plant breeding

Leandro Tonello Zuffo, a PhD student visiting from Federal University of Viçosa in Brazil with an interest in agronomy arrived to Iowa State University on August 30, 2018 and is conducting research with Dr. Thomas Lubberstedt. Leandro’s research focus is on the application of tools and methods provided by genome analysis to understand the composition of complex traits and phenomena, to determine and exploit genetic diversity in elite and exotic germplasm and apply this knowledge to plant breeding.

New research published this week identifies the genomic features that might have made domestication possible for corn and soybeans, two of the world’s most critical crop species.

The research, published Wednesday in the peer-reviewed academic journal Genome Biology, has implications for how scientists understand domestication, or the process by which humans have been able to breed plants for desirable traits through centuries of cultivation. The researchers drew on vast amounts of data on the genomes of corn and soybeans and compared particular sections of the genomes of wild species and domestic varieties, noting where the genomes diverged most markedly.

Dr. Irving Carlson joined the agronomy family as a plant breeder in 1960. He passed away February 23, 2019 at the age of 92.

After getting his bachelor's and masters at Washington State University, he earned his PhD in plant breeding at the University of Wisconsin in 1955. He spent four years at North Carolina State University before coming to Ames. 

A key focus of his work was the development of new varieties of orchard grass and other cool season forage crops. In addition, Irving advised many graduate students from around the country and around the world.