Greg Vogel, an assistant professor at Cornell University’s School of Integrative Plant Science, will discuss breeding vegetables to improve crop qualities in a free public lecture Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Part of the AgUWindsor Speaker Series, the event will run 2 to 3 p.m. in room 204, Toldo Health Education Centre.
In his research, Dr. Vogel concentrates on breeding high-quality, disease-resistant vegetable crops that cater to the needs of both growers and consumers. His work explores plant-microbe interactions and disease resistance, aiming to increase crop resilience and consumer appeal. He’s particularly passionate about improving traits like flavour and quality while tackling diseases such as Verticillium wilt in eggplants and early blight in tomatoes.
Beyond his research, Vogel professes a deep commitment to outreach and extension. He values interactions with growers, seed industry professionals, and students, making his approach to plant science a true exchange of knowledge and practical solutions. His talk promises to offer both a look at cutting-edge technologies like genomic selection and a discussion of hands-on strategies for improving crop productivity and quality.
Students, researchers, growers, and anyone interested in agriculture and plant breeding can expect to gain valuable insights into how this work is shaping the future of vegetable breeding for the benefit of both regional and global agricultural communities.