Vegetable Breeding, Genetics & Genomics: May 2018

May 2, 2018

Gummy Stem Blight Research Project featured

Our collaborative research project on the early detection of Gummy stem blight in greenhouses and fields were featured in CAES Newswire. This is a collaborative project with Drs. Bhabesh Dutta and Marin Brewer in UGA Plant Pathology and is funded by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Jorge Reyes (Ph.D. student) testing a spore trap

About the Lab

Our research program focuses on developing molecular tools for watermelon and integrating these tools into our breeding program. Thus we strive to bridge the gap between basic genomic research and applied cultivar development.

Our current research projects endeavor to identify loci and genes associated with important fruit, seed, flower and disease resistance traits in watermelon.

Participants in our research group gain experience in field, greenhouse and laboratory research as well as genomic analysis and bioinformatics. The majority of research is carried out by graduate and undergraduate students, as well as high school students through the Young Scholars Internship Program.