Title: Genetic variation is a key resource for crop improvement.

Biography:

Dr. Rosalyn A. Shim officially joined the Plant and Soil Science faculty in April 2017 as an Assistant Professor for Breeding and Genetics. Prior to joining Texas Tech, Dr. Shim worked as a research faculty in the Laboratory of Plant Molecular Bio systems in Nagoya University, with a courtesy appointment at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines.

Dr. Shim received her bachelor's degree in Biology and master's degree in Genetics (minor in Plant Breeding) from the University of the Philippines-Los Banes in the Philippines. Her doctorate in Agricultural Sciences is from the Nagoya University in Japan. She is a member of the Philippine Society for the Advancement of Genetics and Crop Science Society of the Philippines. She also currently serves as an Honorary Scientist and Advisor on Agricultural Science and Technology in Rural Development Administration of the Republic of Korea

Abstract

 Genetic variation is a key resource for crop improvement. The overriding emphasis on a small number of key traits such as yield and plant architecture during crop domestication has significantly narrowed the genetic diversity in present-day domesticates, resulting in the vulnerability of crops to both biotic and abiotic challenges. The laboratory of Dr. Shim explores the genetic variation present in the wild relatives of crops that can be used to improve various agronomic traits in crops such as cotton, tomato and rice. Using both genetics and genomics tools, her research group identifies genes controlling target agronomic traits from wild or exotic genetic libraries for mapping, cloning, functional validation and marker-assisted breeding.  Another important focus of Dr. Shim's laboratory is the elucidation of the underlying genetic basis of preferential chromosome transmission from the wild to the cultivated crop species. Findings from such research would form basis for the more effective and widespread utilization of wild relatives of crops as a reservoir of important genes for crop improvement.