Sweet Corn Genomics and Breeding
At University of Florida
WHAT WE DO
Welcome to the Sweet Corn Genomics and Breeding lab, based at the University of Florida. The lab is led by Dr. Marcio Resende and focuses on the genetic improvement of sweet corn. The overall research goals of our lab are to characterize and understand the genetic mechanisms underlying traits relevant to sweet corn production, and to identify DNA variants that can be introduced into elite inbred lines to improve these traits.
In addition, a big priority of our lab is to train students in plant breeding, quantitative genetics, molecular biology, bioinformatics and genomics.
Come work with us!
If you are interested in joining our lab, please send us your CV. The Resende Lab is often recruiting undergraduates who wish to gain experience in molecular biology and plant breeding.
Openings for graduate students and/or postdocs depend on availability of grant funds.
Contact:
Dr. Marcio Resende
Assistant Professor, Sweet Corn Breeding and Genomics, University of Florida
OUR ADDRESS
Horticultural Sciences Department | IFAS - University of Florida
Address: 2250 Hull Road, Fifield Hall, Room 2135, Gainesville, FL 32611
Email: mresende@ufl.edu
Tel: (352) 273-4772
Questions about sweet corn? Contact us:
Sweet Corn Breeding
The lab has an active breeding program working on the development of sweet corn inbred and hybrid lines that are aimed at addressing the concerns of the Florida growers. We are also interested in applied plant breeding and quantitative genetic research that can increase genetic gains and/or accelerate the breeding program. Traits of interest include yield, disease and insect resistance, and flavor, among others.
Applied Genomic Research
The lab has a strong research and training component in different 'omics' with an applied goal. Current projects include the use of metabolomics to predict food sensory panels, the development of genomic selection models to improve breeding and the analysis of transcriptome information for the detection of eQTLs. We also apply bioinformatic tools to support our research (ongoing projects include assembling the genome of sweet corn, Cochliobolus heterostrophus and Setosphaeria turcica)
Method Development
We are frequently inventing and developing new methods that can be applied to our research. In the past, these included new methods of sequencing-based genotyping, and algorithms for mate-pair allocation. We currently have ongoing developments involving gene-editing enzymes (Cas9 and Cpf1).
