Undergraduate Program Graduate
Program Research Announcements
Faculty and staff Extension
Positions Seminars
Intranet Molecular
Biology
Molecular biology researchers in the department are internationally recognized for their use of molecular approaches to address problems in horticultural species. Efforts range from seeking a better understanding of basic biology to pursuing novel strategies for quality improvement. In each instance, there are exciting new opportunities to meet demands for this spectrum of information and plant material. Areas of departmental investigation that are especially well-known include high-throughput molecular genetics and functional genomics (for tomato and corn), molecular analysis of fruit and seed development (for species from pepper to peach, corn to citrus, and tomato to melon), metabolic engineering for stress tolerance and nutritional features, and nuclear-organellar interactions. The department is also highly regarded for its programs in the molecular basis of sugar and hormone sensing, postharvest responses, and in the molecular dissection of disease, dormancy, and resource allocation. Gene mapping and interaction with classic breeding programs has also been a cornerstone of departmental efforts. New initiatives involve molecular genetics of flavor, aroma, and nutritional constituents, together with innovative approaches to understanding and controlling photomorphogesis, and applying molecular genetics in space biology.
RELATED INFORMATION