Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics Project Outcomes

NIFA makes a significant investment in plant breeding, genetics, and genomics each year. The links below provide information on individual NIFA-funded plant breeding, genetics, and genomics projects.

• The National Research Council recommends continuation of National Plant Genome Initiative research activities.

• NIFA NRI Plant Genome Program funded research to study genes involved in secondary metabolism in apple.

• NIFA NRI Plant Genome Program funded partnership develops a genetic resource to investigate important agricultural traits across the rice genome.

• NIFA National Research Initiative awards more than $4.7 million in plant genome grants for tomato and potato specialty crops.

• NIFA and Forest Service program leaders meet with project directors on the Conifer Coordinated Agricultural Project.

• NIFA-funded Rice CAP produces four papers about efforts to control sheath blight in rice.

• NIFA NRI-funded plant genome research investigates the genetic basis for chromosomal imbalance.

• Agriculture and Energy Departments fund $8.3 million for biofuels genomics research.

• NIFA NRI Plant Genome Program funds research to be published on wheat genetic diversity.

• NIFA NRI Plant Genome Program-funded wheat projects to be highlighted in Farm Journal.

• NIFA NRI Plant Genome and Plant Biology Programs jointly fund a National Academy study to review the achievements of the National Plant Genome Initiative.

• NIFA NRI Plant Genome Program funds upcoming workshop on specialty crops genomics, genetics, and breeding.

• NIFA NRI Plant Genome Program funded specialty crop research on the genetics of self-incompatibility in sour cherry.

• A new NIFA report summarizes the accomplishments of the agency's NRI Rosaceae Plant Genome program.

• NIFA NRI plant genome program grant enables researchers to develop a new system for functional genomic analysis of plant defense genes.

• NIFA plant genome funding helps researchers identify genes required for stem rust resistance in barley.

• NIFA-funded researchers identify a gene linked to protein content in wheat.

• NIFA NRI Integrated Wheat CAP participates in high school breeding and genomics training through the Virginia Governor's School Program.

• NIFA NRI plant genome-funded project directors participate in coordination meetings at the 2007 International Plant and Animal Genome Conference.

• NIFA NRI plant genome program participates in the international effort to sequence the wheat genome.

• A NIFA stakeholders' workshop on plant and pest biology elicited research, education, and extension priorities from scientific and commodity groups.

• University of Arkansas Rice Coordinated Agricultural Project hosts DNA marker technology research workshop.

• NIFA NRI plant genome program awards $5 million for barley applied genome research, education, and extension.

• NIFA contributes to the sequencing of the rice genome.

• A multistate coordinating committee provides more visibility to the national investment in plant breeding.

• The National Plant Germplasm System protects and studies unique germplasm treasures for the future.

• Plant genetics uses inherited differences as clues to study plant metabolic pathways or processes.

• Plant breeding consists of analytical frameworks that allow researchers to create and select plants that are consistently outstanding in desired traits.

• Plant genomics uses mapping, sequencing, and analysis of the complete genetic makeup of plants--their genomes--to determine the function of genes.

• The Current Research Information System database details NIFA-funded plant breeding, genetics, genomics, and genetic resources research projects.

• NIFA NRI Plant Genome program awards a $5 million applied wheat genomics Coordinated Agricultural Project to enhance economic opportunities for producers.

• UC-Davis scientists use a NIFA grant to understand how a plant's biological clock can optimize crop growth and development.

• A costly cereal crop disease is the target of NIFA-funded research.

• NIFA-funded research may help lessen the negative impact of ozone layer thinning on corn.

• NIFA-funded research examines how a common algae can contribute to food production.

• NIFA funded Nevada research finds "master switch" in plant communication.

• NIFA-funds help Michigan researcher develop hybrid superturf.

• Arkansas researchers using NIFA funds to tackle pigweed and other weeds.

• NIFA-funded research in Oregon may help scientists better understand genetic disease resistance in plants.

• The Interagency Working Group on Plant Genomes released the 2006 annual report of the National Plant Genome Initiative.

• NIFA funding helps researcher understand the gene expression of rice by completing acomprehensive and experimental assessment of rice transcription.

• NIFA funds study that developed a gene transformation method to improve traditional chokecherry breeding methods.

• NIFA-funded researchers in Ohio and Delaware have made a major advance in the understanding of rice genomics.

• NIFA NRI Plant Genome Program Funds Help Researchers Identify Genetic Factors Conferring Cold Tolerance in Wheat.

• NRI Funding Helps Researchers at USDA Forest Service's Institute of Forest Genetics Identify Key Genetic Pathway That Regulates Radial Tree Growth.

• NIFA NRI Funds Rice Centromere Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Delaware.

• NIFA funds Iowa State University project to identify and understand the genes controlling winter hardiness of alfalfa.

• NIFA competitive grants program funds new tools and resources for improving Brassica crops.

• NIFA funds a conference on translational genomics of specialty allium vegetable crops, including onion and garlic.

• NIFA funds sunflower research to understand its genetic diversity and reveal insights about the genome structure and organization.

• North Dakota State University researchers unearth genetic difference bill meet to update progress.

• NIFA-funded technology research enables University of California-Riverside researchers to advance knowledge of salt tolerance in barley.

• Genomics and Plant Breeding: The Experience of the Initiative for Future Agricultural and Food Systems, a symposium published in the journal Crop Science.

• NIFA-funded research on evolutionary genomics is a key to understanding mechanisms of genetic resistance.

• NIFA-NRI Funded Applied Plant Genomics Coordinated Agricultural Project Updates

• NIFA Funds New Outreach Program Targeted to Children: Classroom Activities in Plant Biotechnology

• NIFA funds international opportunity for young investigators in the area of rice functional genomics

• NIFA NRI funds four new projects to develop genomic tools to advance knowledge of gene function in soybean

• NIFA NRI-funded research advances knowledge of Fusarium Head Blight resistance in wheat

• NIFA NRI funds University of Georgia researchers to integrate new genomic technologies into peanut breeding and variety development programs

• Michigan Technological and Oregon State Universities collaborate to identify genes important for tree development and adaptation.

• NIFA funded research enables researchers to discover a new gene to fight against the current epidemic of stripe rust in wheat.

• NIFA-funded research enables researchers to engineer wheat chromosomes to improve disease resistance and grain quality.

• NIFA-funded program enables researchers to locate a gene that controls grain protein content in wheat.

• NIFA NRI plant genome program funds the Interagency Maize Genome Sequencing Project.

• NIFA competitive grants program funds Asparagales genomics project.

• NIFA grant supports genetic research which identified the gene that gives corn its shape.

• NIFA NRI funding introduces children to the importance of food crops and problems occurring in food production caused by pathogens and climate changes.

• NIFA-funded project brings imported taro cultivars to American Samoa in an effort to increase the crop's genetic diversity in the area.

• NIFA funding helps Washington State University researchers find a genetic key to controlling plant growth.

• NIFA NRI student research awards enable students to participate in international rice symposium.

• Louisiana State University researchers use new genetic techniques to understand sugarcane germplasm diversity.

• NIFA funds research to locate the gene for resistance to tan spot disease in the wheat genome.

• NIFA-funded research drives the development of new approaches to the characterization of rice small RNAs.

• NIFA-funded research at the USDA Forest Service helps scientists understand the genetic regulation of wood formation in trees.

• NIFA-funded research enables researchers to advance knowledge of virus resistance in cucumber, melon, squash, and watermelon.

• NIFA provides international legume genomics and genetics opportunity for faculty and graduate and postdoctorates students.

• The Public Seed Initiative is a NIFA-funded project that uses plant breeding and genetics to address the needs of small farmers and seed producers.

• NIFA funds research on sour cherry breeding, genetics, and genomics at Michigan State University.

• University of Georgia researchers, supported by NIFA, study sunflower genetics to help develop better oil for industrial, biofuel, and food markets.

• NIFA hosted an organizational meeting to promote interaction among researchers involved in NRI-funded rice projects and the RiceCAP programs.

Back to Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics Home Page