Scientists in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences are developing cultivars of pasta wheat that resist the deadly fungus that causes stripe rust and threatens the world's wheat production. Resistant bread wheat is up next.
Retired professor and agronomist Robert “Bob” LeRoy Travis, Jr., was a UCD alum who taught at UC Davis from 1976-2006 and enjoyed a wide variety of hobbies.
Xiaofei Zhang, in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, has a federal grant to develop bread wheat that will grow short, but without the problems that come with short-stature wheat currently available.
Aiming at big problems in ag, scientists in the lab of Eduardo Blumwald, in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, developed wheat that stimulates bacteria in the soil to produce fertilizer. It would save farmers billions of dollars, slash water and air pollution and help people in developing countries.
New varieties of wheat, oats, barley and alfalfa are available or are being developed to give growers flexibility for their local growing conditions, weather and markets. Plus, early results from on-going trials in wheat under dry conditions were described during the recent UC Davis Small Grains/Alfalfa Field Day at UC Davis.
Former department Chair Chris van Kessel and wife Betsy have given $500,000 to establish an endowment to help graduate students studying field crops. With the UC Davis Give Day Challenge now open, you can be a part of this life-changing, world-bettering opportunity!
A nation-wide project led by Charlie Brummer, a professor in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, has received a grant of $936,000 over the next three years from the Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage Research Program, within the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Scientists are seeking the genetic basis for breeding new varieties of alfalfa that can withstand the pressures of climate change and evolving pests and disease.
UC Davis researchers are evaluating new herbicides and no-till cultivation methods to address challenges in California rice production, including herbicide resistance, water scarcity, and production costs. Trials indicate potential benefits and trade-offs.
UC Davis agronomist Bruce Linquist was named a 2024 Soil Science Society of America Fellow for his leadership in sustainable rice farming. His research on reducing tillage and water use helps farmers cut costs while improving soil health.
Alfalfa offers a drought-resilient, high-protein crop for both livestock and human use. UC Davis researchers are exploring ways to improve yield, protein extraction, and resilience while testing almond shells as a soil amendment to enhance water infiltration.
