We study the hereditary information that makes plants different from other organisms and from one another. The importance of plants to sustaining humanity is reflected by the many ecosystem services they provide us, including oxygen, medicines, food, feed, fiber, fuel, erosion and flooding control, soil regeneration, and other benefits. Following closely on the success of the Human Genome Project, plant genomics is entering a Golden Era, with many exciting new opportunities to better understand the world around us and provide in a sustainable manner for the needs of humanity.

Our research falls into three general areas:

• Identification and implementation of DNA diagnostic tools that are predictive of specific plant characteristics such as disease resistance, improved productivity, or improved quality in close collaboration with scientists in several applied agricultural disciplines; thereby contributing to accelerated improvement of plants to better suit human purposes by traditional means such as classical plant breeding.
• Identification of specific genes that are responsible for characteristics important to plant development, evolution, or agriculture, and elucidating the function(s) of these genes.
• Elucidating plant biodiversity at the genic and genomic level; gaining better understanding of the 200-million-year history of flowering plant diversification from a hypothetical common ancestor, and better understanding specific molecular-level events that have contributed to the ability of flowering plants to colonize much of the Earth.

Virtually all of our work is closely tied to training the next generation of plant scientists, consistent with the mission of the University of Georgia.

The funds to support our research derive largely from federal and private-sector grants, contributing a substantial economic impact to our university and our community (we live here too!).