CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 03/03/20

UGA professor, soybean breeder named to Georgia Seed Development Professorship

By Maria M. Lameiras

Zenglu Li, a professor in soybean breeding, genetics and genomics at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), has been named to the Georgia Seed Development Professorship in Soybean Breeding and Genetics.

Since joining UGA’s Department of Crop and Soil Sciences and Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics in 2012, Li has worked on the development of soybean varieties with high yield, enhanced quality, disease and pest resistance, herbicide tolerance and enhanced nutritional profile.

The Georgia Seed Development Professorship in Soybean Breeding and Genetics was established with support from Georgia Seed Development (GSD) to enhance the field of plant breeding and genetics programs through professorships and research programs at the UGA CAES.

 “This funding helps enhance our research program, as well as helping with graduate education that will further the field of breeding and genetics. This support will help the program move forward and enhance the prestige and reputation of our program nationally and internationally,” Li said.

While soybean is a small crop for the state of Georgia, it competes with corn as the top agricultural crop in the U.S., averaging 85 million acres per year. Since 2012, Li’s lab has developed 12 soybean cultivars designed for the Southeastern climate that have been released for agricultural use.

In addition to developing soybean cultivars, Li says his lab is also focused on identifying genes for disease and pest resistance and for increased yield and nutritional content to incorporate into future cultivars and in preparing future scientists and plant breeders to continue the progress in soybean breeding and genetics. The lab currently includes one postdoctoral scientist, six doctoral students, one master’s student, three undergraduate students, seven research specialists and two visiting scholars.

Prior to his current position at UGA, Li worked in the agricultural industry leading soybean discovery breeding and corn genotyping efforts for Monsanto Company and as a research scientist for DuPont Pioneer. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Soybean Molecular Breeding in the UGA Department of Crop and Soil Sciences in 2000 after earning his doctoral degree in plant breeding and genetics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

GSD is a nonprofit, self-supporting organization that provides economic support for the development of new varieties which provides business opportunities that help keep agriculture as Georgia’s number one industry. It was created in 1959 by the Georgia General Assembly to lead development of commercial plant materials in the state by promoting varieties developed and released by UGA researchers and was designated as a public, nonprofit corporation by the Georgia Legislature in 2008, allowing the organization to expand its scope.

Maria M. Lameiras is a managing editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Authors:
Maria M. Lameiras
Experts/Sources:
Zenglu Li
Since 2012, UGA soybean breeder Zenglu Li’s lab has developed 12 soybean cultivars designed for the Southeastern climate that have been released for agricultural use.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
At the 2024 Georgia Life Sciences Summit held Oct. 21-22 in Atlanta, Professor Quingguo “Jack” Huang of the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences received the Golden Helix Innovation Award for his research in technologies to mitigate “forever chemicals” in water resources. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker) CAES News
Nothing lasts forever: CAES professor finds solutions to break down ‘forever chemicals’ 12/05/24 Carson McAfee
University of Georgia Professor Qingguo “Jack” Huang always wanted to do one thing: solve problems. Growing up in a small city in central China, Huang’s favorite subject in elementary school was math, granting him the opportunity to work on many problems. In high school, his passion transitioned to science, where he learned he could feed those same interests in a way that benefited others. He was finishing high school in the 1980s when Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring made its way to Chinese newspapers, capturing Huang’s attention.
Georgia Simmons at the office of U.S. Sen. Warnock CAES News
Georgia 4-H alum, CAES student spends semester serving at the nation's Capitol 12/03/24 Josie Smith, Cooper Hardy
Third-year University of Georgia student and Banks County 4-H alum Georgia Simmons has been in the center of the political action this fall with the Georgia 4-H Washington DC Intern Program. Simmons, an environmental resource science major in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, works in the office of U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock. As an intern on his staff, she interacts directly with policy experts and lawmakers, participating in the legislative process while earning a semester of credit hours.
Longtime faculty member George Vellidis was named the first permanent director of the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture. IIPA was launched in 2022 and has grown to include more than 70 faculty members. (Photo by Paul Privette for UGA CAES) CAES News
Vellidis named director of Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture 12/02/24 David Mitchell
University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Professor George Vellidis has been named director of the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture (IIPA). His term began on Nov. 1, and he will serve as the unit’s first permanent director. “Dr. Vellidis has been a vital member of our UGA faculty for years and played a key role in launching IIPA,” said Chris King, interim vice president for research. “Whether it’s his impact as a first-class researcher and educator or the work he does behind the scenes to elevate our reputation in the field abroad, his presence has made UGA a hub for precision agriculture research.”
Mergoum at Creature Comforts CAES News
That's the spirit! 11/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras, Claire S. Kinnard
Wheat breeders spend years meticulously crossing varieties to coax the best traits out of each species, carefully propagating plant varieties that are healthier, heartier and better suited for the environments where they are grown. Professional brewmasters are equally painstaking when choosing the components that will give their beers a specific flavor profile.
TiftonCampusSunset2 CAES News
CAES Transfer Pathways Program expands enrollment access for rural students 11/12/24 Emily Cabrera
The Transfer Pathways Program is opening new doors for rural students who dream of attending the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). In partnership with Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and Southern Regional Technical College, students who complete required coursework at these institutions can transfer to CAES to complete bachelor’s degrees in one of three majors — agribusiness, agricultural education, and agriscience and environmental systems.