Agriculture and Plant Sciences
WSU provides leadership in discovering, accessing, and
disseminating its expertise in agriculture and the plant
sciences through high quality research, instruction, and
extension programs. This scholarship promotes the
well-being of individuals, families, and communities,
enhances the sustainability of agricultural and economic
systems, and supports stewardship of natural resources
and ecological systems.
As one of the largest and most distinguished
multidisciplinary programs in the country, molecular
plant science at WSU focuses on fundamental research in
molecular biology, physiology, and biochemistry that has
applications in forestry and agricultural biotechnology.
From the development of new pharmaceuticals to fight
cancer to applications of biotechnology tools to improve
agricultural commodities of importance to the state,
nation, and world, plant science research has enormous
promise for improving the quality of life for people
worldwide.
Comments about Assistant Professor Dhingra
"He is revealing the genetic blueprint", says Jim
McFerson, manager with the Washington Tree Fruit
Commission. "We are really understanding a lot more at
the gene level of what the apple tree is doing. We guess
less and less, and know more and more."
Dr. Amit Dhingra (right) maps the apple's genome--the
complex system of genes that defines how the fruit grows,
looks, and tastes. With the baseline knowledge of which
genes lead to which physical traits, growers can
selectively breed apples that hold the most appeal to
consumers.
In fewer than two years at WSU, Dr. Dhingra's quest to
build a better apple has captured the industry's
imagination. Dhingra, originally from New Delhi, is a
champion of the state’s $2 billion apple industry.
Molecular
Plant Sciences.
