Scientists at the Noble Foundation use classical as well as molecular plant breeding approaches to improve grasses and legumes for forage, feed, biomass, and fine-chemicals production. Molecular plant breeding efforts have received a boost in the past decade from massive amounts of gene and genome sequence information (genomics), which have been used in part to generate molecular markers for marker assisted breeding in species such as alfalfa, white clover, and tall fescue at the Noble Foundation.

Arising from genomics is a set of mostly high-throughput experimental approaches, collectively called functional genomics, which can generate massive amounts of data on the majority of genes of a sequenced organism. Functional genomics includes transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, which identify and quantify thousands to tens of thousands of gene transcripts (RNA), proteins, and metabolites, respectively, in cells, tissues, or organs. By revealing concerted changes in RNA, proteins, and metabolites during plant development, under optimal or stressed growth conditions, functional genomics helps to identify sets of genes that determine important plant characteristics or traits. Bioinformatics is a key to the storage, analysis and interpretation of functional genomics data. Other experimental disciplines, including genetics (see also www.noble.org/PlantBio/Chen/), biochemistry, biophysics, molecular and cell biology, and physiology are also used to elucidate the precise biological function(s) of specific gene products. Ultimately, by combining genomics, functional genomics, and other approaches, Noble Foundation scientists aim to identify genes with key roles in plant metabolism, growth, development, and response to the environment, which will be of value to plant breeding efforts to improve plant performance, yield, and quality in the field.

Genomics and functional genomics approaches are being used at the Foundation to identify genes and processes that enable plants to respond and adapt to environmental challenges, such as pathogen attack (e.g. bacterial, fungal, and viruses), intensive grazing, or abiotic stress such as drought and soil acidity/aluminum toxicity. Another target of this type of research is plant secondary metabolism, which yields an amazing array of compounds of industrial and medicinal value. Amongst other things, secondary metabolism is crucial for the production of structural compounds in plants, such as lignin, which effects digestibility of plant material. By manipulating lignin biosynthetic genes in alfalfa, Foundation scientists have improved digestibility of alfalfa, a trait that is now being bred into elite varieties of this pasture legume. Thus, by identifying genes with key roles in plant stress responses or secondary metabolism, we hope to have a major impact on plant improvement for agriculture and industry in the future.

The Noble Foundation has invested heavily in genomics and functional genomics research and is now leading efforts to apply the results of this research for the improvement of cool season forage legumes and grasses, including alfalfa, red and white clover, tall fescue, Russian wildrye, tall wheatgrass, and orchardgrass. Recognizing the need to develop sustainable energy alternatives to fossil fuels, the Foundation is also investing in research to improve the growth and environmental-stress tolerance of switchgrass, a native plant with great potential for biomass and bio-fuel production. In some cases, genomics and functional genomics research focuses directly on target agricultural species, such as alfalfa, tall fescue, and switchgrass. In other cases, Foundation research focuses on model plant species, which are more amenable than most crop species to genomics and functional genomics approaches. Knowledge gained in model species, such as Medicago truncatula can then be used to improve related, agriculturally important species, such as alfalfa and clover, in a process called translational genomics.

The Noble Foundation has introduced a summer scholar educational program. This program selects outstanding undergraduate students from all over the US to be trained in the use of molecular techniques through internships. The program also educates high school teachers and students in the area of genomics.