A team of scientists, including Gail Taylor of the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, has identified a gene in poplar trees that enhances photosynthesis and can boost tree height by as much as 200 percent. Discovery of the “Booster” gene has enormous potential for both the nation’s efforts to create plant-based jet fuel and to boost the yield of key food crops.
UC Davis’ Seed Central event on May 9 connects students and postdocs with industry leaders for networking, job opportunities, and research collaboration. A new Talents Corner helps ease connections, while Postdoc Panorama boosts researcher visibility.
Nearly 40 high school students participated in a UC Davis Biotechnology Program class, testing potato genes that enhance cold storage. The hands-on experience exposed them to biotechnology and college life, fostering interest in careers and studies at UC Davis.
The Department of Plant Sciences welcomes Imtiyaz Khanday as an assistant professor of plant reproductive biology and as an assistant agronomist for the Agricultural Experiment Station in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis.
