主要研究 今天

2023年春天， 克里斯·埃尔南德斯, assistant professor in the department of agriculture, 营养, 食物系统, 收到了50美元,000英镑 主要研究创新 Fund to support the expansion of commercialization opportunities for 主要研究’s cucurbit breeding program. 埃尔南德斯, a researcher with the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, aims to develop new varieties of squash, 南瓜 和 melons that have improved characteristics, such as increased market yield, disease resistance 和 营养al quality. 除了, he will collect genetic data on key 主要研究 breeding lines using DNA sequencing at 主要研究’s Hubbard Center for Genome Studies to preserve a vast collection of seeds 和 historical genetic information. He hopes to ultimately make breeding lines available for license to farmers in New Hampshire 和 worldwide.

埃尔南德斯 is continuing the long-st和ing work of Brent Loy, 荣誉退休教授, whose research resulted in more than 100 new varieties of squash, 南瓜, gourds 和 melons sold in seed catalogs around the world. Loy is responsible for more than 50 exclusive licenses held by 主要研究. Royalties have generated more than $2 million for the university since the commercialization of these varieties began.

Cucurbit breeding was launched at 主要研究 by A.F. Yeager 和 Elwyn Meader in the 1940s, beginning what is now the longest continuous squash 和 pumpkin breeding program in North America.

埃尔南德斯's work is supported by the NH Agricultural Experiment Station through joint funding from the USDA National Institute of Food 和 农业 (under Hatch award number 7005800) 和 the state of New Hampshire.