Plant Breeding and Variety Trials

Investigating the microbiome and post-harvest quality of a lettuce diversity panel

Principal Investigator: Gail Taylor, UC Davis – Plant Sciences, 530-752-9165, gtaylor@ucdavis.edu

Establish a fully replicated, blocked design field trial of a lettuce genome-wide association population comprising ~500 accessions. Conduct genome-wide association analyses to identify significant marker-trait associations for microbiome and leaf traits.

Broccoli and cabbage seed trials

Principal Investigator: Jairo Diaz, UC ANR DREC, 760-791-0521, jdiazr@ucanr.edu

Evaluate commercial broccoli and cabbage seed varieties under local growing conditions.

Wheat variety evaluation

Principal Investigator:Mark Lundy, UC Davis – Plant Sciences, 530-902-7295, melundy@ucdavis.edu

The objective of this research is to evaluate commercial and advanced small grain varieties in order to identify and develop superior varieties for California growers. Here you can find info about trial results  http://smallgrains.ucanr.edu/Variety_Selection/

Breeding baby leaf spinach for California growers

Principal Investigator: Charles Brummer, UC Davis – Plant Sciences, 530-574-6133, ecbrummer@ucdavis.edu

To screen and evaluate breeding populations in conventional and organic fields in the Salinas Valley (spring-fall) and Imperial Valley (DREC in winter), and continue to develop the breeding program pipeline for cultivar delivery.

Carrot germplasm

Principal Investigator: Jaspreet Sidhu, UCCE Kern County, 661-868-6222, jaksidhu@ucdavis.edu

The objectives of the project are to establish a winter carrot nursery and to have commercial carrot varieties from various seed companies planted in side by side comparisons for a carrot field day.

Organic carrot trials

Principal Investigator: Jaspreet Sidhu, UCCE Kern County, 661-868-6222, jaksidhu@ucdavis.edu

This project evaluates experimental breeding stocks to address needs of the organic carrot crop production industry.

Wheat breeding for the Imperial Valley

Principal Investigator: Jorge Dubcovsky, UC Davis – Plant Sciences, 530-752-5159,

jdubcovsky@ucdavis.edu

The overall goal of this project will continue to be the production and evaluation of new durum varieties and improved germplasm to be distributed to growers, breeders, and other researchers. 

For further information please visit: http://smallgrains.ucanr.edu/  http://ucanr.edu/blogs/smallgrains/index.cfm

Crop quality reports for Desert Durum: http://californiawheat.org/industry/ca-crop-quality-reports/desert-durum-crop-quality/

Winter nursery for new cereal varieties

Principal Investigator: Mike Oro, Field Crop Development Center, Olds College - Canada, 403-391-8671, moro@oldscollege.ca

To evaluate genetic lines of barley, wheat, and triticale that have potential for genetics and commercial applications. 

Alfalfa germplasm evaluation

Principal Investigator: Charles Brummer, UC Davis – Plant Sciences, 530-574-6133,

ecbrummer@ucdavis.edu

To evaluate new sources of alfalfa germplasm for productivity and persistence under heat, limited water, and salinity using subsurface drip irrigation. 

Alfalfa breeding nursery

Principal Investigator: Charles Brummer, UC Davis – Plant Sciences, 530-574-6133,

ecbrummer@ucdavis.edu

We will be evaluating individual plants from a number of experimental populations in order to select persistent, disease and insect resistant, and high yielding plants to develop populations that will be evaluated for potential cultivar release.