Seeds

The new varieties released by UC Davis include seed coat patterns and cooking quality that are desired by chefs and home cooks. The new varieties combine these characteristics with improved productivity and disease resistance on organic farms. (Travis Parker/UC Davis)

UC Davis Releases 6 New Varieties of Organic Beans

  • by Ann Filmer
  • April 22, 2020
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.
Hemp Breeding and Seed Production course

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

  • by Ann Filmer
  • February 27, 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.
Common beans

New Dry Bean Varieties for Organic Growers: Coming Soon

  • by Ann Filmer
  • September 11, 2019
New dry bean varieties, which are disease-resistant and high-yielding, are being bred at UC Davis for commercial organic production. Ph.D. student Travis Parker, who works with Professor Paul Gepts in the Department of Plant Sciences, wrote this article for the Organic Seed Alliance.
Common beans

Travis Parker Wins National Photo Contest in Plant Breeding

  • by Ann Filmer
  • August 05, 2019
Travis Parker, Plant Sciences grad student, won first place in the national NAPB Photo Contest. His photo is a variety of high-value common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) developed at UC Davis. One of his Ph.D. projects is breeding new high-value heirloom-type bean varieties for culinary quality and good field performance.
Onions being grown for seeds production.

Seed and Variety Improvement in Vegetable Production (video #9 of 26)

  • by Ann Filmer
  • July 15, 2019
This video features Professors Kent Bradford and Diane Beckles, Research Scientist Roger Chetelat, and Ph.D. student Karin Albornoz from the Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis, and other plant breeding professionals. They address why breeding and seed production are so important for the vegetable industry.
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