Institute of Plant Breeding,
Genetics, and Genomics (IPBGG)
Joe Bouton, Interim Director
University of Georgia
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
A Brief History of “Modern” Plant
Breeding at the University of Georgia
•
1994
•
1995
– UGA Research Foundation (UGARF) formalizes the licensing of
GAES-developed cultivars
– 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 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
Programs
•
1997
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1998
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2001
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2003
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– UGARF funds Plant Genome Analysis Equipment Grant ($0.75
million)
– Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) funds UGA Plant and Animal
Genomics Initiative ($27 million)
– Center for Applied Genetic Technologies (CAGT) Building
completed
– 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 Institute
Response to need for breeders & strong support from
state and national seed companies
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•
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
Breeding, 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
Plant Breeding
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Only Institute in the
College of Agriculture and
Environmental Sciences
19 Graduate Faculty from:
Crop & Soil Sciences and
Horticulture
Athens, Griffin, & Tifton
Campuses
6 Adjunct members &
Affiliate members
– (including USDA-ARS)
Organizational Information
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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,
Genetics, 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 Supporters
• Strong support from many groups – especially
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GA Crop Improvement Association
GA Seed Development Commission
GA Seedsmen Association
UGARF
Graduate 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 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 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