Plant Production

This research is focused on development of fundamental information in plant genetics and plant breeding technology with the purpose of making plant breeding more efficient and productive, and includes related technologies such as genomic database management.

Areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Sequencing of plant genomes and development or identification of molecular tools such as molecular markers, expressed sequence tags, and quantitative trait loci (QTL).
• Genetic structures and mechanisms.
• Genetic engineering technology, including development of regeneration and tissue culture techniques.
• Genetics of plant populations.
• Inheritance of traits.
• Plant genome databases and associated bioinformatics.

• Breeding for specific traits with direct purpose of releasing a crop variety or breeding line, even when using molecular tools such as molecular markers, expressed sequence tags, and QTL. (Use RPA 203, 204, 211, 212, 213, or 214)
• Use of genomic technology to characterize or evaluate germplasm. (Use RPA 202)
• Population genetics associated with germplasm preservation. (Use RPA 202)
• Forest and range plants. (Use RPA 121, 123, 124, or 125)

This research is focused on discovery, acquisition, preservation, characterization, and development of plant genetic resources for plant production or protection. Both in-situ and ex-situ preservation methods are included, as well as preservation of species and within-species variation.

Areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Acquisition and preservation of genetic resources.
• Germplasm characterization and evaluation, including screening for diversity or specific traits for production or protection.
• Biosystematics/taxonomy.
• Population genetics associated with germplasm preservation.
• Gene pool enrichment and pre-breeding activities such as interspecific crosses, introgression of traits into breeding lines, increasing frequencies of desirable genes within crop gene pools, and adaptation of material to daylength or other cultural requirements.
• Long-term storage of genetic materials, including seeds and vegetatively propagated materials.

• Breeding for specific traits, including the use of molecular tools such as molecular markers, expressed sequence tags, and QTL. (Use RPA 203, 204, 211, 212, 213, or 214)
• Seed processing for short-term storage or commercial use. (Use RPA 512)
• Forest and range plants. Use RPA 121, 123, 124, or 125)

This research is focused on understanding and improving plant productivity and quality affected by reduced inputs or abiotic stresses such as water, temperature, or nutrients.

Areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Biological mechanisms that affect actual or potential yields.
• Biological mechanisms related to water use and survival of water stresses (e.g., drought, flooding).
• Biological mechanisms related to the use of nutrients and survival of nutrient stress.
• Biological mechanisms related to survival of temperature stress (including freezing, chilling, and heat).
• Breeding (including genetic engineering) for biological efficiency or stress tolerance.
• Cultural practices to improve biological efficiency or stress tolerance.

• Basic plant biology. (Use RPA 206)
• Integration of this research into production management systems. (Use RPA 205)
• Breeding (including genetic engineering) for quality improvement. (Use RPA 204)
• Breeding (including genetic engineering) for host plant resistance. (Use RPA 211, 212, or 214)
• Breeding (including genetic engineering) for crop-weed management. (Use RPA 213)
• Evaluation of germplasm for variation in biological efficiency or stress tolerance. (Use RPA 202)
• Effects of abiotic factors on pests. (Use RPA 211, 212, 213,or 214)
• Effects of pollution stress on plants. (Use RPA 133)
• Forest and range plants. (Use RPA 121, 123, 124, 125, or 133)

This research is focused on maintaining or improving specific quality or utility parameters within biological material before harvest.

Areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Biological processes that affect product quality and utility.
• Breeding (including genetic engineering) for product quality and utility.
• Cultural practices that affect product quality and utility.
• Maintenance of seed quality.

• Basic plant biology. (Use RPA 206)
• Postharvest quality and utility. (Use RPA 502, 503, 511, 711, or 712)
• Integration of research results into production management systems. (Use RPA 205)
• Evaluation of germplasm for variation in specific quality or utility parameters. (Use RPA 202)
• Fundamental areas of genetics. (Use RPA 201)
• Seed processing technology. (Use RPA 512)
• Forest and range plants. (Use RPA 121, 123, 124, or 125)

This research is focused on integration of production practices into an integrated system for managing annual and perennial plant population densities, fertility, irrigation, and other cultural practices in an efficient and effective manner.

Areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Application of remote sensing and other automated sampling methodologies in managing plant population densities, fertility, irrigation, and other cultural practices.
• Modeling and decision support systems for use in managing plant population densities, fertility, irrigation, and cultural practices.
• Evaluation of integrated production management systems.

• Development of integrated pest management systems. (Use RPA 216)
• Application of remote sensing and other automated sampling methodologies for pest management. (Use RPA 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, or 216)
• Modeling and decision support systems for pest management. (Use RPA 216)
• Basic studies related to improving, maintaining, or restoring the inherent production capability of soils. (Use RPA 102)
• Forest and range plants. (Use RPA 121, 123, 124, or 125)

This research is focused on inquiry into fundamental processes and mechanisms in plants and model organisms basic to the life of the plant.

Areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Characterization of structure-function relationships and metabolic pathways.
• Mechanisms of energy transduction, conversion, and dissipation.
• Mechanisms of uptake, transport, and storage of nutrients and gases.
• Mechanisms of response to and transduction of biotic and abiotic factors.
• Processes in endophytic or free-living microorganisms related to basic processes in plants.
• Processes related to seed development, respiration, and germination.

• Genetic structures and mechanisms. (Use RPA 202)
• Plant population genetics. (Use RPA 202)
• Biological mechanisms that affect actual or potential yields. (Use RPA 203)
• Biological mechanisms related to biotic stress. (Use RPA 211, 212, 213, or 214)
• Forest and range plants. (Use RPA 121, 123, 124, or 125)

Plant Protection

This research is focused on reducing yield and quality loss due to indigenous and exotic insects, mites, and other arthropods.

Areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Population dynamics and ecology.
• Biosystematics/taxonomy.
• Impact of climate and other abiotic factors on pest biology and behavior.
• Cultural practices to reduce infestations or effects.
• Mechanisms of host plant resistance.
• Breeding (including genetic engineering) for host plant resistance.
• Pest resistance to control methods or strategies.
• Efficacy, product performance, application technology, and population management with conventional pesticides and biopesticides (including pheromones and growth regulators).
• Development of sampling protocols (including economic injury levels, action thresholds, and remote sensing and other automated sampling methodologies) and predictive models for single pests.
• Genetics, behavior, and management (health and productivity) of bees and other pollinators.

• Integration of control tactics into systems for managing single pests or pest complexes. (Use RPA 216)
• Development of sampling protocols or predictive models for pest complexes. (Use RPA 216)
• Biological control. (Use RPA 215)
• Development of remote sensing instruments. (Use RPA 404)
• Evaluation of germplasm for genetic variation in resistance to pests. (Use RPA 202)
• Fundamental areas of genetics. (Use RPA 201)
• Forest insects when research is not at the IPM systems level. (Use RPA 121, 123, 124, or 125)
• The role of insects, mites, and other arthropods in disease transmission. (Use RPA 212)
• Insect pests affecting humans. (Use RPA 721 or 722)
• Movement and dispersal resulting from airborne transport of pests. (Use RPA 132 or 133)

This research is focused on reducing yield and quality loss due to indigenous and exotic bacteria, fungi, nematodes, viruses, and other pathogens.

Areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Mechanisms of infection, reproduction, systemic spread, and pathogenesis.
• Epidemiology and ecology.
• Biosystematics/taxonomy.
• Mechanisms of host plant resistance.
• Breeding (including genetic engineering) for host plant resistance.
• Cultural practices to reduce incidence, severity, or impacts.
• The role of insects, mites, and other arthropods in disease transmission.
• Efficacy, product performance, application technology, and population management with conventional pesticides and biopesticides (including pheromones and growth regulators).
• Pest resistance to control methods and strategies.
• Development of sampling protocols (including economic injury levels, action thresholds, and remote sensing and other automated sampling methodologies) and predictive models for single pests.

• Integration of control tactics into systems for managing single pests or pest complexes. (Use RPA 216)
• Development of sampling protocols and predictive models for pest complexes. (Use RPA 216)
• Biological control. (Use RPA 215)
• Development of remote sensing instruments. (Use RPA 404)
• Evaluation of germplasm for genetic variation in resistance to pests. (Use RPA 202)
• Fundamental areas of plant genetics. (Use RPA 201)
• Movement and dispersal resulting from airborne transport of pests. (Use RPA 132 or 133)

This research is focused on reducing yield and quality losses due to competition from indigenous and exotic weeds, including aquatic weeds and parasitic plants.

Areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Population dynamics and ecology.
• Biosystematics/taxonomy.
• Effects of abiotic factors such as temperature, water, or nutrients.
• Weed seed studies, including dormancy, survival, and depredation.
• Cultural practices (including solar sterilization) to reduce weed populations or effects.
• Breeding (including genetic engineering) for crop-weed management.
• Efficacy, product performance, application technology, and population management with conventional pesticides and biopesticides (including growth regulators).
• Pest resistance to weed control methods and strategies.
• Development of sampling protocols (including economic injury levels and remote sensing and other automated sampling methodologies) and predictive models for weeds.

• Integration of control tactics into systems for managing single pests or pest complexes. (Use RPA 216)
• Biological control. (Use RPA 215)
• Breeding (including genetic engineering) for biological efficiency. (Use RPA 203)
• Control of competing vegetation in urban forestry and agroforestry. (Use RPA 124 or 125)
• Protection of wildlife and natural resources from aquatic weeds. (Use RPA 135)
• Development of sampling protocols and predictive models for pest complexes. (Use RPA 216)
• Development of remote sensing instruments. (Use RPA 404)
• Toxic effects of weeds on animals. (Use RPA 314)
• Effects of weeds on human health, including allergies and toxicity. (Use RPA 723)
• Fundamental areas of plant genetics. (Use RPA 201)
• Movement and dispersal resulting from airborne transport of pests. (Use RPA 132 or 133)

This research is focused on reducing yield and quality losses due to indigenous and exotic vertebrate pests (including birds and mammals), mollusks (including slugs and snails), and other plant pests.

Areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Population dynamics and ecology.
• Biosystematics/taxonomy.
• Breeding (including genetic engineering) for host plant resistance.
• Impact of climate and other abiotic factors on pest management.
• Cultural practices to reduce infestations or effects.
• Efficacy, product performance, application technology, and population management with conventional pesticides and biopesticides (including pheromones and growth regulators).
• Pest resistance to control methods or strategies.
• Development of sampling protocols (including economic injury levels, action thresholds, and remote sensing and other automated sampling methodologies) and predictive models for single pests.

• Integration of control tactics into systems for managing single pests or pest complexes. (Use RPA 216)
• Biological control. (Use RPA 215)
• Evaluation of germplasm for genetic variation in resistance to pests. (Use RPA 202)
• Development of sampling protocols and predictive models for pest complexes. (Use RPA 216)
• Development of remote sensing instruments. (Use RPA 404)
• Fundamental areas of plant genetics. (Use RPA 201)
• Management of vertebrate pests in rangeland and forest systems, including agroforests and urban forests. (Use RPA 121, 123, 124, or 125)
• Management of vertebrate pests to protect property, endangered species, and community well-being. (Use RPA 135)

This research is focused on classical, augmentative, or inundative use of natural enemies (including microbial biological control agents) to manage plant pests (diseases, insects, mites, nematodes, weeds, vertebrates, etc.).

Areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Basic biology and genetic improvement of natural enemies.
• Ecology and conservation of natural enemies.
• Population dynamic-epidemiologic-multitrophic interactions among natural enemies.
• Collection and discovery of natural enemies.
• Biosystematics/taxonomy.
• Maintenance, mass production, quality control, and delivery systems for natural enemies.
• Development of sampling protocols (including remote sensing and other automated sampling methodologies) and predictive models for natural enemies.

• Management of plant pests using methods other than biological control, including chemical, cultural, physical, and host plant resistance. (Use RPA 211, 212, 213, or 214)
• Integration of control tactics into systems for managing single pests or pest complexes. (Use RPA 216)
• Development of sampling protocols and predictive models for pest management complexes. (Use RPA 216)
• Development of remote sensing instruments. (Use RPA 404)

This research is focused on the integration of one or more control tactics into a system for managing single plant pests or pest complexes in an economically, socially, and environmentally sound manner.

Areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Understanding the biology of crop-pest-beneficial interactions (system ecology).
• Interactions among pest control tactics and impacts on crop productivity.
• Implementation of new knowledge and technologies on an area-wide or regional scale.
• Impact of climate and other abiotic factors on pest management systems.
• Determination of environmental impacts resulting from the use of IPM systems.
• Development of sampling protocols (including economic injury levels, action thresholds, and remote sensing and other automated sampling methodologies) and predictive models for use in managing pest complexes and natural enemy populations.
• Pest management problem specification in affected communities including growers/producers, processors, marketers, and consumers.
• Determination of constraints to adoption of IPM methods, barriers to progress along the IPM continuum, and impacts.

• Single pest control tactics. (Use RPA 121, 123, 124, 125, 211, 212, 213, 214, or 215)
• Evaluation of germplasm for genetic variation in resistance to pests. (Use RPA 202)
• Application of remote sensing and other automatic sampling methodologies in managing plant population densities, fertility, irrigation, and other cultural practices. (Use RPA 205)
• Development of sampling protocols and predictive models for single pests or natural enemies. (Use RPA 121, 123, 124, 125, 211, 212, 213, 214, or 215)
• Movement and dispersal resulting from airborne transport of pests. (Use RPA 132)
• Development of remote sensing instruments. (Use RPA 404)
• Determination of economic and social impacts of IPM systems. (Use RPA 601, 605, or 803)
• Impacts of pest management policies. (Use RPA 610)
• Consumer economics, including response to product labeling. (Use RPA 607)