HIGH-THROUGHPUT PLANT DITECH PHENOTYPING FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCY IN LEGUMES SPECIES

This project aims to improve the PI?s legume genetics research through training in the newest phenotyping tools. The professional development grant will allow the PI to collaborate with UF as a host institution and has full support of the director of the Homestead station where legume crops are important. The PI for this project, Dr. Blair has one of the few legume genomics/breeding programs in the Southeastern region that is evaluating physiology traits but is limited by field evaluation for drought tolerant genotypes. Targeted long term outcome is legume varieties resistant to drought. The TSU program would benefit from advanced phenotyping to support varietal improvement. UF is one of the major sites for breeding of commercial snap beans in the USA. Immediate objectives of this grant are 1) Training in DiTech platform in screening for drought stress; 2) Identification of differential Drought Stress (DS) tolerance in four legume species; and 3) Training impacts for undergraduate and graduate TSU students.Objectives and outcomes are aligned with NIFA priority to enhance sustainability of US Agriculture. The research and teaching activities support the strategic College-wide goal of developing world-class agriculture and biotechnology programs at Tennessee State University (TSU). The UF laboratory has the advantage of being fully integrated from genetics to plant physiology, currently managed by Dr. Charles "Gilly" Evans, center director for TREC in Homestead who is willing to collaborate with Dr. Blair and support his teaching goals at TSU and overall mission of 1890s Land Grants.