Breeding Methodologies and Reproductive Biology
Who we are and what we do
The Breeding Methodologies group is formed of researchers working on a variety of plant and animal systems within IBERS, but primarily focuses on plant species including Lolium, legumes, oats and Miscanthus.
We are primarily interested in developing new approaches to plant breeding, developing novel technologies for genotyping and phenotyping and identifying the genetic basis of traits useful to breeders and for conservation.
The research programmes embrace modern genomics and are designed to underpin crop improvement programmes for inbreeding and outbreeding species. Methodologies developed are appropriate for a wide range of other species and our work also encompasses red kites, Welsh ponies, meat traceability, sticklebacks, snakes and woodmice.
The group benefits from close engagement with IBERS’ Public Good Plant Breeding Research Group which provides a test bed for hypothesis testing and integration of new breeding strategies for crop improvement.
Our research is focused on the following areas:
Association genetics & genomic selection
Crop evolution and domestication
Forward Genetics
Population development
Molecular breeding
Germplasm diversity and population genetics
Next-generation sequencing, genotyping and phenotyping
Group members
| Dr Catherine Howarth (Group Leader) | Professor John Doonan | Dr Anyela Camargo-Rodriguez | Dr Matt Hegarty |
| Dr Leif Skøt | Dr Danny Thorogood | Ms Victoria Avila | Dr Tina Blackmore |
| Dr Fiona Corke | Dr Rob McMahon | Mr Peter Muth | Dr Candida Nibau |
| Dr Dan Smith | Mr Ianto Thomas | Dr Gancho Slavov | Dr Maciec Bisega |
| Dr Rhys Kelly | Mrs Kirsten Skøt | Dr Charley Potter | Mrs Angharad Evans |
| Mrs Andi Macfarlane | |||
PhD students
Lu Liu
Odin Moron-Garcia
Maria Jose Martinez
Ilze Sjujina
Hazel Stuart
Shisheng Wang
Facilities
National Plant Phenomics Centre (NPPC)
Next-generation sequencing and genotyping