- resistance to disease and insect pests

- novel and desirable grain quality

- attributes which increase yield potential

- determine the number of genes controlling the trait

- determine where the genes are located on chromosomes

- determine how multiple traits, genes, and environmental factors (e.g., temperatures, light regime, plant nutrition) interact to affect rice plant development and form

- identifying molecular markers physically linked on the same chromosome as a desired gene (trait) to allow breeders to better estimate the genetic potential of their breeding lines and streamline the breeding process

- developing populations as research tools for efficiently identifying and studying both genes and new molecular markers

- developing improved statistical computational methods

A SECOND GENE-MAPPING POPULATION is being developed from a cross between ‘Rosemont’ and ‘Dragon Eyeball 100'. This population will allow confirmation of the genes mapped in the Lemont x Teqing gene-mapping population as well as the identification of new genes not contained in other mapping populations such as bran color and iron-content that may provide health benefits.

DELETION MUTANTS offer another method for determining gene sequence and function. The use of fast neutron exposure for creating deletion mutants is being evaluated.

The use of a statistical procedure known as Molecular Analysis of Variance (AMOVA) to identify marker-gene associations is being evaluated. Genes are commonly mapped using interval analysis, but this method requires data from related progeny lines, and is less precise when trait data is not normally distributed. AMOVA is less sensitive to the use non-normal data. If proven reliable, it also offers the potential for identifying gene-marker associations from among unrelated lines such as from among accessions contained in the national germplasm collection system.

All present U.S. semidwarf rice varieties have reduced seedling vigor attributed to a gene for short mesocotyls that is linked to the semidwarf gene. This project recently identified three genes that together result in mesocotyls four times longer than those of current U.S. semidwarf varieties. Progeny containing the three mesocotyl genes plus the semidwarf gene have been identified and cost-effective molecular markers are being developed to facilitate marker-assisted selection.

Production of pure seed is inhibited by pollen dispersal and outcrossing, an area of growing concern due to the development of rice varieties containing proprietary genes. We are measuring the risk of outcrossing in terms of both distance and rate of occurrence.

Gene-mapping information serves as a launchpad for marker-assisted breeding, candidate gene mapping, and positional cloning. Due to similarity of genetic organization between cereal species, information developed with rice also enhances basic knowledge of maize, wheat, barley, etc.

 

Selected Publications

Pinson, S.R.M., F.M. Capdevielle, and J.H. Oard. 2004. New and confirmed QTLs conditioning sheath blight resistance in rice using recombinant inbred lines. Crop Sci. in press.

Pinson, SRM. 2004. Developing Rice Varieties with Improved Fissure Resistance: Step 1. Identifying Effective Breeder Selection Techniques. Texas Rice, July 2004 edition, Special section, pp. VII-VIII; http://beaumont.tamu.edu/eLibrary/newsletter/2004_Highlights_in_Research.pdf.

Goffman, F.D., S.R.M. Pinson, and C.J. Bergman. 2003. Genetic diversity for lipid content and fatty acid profile in rice bran. Journal of American Oil Chemical Society 80:485-490.

Waggoner, A.E., G.S. Osborn, and S.R.M. Pinson. 2003. Using a Moisture Transport Model for Identifying the Genes Expressing Field Fissure Resistance in Rice Seed. American Society of Agricultural Engineers Meeting Paper no. 036193. ASAE, St. Joseph, MI.

Pinson, S.R.M. 2003. Tracking and Taming Rice Genes: how Research Geneticists assist Plant Breeders. Texas Rice, July 2003 edition, Special section, pp. VIII-IX; http://beaumont.tamu.edu/eLibrary/newsletter/2003_Highlights_in_Research.pdf.

McClung, A.M., R.G. Fjellstrom, C.A. Bormans, C.J. Bergman, S.R.M. Pinson, R.A. Shank, and W.D. Park. 2003. Enhancing U.S. rice cultivar development with molecular marker technology. Plant and Animal Genome XI, San Diego, CA; W253, http://www.intl-pag.org/11/abstracts/W34_W253_XI.html. Jan. 11-15, 2003.

Tabien, R.E., Z. Li, A.H. Paterson, M.A. Marchetti, J.W. Stansel, and S.R.M. Pinson. 2002. Mapping QTLs for field resistance to the rice blast pathogen and evaluating their individual and combined utility in improved varieties. Theor. Appl. Gen. 105:313-324.

Pinson, S.R.M. 2002. Semidwarf breeding lines with improved seedling vigor due to introgressed genes. Proc. 29th Rice Tech. Work. Group Meet., Little Rock, AR p. 62. Feb. 25 - 27, 2002.

Pinson, S.R.M. 2002. Physical and chemical factors underlying fissure resistance. Texas Rice, July 2002 edition, Special section, p. VIII; http://beaumont.tamu.edu/eLibrary/newsletter/2002_Highlights_in_Research.pdf.

Pinson, S.R.M. 2001. New Seedling Vigor Genes To Be Made Available to U.S. Rice Breeders. Texas Rice, July 2001 edition, Special section; http://beaumont.tamu.edu/eLibrary/newsletter/2002_Highlights_in_Research.pdf.

Pinson, S.R.M. 2001. Identifying potentially useful genetic markers from published literature. Workshop on Molecular Markers for Rice Quality and Disease Resistance: Cost Effective Technology to Augment Public Rice Breeding. June 13-14, 2001, Beaumont, TX. Proceedings: 23-34.

Tabien, R.E., Z. Li, A.H. Paterson, M.A. Marchetti, J.W. Stansel, and S.R.M. Pinson. 2000. Mapping of four major rice blast resistance genes from ‘Lemont' and ‘Teqing' and evaluation of their combinatorial effect for field resistance. Theor. Appl. Gen. 101:1215-1225.

Li, Z.., A.H. Paterson, S.R.M. Pinson, and J.W. Stansel. 1999. RFLP facilitated analysis of tiller and leaf angles in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Euphytica 109:79-84.

Li, Z., S.R.M. Pinson, J.W. Stansel, and A.H. Paterson. 1998. Genetic dissection of the source-sink relationship affecting fecundity and yield in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Mol. Breeding 4:419-426.

Li Z, A.H. Paterson, S.R.M. Pinson, and G.S. Khush. 1998. A major gene, Tal and QTLs affecting tiller and leaf angles in rice. Rice Gen. Newsl. 15:154-156.

Li, Z., S.R.M. Pinson, A.H. Paterson, W.D. Park, and J.W. Stansel. 1997. Genetics of hybrid sterility and hybrid breakdown in an inter-subspecific rice (Oryza sativa L.) population. Genetics 145:1139-1148.

Li, Z., S.R.M. Pinson, W.D. Park, A.H. Paterson, and J.W. Stansel. 1997. Epistasis for three yield components in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Genetics 145:453-465.

Park, S.H., S.R.M. Pinson, and R.H. Smith. 1996. T-DNA integration into genomic DNA of rice following Agrobacterium inoculation of isolated shoot apices. Plant Mol. Biol. 32:1135-1148.

Li, Z., S.R.M. Pinson, J.W. Stansel, and W.. Park. 1995. Identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for heading date and plant height in cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.). Theor. Appl. Gen. 91:374-381. 1995.

Li, Z., S.R.M. Pinson, M.A. Marchetti, J.W. Stansel, and W.. Park. 1995. Characterization of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in cultivated rice contributing to field resistance to sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani). Theor. Appl. Gen. 91:382-388.

Paterson, A.H., Y.R. Lin, Z. Li, K.F. Schertz, J.F. Doebley, S.R.M. Pinson, S.C. Liu, J.W. Stansel, and J.E. Irvine. 1995. Convergent domestication of cereal crops by independent mutation at corresponding genetic loci. Science 269:1714-1718.

Pinson, S.R.M. 1995. Book review of "Rice biotechnology and genetic engineering" - by Paul Christou. Lebensmittel Wissenschaft & Technologie 28:545-546.

Pinson, S.R.M. 1994. Inheritance of aroma in six rice cultivars. Crop Sci. 34:1151-1157.

Pinson, S.R.M., and J.N. Rutger. 1993. Heterozygous diploid plants regenerated from anther culture of F1 rice plants. In Vitro 29P(4):174-179.

Mackill, D.J., S.R.M. Pinson, and J.N. Rutger. 1992. Frizzy panicle, an EMS-induced mutant in the Japonica cultivar M-201. Rice Gen. Newsl. 9:100-102.