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Crop SciencesCollege of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences |
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Brian W. Diers
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Research Interests
Development of soybean varieties.
We are developing new soybean varieties for general
use and specialty markets through applied plant breeding.
Soybean yield.
In collaboration with Randall Nelson’s research
program, we are mapping genes that control soybean yield in populations developed
from crosses between exotic soybean germplasm and high yielding varieties. Our
goal is to map new yield increasing genes from the exotic soybean germplasm.
Resistance to soybean cyst nematodes.
Soybean cyst nematodes are the most destructive
soybean pest worldwide. We are studying resistance to this pest in new and existing
sources of resistance. We are especially interested in understanding what resistance
genes are in different resistance sources and the level of resistance these different
resistance genes provide. .
Resistance to soybean aphids.
We mapped a major soybean aphid resistance gene
in collaborations with Dr. Glen Hartman’s research program. Using markers linked
to this resistance gene, we are now developing varieties with this resistance.
In addition, we are fine mapping the aphid resistance gene and we are studying
the effects of the gene on other traits