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

Joe Bouton, Interim DirectorUniversity of Georgia

College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

A Brief History of “Modern” Plant A Brief History of “Modern” Plant Breeding at the University of GeorgiaBreeding 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 UGAPlant 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 Enhancing Infrastructure and ProgramsPrograms

• 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 InstituteFormation of the InstituteResponse 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 UGA/CAES Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and GenomicsBreeding, 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 Institute of Plant BreedingPlant Breeding

• Only Institute in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

• 19 Graduate Faculty from:Crop & Soil Sciences andHorticulture

• Athens, Griffin, & Tifton Campuses

• 6 Adjunct members &Affiliate members

– (including USDA-ARS)

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Organizational InformationOrganizational 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, The UGA Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and GenomicsGenetics, 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 SupportersIPBGG Supporters

• Strong support from many groups – especially

– GA Crop Improvement Association– GA Seed Development Commission– GA Seedsmen Association– UGARF

Graduate Degree ProgramsGraduate 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 ProgramsUndergraduate 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 ChallengesFuture Challenges

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

2. Research farm availability

3. Greenhouse space

4. Maintain Cultivar Development Grant Program

5. Increase student numbers, particularly at Griffin and Tifton

6. Increase assistantships for students• Applicant number exceeds assistantship availability