Esdras M. Carbajal
EC
Bio
- Degree Program: Ph.D., Crop Science, North Carolina State University
- Previous Degrees: M.S., Crop Science, North Carolina State University
- Advisor: Dr. Susana Milla-Lewis
- Thesis: Breeding for Improved St. Augustinegrass through Ploidy Manipulation and Identification of Gray Leaf Spot-Resistant Germplasm.
- Thesis Date: 2017-06-15
- PhD Completion Date: May 2024
Research
I am a member of the Turfgrass Breeding and Genetics Program at NC State. My research focuses on using interploidy breeding to improve turf quality and resistance to environmental factors in warm-season grasses. Using embryo rescue and tissue culture, I will create triploid lines of St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum). For centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack)., I will be using chemical agents to double the number of chromosomes. I will also be screening accessions of bermudagrass for shade and drought tolerance.