Dr. Anson Elliott, director of the William H. Darr School of Agriculture at Missouri State University, recently received $30,295 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund an expansion of the graduate programs in order to meet employment demands.
The studentsĀ in the agriculture program have many opportunities to prepare for post-university life. In fact, Dr. Chin-Feng Hwang, associate professor in the State Fruit Experiment Station, and four students attendedĀ the 66thĀ American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) National Conference June 17-18 in Portland, Oregon.
All four students presented posters on their research. Mia Mann, plant science master’s student, was also selected to participate in the flash talk where students gave three-minute presentations on their research.
- Surya Sapkota, an MSU/University of Missouri collaborative Ph.D. student, presented a poster entitled āGenetic Study of Downy Mildew Resistance in Vitis aestivalis-derived āNortonā Based Populationā
- Logan Duncan, plant science master’s student, presented a poster entitled āGenetic Analysis of Dormant Rooting Potential in Vitis aestivalis–derived āNortonā Grapeā
- MannĀ presented a poster entitled āInterspecific Hybrid Identification and Linkage Map Construction of a Chambourcin x Cabernet Sauvignon Populationā
- Brigette Williams, plant science master’s student, presented a poster entitled āInvestigation into the Genetic Basis of Leaf Shape in Grapesā
Hwang was invited to serve as a moderator for a āViticulture Pests and Diseasesā session.
āThis event provided an excellent opportunity for the students to update their research progress and interact with researchers worldwide,ā said Hwang.
The overall goals of the MSU grape breeding program are to use genetic markers to rapidly deploy favorable alleles, accelerate breeding cycles for new cultivar release and train students in molecular genetic and genomic techniques required for their future careers.
āI am very grateful that our students represented MSU so well at the conference,ā added Hwang.
For more information on the conference, contact Hwang at (417) 547-7538.