Cultivars

Plant Breeders at NC State have made significant contributions to agriculture by developing new crop varieties tailored to local conditions by enhancing yields, resilience to pests and diseases, and improving quality for a diversity of crops. Our programs have benefited producers and consumers alike, while supporting profitable and sustainable farming practices.

Christmas Trees

The Christmas Tree Genetics Program uses advanced genotyping methods to develop cultivars with superior genetics, from aroma and needle retention to disease resistance.

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Cotton

The cotton breeding program at NC State broadens the genetic diversity of cotton by developing germplasm lines using genetic and genomic tools.

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Cucurbits

The Cucurbit Breeding Program focuses on developing and testing inbreds and hybrids for cucumber, melon, watermelon, and specialty gourds.

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Maize

The Maize Breeding and Genetics Program has developed over 150 inbred lines with an emphasis on novel genetic backgrounds, foliar disease resistance, and high yield.

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Ornamentals

The ornamental breeding program develops improved shrubs, trees, and sweetpotato vines that have contributed nearly $450 million in retail value and economic impact.

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Peanuts

The peanut breeding program focuses on Virginia type peanuts. Traits of interest include aesthetic shell quality, kernel size, flavor, oleic acid content, yield, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, and disease resistance.

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Small Fruits

Includes Southern highbush blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries.

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Soybeans

The USDA-ARS Soybean Breeding and Genetics Programs, in conjunction with NC State, aim to enhance genetic diversity, yield, drought, flood and heat tolerance. Other objectives include cultivars with high protein oleic acid, and/or oil content.

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Sweetpotatoes and Potatoes

NC State has one of the oldest and most impactful sweetpotato breeding programs in the country. The program also focuses on ornamental sweetpotato vines and potatoes.

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Tobacco

Approximately 70% of flue-cured tobacco acreage in the southeastern United States is planted to cultivars derived from the NC State tobacco breeding and genetics program. Disease resistance, yield, and curability are top traits the the selection process.

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Tomatoes

The Tomato Breeding Program, located at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, develops parental breeding lines and F1 hybrids.

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Turfgrass

The Turfgrass Breeding and Genetics Program is one of very few such programs in the transitional climatic zone of the U.S., focusing on cool- and warm-season species to address a wide array of biotic and abiotic stresses.

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Wheat and Small Grains

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