Caught between the increasing severity of drought in California and state restrictions on the use of groundwater, grain growers in the Central Valley need options that offer income potential. The recent Small Grains/Alfalfa Field Day, hosted by the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, presented research on growing cereal crops with minimal water.
Without such options, growers are projected to fallow hundreds of thousands of acres on previously irrigated land in the Central Valley. The university’s Small Grains Breeding Program is working to meet that need.
A recent discovery getting attention in scientific circles points toward a new pathway for growing larger grains, beans and other edible seeds. In addition, the research -- which is getting a boost from Kent Bradford in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences – shows the impact of the department’s international collaborations.
A new variety of wheat without some of the glutens that cause allergic reactions, such as celiac disease, has been developed by scientists in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences.
Scientists have developed a new genetic tool that makes it easier and faster to breed grains that grow more efficiently and are better adapted to different environments. They're using a ground-breaking discovery: micro-RNA.
Central Valley pistachio farmer and industry leader Rod Stiefvater is donating more than $335,000 to develop new rootstocks that will thrive under changing climate conditions.
A course that trains African scientists to use genetic tools to improve food production on the continent has begun its third round, with guidance and support from UC Davis. The African Plant Breeding Academy empowers scientists with cutting-edge tools like CRISPR to tackle complex agricultural challenges and support sustainability on their continent.
Mitchell Feldmann, an assistant professor and genetics researcher, is the new director of the Strawberry Breeding Program, an internationally recognized public program that has released more than 70 patented cultivars over its storied history.
UC Davis researchers are developing improved lima bean varieties suited for U.S. climates. By studying wild genetics and breeding for heat tolerance, yield, and nutrition, they aim to expand lima bean cultivation and consumer appeal nationwide.
A nation-wide project led by Charlie Brummer, a professor in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, has received a grant of $936,000 over the next three years from the Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage Research Program, within the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Scientists are seeking the genetic basis for breeding new varieties of alfalfa that can withstand the pressures of climate change and evolving pests and disease.
Alfalfa expert Charlie Brummer says it's time to "think about redesigning the alfalfa plant from first principles," after 40 years of frustrated efforts to increase yield. He made the remarks at a recent meeting of the North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference. Students also presented their research, including trials to grow the crop with less water.
