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Patrick Hayes
Professor, Crop and Soil Science
Associate Head, Barley Breeding and Products
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RESEARCH:
The objectives of the barley research project are to (i) develop novel genotypes that will maximize the profitability and sustainability of crop production and (ii) broaden our understanding of the genetic mechanisms controlling quantitative trait express ion. Barley is an ideal model system for these endeavors. There is a long history of classical genetics research in this diploid species, medium density genome maps are available, and quantitative trait loci controlling a number of economic ally important traits have been identified.
The cornerstones of the research effort are the production of doubled haploid stocks, molecular marker-based genome map construction, quantitative trait locus mapping, and validation of QTL effects in field trials. Through our participation in the North American Barley Genome Mapping Project, we have contributed to the development of genome maps in multiple doubled haploid mapping populations and we have used these maps to determine the chromosome locations of genes controlling agronomic traits, malting quality traits, and disease resistance.
Molecular marker-based analyses of quantitative disease resistance mechanisms should allow for the rapid and efficient development of varieties with durable resistance. The focus of the disease resistance effort is stripe rust, caused by Puccinia stiiformis fsp. hordei. We are developing a catalog of mapped resistance genes, piloting marker-assisted selection strategies, and building a platform for positional cloning.