Unlocking the Potential of Crops Through Genomics

SPEAKER: Patricio R. Munoz Ph.D. - Endowed Chair Horticulture Crop Breeding,  Associate Professor Blueberry Breeding and Genomics, Horticultural Science Department - IFAS - University of Florida (www.blueberrybreeding.com)

Patricio Muñoz is an associate professor leading the blueberry breeding and genomics program at the University of Florida Horticultural Science Department.

Recently, he was named Endowed chair for Horticultural Crop Breeding. His research consists of improving cultivars with a local focus and a global impact, and developing and implementing tools to accelerate the breeding process, emphasizing outcrossing polyploid species, such as blueberries. He has released or collaborated with the release of 14 blueberry cultivars, four forage cultivars, and seven turfgrass cultivars. Currently, he is working to develop low-chilling requirement blueberries with better flavor, sensorial, and nutraceutical traits to enhance the consumption of blueberries while still working on traditional crop traits that help producers stay competitive

HOST: Michela Troggio