University of Florida Plant Breeders Perspectives
Presented
by Jay
Scott
1975 -2012
1. Severe reduction in Public Plant Breeding
Programs [eg. 1990-1994 lost 12.5 scientist years]
2. Increase in Private sector Plant Breeding [eg. 19901994 gained 32 scientist years]
Human Input
to Variety Development*
Private – 80%
SAES – 41%
USDA – 12%
* Source: Frey, K.J. 1996. National Plant Breeding Study
I. Human and financial resources devoted to plant
breeding research and development in the United States
in 1994. Spec. Rep. 98, Iowa State University, Ames.
Plant Breeding in an Academic Enterprise
• At UF, plant breeding has several goals:
1. Develop improved cultivars
2. Basic research (published)
• Improve the breeding process
• Discover new traits/molecular markers
3. Educate clientele about cultivars
4. Teaching
• Train new plant breeders
• Teach basics of plant breeding
Research
Extension
Teaching
Plant Breeding in a Commercial Enterprise
• In companies, plant breeding has several
goals:
1. Develop improved cultivars
2. Basic research (internal)
• Improve the breeding process
• Discover new traits
3. Sell cultivars to clientele
Research
Sales
The primary element in common between academic and commercial
plant breeding is cultivar development, so,
the chief goal of plant breeding is development of improved cultivars.
Plant Breeding in an Academic Enterprise
(in contrast to a Commercial Enterprise)
Goals of PB
Academic
Commercial
Improved cultivars
Basic Research
?
Educate growers
XX
Train new plant breeders
XX
Sales
XX
• The chief goal of plant breeding is improved cultivars.
• In private business, the path to sales is straightforward.
• In an academic enterprise, the path to sales is not.
• Sales/Commercialization is a necessity to meet the goal.
What is the role of UF-IFAS in the public
plant breeding process?
1. Manage personnel and support needed for
plant breeding research, teaching and
extension
2. Protect the integrity of UF-IFAS
–
Establish quality standards for cultivar release
• Cultivar release policy
–
Protect plant material from unauthorized use
• Manage MTA’s and Research Agreements
3. Establish rules by which funds are dispersed
–
UF Intellectual Property Policy
(http://www.research.ufl.edu/otl/pdf/ipp.pdf)
UF PLANT BREEDERS WORKGROUP
HISTORY/ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Formed in 1993, meet once a year, executive
committee meets with Dean of Research four
times a year
• With IFAS administration established a
breeder-friendly royalty plan for germplasm
releases
• Presently establishing a plant breeding
curriculum
• Promote plant breeding at UF
UNIQUE FEATURES OF UF PLANT
BREEDING VS. OTHER STATES
• Wide diversity of crops, several not
being bred (much) in the private
sector
• Subtropical environment-relevance
to worldwide tropical agriculture
• “No” neighboring states
•Plant Breeding Program
Overview
Faculty
Students
UF/IFAS PBWG
Breeding Impacts
UF Breeding Graduates
Worldwide
Contact Us
•Academics
Degree Programs
•Admissions
Requirements
How to Apply
Funding
For Int'l Students
•News and Events
Seminar Series
Workshop
Announcements
Awards
Employment Opportunities New Listings
Plant Breeding Program
Much of the plant agriculture in Florida depends on varieties developed by plant breeders at
the University of Florida. Plant breeding research at the University of Florida has lead to new
breeding methods, new varieties, and new production systems. Plant breeders are working
with molecular biologists to see where new technologies can be applied in Florida.
Prospective Students & Program Admissions
The University of Florida is a world-wide leader in providing graduate training in plant
breeding, and because many other land grant universities have reduced or eliminated their
plant breeding programs, it is today more important than ever that we maintain a strong
graduate program in plant breeding.
NEWS AND INFORMATION
Dr. Fred Gmitter
2011 FFVA Researcher of the Year
Dr. Paul Lyrene
2011 Florida Agricultural
Hall of Fame Inductee
http://breeders.ifas.ufl.edu
Agronomy Department
Faculty
Dr. F. Altpeter, Associate Professor
Dr. A. R. Soffes Blount, Associate
Professor
Dr. K. E. Kenworthy, Assistant
Professor
Dr. B. L. Tillman, Associate Professor
Location
Crop
FTE
Gainesville
Bioenergy/Turf
80%
Research
North
Florida
Forage/Turf
70%
Research
Gainesville
Turfgrass
70%
Research
North
Florida
Peanut
80%
Research
Plant Pathology
Dr. M. J. Davis, Professor
Citrus REC
Papaya
100%
Research
Environmental Horticulture
Faculty
Location
Crop
FTE
Gainesville
Coleus
70%
Research
Dr. Z. Deng, Associate Professor
Gulf Coast
Caladium,
Gerbera
Daisy,
Lisianthus
80%
Research
Dr. Rosanna Freyre, Research
Scientist
Gainesville
Ornamentals
100%
Research
Dr. R. J. Henny, Associate Professor
Mid-Florida
Ornamental
Foliage
Dr. D. G. Clark, Professor
Horticultural Science
Faculty
Crop
FTE
Dr. J. Chaparro, Associate Professor
Gainesville
Stone fruits
70%
Research
Dr. F. G. Gmitter, Jr., Professor
Citrus REC
Citrus
100%
Research
Dr. J. W. Grosser, Professor
Citrus REC
Citrus
Dr. Samuel Hutton, Assistant
Professor
Gulf Coast
Tomato
Dr. Huangjun Lu, Assistant Professor
Belle Glade
Lettuce,
Turfgrass
Dr. J. Olmstead, Assistant Professor
Gainesville
Blueberry
80%
Research
Dr. J. W. Scott, Professor
Gulf Coast
Tomato
80%
Research
Dr. Vance Whitaker, Assistant
Professor
Gulf Coast
Strawberry
80%
Research
80%
Research
UF BREEDING FACULTY SUMMARY
• Approximately 16 Breeding Faculty
• Six positions in Gainesville, others at
5 research centers
• Three breeders with teaching
appointments, others teach
breeding related courses
SOME UF PLANT BREEDING
CONCERNS
• Money
• Teaching Faculty, student numbers
in classes
• Loss of Faculty-wheat, clover (2),
squash, sweet corn
• Marketing of Varieties
A FEW UF PLANT BREEDING
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
•
•
•
•
•
•
‘Florida Staysweet’ sh2 sweet corn
Low chill blueberries and peaches
‘Festival’ strawberry
High oleic peanuts
Ice box watermelons
Fusarium wilt race 2 and race 3 resistant
tomatoes, Tasti-LeeTM tomato
Importance of Florida
Foundation Seed Producers to UF
Plant Breeders
 Vehicle to get cultivars produced and sold
 Manage commercialization proposals
 Assists with selection of companies to
license and sell through contract
negotiations
 Collect and distribute royalties
 Produce seed for peanut and small grains
Importance of Royalties
 Key funding source-no deadlines
 Allows for enhancement of future variety
development
 Allows for more fundamental research
 Provides funding for graduate student
education
 Important consideration for administration
in filling breeding positions
Rye Grass and Clover Royalty Expenditures, June 2011 – May 2012
$6,701.97 , 6%
$13,064.80 , 11%
Administrative
Employee Wage-Benefits
Grad Std. Wage-Benefits-Tuition
$14,467.32 , 13%
$21,124.17 , 19%
Operating
Repair and Mantenance
Travel
$35,522.90 , 31%
$23,176.38 , 20%
Royalties Accrued in 2011:
$ 81,320.86
Total Expenditures (Chart):
$114,057.54 [140%]
Expenditures of Peanut Royalties, June 2011- May 2012
$7,198 , 3%
$6,680 , 3%
$25,106 , 11%
Administrative OH (11%)
Employee Wage-Benefits
Grad Std. Wage-Benefits-Tuition
$40,102 , 17%
Operating
Repair & Maintenance
Travel
$38,893 , 17%
$111,428 , 49%
Royalties Accrued in 2011:
$203,381
Total Expenditures (chart):
$229,408 [113%]
Tomato Breeding Program June 2011-May 2012
$4,563
5%
$9,665, 11%
Administrative
Employee Earnings-Benefits
Grad Std. Wage-Benefit-Tuition
Repairs & Maintenance
$13,894, 15%
Other Operating Expense
Travel
$6,170, 7%
Royalties accrued in 2011:
$98,140
$6,838, 7%
$49,409, 55%
Total Expenditures (chart):
$85,976 [88%]
Strawberry Breeding Program June 2011-May 2012
$25,553, 7%
$38,292 11%
Administrative Overhead
Employee Earnings-Benefits
Grad Std Earnings-Benefits-Tuition
Repairs & Maintenance
Other Operating Expense
$72,027, 21%
Travel
$214,683, 63%
$13,245,
4%
$4,573,
1%
Royalties accrued in 2011:
$405.815
Total Expenditures (chart):
$368,376 [91%]
Plant Breeders Expectations
Regarding FFSP & FAES
 Timeliness in dealing with clientele groups:
-Documents adequate to protect all parties
but not unduly complex
-We are willing to help where needed
 Enforcement of contracts
 Marketing??
 Flexibility- One size does not fit all
 Maintain breeding program-friendly royalties
THE
END