Ph.D. Cornell (1992)
M.S. Kentucky (1989)
B.S. Minnesota (1987)
Areas of Interest
Breeding and Genetics of Spring Wheat, Intermediate wheatgrass, and Field pennycress
Biography
Jim Anderson is a Professor in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Anderson received his B.S. in Agronomy from the University of Minnesota in 1987, M.S. in Crop Science from the University of Kentucky in 1989, and Ph.D. in Plant Breeding from Cornell University in 1992. Dr. Anderson came to the University of Minnesota in 1998 after previous positions at North Dakota State University and the USDA-ARS in Pullman, WA. Dr. Anderson leads plant improvement programs focusing on spring wheat, intermediate wheatgrass (Kernza®) (initiated in 2011), and field pennycress (initiated in 2013). Research on each species includes cultivar development and the investigation of breeding/genetic principles related to crop improvement. Research is focused on identifying genes underlying economically important traits and implementing marker-assisted and genomic selection for cultivar and germplasm development. Dr. Anderson has developed 19 spring wheat varieties and is the co‐developer of 8 others in four different market classes of wheat. He has authored/co-authored 170 articles in peer-reviewed journals and teaches a graduate level plant breeding course.
Teaching
I teach Agro 5021, Principles of Plant Breeding and coordinate a one credit graduate level survey course on Research Methods in Crop Improvement and Production. The objective of Agro 5021 is to develop an understanding of the underlying principles, ideas, and concepts important to applying genetic principles to plant breeding, evaluating breeding methods, and enhancing genetic progress and efficiency.
Research
I lead a comprehensive spring wheat improvement program, including variety development and the investigation of breeding/genetic principles related to crop improvement. I also oversee and help manage breeding programs for Intermediate wheatgrass and Field pennycress. Research on each species includes cultivar development and the investigation of breeding/genetic principles related to crop improvement. Research is focused on identifying genes underlying economically important traits and implementing marker-assisted and genomic selection for cultivar and germplasm development.
Select Publications
Altendorf, K.R., L.R. DeHaan, and J. Anderson. 2022. Genetic architecture of yield component traits in the new perennial grain crop, intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium). Crop Sci. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20716
Rauf, Y., C. Lan, M. Randhawa, R.P. Singh, J. Huerta-Espino, J. Anderson. 2022. Quantitative trait loci mapping reveals the complexity of adult plant resistance to leaf rust in spring wheat ‘Copio’. Crop Sci. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20728
Bajgain, P., C. Li, and J.A. Anderson. 2022. Genome-wide association mapping
and genomic prediction for kernel color traits in intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium). BMC Plant Biology https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-022-03616-7
Bajgain, P., Y. Brandvain, J.A. Anderson. 2022. Influence of Pollen Dispersal and Mating Pattern in Domestication of Intermediate Wheatgrass, a Novel Perennial Food Crop. Frontiers in Plant Science. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.871130
Tandukar, Z., R. Chopra, K. Frels, B. Heim, M.D. Marks, and J.A. Anderson. 2022. Genetic dissection of seed characteristics in field pennycress via genome-wide association mapping studies. Plant Genome https://doi-org.ezp3.lib.umn.edu/10.1002/tpg2.20211
Tamang, B.G., D. Monnens, B.J. Steffenson, J.A. Anderson, and W. Sadok. 2022. The genetic basis of transpiration sensitivity to vapor pressure deficit in wheat. Planta 250:115–127 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-019-03151-0
Boakye, P.G., I. Kougblenou, T. Murai, A.Y. Okyere, J. Anderson, P. Bajgain, B. Philipp, B. LaPlante, S. Schlecht, C. Vogel, M. Carlson, L. Occhino, H. Stanislawski, S.S. Ray, and G.A. Annor. 2022. Impact of sourdough fermentation on FODMAPs and amylase-trypsin inhibitor levels in wheat dough. J. Cereal Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcs.2022.103574
Adeyemo, E., E. Conley, R. Bernardo, P. Bajgain, and J.A. Anderson. 2023. Combining Datasets to Routinely Predict Fusarium Head Blight Resistance in a Wheat Breeding Program. Crop Sci. DOI: 10.1002/csc2.20929.
Bajgain, P., P.G. Boakye, I. Kougblenou, T. Murai, G.A. Annor, and J.A. Anderson. 2023. Genetic characterization of FODMAPs and ATIs in heritage and modern spring wheat. Crop Sci. DOI: 10.1002/csc2.21058
Anderson, J. A., Wiersma, J. J., Reynolds, S. K., Conley, E. J., Stuart, N., Caspers, R., Kolmer, J. A., Rouse, M. N., Jin, Y., Dill-Macky, R., Smith, M. J., & Dykes, L. J. 2023. Registration of ‘MN-Torgy’ spring wheat with moderate resistance to Fusarium head blight and adult plant resistance to Ug99 stem rust. J. of Plant Registrations. https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20321.
Read more about Jim Anderson's published research here.
Honors and Awards
1998 Young Crop Scientist Award, Crop Science Society of America
2006 Fellow, American Society of Agronomy
2007 Fellow, Crop Science Society of America
2018 Honorary Premier Seedsmen Award, Minnesota Crop Improvement Association
Developed at the U of MN, ‘Linkert’ has been the #1 wheat variety in Minnesota 2016-2020; and ‘RB07’, released in 2007, was grown on more than 1 million acres in North and South Dakota and Minnesota in 2011. Our lab developed and released ‘MN-Clearwater’ as the world’s first commercial foodgrade intermediate wheatgrass grain cultivar.