Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
In this episode of the Plant Breeding Podcast, host Natalie Kaiser interviews Dr. William Rutter, USDA plant pathologist and nematologist, about his work unlocking genetic resistance to pests and diseases in crops like sweet potato, pepper, cucumber, and watermelon. Dr. Rutter shares his journey from biochemistry student to federal scientist, offering insight into his translational research approach and how it's delivering tangible solutions to growers.
He discusses emerging nematode threats, the development of a "toilet brush" DNA sampling method, and the promising results from high-resolution pepper genome sequencing. Listeners will also hear about interagency collaborations, resistance trait stacking, and practical strategies for detecting and managing Meloidogyne enterolobii (guava root-knot nematode). If you're curious about bridging molecular genetics with field application, this episode digs deep.
In this episode of the Plant Breeding Podcast, host Natalie Kaiser interviews Dr. William Rutter, USDA plant pathologist and nematologist, about his work unlocking genetic resistance to pests and diseases in crops like sweet potato, pepper, cucumber, and watermelon. Dr. Rutter shares his journey from biochemistry student to federal scientist, offering insight into his translational research approach and how it's delivering tangible solutions to growers.
He discusses emerging nematode threats, the development of a "toilet brush" DNA sampling method, and the promising results from high-resolution pepper genome sequencing. Listeners will also hear about interagency collaborations, resistance trait stacking, and practical strategies for detecting and managing Meloidogyne enterolobii (guava root-knot nematode). If you're curious about bridging molecular genetics with field application, this episode digs deep.
