Work

My research has extensively involved mining genetic diversity from crop wild relatives (CWR) to uncover valuable traits for crop improvement, particularly in wheat and mint. In wheat, a major focus has been on vernalization genes, where I identified natural genetic variations from ancient wheats and wild relatives to understand adaptations like spring growth habits. For instance, my 2015 publication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed the origin of spring growth in ancient South Asian wheats through the VERNALIZATION 4 (VRN4) gene, drawing from genetic diversity in wild and ancient accessions to map alleles that reduce vernalization requirements. This work utilized germplasm collections to characterize epistatic interactions and polymorphisms in vernalization loci (e.g., VRN-D4 and VRN-A1), enabling the mining of alleles for breeding winter cereals adapted to diverse climates. 

In mint, an aromatic crop, I led surveys of the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) collection between 2018 and 2021, identifying novel peppermint-type oil sources from wild relatives like Mentha longifolia. This effort validated breeding strategies to enhance oil yields by incorporating induced and natural genetic variation from wild accessions, resulting in varieties like 'Velvet' peppermint, which offers higher yields and is now in commercial production. My approach often involves characterizing germplasm for traits like disease resistance and yield, as seen in field trials and mutant populations, contributing to pre-breeding materials released for commercial use in thousands of acres. 

I have played a key role in developing genomics tools for orphan crops—under-researched species like mint and chickpeas—facilitating accelerated breeding through molecular markers, genome assemblies, and genotyping platforms. At UC Davis, in collaboration with Mars Inc., I spearheaded genomics for perennial crops like mint, an orphan crop with limited prior tools. Notable achievements include the 2024 chromosome-scale assembly of apple mint (Mentha suaveolens), which integrated sequencing methods for improved de novo assembly, and the 2021 efficient linkage map for M. suaveolens using sequence capture to identify haplotypes. These tools enabled gene discovery for flavor, yield, and disease resistance, leading to diploid mint varieties producing spearmint-type oil with high yield potential. 

My work also involved deploying SNP genotyping platforms and molecular markers in polyploid crops, optimizing assays for genome duplication and pre-breeding. At NuCicer Inc., as Plant Breeding Director, I advanced genomics for chickpeas (often classified as an orphan crop in breeding contexts), developing roadmaps for varietal selection, predictive breeding, and automated phenotyping. This included managing projects with external partners to enhance genetic diversity using tools like high-throughput sequencing and statistical analysis in R and SAS. My technical skills in DNA technologies, such as designing markers for diploid and polyploid species, have been instrumental in characterizing natural variation and producing pre-breeding materials. 

My career emphasizes enhancing environmental fitness—crop adaptation to abiotic and biotic stresses—and strategic product placement, ensuring varieties perform optimally in target environments through field-based evaluation and interdisciplinary breeding. In wheat, my research on phytochrome (phyB and phyC) mutations and vernalization pathways addressed environmental cues like photoperiod and temperature, revealing shared functions in flowering and shade-avoidance. RNA-seq studies under varying day lengths identified gene networks for reproductive fitness, enabling wheat lines with no functional VRN2 genes for better adaptation to short/long days and climate variability. This work supports product placement by tailoring varieties to specific latitudes and seasons, maximizing grain production. In mint and chickpeas, I conducted field trials at sites like UCANR's Extension Centers (IREC) to test environmental performance under California conditions, replicating farming stresses like pests and variable climates. As Plant Breeding Lead at NuCicer, I developed strategies for product advancement, focusing on fitness traits like yield, disease resistance, and resource efficiency, while collaborating across analytics, bioinformatics, and R&D for market-aligned placement.