Agricultural News
New Researcher Takes Reins of Noble Small Grains Breeding Program
Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:54:16 CDT
Mark Newell, Ph.D., joined the Noble Foundation this year as a new principal investigator and became only the fifth researcher in the last 60 years to lead the organization's small grains breeding program.
Newell will focus specifically on improving two species - rye and oats. While regional producers use wheat for both grain and livestock grazing, rye and oat are strictly grazed. "Ranchers depend on small grains for cattle production from September through May," Newell said. "So providing varieties with improved performance can have a significant impact."
Newell's journey to small grains began with a very different plant. A native of Colorado, he was working toward a degree in forest biology at Colorado State University (CSU) when he crossed paths with Mark Brick, Ph.D., who introduced Newell to plant breeding with a project on dry beans (better known as pinto beans). Newell finalized his bachelor's degree in 2005, but the impact of the genetic breeding project redirected his focus. He remained at CSU to work with Brick on a master's degree in dry beans breeding.
He delved into small grains - specifically oats - during his doctoral research at Iowa State University. His research used molecular data in concert with traditional plant breeding, where researchers select superior plants based on physical characteristics and molecular information. Graduating in 2011, he soon found the Noble Foundation.
"Mark's background and research was a nice fit, especially when you look at how we use both genetic and traditional breeding methods," said Charles Brummer, Ph.D., director of the Forage Improvement Division. "We are confident in his ability to write the next chapter in our storied small grains breeding program, which released its first variety to the public in 1956."
Breeding improved traits into cereal rye is a bit trickier than other small grains. Rye must cross with another plant, which differs from "self-pollinators," like wheat, that can inbreed. Newell will implement breeding processes largely different than past practices by selecting the best plants based on the performance of half-siblings rather than an individual plant to increase efficiency.
"There are very few breeders looking at rye as forage; maybe one other breeder in the United States. And we are certainly the first to use these breeding techniques in small grains," Newell said. "I believe this gives us an advantage for producing the best possible outcomes for regional agricultural producers."
He will also approach breeding oats in a similar manner. "There is a pretty clean slate concerning oats," he said. "There is not a lot of work done on oat for forage, so there is tremendous room for improvement." Newell will be evaluating lines and germplasm to identify sources of good winter hardiness since winterkill is a major challenge for oats in Oklahoma and northern Texas.
Throughout this spring, Newell has spent considerable time reviewing the historical data and decades of projects as he laid the foundation of his breeding program. "Not many organizations have such a rich legacy with small grains," Newell said. "This is a tremendous opportunity, and I'm thrilled to be conducting such important work."
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