Date: Monday, 18 November 2019, 10:00 am (Manila Time) Venue: LGF, PGC building, A. Ma. Regidor St., University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101
Abstract In recent years, genetics and genomics has played an important role in facilitating the genetic improvement of plants. Different tools have been developed to examine the structure, function, and properties of genes controlling complex traits. The genetic diversity of germplasm found in existing gene banks through different breeding populations such as core collections, nested association mapping panels, mutants, recombinant inbred lines, and multiparent advance generation intercross populations in germplasm banks served as sources of desirable alleles for plant breeding. High-throughput phenotyping (HTP) platforms allowed collection of phenotypic information in a fast, accurate, and non-destructive manner. Next-generation sequencing technologies further accelerated the genetic mapping of loci controlling important traits in food crops. The dynamicity of the genome and the complexity of traits, nonetheless, remain a challenge for genetic improvement. Novel strategies such as genomewide association studies, bi-parental quantitative trait loci mapping, genomic predictions, and sequence-based mapping approaches rendered a better understanding of the genetic architecture of complex traits such as grain yield, disease resistance, plant height, and flowering time. Single-base pair variations in the genome, called single nucleotide polymorphism markers, has also revolutionized breeding and genetics for trait improvement. Integrating different genomic with HTP approaches should give a better understanding of the different biological processes in plants which could result in the development of improved varieties and improved genetic gains in breeding programs.
About the Speaker
Dennis Nicuh Lozada is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, USA. His present work involves the use of different genomic, marker-assisted, and high-throughput phenotyping strategies to increase genetic gains for important yield and agronomic traits in plant breeding programs. Dennis was a Monsanto Beachell-Borlaug Scholar and holds a PhD degree in Cell and Molecular Biology (Major in Plant Breeding and Genetics) from the University of Arkansas, USA. A lifelong learner and an advocate for agriculture, Dennis has been involved with two leading international agricultural centers, namely, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico.
An iteration of this talk will be held at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), PHTRC Annex from 10:30-11:30 am on November 21, 2019.
