Dr. Pinson combines traditional and molecular genetics with field, greenhouse, and laboratory analyses of rice plants to develop improved germplasm and knowledge that expedite the introduction of desired genes/traits into improved rice varieties. Traits/genes of particular emphasis within her current research program include seedling vigor, disease resistance, and grain milling and cooking quality. Most traits of interest to breeders and producers, such as yield and grain quality, are not simply inherited (controlled by one or two genes, each with large impact), but are controlled by multiple genes with relatively small individual effect. The more complex the inheritance of a trait, the more difficult it is for breeders to make progress in terms of developing varieties improved for that trait. New molecular techniques now allow us to map genes at particular locations on chromosomes. Dr. Pinson utilizes molecular data to determine the chromosomal location of economically important genes, locate linked molecular markers for use in marker-assisted selection, and develop new knowledge on the genetic, physiological, and environmental factors that affecting the expression of the genes and related traits in rice. The information, germplasm, and selection techniques developed by this program allow us to better understand how to best utilize and incorporate desired genes/traits into improved rice varieties. Due to similarity of genetic organization between the cereal crop species, information developed with rice enhances the basic knowledge of corn, wheat, barley, oats, and sorghum as well.
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.
The Genetic Map Links DNA Sequence Information to Plant Breeding
Click to enlarge diagram
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.