Molecular and Quantitative Genetics

PAUL GEPTS
Professor, Department of Agronomy and Range Science, UC-Davis

University of Wisconsin (1981-1985) Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics

Research Interests

One of my major interests lies in understanding the organization of genetic diversity within biological species and the evolutionary forces that have shaped this diversity. Using molecular tools, including molecular markers, DNA sequencing, and QTL mapping, I have been able to establish intraspecific phylogenies, determine the inheritance of the domestication syndrome, and investigate the coevolution of host and pathogens. My current interests include:

  1. phylogeography of wild crop relatives: Phaseolus, Vigna, Agave
  2. characterization of gene flow between beans and their wild progenitors in Mexico;
  3. introgression of genetic diversity for yield capacity from wild into cultivated beans
  4. cloning and characterization of genes for domestication
  5. analysis of the evolution of multigene families using genomics

While most of my efforts have been focused on food legumes so far, I have been increasingly involved in research on wild legumes. I look to forward to working with ecologists and applying these molecular techniques to wild-growing species in this project.

Current Extramural Research Grants

McKnight Foundation, 1998-2001. "Conservation of Genetic Diversity and Improvement of Crop Production in Mexico: A Farmer-Based Approach". (with 3 other PIs)

California Bean Industry, 1999-2000. "Utilization of wild germplasm for crop improvement".

Recent Publications Relevant to this Proposal

Geffroy V, Sévignac M, De Oliveira JCF, Fouilloux G, Skroch P, Thoquet P, Gepts P, Langin P, and Dron M. 2000. Inheritance of partial resistance against Colletotrichum lindemuthianum in Phaseolus vulgaris and co-localization of quantitative trait loci with genes involved in specific resistance. Mol. Plant- Microbe Inter. 13: 287-296.

Geffroy V, Sicard D, de Oliveira JCF, Sévignac M, Cohen S, Gepts P, Neema C, Langin T, Dron M. 1999. Identification of an ancestral resistance gene cluster involved in the coevolution process between Phaseolus vulgaris and its fungal pathogen Colletotrichum lindemuthianum. Mol. Plant Microbe Inter 12: 774-784.

Tsai SM, Nodari RO, Moon DH, Camargo LEA, Vencovsky R, Gepts P. 1998. QTL mapping for nodule number and common bacterial blight in Phaseolus vulgaris L. Plant Soil 204:135-145.

Freyre R, Skroch P, Geffroy V, Adam-Blondon A-F, Shirmohamadali A, Johnson W, Llaca V, Nodari R, Pereira P, Tsai S-M, Tohme J, Dron M, Nienhuis J, Vallejos CE, Gepts P. 1998. Towards an integrated linkage map of common bean. 4. Development of a core map and alignment of RFLP maps. Theor Appl Genet 97: 847-856.

Koinange EMK, Singh SP, Gepts P. 1996. Genetic control of the domestication syndrome in common-bean. Crop Sci. 36: 1037-145.

Freyre R, Ríos R, Guzmán L, Debouck DG, Gepts P. 1996. Ecogeographic distribution of Phaseolus spp. (Fabaceae) in Bolivia. Econ. Bot. 50: 195-215.

Guzmán P, Gilbertson RL, Nodari RL, Johnson WC, Temple S, Mandala D, Mkandawire ABC, Gepts P. 1995. Characterization of Phaeoisariopsis griseola isolates by random amplified polymorphic DNA markers suggests pathogen coevolution with Phaseolus vulgaris. Phytopathology 85: 600-607.

Kami J, Becerra Velásquez V, Debouck DG, Gepts P. 1995. Identification of the presumed ancestral DNA sequences of phaseolin in Phaseolus vulgaris. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 92: 1101-1104.

Llaca V, Delgado Salinas A, Gepts P. 1994. Chloroplast DNA as an evolutionary marker in the Phaseolus vulgaris complex. Theor Appl Genet 88: 646-652.

Stockton T, Gepts P. 1994. Identification of DNA probes that reveal polymorphisms among closely related Phaseolus vulgaris lines. Euphytica 76: 177-183.

Sonnante G, Stockton T, Nodari RO, Becerra Velásquez VL, Gepts P. 1994. Evolution of genetic diversity during the domestication of common-bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Theor Appl Genet 89: 629-635.

Gepts P. 1993. The use of molecular and biochemical markers in crop evolution studies. Evol Biol 27: 51-94.

Debouck DG, Toro O, Paredes OM, Johnson WC, Gepts P. 1993. Genetic diversity and ecological distribution of Phaseolus vulgaris in northwestern South America. Econ Bot 47: 408-423.

Singh SP, Gutiérrez JA, Molina A, Urrea C, Gepts P. 1991. Genetic diversity in cultivated common bean: II. Marker-based analysis of morphological and agronomic traits. Crop Sci 31: 23- 29.

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