Faculty Profiles

Kent Bradford, Ph.D.  Plant Physiology, UC Davis
Home Department:  Plant Sciences
Graduate Groups:  Plant Biology
Homepage
Research:  My research and teaching interests are in seed biology, production and quality.  I am Director of the Seed Biotechnology Center, which works closely with the seed and plant breeding industry to conduct research that facilitates breeding, cultivar development, seed production and seed quality assessment and conservation.  My research projects utilize genetic mutants, QTL analysis and related genetic, molecular and genomic approaches; thus, students interested in functional or physiological genetics could find a home in my program.
Currently accepting students (see above)

Roger Chetelat, Ph.D. Genetics, UC Davis
Home Department:  Plant Sciences
Graduate Groups: 
http://tgrc.ucdavis.edu
Research:  My research interests center on tomato genetics, with current emphasis on the following topics:  the role of DNA mismatch repair in meiotic recombination, mapping genes controlling interspecific reproductive barriers, and comparative mapping and genetic diversity in the tomato-like nightshades (Solanum spp.).  I also oversee the C.M. Rick Tomato Genetics Resource Center, a genebank of tomato mutants and wild relatives.  With respect to teaching, I contribute to undergraduate classes on Conservation Genetics, Plant Breeding, and Plant Genetics.
Currently accepting students

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Luca Comai, Ph.D.  Plant Pathology, UC Davis
Department:  Plant Biology
Graduate Groups: 
http://faculty.washington.edu/comai/
http://comailab.genomecenter.ucdavis.edu
Research:  My lab is involved in two areas pertinent to breeding.  In the first, we study genome regulation and hybridization responses in chromosome copy number variants, i.e. polyploids and aneuploids.  In the second,  we develop and make available to the plant community a functional genomic discovery tool called TILLING that allows targeted inactivation of genes in crop plants.
Interested in advising students jointly with plant breeders when the technological resources developed in my lab can be exploited in a breeding program.

Accepting graduate students.

Douglas Cook, Ph.D. Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Home Department: Plant Pathology
Gradute Groups: Plant Pathology, Plant Biology, Genetics, Viticulture and Enology
http://medicago.ucdavis.edu
Research: Four main areas of research define the Cook laboratory: Analysis of legume genome evolution by means of comparative genomics and phylogenetic methods; Development of genomic resources for genetic improvement of crop legume species, particularly in the developing world; Genetic, molecular and cell biology of signaling and development during symbiotic nitrogen fixation; Functional genomics of bacterial disease susceptibility and resistance in cultivated grapes.

Currently accepting students

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Theodore Dejong, Ph.D.  Botany, UC Davis
Home Department:  Plant Sciences
Graduate Groups: 
Research:  I am the Principle Investigator for a Dried Plum/Prune Breeding and Cultivar Development Program that has as its primary goal the development of new dried plum cultivars that mature earlier or later than the current industry standard cultivar, ‘Improved French.’  We use classical hybridization techniques and screen resulting progeny for desired traits.

Jorge Dubcovsky, Ph.D. Biological Sciences, University of Buenos Aires
Home Department:  Plant Sciences
Graduate Groups:
http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/dubcovsky/home.htmResearch:  Wheat breeding and wheat genetics. The major goals of my research program are to gain a better understanding of the effects of allelic variants of wheat genes that are relevant to agriculture and to develop the tools required for an efficient manipulation of these genes in wheat improvement.  My program integrates a broad range of research projects that include whole genome studies, mapping, positional cloning, marker-assisted selection, and a traditional breeding program.  This integration has provided us with the ability to discover and deploy new genes or alleles into commercial wheat varieties.

Currently accepting students

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Jan Dvorak, Ph.D. Genetics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
Home department: Plant Sciences
Graduate Group: Genetics
http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/dvorak/Publications.htmResearch: My principal interest is plant structural genomics, focusing on the physical mapping, genome sequencing and the development of marker technologies for plant breeding and genetics. My additional interests are crop evolution, crop genetic diversity, genome evolution and plant evolution.  

Currently accepting students.

Lynn Epstein, Ph.D.,  Botany and Plant Biology, Michigan State University
Home Department:  Plant Pathology
Graduate Groups: 
http://plantpathology.ucdavis.edu/people/bio_info/Epstein.htm
Research:  As part of my interests in sustainable and organic agriculture, I am willing to assist in the selection and breeding of disease-resistant varieties.
Available to advise students on fungal pathogens for projects involving the breeding for disease resistance

Paul Gepts, Ph.D.  Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics, U Wisconsin
Home Department:  Plant Sciences
Graduate Groups:  Horticulture & Agronomy, Genetics, Ecology, International Agricultural Development
http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/gepts/geptslab.htm
Research:  My research and teaching program focuses on crop biodiversity and genetic resources. I am interested in elucidating the evolutionary processes that shape the diversity of crops and their wild progenitors, with a focus on beans and cowpea, as well as Mesoamerican domesticates. To achieve this goal, I am combining field and laboratory approaches that span the gamut from field explorations in Latin America to marker analyses and genomics. I am also interested in investigating the consequences of the evolutionary patterns for the breeding of new germplasm or cultivars.

Currently accepting students

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Robert Gilbertson Ph.D.  Plant Pathology, Colorado State University
Home Department:  Plant Pathology
Graduate Groups:
http://plantpathology.ucdavis.edu/
Research:  I am interested in utilizing various approaches to assess plant pathogen diversity and to apply this information in the development of disease resistant varieties through collaboration with plant breeders. I am also interested in developing imporved pathogen detection and inoculation methods in order to facilitate improved screening of crop varieties, germplasm and progenies for disease resistance to a varieity of pathogens.  Finally, I am very interested in utilizing improved varieties in IPM programs for disease management in the field.  In collaboration with Drs. Steve Temple and Paul Gepts, I have released a number of common bean varieties in California and Africa that are resistant to Bean Common Mosaic virus.
Currently accepting students interested in disease resistance breeding.

Thomas Gradziel, Ph.D.  Plant Breeding, Cornell
Home Department:  Plant Sciences
Graduate Groups:  Horticulture & Agronomy, Plant Biology, Genetics, International Agricultural Development
Research:  My research focuses on the development of improved breeding lines and varieties of almond and processing peach.  In my teaching, I examine the genetic and agro-ecological components of tree crop production as well as effective problem solving approaches in these complex, multidisciplinary systems.
Currently accepting students

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Jim Harding, Ph.D.   Genetics, UC Davis
Home Department:  Plant Sciences
Graduate Groups: 
Research:  We are studying genetic differences in and genetic correlations between flower traits; including productivity; flower quality; scape length; vase life; and pre- and post- harvest color parameters hue, chroma and brightness in Gerbera, a cut flower crop.  Inbreeding depression within breeder's gene pools due to genetic drift and additive genetic variance and response to selection are being measured. Interested in directing graduate students in MS programs and working with promising undergraduates on internships.

Dan Kliebenstein, Ph.D.  Genetics, Cornell
Home Department:  Plant Sciences
Graduate Groups:  Plant Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Email:Kliebenstein@ucdavis.edu
Homepage: http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/kliebenstein/
 
The major question that we are studying is how and why plants make secondary metabolites. Secondary metabolites are plant compounds that provide the taste, flavor, color and medicinal activities that people associate with specific plants. However, their primary role appears to be helping the plant cope with its environment by attracting pollinators, repelling attackers and protecting the plant from sunlight.
 
This broad activity means that plants have an amazing diversity of plant secondary metabolites, each potentially with its own function and evolutionary history. We are primarily using the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, to study how its secondary metabolites control interactions with both insects and fungi. As a part of this we are using a mixture of functional genetics, quantitative genetics, plant biology, evolutionary biology and metabolite profiling to develop as in depth and broad a picture as possible. To broaden this picture, we are expanding into both tomato, Lycopersicon, and grapes, Vitis.
 
An additional avenue that we are pursuing is the fact that fungi also make secondary metabolites. For instance, Botrytis cinerea produces a suite of secondary metabolites whose main role appears to be killing plant cells. Thus by studying how Arabidopsis and Botrytis interact, we hope to analyze how organisms can combat each other through metabolism.
 
Currently accepting students.

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F. Thomas Ledig, Ph.D. Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
Home Department: Plant Sciences
Graduate Groups: Genetics, Geography
Research: My research interests are in conservation genetics and biogeography of rare conifers from the U.S. and Mexico, and conservation of genetic resources in general. I also lead a program in tesing and selection for biomass fuel production in eucalyptus.

Gale McGranahan, Ph.D.  Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Home Department:  Plant Sciences
Graduate Groups:  Horticulture & Agronomy, Plant Biology, Genetics
Research:  I work on the genetic improvement of walnut cultivars and rootstocks.  This includes germplasm evaluation, traditional breeding and genetic engineering.  It also includes somatic embryogenesis and micropropagation.  I released the popular cultivar Tulare about 10 years ago and recently (2006) patented and released 3 new walnut cultivars with high quality nuts, high yields, low blight susceptibility, and earlier harvest dates than currently available.
Currently accepting students

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Richard Michelmore, Ph.D.  Natural Sciences, Cambridge University (UK)
Department:  Plant Sciences, Molecular & Cellular Biology, Medical Microbiology and Immunology.
Director, UC Davis Genome Center
Graduate Groups: Genetics, Plant Biology, Plant Pathology
http://michelmorelab.ucdavis.edu
Research: Our research foci include classical and molecular genetics of disease resistance in plants, with particular emphasis on lettuce and tomato; comparative functional genomics of the Compositae; and molecular marker technologies for marker-assisted selection.  We have released several sets of advanced lettuce breeding lines and have numerous genetic stocks of lettuce.

Currently accepting students

David Neale, Ph.D.  Forest Genetics, Oregon State University
Department:  Plant Sciences
Graduate Groups: 
dendrome.ucdavis.edu
www.pinegenome.org
Research:  My research interests concern the genomics of forest trees, complex traits, QTL and association studies, population genetics and adaptation, and marker-based breeding.
Currently accepting students

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Dan Parfitt, Ph.D.  Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison
Department:  Plant Sciences
Graduate Groups:  Horticulture & Agronomy, Genetics
Research:  My academic training is in the area of plant breeding and genetics, with practical experience breeding potatoes, sunflower, and more recently pistachio, of which I have recently released three new cultivars.  I am also interested in the collection, maintenance, and evaluation of genetic diversity in economically important plants, especially the application of molecular genetic tools for evaluation of diversity.
Currently accepting students

Cal Qualset, Professor Emeritus
Information forthcoming

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Carlos Quiros, Ph.D. Genetics, UC Davis
Home Department:  Plant Sciences
Graduate Groups:  Horticulture & Agronomy, Genetics
http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/quiros/lab/cfqlab.htm
Research:  Brassica crop genetic improvement for improved nutritional quality.  Genetic improvement of celery for disease resistance.
Currently accepting students

Pam Ronald, Ph.D.  Molecular and Physiological Plant Biology, UC Berkeley
Home Department:  Plant Pathology
Graduate Groups: 
http://indica.ucdavis.edu   Lab web site
http://pgp.ucdavis.edu   Plant Genomics Program
Research:  We use genomic, proteomic, and informatic tools to study rice perception, signaling, and response to both bacterial and fungal pathogens and submergence stress.  Because of its diploid genetics, small genome size, extensive genetic map, available genome sequence, and relative ease of transformation, rice is considered a model monocot.  Therefore, the structural and functional analysis of rice has broad practical implications for the other economically important cereals.  Together with our collaborators, we have generated breeding lines with enhanced disease and submergence tolerance.  These lines are in pre-production trials.

Currently accepting students

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Doug Shaw, Ph.D.  Genetics, UC Davis
Department:  Plant Sciences
Graduate Groups:  Horticulture & Agronomy, Genetics
http://www.ucop.edu/ott/strawberry/welcome.html
Research:  My research entails the quantitative genetics and breeding of strawberry; and at present, approximately 60% of the world's strawberry fruit is produced using one of the 12 cultivars we have released.  We seek improvement in commercially important traits related to productivity, fruit quality, harvest efficiency, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.  My current teaching effort is dedicated to the UC Davis international plant breeding academy, where my role is to provide instruction in population and quantitative genetics applicable to plant breeding.  

Available to mentor students in rotations.

Dina St. Clair, Ph.D.  Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Home Department:  Plant Sciences
Graduate Groups: 
http://stclairlab.ucdavis.edu/
Research:  My research interests include the breeding and genetics of quantitatively inherited traits in crop plants; quantitative genetics; quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and marker-assisted introgression of QTLs from wild to cultivated crop species; the genetic and genomic basis of QTLs; and quantitative resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stresses.  While I have released no varieties (not the focus of my research), I have created genetic stocks and advanced breeding lines in tomato, including inbred backcross lines, recombinant inbred lines and near isogenic lines.

Currently accepting students

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Steve Temple, Ph.D.  Genetics & Plant Breeding, UC Davis
Home Department:  Plant Sciences
Graduate Groups: 
Research:  Breeding and IPM deployment of host plant resistance to insects, root knot nematodes, and diseases in grain legume species targeted for sustainable agriculture systems for California.

Currently accepting students

Larry Teuber
Ph.D.  Plant Breeding, U Minnesota
Home Department:  Plant Sciences
Graduate Groups:  Horticulture & Agronomy, Genetics
Research:  Genetics and biology of floral characters influencing alfalfa pollination by honey bees, resistance to lygus bugs and whiteflies, tolerance to "summer dry-down," irrigation management, fall dormancy.

Currently accepting students

Andy Walker, Ph.D.  Genetics, UC Davis
Home Department:  Viticulture & Enology
Graduate Groups:  Horticulture & Agronomy, Genetics
Research:  My research program focuses on developing new rootstocks with resistance to fanleaf, dagger and root-knot nematodes, and phylloxera.  His lab studies the genetics of resistance to these pests, their genetic diversity and aggressivity, and their host/pest interactions with grape species.  My lab is also actively involved in breeding table, raisin and wine grapes for resistance to Pierce's disease and powdery mildew.  Lab activities include classical breeding and inheritance studies, the development of rapid resistance assays, field trials of promising rootstock and scion selections, DNA marker analysis and mapping, and genetic engineering.

Currently accepting students.

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