Beck’s Hybrids is pleased to announce the opening of a Molecular Marker Lab at the Atlanta, IN., headquarters. The Molecular Marker Lab will assist Beck’s corn breeders by genotyping (DNA finger-printing) thousands of new, untested inbred lines. “The Molecular Marker Lab will give Beck’s corn breeders the opportunity to develop elite inbreds and hybrids faster and more efficiently, further enhancing our ability to identify products that have a regional advantage,” said Curtis Wiltse, research manager at Beck’s Hybrids. “As Beck’s Hybrids continues to grow, it’s important that we provide our customers with the highest performing, new and innovative products that perform in their soils.”
Beck’s corn breeders will utilize complex statistics to combine genotypic and field performance data of related lines to predict the performance of new lines, prior to field testing. To help manage the Molecular Marker Lab, Beck’s has hired Jennifer Taller as the laboratory manager. Taller was previously with the USDA Oat Breeding Department in St. Paul, Minn. She received her master’s degree in plant breeding and genetics from the University of Minnesota. “In the past year, Beck’s Hybrids has not only invested in a Molecular Marker Lab, but we have also hired two experienced corn breeders,” said Dr. Kevin Cavanaugh, director of research at Beck’s Hybrids. “Dr. Keith Rufener II and Dr. Kevitt Brown bring an advanced background of breeding techniques to Beck’s, such as dihaploid breeding, inbred development and genome wide selection.”
Dr. Kevitt Brown has more than 20 years of experience in developing industry leading inbred lines in the Midwest. Brown previously worked for FFR Cooperative, a research arm of Land O’Lakes. Dr. Keith Rufener II has more than 20 years of experience in corn breeding. Prior to joining Beck’s, he was with Illinois Foundation Seeds. Rufener has been very successful in developing industry leading corn inbreds and will increase Beck’s corn breeding effort in the 108 to 112 day maturity zone. “We are very excited to have these talented people on the Beck’s research team,” said Cavanaugh. “Beck’s Hybrids is committed to investing in the right tools and people that will bring our customers the best in seed quality, product performance and service.”