Plant Breeding and Genetics Lab
Applying crop breeding, genetics, and genomics to develop stress-resilient crop varieties
Led by Professor Jesse Poland
As the most culturally and economically important crop in the KSA, date palm improvement through genomics-assisted breeding is paramount. We are developing genomic resources for date palm, improving germplasm collections and breeding populations.
Understanding the genome of wheat and its wild relatives is accelerating identifying novel genes in wild wheat that can be utilized to make wheat tolerant to harsh environmental conditions (e.g., diseases, heat stress and salinity)
The neodomestication of new halophytic (salt loving) species would enable cultivation on saline lands and utilization of saline water in agriculture. Through understanding the genome and the population structure of saltgrass, we are developing the foundation for breeding halophytic grain and forage crop in KSA that could be grown with seawater
Exploring the population structure and diversity of dragon fruit germplasm, to improve its production and breeding. It’s a high-value commercial fruit that can grow with limited water input.
Sesame is well adapted to heat- and drought-stressed environments, making sesame a high-value, climate-resilient crop of the future. This project in KAUST is focused on developing a next-generation hybrid seed system in sesame by engineering a targeted nuclear male sterility with CRISPR-Cas9.
