James Anderson
Office Address
Mailing Address
Education
Ph.D.: Cornell (1992)
Year Appointed: 1998
Rank: Professor

Areas of Interest
Wheat breeding and genetics
Research
I lead a comprehensive wheat improvement program, including cultivar development and the investigation of breeding/genetic principles related to crop improvement. Major research effort is genetic investigations of complexly inherited traits including disease resistance and grain quality and incorporating resistance into new cultivars using marker-assisted selection. I teach a graduate level plant breeding class, coordinate a one credit survey course on Research Methods in Crop Improvement and Production, and co-teach a First Year Experience Seminar for undergraduate students.
Current Laboratory Projects:
- Develop high yielding, hard spring wheat germplasm and varieties with improved resistance to FHB, other diseases, and acceptable agronomic and end-use characteristics (Anderson) (supported by: MN Agricultural Experiment Station, US Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative, and MN Wheat Research and Promotion Council)
- Mapping of Ug99-effective stem resistance genes in wheat (Itamar Nava) (supported by United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation via Cornell University (http://wheatrust.cornell.edu/))
- Mapping of an Inhibitor of Fhb1, the major QTL for Fusarium Head Bight Resistance in Wheat (Seda) (supported by: US Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative)
- Molecular Diversity, Linkage Disequilibrium and Genetic mapping in East African wheat (Macharia) (supported by Monsanto Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars Program (http://www.monsanto.com/ourcommitments/Pages/beachell-borlaug-international-scholars-program.aspx))
- Stem rust resistance gene mapping (Prabin Bajgain) supported by T-CAP (http://triticeaecap.org)
- Leaf rust resistance gene mapping (Kathryn Turner) supported by T-CAP (http://triticeaecap.org)
- Characterization of wheatgrass-wheat hybrids (Kathryn Turner) in cooperation with The Land Institute (http://www.landinstitute.org/)
Recent Releases:
- Rollag 2011
- Sabin 2009 Anderson, J.A., J.J. Wiersma, G.L. Linkert, J.A. Kolmer, Y. Jin, R. Dill-Macky, G.A. Hareland, and R.H Busch. 2011. Registration of ‘Sabin’ wheat. J. Plant Registrations in press.
- Tom 2008 Anderson, J.A., J.J. Wiersma, G.L. Linkert, J.A. Kolmer, Y. Jin, R. Dill-Macky, G.A. Hareland, and R.H Busch. 2011. Registration of ‘Tom’ wheat. J. Plant Registrations in press.
- RB07 2007 Anderson, J.A., G.L. Linkert, R.H. Busch, J.J. Wiersma, J.A. Kolmer, Y. Jin, R. Dill-Macky, J.V. Wiersma, G.A. Hareland, and D.V. McVey. 2009. Registration of ‘RB07’ wheat. J. Plant Registrations 3:175-180.
- Ada 2006 Anderson, J.A., R.H. Busch, D.V. McVey, J.A. Kolmer, Y. Jin, G.L. Linkert, J.V. Wiersma, R. Dill-Macky, J.J. Wiersma, G.A. Hareland. 2007. Registration of ‘Ada’ wheat. Crop Sci. 47:434-435.
- Ulen 2004 Anderson, J.A., R.H. Busch, D.V. McVey, J.A. Kolmer, Y. Jin, G.L. Linkert, J.V. Wiersma, R. Dill-Macky, J.J. Wiersma, and G.A. Hareland. 2006. Registration of ‘Ulen’ wheat. Crop Sci. 46:979-980.
- Oklee 2003 Anderson, J.A, R.H. Busch, D.V. McVey, J.A. Kolmer, G.L. Linkert, J.V. Wiersma, R. Dill-Macky, J.J. Wiersma, and G.A. Hareland. 2005. Registration of ‘Oklee’ wheat. Crop Sci. 45:784-78.
Minnesota Wheat Acreage by Variety (courtesy MN Wheat Research and Promotion Council) 2011 (link to pdf attachment)
Variety Trials (https://www.maes.umn.edu/publications/field-crop-trials)