Crop Science professor, Major M. Goodman honored at the Symposium on Genetic Diversity in Maize and Teosinte
written by: Paul T. Nelson
Masters Student, Crop Science Department,
North Carolina State University
On February 24th a Symposium on Genetic Diversity in Maize and Teosinte was held to honor distinguished Crop Science professor, Dr. Major M. Goodman. The event was sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, NC State University, BASF Plant Science, Monsanto Company, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., and Syngenta. Dr. Goodman was also presented with the 51st volume of the journal, Maydica, which was dedicated in his name.
Dr. Goodman has had a distinguished career in maize genetics and breeding. He is a world-expert on maize diversity and the races of maize. He was a pioneer in establishing maize as a model organism for the use of isozyme marker technology. He has lead the charge in germplasm preservation and increasing genetic diversity in the narrowing U.S. maize germplasm base. He has mentored scores of graduate students and post doctorate students who are leading influential careers in the maize community. He has received such honors as the William Neal Reynolds Professorship and membership in the National Academy of Sciences, among others.
The symposium was attended by maize breeders and geneticists from around the world. Dr. Jim Holland of the NCSU Crop Science Department and Dr. Peter Peterson of Iowa State University, and Chief Maydica Editor, opened the event with introductory remarks on Dr. Goodman’s career and the presentation of the honorary volume of Maydica. Four of Dr. Goodman’s former students and colleagues delivered talks on maize evolution and diversity. Dr. John Doebley of the University of Wisconsin, and a pioneer in maize evolution research, spoke on molecular evidences of the domestication of maize. Dr. José de Jesús Sánchez González, of the Universidad de Guadalajara in Mexico, spoke on the genetics, biology, and ecology of teosinte diversity, the closest wild relative of maize. Dr. Ed Buckler, of Cornell University, spoke on the use of genomics in the study of maize diversity and origin. Dr. David Bubeck, of Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., spoke on the application of maize diversity in commercial maize breeding and production.
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