Plant Breeding Consortium

With more than 35 core faculty actively developing new cultivars, germplasms, and parental lines - the consortium has more plant breeders than any other U.S. university.

Vision

World-class programs committed to graduating the best plant breeders and to helping address agriculture problems and opportunities through plant breeding and strategic partnerships.

Mission

To foster collaborative research, innovation, and education in plant breeding. We strive to prepare the next generation of plant breeders, and develop resilient, high-yielding crop varieties that address regional and global agricultural challenges, promote food security, and sustainably support the needs of future generations, through interdisciplinary expertise.

Crop Cultivars

NC State Plant Breeding Consortium programs use conventional and genomic-assisted breeding techniques to develop numerous cultivar lines that benefit local, regional, and international communities.

Computing Skills in Plant Breeding Workshop

Join us from December 9 – 13, 2024 to develop skills essential for plant breeders in various aspects of your work. The early registration deadline is Monday, September 30, 2024, and the final deadline is Monday, November 25, 2024.

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International Plant Breeding Seminar Series

Discover a webinar platform that provides a unique opportunity for plant breeders from all around the world to connect and learn about the latest advancements in plant breeding.

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Interdisciplinary Plant Breeding Teams

The consortium is interdepartmental and focuses on a full range of research programs, courses, and crops. Plant breeders at NC State are based in different colleges (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and College of Natural Resources) and departments (Crop and Soil Sciences, Forestry and Horticultural Science), while other departments, such as Entomology and Plant Pathology, have faculty who are extensively involved in breeding programs for field crops, horticultural crops, and trees. In addition, faculty members who provide strong support are located in the departments of Statistics, Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, Plant Biology, and Genetics. Totally, more than 65 faculty members provide skills in DNA-based marker technology, plant transformation, genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics in addition to basic field breeding.

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July 25, 2024

Advancing Miscanthus: A Better Bioenergy Crop

Distinguished Professor Tom Ranney’s research has led to the development of new triploid bioenergy grasses with an array of optimal characteristics for growers and the environment.

June 05, 2024

Carlos Iglesias appointed to USDA Specialty Crop Advisory Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today the appointment of 14 members to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board. Eight members are new appointments and six members are re-appointments.

May 29, 2024

Craig Yencho Earns 2024 O. Max Gardner Award

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences professor and internationally acclaimed plant breeder has received the University of North Carolina System’s highest faculty honor.

Dr. Carlos Iglesias

Director of the Plant Breeding Consortium