Agronomy and Horticulture Seminar Series

Technology Application in Soybean Breeding

KYLE KOCAK
Research Scientist, Corteva Agriscience

New technology has fundamentally changed plant breeding programs inside Corteva. Identifying and leveraging technology is a key component of running a modern soybean breeding program. Kyle Kocak will discuss some examples of how genetic gain can be accelerated by successfully applying new technology to plant breeding.
 

Note: This presentation video will not be posted to the website.

Pollen-mediated Gene Flow and Transfer of Herbicide Resistance Alleles

AMIT JHALA
Associate Department Head, Professor and Extension Weed Management Specialist, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Managing herbicide-resistant weeds is a challenge for growers. Once herbicide-resistant weeds evolve, it can be spread by pollen, known as pollen-mediated gene flow. Reproductive biology differs markedly among weed species, as does the potential for gene flow. Pollen-mediated gene flow at a distance could allow the spread of rare herbicide resistance alleles and favor the evolution of multiple herbicide-resistant biotypes through the accumulation of resistance genes in an individual weed or weed population. Amit Jhala will discuss examples of economically important weeds such as waterhemp, palmer amaranth, and giant ragweed and crops such as corn and popcorn to demonstrate the role of pollen-mediated gene flow in transfer of herbicide-resistance alleles.

Genetic Basis of Grain Yield and Quality under Heat Stress in Rice

ANIL CHANDRAN
Ph.D., Research Technologist, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Heat stress during the grain-filling period has a detrimental effect on rice yield and quality. The development of heat-resilient cultivars could help address this issue if tolerant alleles can be identified and incorporated into the germplasm. This presentation will focus on the research conducted to understand the genetic basis of grain yield and quality under heat stress in rice.

Making the Case for Manure to Improve and Enhance Natural Resources

AMY SCHMIDT
Professor and Livestock Bioenvironmental Engineer, Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Using manure to fertilize crops is a practice as old as time. However, as agricultural production systems have become more specialized (e.g., less integrated), reliance on inorganic fertilizers has increased while manure has increasingly become viewed as an environmental pollutant and nuisance. When properly managed, though, manure serves as a valuable fertilizer and soil amendment to provide essential crop nutrients and support the living ecosystem in soil. This presentation will explore the role of soil health in achieving food security, natural resource protection, and resilience to climate change, and the value of recycling locally available manure as a cropping system input prior to importing inorganic fertilizers.

The Use of Gene Expression to Predict Gene Function in Maize and Sorghum

VLADIMIR TORRES-RODRIGUEZ
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
 

Vladimir Torres-Rodrigues joined the James Schnable lab in October 2021 as a postdoctoral scholar, since then he has been working with quantitative genetic techniques to predict genes associated with a phenotype. He became a Research Assistant Professor this July.

The FoodU Program at Auburn University

DESMOND LAYNE
Department Head and Professor, Department of Horticulture, Auburn University

FoodU provides Auburn University students with transformational food system learning experiences as they grow hyperlocal fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers to support consumption and utilization in Campus Dining, the Culinary Sciences program and in two on-campus restaurants. Produce is grown outdoors in raised beds, in greenhouses, vertical farms and on a rooftop. Desmond Layne will discuss program highlights, best practices and challenges.