Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics (IPBGG)

Joe Bouton, Interim Director University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

A Brief History of “Modern” Plant Breeding at the University of Georgia

•

1994

– UGA Research Foundation (UGARF) formalizes the licensing of GAES-developed cultivars •

1995

– UGARF Cultivar Development Grant Program – Uses royalty returns to fund applied cultivar development projects – 11 projects initially funded • Currently > $1.0 million/year + $0.7 million/year to program enhancements

Plant Breeding at UGA

•

21

– Faculty in Plant Breeding in CAES at UGA • More than any other US university •

~500

– – Cultivars released Many diverse species •

$3,800,000 per year

– Annual royalties from UGA-developed cultivars since 2007

Enhancing Infrastructure and Programs

• • • • • •

1997

– UGARF funds Plant Genome Analysis Equipment Grant ($0.75 million)

1998

– Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) funds UGA Plant and Animal Genomics Initiative ($27 million)

2001

– Center for Applied Genetic Technologies (CAGT) Building completed

2003

– GA Seed Development Commission and GRA endow Eminent Scholar in Crop Genomics ($1.5 million)

2005

– Michael A. Dirr Professorship (HORT)

2007

– Vincent J. Dooley Professorship (HORT)

Formation of the Institute

Response to need for breeders & strong support from state and national seed companies • • • •

2006

– USDA designates Plant Breeding, Genetics & Genomics as a ‘National Needs’ area

2008 – Spring

– Board of Reagents approve Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics – officially begins 1 July 2008. (Jerry Cherry and Roger Boerma)

2008 – Fall

– BOR approves MS and PhD programs in Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics (David Knauft)

2010 – Summer

– – PBGG course designation obtained Have 16 PBGG courses

UGA/CAES Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics

•

Missions

– To develop improved plant cultivars (varieties) from agronomic and horticultural species of importance to Georgia, the United States, and worldwide. – To conduct research and train graduate students in modern plant breeding methodology and technique – including applying genetic and genomic tools to cultivar (variety) development.

* * *

• • • •

Institute of Plant Breeding

Only Institute in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences 19 Graduate Faculty from: Crop & Soil Sciences and Horticulture Athens, Griffin, & Tifton Campuses 6 Adjunct members & Affiliate members – (including USDA-ARS)

Organizational Information

• • • •

Director

(Interim) – Joe Bouton

Steering Committee

– David Knauft, Brian Schwartz, Paul Raymer

Graduate Coordinator

– Dayton Wilde

Administrative Assistant

– Sally McDonald

The UGA Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics

•

We define success as

– Benefitting our clientele by providing improved plant cultivars for licensing – Enhancing the teaching mission of UGA by educating and training the next generation of plant breeders and plant geneticists – – Accelerating the rate of genetic gain in plants Establishing an “Area of Excellence” at UGA/CAES/CRSS/HORT for the future – Maintaining or increasing the capacity for plant breeding at UGA

IPBGG Supporters

• Strong support from many groups – especially – – – – GA Crop Improvement Association GA Seed Development Commission GA Seedsmen Association UGARF

Graduate Degree Programs

• • • • Institute is attracting very high quality applicants Currently 10 M.S. students and 13 Ph.D. students First 5 students graduated in spring 2009 – 9 graduated since then Most students have jobs months before graduating – Starting salary ~$90K – More jobs than students

Undergraduate Programs

• • Lack of undergraduate program – Major gap/deficiency • • 2 Georgia Seed Development Internships Undergraduate research training in individual programs Would like to be involved with the undergraduate Applied Biotechnology major – Great feeder program for graduate school in PBGG

Future Challenges

1.

• Retain faculty positions as breeders retire or move Boerma, Brummer, Dirr & Johnson 2.

3.

4.

5.

Research farm availability Greenhouse space Maintain Cultivar Development Grant Program Increase student numbers, particularly at Griffin and Tifton 6.

• Increase assistantships for students Applicant number exceeds assistantship availability