The focus in my laboratory involves the integration of classical and molecular genetic methodologies to identify and isolate genes in vegetable crops of potential agricultural value in conjunction with evaluations of utility in field agroecosystems. Our emphasis has concentrated on the characterization of genes coding for the enhancement of chemoprotectant phytochemicals that promote human health, fresh market eating quality (taste, texture, and aroma), seed germination and stand establishment, cold tolerance, and resistance to plant pathogens and insects in sweet corn, tomatoes, and brassica vegetables. This program is interdisciplinary integrating expertise in genetics and molecular biology, plant breeding, biochemistry, food science and nutrition, post-harvest physiology, pharmacology and toxicology of foods, entomology, plant pathology, and statistics. Recently we have emphasized the use of DNA marker technology to characterize genes controlling qualitative and quantitative trait variability and as a tool for marker-assisted selection.
