Xiaofei Zhang started this month as an assistant professor in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, specializing in molecular genetics and breeding of small grains crops. His top priority, he said, will be developing wheat varieties that are highly productive for forage and that also have high grain yield and good quality.
UC Davis wheat geneticist Jorge Dubcovsky received a 7-year, $6.3M extension from HHMI to improve wheat by reducing allergens, studying flowering traits, and boosting grain yields—efforts with global food and health impact.
New tomato lines bred with Solanum sitiens—a wild plant from Chile’s Atacama Desert—may boost heat, drought, and salt tolerance in future crops. UC Davis is sharing 56 new lines for global research and breeding efforts.
The African Orphan Crops Consortium has trained 161 African scientists to improve 101 underutilized crops, aiming to fight malnutrition and stunting. Their work could benefit 700 million people in sub-Saharan Africa.
Vincent D’Antonio, longtime UC Davis staff research associate in vegetable crops, passed away at 74. He supported celery and Brassica breeding for 30 years and is remembered for his dedication, kindness, and love of sports.
UC Davis’ SCOPE program received a $2M USDA grant to expand student-led organic plant breeding. New crops, new partners, and collaboration with UC Santa Cruz aim to share the model and support organic agriculture across climates.
UC Davis’ Joshua Hegarty received an $800K USDA grant to breed triticale with better bread-baking qualities while maintaining high yields and low input needs, aiming to boost food security and value for farmers worldwide.
UC Davis Strawberry Breeding Program releases five new strawberry varieties that resist Fusarium wilt, offering high yields and improved fruit quality. These varieties—UC Eclipse, UC Golden Gate, UC Keystone, UC Monarch, and UC Surfline—are designed to meet California's growing agricultural needs and replace susceptible cultivars.
UC Davis’ Charlie Brummer urges a shift from single-crop to multi-crop farming to boost sustainability, reduce costs, and slow climate change. A full-system approach, including policy reform, is key to supporting the transition.
Top plant scientists from across Africa are undergoing training in gene editing for crops through the UC Davis African Plant Breeding Academy. The course, focusing on CRISPR technology, aims to enhance crop adaptation to climate change and improve nutrition.
