how the journey of a five years started in 2013. Now Plant breeding and genetics are two closely related fields that focus on improving the traits and characteristics of plants. Plant breeding involves the deliberate manipulation of plant species to create new varieties with desired traits. This is achieved through controlled pollination, selection, and hybridization. Plant breeders aim to develop plants that are more resistant to diseases, pests, and environmental stresses, as well as plants that have improved yield, quality, and adaptability. Genetics, on the other hand, is the study of genes and heredity in plants. It involves understanding how traits are inherited and passed down from one generation to another. Genetic analysis allows plant breeders to identify the genes responsible for specific traits and use this knowledge to guide their breeding programs. Both plant breeding and genetics play crucial roles in modern agriculture and food production. They contribute to the development of improved crop varieties that can help meet the challenges of feeding a growing global population, adapting to climate change, and ensuring sustainable agricultural practices. #Proudly a Plant Breeder 🌱 #Sustainble Agriculture 🧑🌾

In 2023, CGIAR released several reference genomes representing African crops targeted by our breeding research network 🌱 The release also contained high-quality data on which to build further 🍌 🍠 🥔 This work is part of #BreedingResourcesInitiative genomic shared services, and annotates improved varieties developed by Centers, such as International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT 🤝 The reference genome annotations expand Breeding Resources public-private partnerships and they are made publicly available through International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) dataverse, ensuring that #CGIAR breeders and national partners can use this material in their crop breeding programs Excitingly, our methodology has transcended boundaries. Recently, we partnered with Earlham Institute to annotate reference genomes for common beans, showcasing the versatility and applicability of our approach across diverse species 🎉 The reference genomes work is made possible thanks to sequencing technologies funded by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH via Crops to End Hunger 👇 https://lnkd.in/gP87tqfT

Meet Dr. Hillel Brukental, a Va’adia-BARD Postdoc fellow at UC Davis! What is the main focus of your postdoc work?    My postdoc is held at UC Davis, in Professor Steve Knapp's lab. Professor Knapp's lab deals with Strawberry genetics and leads the UC Strawberry breeding program. My work focuses on understanding the genetic nature of stolon (runners) production in strawberries. Asexual reproduction, with the use of runners is highly beneficial for nurseries to produce clones in a cheaper and faster way compared to dividing the crowns and micropropagation. Yet it’s a costly practice, growers spend approximately $ 5,000 per acre to trim runners in order to enhance their fruit production. Developing cultivars that have reduced runnering in the field while producing optimal runners in nurseries, are ideal for both growers and nurseries. In the current stage of research, I aim to detect the loci that regulates runnering in the cultivated Strawberries and to estimate the effects of discovered loci in Marker-assisted breeding and genomic selection applications.    What got you interested in plant breeding and genetics?    My initial introduction to plant breeding occurred in Prof. Dani Zamir's laboratory, at the Hebrew University.  There I understood the breeder's pivotal role in improving food production, ensuring sustainability, and meeting global food demand. The seemingly straightforward process of crossing two plant individuals and selecting the best offspring is deceptively intricate, and demands significant time, labor, and financial resources. Successful breeding necessitates a deep connection to the field, intimate knowledge of your crop physiology, agricultural management, botany, and a keen understanding of its genetics. Furthermore, I believe that familiarity with molecular biology and advanced genomic methods is indispensable for highly efficient breeding and effective genetic research.    What are your plans once you complete your postdoctoral work?    I plan to return to Israel and integrate as a researcher at one of the universities or research institutes. To lead advanced breeding programs and genetic research, but most importantly, to generate agricultural products in the form of new and improved varieties.    What tip would you give someone just beginning a career in agricultural research?    Work hard, but before that, don't forget to think first. https://lnkd.in/eV5Px--G 

🌾 Plant stress limits crop yields, and improving environments is often costly or impractical. Breeding stress-resistant varieties is the most cost-effective way to enhance and stabilize yields 🌡 💧 ⚠ At CGIAR Breeding Program Optimization Community of Practice monthly webinar tomorrow, Professor Mark Cooper from The University of Queensland will delve into Managed-stress trials in breeding 🌱 Professor Cooper is the Deputy Director for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture. His main research interests combine theoretical, simulation and experimental investigations to formalise the use of prior knowledge of trait genome-to-phenome architecture to design breeding strategies that can deliver accelerated crop genetic improvement for quantitative traits. He has breeding experience in both academic and private sector organisations. 🔔 Join us tomorrow for an insightful discussion: 📅 12 September 2024 🕓 4 - 5 pm. Nairobi time 📢 Host: Dorcus C. Gemenet, Accelerated Breeding's ACCELERATE Lead 🔗 To join: https://lnkd.in/dUMxsFcZ - Passcode: 2024 🔗 More about ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture: www.plantsuccess.org

🌱 Genomic Selection: Unlocking Crop Potential 🌾 – Revolutionizing agriculture by accelerating crop breeding, improving yields, and boosting resilience against climate change! 🌍🌿 Let’s shape the future of sustainable farming through cutting-edge genetic advancements. 🌱🚜 #AgTech #GenomicSelection #CropInnovation #SustainableFarming #FutureOfAgriculture #YieldBoost #ClimateResilience #PlantScience #FoodSecurity

I am so glad to join the Editorial Board of Crop Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics! Crop Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (CBGG, ISSN: 2632-7309) is a journal jointly launched by the State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice and Hapres. CBGG is a quarterly peer-reviewed open-access journal dedicated to providing the latest advances in the areas of crop breeding and evolution, genetics, functional genomics, bioinformatics, and biotechnology, including cereals, legumes, oil crops, root and tuber crops, horticultural crops, and other cash crops. It aims to promote research communications in the areas of crop science by providing a unified forum for scientists working in agriculture and botany to share their latest findings with a broad audience worldwide. CBGG publishes original articles, reviews, and communications in a timely fashion. There are no restrictions on word count, number of figures, or amount of supporting information. Topics include but are not limited to: • Cereals (rice, wheat, maize, barley, sorghum, millets, oat, …) • Field crops (cotton, rapeseed, forages, soybean, ...) • Pulses (bean, chickpea, cowpea, groundnut or peanut, pea, pigeon pea) • Fruit and berry crops (apple, banana/plantain, blueberry, cranberry, citrus, peach, pear, strawberry, …) • Vegetable crops • Ornamentals • Root and tuber crops (cassava, sweet potato) • Gene editing • Gene cloning and mapping • Breeding methods • Plant genetics related to breeding • Qualitative and quantitative traits • Bioinformatics • Functional genomics • Breeding and biotechnology • Marker-aided breeding (MAS, GEBV) • Molecular evolution

Linking data on genetics, traits and environment gives crop breeders a wider lens • News ...: Coaxing further improvements from corn and other crops will be increasingly important as climates change, and breeding advancements that take big- ... #bigdata #cdo #cto

🔎 We just published a new white paper and encourage you to check it out! This white paper is titled "Application of Handheld Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) as a Portable Phenotyping Tool in Horticultural and Agronomic Breeding Programs" 🥑 In this whitepaper, Galen George showcases the transformative potential of handheld Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) devices in enhancing plant breeding efficiency by offering rapid, non-destructive phenotyping to meet the critical demands of food security and agricultural sustainability. Read the full white paper here: https://ow.ly/cBEZ50R1wsl #PlantBreeding #AgricultureInnovation #SustainableFarming #NIRSTechnology