Plant Breeding and Genetics
Optimizing Crops for Colorado’s Landscapes
We understand the importance of developing solutions now to meet the production needs of our changing climate. Our goal is to develop optimized production crops that are high yielding and disease resistant.
Our graduate students play a crucial role in variety research and development. We utilize field research sites across the state and our students get the opportunity to focus their research in a variety of landscapes.
Plant Breeding and Genetics
Crop Breeding and Genetics
We have the unique challenge of improving crops to fit Colorado’s agricultural limitations like high elevations, unpredictable rainfall, and short growing seasons. Our efforts focus on breeding, development, and testing to improve cultivars and genetics in important crops like:
- Wheat
- Dry beans
- Barley
- Oilseed crops
- Corn
We also have a comprehensive crop molecular genetics program involving molecular mapping and characterization of agronomically important traits specifically for wheat, beans, and barley.
Plant Breeding Methods
Our department uses methodologies in genetic engineering, biotechnologies and innovation to understand benefits and risk outcomes in plant breeding. We use an interdisciplinary approach and employ several analytics in our work:
- Molecular marker mapping
- Quantitative trait locus analysis
- Marker-assisted selection
- Cytogenetics
- Quantitative and population genetics
- Physiological and statistical genetics
- Disease and insect resistance
- Improving crop nutritional value
Plant Breeding and Genetics Faculty
Take a moment to browse our faculty based on their specialized research areas.
- Wheat Breeding and Genetics – Esten Mason
- Crop Quantitative Genomics – Geoff Morris
Breeding and Genetics Graduate Programs
Master of Science in Soil and Crop Science, Plant Breeding and Genetics
We also offer a Ph.D. in Soil and Crop Sciences.
We have specific application requirements for our graduate programs. We only accept students who have already found a faculty advisor. Take a moment to browse our graduate program application requirements.
