UC Davis researchers are developing wheat and barley varieties to withstand drought, salinity, and climate change. Innovations include dual-purpose wheat, non-allergenic grains, drone monitoring, and water-efficient farming to support growers.
UC Davis' Strawberry Breeding Program develops resilient, high-quality varieties for growers worldwide. It has released 12 commercial varieties in nine years, supporting California's $2.7B industry.
UC Davis researchers found that walnut tree disease resistance and growth vigor are linked to cell wall formation. This insight could speed up the breeding of resilient rootstocks, protecting California’s $1.1B walnut industry from climate and disease threats.
Xiaofei Zhang started this month as an assistant professor in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, specializing in molecular genetics and breeding of small grains crops. His top priority, he said, will be developing wheat varieties that are highly productive for forage and that also have high grain yield and good quality.
UC Davis wheat geneticist Jorge Dubcovsky received a 7-year, $6.3M extension from HHMI to improve wheat by reducing allergens, studying flowering traits, and boosting grain yields—efforts with global food and health impact.
New tomato lines bred with Solanum sitiens—a wild plant from Chile’s Atacama Desert—may boost heat, drought, and salt tolerance in future crops. UC Davis is sharing 56 new lines for global research and breeding efforts.
The African Orphan Crops Consortium has trained 161 African scientists to improve 101 underutilized crops, aiming to fight malnutrition and stunting. Their work could benefit 700 million people in sub-Saharan Africa.
Vincent D’Antonio, longtime UC Davis staff research associate in vegetable crops, passed away at 74. He supported celery and Brassica breeding for 30 years and is remembered for his dedication, kindness, and love of sports.
UC Davis’ SCOPE program received a $2M USDA grant to expand student-led organic plant breeding. New crops, new partners, and collaboration with UC Santa Cruz aim to share the model and support organic agriculture across climates.
UC Davis’ Joshua Hegarty received an $800K USDA grant to breed triticale with better bread-baking qualities while maintaining high yields and low input needs, aiming to boost food security and value for farmers worldwide.
