About the Program

The Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics program is truly interdisciplinary, with membership from agronomy, biochemistry, botany, forest and wildlife ecology, genetics, horticulture, plant pathology, and statistics. Research areas include biochemical and molecular genetics, biometry, quantitative genetics, cytogenetics and cytology, genecology, genetics, and plant breeding.

The program has been designated a UW System Center of Excellence program. Faculty have included members of the National Academy of Sciences, endowed chair professors, and recipients of the National Council of Plant Breeders “Genetic and Plant Breeding Award.” The University of Wisconsin leads the nation in the number of plant breeding programs and number of graduate students trained.

The 50-60 students majoring in plant breeding and plant genetics come from throughout the United States and all over the world. Graduates are found in responsible positions with academic institutions, research institutions, and private companies involved in molecular to cultivar development work.