Projects

  1. North Central Soybean Research Program: Genetic Gains

     

    October, 2016 – September, 2019: North Central Soybean Research Program Grant for increasing the rate of genetic gain for yield in soybean breeding programs

    • PI: McHale LK
    • Co-I: Chen P, Graef G, Hudson M, Hyten D, Lorenz A, Ma J, Martin Rainey K, Nguyen H, Scaboo A, Schapaugh W, Silva C, Singh A, Wang D 

    October, 2019 – Present: SOYGEN 2

  2. Development of high-yielding soybean cultivars & germplasm with optimum oil and protein content

    This project will work towards the development of soybean cultivars and germplasm that have high yield with optimum oil and protein content in order to maximize production value of soybean on a per acre basis. Furthermore, we aim to incorporate innovative oil products through the addition of the essential fatty acids, omega-3and omega-6, to create a value-added oil.

  3. Identifying environmental adaptation in chile peppers (Capsicum spp.)

    Diverse types of chile peppers grow along an environmental gradient from warm and humid coastal areas to the cool, dry highlands in their native Mexico.  These environmental gradients encompassing fascinating diversity present an opportunity to study environmental adaptation and the process of domestication.  Using a combination of next generation sequencing technologies, population genetics, phenotyping techniques, and bioclimatic data, we are working to identify a genetic basis to abiotic stress tolerances.

  4. Characterization of quantitative resistance against Phytophthora sojae in soybean

    Phytophthora root and stem rot (PRR) is caused by the soil-borne oomycete Phytophthora sojae.  It is the second-most yield limiting soybean disease in Ohio (Carl Bradley, 2016 Extension Pathologist Survey, personal communication) and causes over 30 million bushels in yield reductions annually nationwide (Koenning and Wrather, 2010).

  5. Breeding Ohio-adapted Soybean Cultivars

    Soybean research in the McHale lab is intended to contribute to the very applied goal of new cultivar development for the Ohio and North-Central growing regions. Breeding goals include resistance to pests and pathogens important in Ohio and the North-Central region, improved quality traits important in the specialty food-grade soybean market, and added value traits such as low-linolenic acid.