Carlos Urrea
Dry Edible Bean Breeding Specialist
Carlos leads research on developing disease-resistant, high-performing dry bean varieties. His work focuses on resistance to rust, white mold, bacterial blight, and root rots, while optimizing plant architecture for efficient harvesting and water management.
Key Achievements:
- Developed multiple-stress tolerant black bean germplasm: TARS-MST1, TARS-MST2, TARS-MST3, SB-DT1 (2010)
- Released chickpea germplasm PHREC-Ca-Comp. #1 with enhanced Ascochyta blight resistance (2010)
- Developed Great Northern cultivar ‘Coyne’ with improved disease resistance (2008)
- Released ABC-Weihing germplasm with resistance to common bacterial blight, rust, and BCMV (2008)
Background:
- B.S. Agronomy, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 1984
- M.S. Agronomy, University of Puerto Rico, 1996
- Ph.D. Plant Breeding & Genetics, North Dakota State University, 2000
Carlos has extensive international experience, including maize breeding in Nepal and corn improvement at CIMMYT in Mexico. He joined the Panhandle Research and Extension Center in 2005.
George L. Graef
Soybean Breeding and Genetics
George leads soybean breeding programs focused on genetic diversity, cultivar development for human food uses, and improving protein and oil content. He integrates advanced breeding techniques, DNA marker analysis, and cooperative evaluation programs.
Key Achievements and Research:
- Develops soybean cultivars with enhanced protein and oil content
- Identifies resistance genes for Sclerotinia Stem Rot
- Uses genetic male sterility in cultivar development and recurrent selection programs
- Coordinates nationwide evaluation of soybean lines with improved quality traits
Background:
- B.S. Environmental Horticulture, University of Connecticut, 1982
- M.S. Plant Breeding and Cytogenetics, Iowa State University, 1984
- Ph.D. Plant Breeding and Cytogenetics (Minor: Genetics), Iowa State University, 1988
Katherine Frels
Small Grains Breeding and Genetics
Katherine develops improved varieties of winter wheat, barley, and triticale, studying genes controlling key traits. She leads research programs targeting biotic and abiotic stress challenges, including wheat stem sawfly, rusts, Fusarium head blight, winter hardiness, and drought/heat tolerance.
Key Responsibilities:
· Lead Research Planning: Develop and manage research objectives and strategic plans for the small grains breeding program.
· Collaborative Problem-Solving: Work with multidisciplinary teams to address major crop challenges, including wheat stem sawfly, stem/leaf/stripe rusts, Fusarium head blight, winter hardiness, and drought and heat stress tolerance.
Background:
- B.S., Iowa State University, 2011
- Ph.D., University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 2015