Tanzania to improve cassava in Africa with NextGen Cassava project
The NextGen Cassava project, a global partnership led by Cornell University that includes BTI Associate Professor Lukas Meuller, will now include cassava breeders from Tanzania.
PGS discusses careers in science policy with Lewis-Burke
Science policy work is just one of the ways that Ph.D.s can use their training and passion for science to benefit the public.
Genetic changes in tomatoes may help crops produce early and often
Cultivating a disregard for day length enabled humans to introduce tomatoes to the Mediterranean region.
GOBii releases open-source tools for faster plant breeding
The collaboration works with breeding centers around the world to develop tools to make the process of adding a trait into an existing, high-yield crop variety more efficient.
VirusDetect: a new pipeline for virus identification
The Fei lab releases VirusDetect, an automated bioinformatics pipeline that efficiently detects viruses and viroids from large-scale, small RNA datasets.
Citrus-growing regions face different pressures
Citrus growers are uniting to save their groves from citrus greening disease and to fund research into solutions, but growers in California face different challenges than those in Florida, report BTI and USDA researchers.
‘New Visions’ of food security from Cassandra Proctor
“Food security is a mixture of all the different aspects of agriculture. It’s not just growing the food,” said Proctor. “It’s not just planting something in the ground – there is a lot more to it.”
Going Back to BTI’s Roots: A History of Hormodin
Rooting powders, commonly used by growers and home gardeners, had their beginnings in the labs of BTI in the 1930s.
Researchers Identify Genes for “Help Me!” Aromas from Corn
Insect damage triggers volatile compounds that attract caterpillar-killing wasps.
A New Method for Studying Plant-Germ Warfare
Researchers in the Martin lab develop a new technique to study the arms race between plants and the bacteria that infect them.
New Ventures: Jacqueline Heard Joins BTI Boards
Drawing on her background in plant pathology and biotechnology, Heard advises agricultural startups, with the goal of launching companies that will bring new innovations to agriculture.
BTI Says Goodbye to Klaus Apel
Professor Klaus Apel can pinpoint the exact time he chose to be a plant scientist. As a young person, Apel was seriously interested in birding and so he entered the University of Hamburg to study biology, with a special emphasis on zoology. But in a year-long,...
2016 BTI Science Symposium: The Future of Plants in a Changing Environment
The recent Symposium explored plant science topics including molecular biology, atmospheric sciences, plant breeding and soil and crop sciences.
Frank Schroeder Selected for HHMI Faculty Scholars Program
The five-year grant is given to innovative, early career scientists to support high-risk research with the potential to make significant contributions to the field.
Citrus Greening Pathogen Has Gut-Wrenching Effect on Insect Vector
A new paper from the Cilia lab reports that the Asian citrus psyllid mounts an immune response against the bacterium that causes citrus greening disease – a discovery that may be useful for developing a treatment against the devastating epidemic.
Collaboration to Identify New Sources of Disease Resistance in Tomato
Professor Greg Martin and colleagues received an NSF grant to pursue research into resistance against bacterial speck disease in tomatoes.
SolGenomics Meeting Has Newest Advances in Nightshades
Many BTI researchers will present their latest research at the 13th annual SolGenomics Conference, Sept. 12-16 in Davis, California.
New System in Tomato’s Defense against Bacterial Speck Disease
Researchers at BTI and Virginia Tech find a new bacterial detector in tomatoes that could help other crop plants to be more disease resistant.
Kira Sheinerman Invests in BTI’s Future
A longtime board member, Sheinerman has used her background in science and investment banking to help BTI evolve and grow.
More Tomatoes, Faster: Van Eck Accelerates Tomato Engineering
An improved protocol cuts the time it takes to modify a tomato’s genome from 17 weeks to 11, accelerating research into ways to breed more productive crops.
August LabNotes: The Latest Discoveries, Science, and News
It has been a busy summer. Read up on our latest news here.
President David Stern: People Behind the Science Interview
Tune in to BTI’s David Stern on People Behind the Science: Growing Our Understanding of Photosynthesis to Improve Plant Metabolism
Researchers Sequence Genome of “Gluttonous” Tobacco Hornworm
BTI’s Gary Blissard and Michael Kanost of Kansas State University led a team of 114 researchers from 50 institutions and 11 countries to sequence the genome of this important insect model.
BTI Hosts 15th Annual Student Research Symposium
Summer interns complete their research experience by presenting talks and posters to the BTI community.
Rheonix pledges to support BTI Education and Outreach program
The company, founded by BTI board member Greg Galvin, supports high quality, local STEM education programs.
“Hackathon” Breeds Momentum for Plant Breeding Software
An international group of computer programmers gathered at BTI to create a single interface that will connect databases from breeding programs worldwide
15th Annual PGRP Symposium – August 11
Student interns cap off their summer experience with research presentations.
Remembering Ralph Hardy
The former President and CEO of the Boyce Thompson Institute and pioneer of nitrogen fixation research passed away August 2 at the age of 82.
Summer Institute Keeps Teachers ahead of the Curve
BTI’s Curriculum Development Projects in Plant Biology summer institute exposes STEM educators to new research on agriculture, plant biotechnology and bioenergy.
Art@BTI: Artist Interview with Susan C. Larkin
Works by photographer Susan C. Larkin and poet Timothy Larkin, now on exhibit. Please join us on September 29, 2016 at 5:00 pm for an art and science program celebrating this exhibit.
Art@BTI: Artist Interview with Christina Coleman
Works by artist Christina Coleman, now on exhibit. Please join us on September 29, 2016 at 5:00 pm for an art and science program celebrating this exhibit.
Novel “Repair System” Discovered in Algae May Yield New Tools for Biotechnology
In a new paper in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Stephen Campbell and David Stern show that chloroplast extracts from C. reinhardtii can cut an interrupting insertion from a protein, but only in the light.
Summer Interns Guest Curate BTI Twitter Account: Meet Andrew Willoughby
This July summer interns have taken over our Twitter account. Check out our Twitter feed to learn more about life in the lab for an undergrad during a #BTISummer.
Summer Interns Guest Curate BTI Twitter Account: Meet Stephanie Futrell
Starting July 11, summer interns are launching a Twitter takeover. Check out our Twitter feed to learn more about life in the lab for an undergrad during a #BTISummer.
Honoring the Life and Work of Jean Pierre Vité
The renowned German forest scientist and former Director of the Forest Biology Program at BTI passed away July 5 at the age of 93.
Galvin Spreads Fascination with Science to Next Generation of Researchers
By supporting STEM education efforts at BTI and other local institutions, Galvin aims to get young children excited about science and engineering.
Researchers Receive $1.7M NIH Grant for Nematode Behavior Work
When C. elegans larvae face starvation, they clump together in a mass of worms, which increases their lifespan. BTI researchers will explore this fascinating social behavior.
Summer Interns Guest Curate BTI Twitter Account: Meet Hailey Edmondson
Starting July 11, summer interns are launching a Twitter takeover. Check out our Twitter feed to learn more about life in the lab for an undergrad during a #BTISummer.
Singlet Oxygen Can Both Damage and Signal Repair in the Chloroplast
Despite its reputation for wreaking havoc in cells, singlet oxygen is also vital for triggering the repair of a key protein complex for photosynthesis.
Students Become Gene Detectives to Fight Citrus Greening
A group of students and experts work together through video conferencing to identify the genes in the genome of the newly sequenced Asian citrus psyllid, the insect that spreads the bacterium that causes citrus greening disease.
In Memoriam: Dorothy Dent Park
The faculty and staff of BTI express their deepest sympathies to the Park family, with the passing of Dorothy Park, dedicated humanitarian and president emeritus of the Park Foundation.
Jander Lab Members Win ASPB Awards
Postdoctoral researcher Vered Tzin received support to present her work at the American Society for Plant Biology annual meeting in July, and Cairo Archer received an undergraduate research fellowship to support her summer research in the Jander lab
Brauer Puts Her Degree to Work against Wheat Disease
A former graduate student at BTI, Brauer now studies Fusarium head blight at Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada.
BTI Faculty Honor Former Advisor, Steve Tanksley
Tanksley made invaluable contributions to plant breeding and genetics, laying the foundation for targeted crop improvements to increase food security.
The 15th Class of Interns Arrive at BTI
Get to know the new crop of interns at BTI.
Wild Parents’ Genomes Reveal Complex Genetic Past for Garden Variety Petunias
An international consortium of researchers has sequenced the two wild parent species of the domesticated petunia
The Watermelon’s Past, Present, and Future
Watermelons have changed from a small, bitter fruit that grows wild in Africa to the most popular fruit in the world. What’s next for watermelons?
Intern Anniversary Series: Stephen Bolus
Bolus was a 2011 intern in the Klessig Lab, which confirmed his research interests in molecular plant-microbe interactions. He is now pursuing a Ph.D. in plant pathology at UC Davis.
Stephanie Meyer Joins BTI as Sr. Director of Development and Communications
Meyer has significant experience working within the non-profit and scientific communities and has strong ties to the Ithaca Area.
BTI Co-hosts Greenhouse Curators Conference
Attendees of the 2016 Association of Education and Research Greenhouse Curators annual meeting in July will spend a morning at BTI learning about its history and research