The 4th ACRYRED Webinar, focused on “Molecular Breeding and Novel Breeding Technologies in Cereal Crops,” took place on the 15th of October at 11:00 GMT. Chaired by Dr. Elena Baldoni from Italy, the event featured notable speakers including Dr. Andrea Tafuri and Dr. Viktor Korzun. Dr. Andrea Tafuri, a PostDoc at Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy, presented on the variability in free asparagine seed content in bread wheat to reduce acrylamide-forming potential. With a background in Plant and Animal Sciences, Dr. Tafuri had focused his research on the genetics of free asparagine accumulation in cereals.
Dr. Viktor Korzun, the Global Lead Scientific Affairs at KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA, Germany, discussed molecular breeding and novel breeding technologies in cereal crops. With extensive experience in molecular markers and breeding technologies, Dr. Korzun has significantly contributed to the field. KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA, a leading plant breeding company, continues to innovate with a strong focus on R&D, enhancing crop yield and resistance.
This webinar prompted insightful discussions on cutting-edge breeding technologies and their implications for cereal crops.
You can watch the webinar here.
Dr. Andrea Tafuri, PostDoc, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy (IT)
Talk: “Exploring variability in free asparagine seed content in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) elite varieties to reduce acrylamide-forming potential”
Short Biography: Andrea Tafuri has his Bachelor in Biotechnology in 2017 from University of Parma and an Industrial PhD in Plant and Animal Sciences (2019-2023) from Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE) at University of Tuscia, from the topic of ““Genetic improvement of cereals through classical and innovative approaches”, working on genetics of free asparagine accumulation in durum and bread wheat seeds.
Dr. habil. Dr. h.c. Viktor Korzun
KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA Einbeck, Germany
Talk: “Molecular breeding and novel breeding technologies in cereal crops”
Short Biography: Viktor Korzun has his Bachelor in Agronomy & Breeding from the Belarussian Agricultural Academy and a PhD in Plant Genetics from the Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Academy of Sciences of Belarus. He is Head of Cereals Breeding Technologies in KWS since 1999, and from 2018 he has his current role as Global Lead Scientific Affairs with focus on national and international collaboration, relationships with worldwide leading universities and institutions and support of young talented scientists in plant breeding related research.
He has authored 174 full publications in high-ranking scientific journals and books (h-index is 73) and is an Associate Editor of the Journal Molecular Breeding. Dr. Viktor Korzun is a Member of Scientific Innovation Advisory Board at John Innes Centre (JIC) https://www.jic.ac.uk/ , Norwich, UK and a Members of the Scientific Advisory Board of the State Seed Breeding Institute of the University of Hohenheim, https://lsa.uni-hohenheim.de/ Stuttgart, Germany. Viktor Korzun has more than 30 years’ experience in development and application of molecular markers and novel breeding technologies in cereal crops.
KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA: KWS is one of the world’s leading plant breeding companies. Over 5,000 employees in more than 70 countries generated net sales of around €1,82 billion in the fiscal year 2022/2023. KWS has operated independently for 165 years, focusing on plant breeding and the production of seed for corn, sugarbeet and other crops. KWS supports farmers by improving yield and plants’ resistance to diseases, pests and stress. KWS invested more than €290 million last fiscal year in R&D. As plant breeders we strive to solve the increasing plant pathogen challenges.
More information: www.kws.com .
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