Current research activities are directed towards genetics and breeding in the genus Nicotiana. More specifically, research is being conducted to take advantage of biological features of these species in order to:

• develop and study improved and novel plant breeding methodologies
• understand the molecular basis of disease resistance in crop plants
• develop and deploy genetics-based technologies for eliminating or reducing harmful constituents contained in cured tobacco leaves (in cooperation with Dr. Ralph Dewey).

Methods used in our research are very diverse and include plant transformation, DNA marker based techniques, mutagenesis, and conventional field-based approaches.

Our research program also manages the United States Nicotiana Germplasm Collection
website: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/site.aspx?id=25

and the CORESTA Series of Smokeless Tobacco Reference Products
website: http://go.ncsu.edu/strp

Courses:
CS (GN, HS) 860 – Plant Breeding Laboratory I
CS (GN, HS) 861 – Plant Breeding Laboratory II

Co-Teach:
CS 211 – Plant Genetics