History of Plant Breeding at Virginia Tech
1888-1890:
- Variety tests were initiated in wheat, tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, onions, and cabbages.
- Fertilizer experiments were initiated in wheat.
1891-1904:
- Fertilizer tests in corn were initiated in 1892.
- Sorghum, corn, cowpeas, and soybeans were evaluated for forage use in 1901.
1904-1907:
- Variety tests with winter wheat, fall-sown oats, spring oats, cowpeas, soybeans, millet, sorghum, potatoes, sugar beets, mangels, turnips, and other crops.
- Dates of seeding tests with wheat, oats, barley, rye, corn, and crimson clover.
- Selection experiments in winter wheat, oats, and barley were initiated.
1904-1907:
- In 1906, Prof. H.L. Price initiated a series of experiments in crossbreeding and hybridization of tomatoes to verify Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance and to develop improved strains of tomatoes.
1908-1915:
- Selection of improved strains of varieties of corn was initiated and selection of improved strains of small grain varieties was continued.
1921-1945:
- Plant breeding programs which incorporated hybridization in the development of novel cultivars were initiated in the early to mid 1940s.
- R.P. Cocke made selections among the alfalfa variety Kansas Common from which ‘Williamsburg’ alfalfa was released in 1947.
- In the late 1920s, J.H. Beattie (USDA) and E.T. Batten developed the peanut varieties Holland Virginia Runner and Holland Jumbo.
- Prior to 1946, the wheat varieties Vahart (Redhart selection) and V.P.I. 131 (Fulcaster selection) were developed.
- In 1942, the flue-cured tobacco variety Yellow Special was developed.
- Dr. S.A. Wingard initiated research on the genetic behavior of disease resistance in plants in 1918, and developed 10 varieties of snap beans, emphasizing rust resistance.
- Dr. Boyd Harshbarger initiated the use of randomization, replication, and small plots in research to estimate variety effects. Prior to this, a difference of 20 bushels was required in corn to certify significance.
1945-1966:
- Dr. C.F. Genter developed 8 corn hybrids between 1951-1959 and 14 yellow dent inbreds were released between 1961-1966.
- From 1952 to 1966, three peanut varieties were released.
- From 1948 to 1966, James barley and four oat varieties were released.
- Dr. T.J. Smith cooperatively released five soybean varieties between 1946-1966.
- Nineteen tobacco varieties were released between 1946-1966.
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