Genetics

Speedier wheat could feed more people, research suggests

If wheat leaves could shift gears faster between moments of shade and light, plants could make more grain, increasing the capacity of a plot of ground to feed people.

Researchers are seeking the genes that control how quickly wheat leaves gear up when hit by flecks of sunlight. They are fueled by evidence of a stronger link between photosynthesis and crop yield than scientists have thought, said Assistant Professor Tom Buckley of the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences.

Study Challenges Evolutionary Theory That DNA Mutations Are Random

A simple roadside weed may hold the key to understanding and predicting DNA mutation, according to new research from University of California, Davis, and the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Germany.

The findings, published today in the journal Nature, radically change our understanding of evolution and could one day help researchers breed better crops or even help humans fight cancer.

Coast Redwood and Sequoia Genome Sequences Completed

Scientists have completed the sequences for the coast redwood and giant sequoia genomes. The research, officially published this week in the journal G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics, helps to better explain the genetic basis for these species’ ability to adapt to their changing environments. The research indicates that the coast redwood genome evolved from a single ancestral species.

UC Davis Releases 6 New Varieties of Organic Beans

The Department of Plant Sciences has released six new varieties of organic dry beans which are higher yielding, and are resistant to bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), a disease that prevents bean plants from maturing promptly and uniformly. Spearheading the project were Ph.D. candidate Travis Parker, Distinguished Professor Paul Gepts, and Charlie Brummer, professor and director of the Plant Breeding Center at UC Davis.

Mexican corn to feed poor nations?

Can an ancient corn from Mexico help feed people in developing regions around the world? Allen Van Deynze and other researchers at UC Davis and Northern California, and in Mexico, have been working hard to answer that question.

Hemp Breeding and Seed Production Course — October 27–28, 2020

Registration is open for the Seed Biotechnology Center’s second annual “Hemp Breeding and Seed Production” course, October 27–28, 2020 at UC Davis. The course is for professionals working on hemp improvement and propagation. Instructors include experts from the public and private sectors. The debut course in 2019 generated great interest from multiple countries.

VIDEO: African Plant Breeding Academy, UC Davis

The African Plant Breeding Academy, UC Davis, created a video of learning experiences in the professional certificate program. The program is taught by world-class scientists, including several from UC Davis. Professional breeders who took the course give overviews of the science, skills, projects, networking, and collaboration opportunities they learned.