Impact of Biotechnology on the Future Training of Plant Breeders in the United States and Bulgaria

ABSTRACT

A worthy goal of graduate training programs is the preparation of students for meeting the diverse job requirements they may face in future professional positions in universities, industry, governmental research positions, or in international programs. Most future university plant breeders will have diverse job responsibilities including teaching, supervision of graduate students, breeding and genetic research, and—in many cases—leadership of applied plant breeding programs. In industry and in research institutes, applied plant breeding will be the major responsibility. Field-nursery effort must be given high priority in breeding/genetic research and in applied breeding programs. Students must receive hands-on training in nursery layout and mechanics, trait evaluation, choice of parents, experimental design and data analysis, project management, and the “art” of plant breeding. Just as we have required our students to possess knowledge of computer and software utilization so that they are able to communicate effectively with specialists in those fields, they now must possess knowledge about molecular genetics and those associated biotechnologies which may become useful tools in a plant breeder's repertoire. If cultivar development is a part of the position description, along with teaching, supervision of graduate students, and research, it is probably unrealistic to expect a major thrust in laboratory—oriented molecular technologies. C'op-oriented, multi-disciplinary teams offer one option for achieving maximum progress from the integration of complementary professional interests and skills of team members while allowing realistic work-load assignments, job responsibilities, performance expectations, and recognition of achievements in the form of promotion and salary adjustments.