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March 2022 Newsletter

Graduate Student Spotlight

Allyson Weir

My name is Ally Weir, and I am pursuing a doctoral degree in Horticulture and Agronomy. My interest in plant science actually started here at UCD. I grew up in Davis, and during my Junior year in high school I participated in an internship in Allen Van Deynze’s lab. During this time, I helped identify a gene related to pepper fruit size. There is something incredibly empowering about contributing to work that has real life implications. This experience was both intimidating and exciting. I ended up coming back as a summer intern in the Van Deynze lab for four summers: two as a high school student, and two as an undergraduate.

I loved being part of this community of researchers, and I wanted to continue to do so. For my undergraduate degree, I went to California State University Fullerton and earned a B.S. in molecular biology. I joined the lab of Melanie Sacco as a freshman and worked with her for all five years I was at CSUF. I conducted an RNA-sequencing study on variations in the hyper-sensitive response in accessions of Nicoationa glutinosa infected by viruses from the genus Polerovirus. Through this work, I discovered a passion for studying the genetics of plant-pathogen interactions.

After coming back to UC Davis for graduate school, I joined Richard Michelmore’s lab. I am most interested in the genetics of resistance durability in plants. To me, it is the perfect balance of pathology, population and evolutionary genetics, and plant breeding. My thesis research focuses on increasing the longevity of resistance through a variety of approaches. These approaches include: (1) identification of Bremia lactucae avirulence effectors in order to better inform the generation and deployment of lettuce resistance gene stacks in the field, (2) utilization of quantitative resistance to B. lactucae in lettuce breeding pipelines, and (3) identification and transfer of lettuce genes conferring non-host resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato into susceptible tomato backgrounds.

I think the biggest lesson of my academic career has been learning to get comfortable being outside my comfort zone. Having been a high school student with limited knowledge of biology surrounded by experts in their field, then an incoming college freshman being handed her own project in a lab full of upperclassmen, and a new graduate student in a large and productive lab, it has been easy to feel overwhelmed and intimidated. There have been so many times that I needed help and had to fight the instinct to just soldier on and try to figure it out on my own. One thing I would say to incoming graduate students—or really any student who puts a lot of pressure on themselves—is that it’s ok not to know something and to just ask someone else. This is why you are going to school. Every time I have forced myself to ask whatever “dumb” question I have, it has always been met with enthusiasm and patience. Everyone in academia has gone through a similar situation, and most people are happy to help. As someone who is starting to answer as many questions as I am asking, I am always excited to help and talk about the thing I love most.

Contact Allyson at: amaweir@ucdavis.edu

Events

NAPB Borlaug Scholars Applications are Open


The self-nomination window is open Jan 10 - April 2, 2022. 
Apply here for upper level Undergraduates.
Apply here for advanced level Graduate Students.

 

Population, Evolutionary, and Quantitative Genetics Conference

June 7 - 10
Asilomar Conference Grounds
Pacific Grove, CA and online
For more information, click here.


iConnect Series

April 7
Seed Central and the UC Davis Plant Breeding Center are collaborating again to bring both graduate and undergraduate students a networking opportunity with seed industry professionals. This event is an opportunity to meet online with 3 seed companies and to explore internship and employment opportunities. Attendance is limited to 24 students. If you wish to be one of them, please contact François Korn now to sign up: fkorn@seedcentral.org


Picnic Day

April 23
10 AM
Plant and Environmental Sciences Building
The PBC is returning to Picnic Day! This year we will be giving away ~1000 strawberry plants beginning at 10 AM in front of the Plant and Environmental Sciences building. We look forward to seeing you in person for this wonderful community event!


6th Innovators Showcase

May 12
Presented by Seed Central, the UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health, and UC Davis Venture Catalyst. Featuring 40 startups and innovative companies in ag and food, from seed to health. Click here to see the calendar of events!
 

News

UC Davis leads research in accelerated wheat-breeding

from The California Aggie

Bagels, crackers, pancakes, pizza, pasta and cereal all have one thing in common: wheat. These popular foods, among others, are the reason why wheat products account for nearly 20% of what people across the planet eat every day.

Between population growth and changing weather patterns, the wheat crop will face challenges keeping up with demand in coming years — but wheat breeders at UC Davis, in collaboration with other researchers across the country, are working to help the crop keep up. Read more...

 

Pam Ronald Wins Wolf Prize in Agriculture

from UC Davis News
UC Davis plant geneticist Pam Ronald has been named the recipient of the 2022 International Wolf Prize in Agriculture, given by the Jerusalem-based Wolf Foundation in recognition of her “pioneering work on disease resistance and environmental stress tolerance in rice.” Read more...

 

Mechanical harvesting may be future for peppers

An interview with Allen Van Deynze
by Kathy Coatney from Ag Alert

Labor shortages are driving mechanization in agriculture. For many commodities, it is mechanize or struggle to remain in business, and peppers are approaching that point.

Mechanical harvest is a No. 1 priority for the California Pepper Commission, and it has been for many years, according to Allen Van Deynze, director of the Seed Biotechnology Center at the University of California, Davis. He said growers are concerned about labor availability and look at mechanization as the answer. Read more...


Leafy greens studies seek to ward off mildew threats

An interview with Charlie Brummer
by Kathy Coatney from Ag Alert

Downy mildew is a primary disease problem for organic and conventional spinach growers in California.

While those growers turn to cultural management practices or chemical applications to protect their crops, researchers are looking for resistant varieties to ward off the disease. Read more...
 

Plant Breeding & Genomics

Did you know that Plant Breeding & Genomics extension (https://plant-breeding-genomics.extension.org/) has literally hundreds of tutorials and webinars with sample datasets and R-code for plant breeding analyses on for example how to run an across location ANOVA in R.  How to breed peanut? How to run a GWAS? How to setup an augmented design, etc.  This is a community of practice built over the last decade with a rich source of information for plant breeders. It is supported by the USDA and the National Association of Plant Breeders.

Job Opportunities

Assistant Professor of Strawberry Breeding and Genetics and Director Elect of the UC Strawberry Breeding Program

Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis
Read the full posting and apply here.

 

The Department of Plant Sciences in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis is recruiting an Assistant Professor of Strawberry Breeding and Genetics and Director-Elect of the Strawberry Breeding Program. This is an academic-year (9-month), tenure-track position with teaching, research, outreach/engagement, and service responsibilities. The appointee is expected to conduct mission-oriented research and outreach/engagement activities relevant to the California Agricultural Experiment Station (https://caes.ucdavis.edu/research/aes). This is an outstanding opportunity to lead the prestigious Strawberry Breeding Program of the University of California. We seek an exceptional candidate for this role, from either academia or industry, who is committed to developing and deploying cutting-edge plant breeding technology to ensure the continued development of successful commercial cultivars of strawberry with enhanced disease resistance, quality, and climate resilience for both field and indoor growing systems. Read a PDF of the posting here.

Two Junior Specialist Positions Open in Comai Lab

Plant Breeding Center's Twitter
Plant Breeding Center's Facebook
Plant Breeding Center's Website
Plant Breeding Center Staff:
 
Director:
Charles Brummer
ecbrummer@ucdavis.edu

Associate Director:
Allen Van Deynze
avandeynze@ucdavis.edu
 
 


Program Manager:
Amanda Saichaie
asaichaie@ucdavis.edu
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Plant Reproductive Biology Building
1106 Extension Center Drive
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA 95616

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