Seed Today - Q1 2008 - (Page 37)

imagination,” says Barker, who began his career in 1972 as a breeder/geneticist with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at the Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory in Mandan, ND. Last summer, after 35 years with USDA, Barker left ARS, and along with his wife, Judy, set out to form Grass Genomic Testing, Inc., Salem, OR; and Applied Grass Genetics, LLC, Corvallis, OR. Barker’s research in recent years has been partially funded by the grass seed industry. He will maintain an affiliation with Oregon State University while he completes the contracted research work. Grass Genomic Testing (GGT), which In fact, while at ARS, Barker and his colleagues released 11 grass varieties for rangeland, forage and conservation uses. Had it not been for a plant breeding class that he took as an undergraduate in Horticulture at Utah State University, the turfgrass and forage grass industries may have never benefited from Barker’s work. Barker started out as an undergraduate in Forest and Range Management. But, having grown up on a fruit farm in Mapleton, UT, he also was interested in solving frost hardiness problems. So he set out to earn a degree in Physiology in Horticulture. “While working on my degree, I took a plant breeding course and became fascinated with genetics,” Barker recalls, noting that universities soon began recruiting him to finish his graduate work with them. In 1968, Barker chose the University of Minnesota, which was one of the top three schools in plant breeding at the time. There, he focused on inherit- “Vision is key to a researcher’s success.” Reed Barker, Ph.D., geneticist will provide molecular research services on all grass species, will soon be leasing a lab in the same facility that houses Agri Seed Testing, owned by Sharon Davidson. Being close to the seed lab will allow preliminary genetics to be tested, says Barker. GGT is the genetic code for glycine, a non-essential neutral amino acid. “We will serve as a neutral source for genetic testing,” says Barker. Among GGT’s missions will be helping grass breeders to more easily detect differences between varieties and genetic sources. “Molecular markers allow breeders to fingerprint their material,” says Barker. Quality of Life Barker has established Applied Grass Genetics (AGG, the genetic code for arginine, a semi-essential amino acid aiding in the quality of life) to develop new varieties using functional molecular markers. “This is where we’re going to have fun,” he says, likening the development of a new variety to watching one’s own child grow and mature. For more information: Reed E. Barker, Ph.D. Grass Genomic Testing, Inc., Salem, OR (541-740-6707/Reed@GrassDNA.com) Response No. 371 http://www.farmplan.com http://www.farmplan.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Seed Today - Q1 2008

Seed Today - Q1 2008 Contents Editor’s Notes Cover Feature: Agrecol® Corporation Reed Barker, Ph.D. Cal/West Seeds Inc. Annual GM Use Report Bt Resistance Reported Camelina Tony Harper Gayle Jacklin According to ASTA Krauter Structures AOSCA AOSA/SCST GM and Greenhouse Gas Seed Associations Ad Index

Seed Today - Q1 2008

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