Research Area

My research is in plant breeding and genetics on soft red winter wheat and spring oat, including variety and germplasm development. The overall goal of my research is to enhance the productivity and profitability of soft red winter wheat and spring oats. Several areas of emphasis include the improvement of yield, quality, and resistance to diseases. Much of my research is focused on scab (Fusarium head blight) resistance in wheat and barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) tolerance in wheat and oat.

Recent Cultivar Releases: The wheat variety Kaskaskia was released as a public variety in 1998. Kaskaskia has high yield potential, high test weight, and excellent winter hardiness. In addition, five soft red winter wheat lines have been released into commercial production as brand labeled varieties including the registration of a line for production in Canada. Two oat varieties, Rodeo and Chaps, were released in 1996. Both varieties have high yield potential. A third oat variety, Blaze, was released in 1998. Blaze also has quite high yield potential combined with good test weight, excellent BYDV tolerance, and good crown rust resistance. Another oat variety, Spurs, was released in 2003. Spurs has excellent yield potential, very good test weight and is tolerant to BYDV and moderately resistant to crown rust. Oat varieties Buckskin and Tack were released in 2006. Buckskin has very high yield potential and Tack was released because of exceptionally high test weight. A new variety will be named and released in 2009-2010. This variety (which has not yet been named) combined high yield potential with high test weight and earliness. A second breeding line will be released in cooperation with Cornell University for production in New York and the Northeast. This line has yielded very well in evaluations in New York. These varieties will provide improved profitability to producers through higher returns per acre.

Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus: Several studies have been conducted on BYDV. The objectives in these studies are to increase our knowledge of BYDV tolerance in oat and wheat, develop materials that have better tolerance to BYDV, or develop germplasm that can be used to study the inheritance of BYDV and molecular markers associated with genes for BYDV tolerance. One project is aimed at evaluating near-isogenic lines of oats that differ only in their level of BYDV tolerance. These lines are quite useful as research tools both for studying BYDV and also for molecular marker mapping studies. Some of the genotypes developed in this project have been used in several research projects studying BYDV in oats.

Scab Resistance: A major emphasis in my research and breeding program is on scab (Fusarium head blight) resistance in wheat. Scab and septoria have become more severe as more farmers adopt conservation tillage practices. The additional plant residue on the surface harbors the spores for these diseases. Development of resistant varieties is important to reduce severe losses in yield and quality due to these pathogens. We are working on the development of scab resistant genotypes by using greenhouse evaluations and evaluations in a misted, inoculated field nursery to select for scab resistance. In addition, we are using molecular markers to identify chromosomal regions of wheat with quantitative trait loci for scab resistance. This research will continue to be an area of emphasis in my program due to the importance of scab resistance to the wheat producers of Illinois.

Teaching Responsibilities

Since 2000 I have served as the Crop Sciences Teaching Coordinator. I teach CPSC 453 Principles of Plant Breeding each spring semester. The objectives for this course are for the students to learn to apply genetic principles to plant breeding, to understand tools used by plant breeders, and to understand plant breeding methods used with different plant species. Along with Dr. Darin Eastburn, I am responsible for CPSC 498, Undergraduate Seminar, which is offered each fall semester and provides juniors in the department the opportunity to sharpen their teamwork skills, enhance their resume and interview skills, and learn about business etiquette in professional settings.

Recent Publications (2000 - 2009)

• Barbosa-Neto, J. F., W. Siripoonwiwat, L. O’Donoughue, S. M. Gray, D. M. Smith, F. L. Kolb, C. Gourmet, C. M. Brown, and, M. E. Sorrells. 2000. Chromosomal regions associated with barley yellow dwarf virus resistance in oat. Euphytica 114:67-76.
• Perry, K. L., F. L. Kolb, B. Sammons, C. Lawson, G. Cisar, and H. Ohm. 2000. Yield effects of barley yellow dwarf virus in soft red winter wheat. Phytopathology 90:1043-1048.
• Kolb, F. L., and N. J. Smith. 2000. Registration of ‘Kaskaskia’ wheat. Crop Sci. 40:1494-1495.
• Jin, H., L. L. Domier, X. Shen, and F. L. Kolb. 2000. Combined AFLP and RFLP mapping in two hexaploid oat recombinant inbred populations. Genome. 43:94-101.
• Kolb, F. L., G-H. Bai, G. J. Muehlbauer, J. A. Anderson, K. P. Smith, and G. Fedak. 2001. Host plant resistance genes for Fusarium head blight: Mapping and manipulation with molecular markers. Crop Sci. 41: 611-619.
• Bacon, R, J. P. Murphy and F. L. Kolb. 2001. Chapter 18:U.S. Soft Wheat Pool. In Alain P. Bonjean,and William J. Angus (eds.), The World Wheat Book. Lavoisier Cachan, Cedex, France. p. 469-478.
• Bai, G-H, R. Plattner, A. Desjarins, and F. L. Kolb. 2001. Resistance to Fusarium head blight and deoxynivatenol accumulation in wheat. Plant Breeding 120:1-6.
• Pal, N., J. S. Sandhu, L. L. Domier, and F. L. Kolb. 2002. Development and Characterization of microsatellite and RFLP-derived PCR markers in oat. Crop Sci.42:912-918.
• Zhou, W.C., F.L. Kolb, G-H. Bai, G. Shaner, and L.L. Domier. 2002. Genetic analysis of scab resistance QTL in wheat with microsatellite and AFLP markers. Genome 45: 719-727.
• Zhou, W-C., F.L. Kolb, G-H. Bai, L.L. Domier and J-B. Yao. 2002. Effect of individual Sumai 3 chromosomes on resistance to scab spread within spikes and deoxynivalenol accumulation within kernels in wheat. Hereditas 137:81-89.
• Zhou, W-C., F.L. Kolb, G-H Bai, L.L. Domier, L.K. Boze, and N.J. Smith. 2003. Validation of a major QTL for scab resistance with SSR markers and use of marker-assisted selection in wheat. Plant Breeding 122:40-46.
• Bai, G-H., P-G. Guo and F. L. Kolb. 2003. Genetic relationships among scab resistant cultivars of wheat based on molecular markers. Crop Sci. 43:498-507.
• Zhu, S., F.L. Kolb and H.F. Kaeppler. 2003. Molecular mapping of genomic regions underlying barley yellow dwarf tolerance in cultivated oat (Avena sativa L.). TAG 106:1300-1306.
• Zhou, W-C., F.L. Kolb, G-H Bai, L.L. Domier, L.K. Boze, and N.J. Smith. 2003. Validation of a major QTL for scab resistance with SSR markers and use of marker-assisted selection in wheat.  Plant Breeding 122:40-46.
• Zhou, W-C, F.L. Kolb, J-B Yu, G-H Bai, L. K. Boze, and L.L. Domier. 2004. Molecular characterization of Fusarium head blight resistance in Wangshuibai with simple sequence repeat and amplified fragment length polymorphism markers. Genome 47: 1137-1143.
• Weisz, R., Tartleton, B., Murphy, J.P., and Kolb F. L. 2005. Identifying soft red winter wheat cultivars tolerant to Barley yellow dwarf virus. Plant Dis. 89:170-176.
• Browne, R.A., Murphy, J.P., Cooke, B.M., Devaney, D., Walsh, E.J., Griffey, C.A., Hancock, J.A., Harrison, S.A., Hart, L.P., Kolb, F.L., McKendry, A.L., Milus, E.A., Sneller, C., and Van Sanford, D.A. 2005. Evaluation of Fusarium head blight resistance in U.S. soft red winter wheat germplasm using a detached leaf assay. Browne, R. 2005. Evaluation of Fusarium head blight resistance in soft red winter wheat germplasm using a detached leaf assay. Plant Dis. 89-404-411.
• Zhou, W-C., F.L. Kolb, L.L. Domier, S-W Wang, and S. Wang. 2005. SSR markers associated with fertility restoration genes against Triticum timopheevii cytoplasm in Triticum aestivum. Euphytica 141:33-40.
• Zhou, W.C., F.L. Kolb, and D.E. Riechers. 2005. Identification of proteins produced in response to Fusarium head blight infection in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum). Genome 48:770-780.
• Kolb, F.L. and N.J. Smith. 2006. Registration of Spurs oat. Crop Sci. 46:1820-1821.
• Kolb, F.L., C. M. Brown, N.J. Smith and L.L. Domier. 2006. Registration of seven barley yellow dwarf virus tolerant oat germplasm lines. Crop Sci. 46:1830-1831.
• Kolb, F.L., C. M. Brown, N.J. Smith and L.L. Domier. 2006. Registration of six sets of near-isogenic spring oat germplasm lines differing in tolerance to barley yellow dwarf virus. Crop Sci. 46:1831-1832.
• Yu, J.B., G.H. Bai, W.C. Zhou, Y.H. Dong, and F.L. Kolb. 2008. Quantitative trait loci for Fusarium head blight resistance in a recombinant inbred population of Wangshubai / Wheaton. Phytopathology 98:87-94.
• Mikel, M.A. and F.L. Kolb. 2008. Genetic diversity of contemporary North American barley. Crop Sci. 48:1399-1407.
• Tinker, N. A., A. Kilian, C. P. Wight, K. Uszynska-Heller, P. Wenzl, H. W. Rines, Å. Bjørnstad, C. J.Howarth, J. Jannink, J. M.Anderson, B. G. Rossnagel, D. D. Stuthman, M. E. Sorrells, E.W. Jackson, S. Tuvesson, F. L. Kolb, O. Olsson, L. C. Federizzi, M. L. Carson, H. W. Ohm, S. J. Molnar, G. J. Scoles, P. E. Eckstein, J. M. Bonman, A. Ceplitis, T. Langdon. 2009. New DArT markers for oat provide enhanced map coverage and global germplasm characterization. BMC Genomics. 10:39 (http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/10/39).
• Bonin, C.M. and F. L. Kolb. 2009. Resistance to Fusarium Head Blight and Kernel Damage in a Winter Wheat Recombinant Inbred Line Population. Crop Sci. 49:1304-1312.

Professional Experience

2009-present	Jack A. and Marjorie S. Cavanah Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics
2001-present	Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics Dept. of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois
2000-present	Crop Sciences Teaching Coordinator
1993-present	Associate Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics Dept. of Agronomy and Dept. of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois
1987-1993	Assistant Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics Department of Agronomy, University of Illinois
1987-1987	Geneticist (Category II Scientist), USDA State College, Pa.

Education

Ph.D.: Pennsylvania State University	Agronomy - Plant Breeding	1987
M.S.: Pennsylvania State University	Agronomy - Plant Breeding	1983
B.S.: Pennsylvania State University	Biology	1976

Awards

• Jack A. and Marjorie S. Cavanah Professorship of Plant Breeding and Genetics, July 2009,
• NACTA Teacher Fellow, North American Colleges & Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA), June 2009,
• John Clyde and Henrietta Downey Spitler Teaching Award, College of ACES, 2009,
• Wyffels Hybrids Award for Faculty Excellence, Department of Crop Sciences, 2008,
• Karl E. Gardner Advising Award, College of ACES, 2008,
• Teaching Award of Merit, North American Colleges & Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA), April 2007,
• Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) Fellow — Nov. 2005,
• American Society of Agronomy (ASA) Fellow — Nov. 2003,

     

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