Melanie Caffe

Academic Interests

Oat Breeding and Genetics

Academic Responsibilities

PS746 - Plant Breeding

Committee Activities

American Oat Worker Committee (Secretary)
NC7 Conservation, Management, Enhancement and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources (SDAES representative)
SDSU Variety Release Committee

Extension Responsibilities

Presentations at field days across the state to educate producers about oat cultivars released by the SDSU oat breeding program.

Awards and Honors

2018 Pat and Jo Cannon Intellectual Property Commercialization Award

Patents

Plant Variety Protection - Oat cultivars 'Hayden', 'Natty', 'Sumo', 'Saddle', 'Warrior', 'Rushmore', 'SD Buffalo'.

Area(s) of Research

Use of drones for high throughput phenotyping.
Use of genomic selection.
Root phenotyping and tolerance to drought stress.
Genome wide association studies for major traits of oats.
Optimization of breeding methods.

Applications of Research

The objective of the oat breeding program is to increase the profitability of farmers in South Dakota and surrounding states by rapidly developing and releasing new oat cultivars with increased productivity for grain and forage production, and improved agronomic characteristics including lodging resistance and resistance to fungal and viral diseases. Our objective is to also improve grain value and marketability. Oats present many health benefits for human consumption. We work closely with the oat milling industry to develop varieties with improved milling characteristics and increased nutritional value for consumers.