Assistant Professor of Plant Genetics
- Postdoctoral Associate 2006-2008 Mentors: Dr. Peter Balint-Kurti, Plant Pathology and Dr. James Holland, Department of Crop Science, NCSU, Raleigh, NC
- Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics 2006 Cornell University, Ithaca, NY Dissertation: The genetic architecture of quantitative resistance in the cereals.
- B.S. in Biological Science 2000 Florida International University, Miami, FL Honors thesis: Analysis of heterokaryon formation in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense.
- Quantitative trait variation, which is generally controlled by multiple genes with small and cumulative effects, is the rule rather than the exception in nature. I am fundamentally interested in contributing to understanding the genetic and mechanistic basis of quantitative trait variation and how this may leverage crop improvement. My research projects use population genetic-, genomic-, and bioinformatic-based approaches to address questions in plant genetics and breeding. The themes of my investigations converge on elucidating the genetic architecture of plant quantitative disease resistance in the grasses with a special focus on maize and its diseases. Currently, there are three emphasized topics of research in my lab: (i) development of methods for understanding population improvement from short-term selection, (ii) analysis of single and multiple disease resistance, and (iii) extending quantitative genetics methods to study natural plant pathogen variation.
Poland, J. A., P. J. Balint-Kurti, R. J. Wisser, R. C. Pratt, and R. J. Nelson (2008) Shades of gray: the world of quantitative disease resistance. TIPS, In press, published ahead of print DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2008.10.006.
Wisser, R. J., S. C. Murray, J. M. Kolkman, H. Ceballos, and R. J. Nelson (2008) Selection mapping of loci for quantitative disease resistance in a diverse maize population. Genetics 180: 583-599.
Balint-Kurti, P. J., R. Wisser, and J. C. Zwonitzer (2008) Use of an advanced intercross line population for precise mapping of quantitative trait loci for gray leaf spot resistance in maize. Crop Sci. 48: 1696-1704.
Balint-Kurti, P. J., C. Zwonitzer, R. J. Wisser, M. Carson, M. A. Oropeza-Rosas, J. B. Holland, and S. J. Szalma (2007) Precise mapping of quantitative trait loci for resistance to southern leaf blight, caused by Cochliobolus heterostrophus race O, using an advanced intercross maize population. Genetics 176: 645-657.
Wisser, R. J., P. J. Balint-Kurti, and R. J. Nelson (2006) The genetic architecture of disease resistance in maize: a synthesis of published studies. Phytopathology 96: 120-129.
Wisser, R. J., Q. Sun, S. H. Hulbert, S. Kresovich, and R. J. Nelson (2005) Identification and characterization of regions of the rice genome associated with broad-spectrum, quantitative disease resistance. Genetics 169: 2277-2293.
Monosi, B., R. J. Wisser, L. Pennill, and S. H. Hulbert (2004) Full-genome analysis of nucleotide binding site genes in rice. Theor. Appl. Genet. 109: 1434-1447.
Brown, J. S., D. Kuhn, R. Wisser, E. Power, and R. Schnell (2004) Quantification of sources of variation and accuracy of sequence discrimination in a replicated microarray experiment. Biotechniques 36: 324-332.
Kuhn, D.N., Heath, M., R. J. Wisser, A. Meerow, J. S. Brown, U. Lopes, and R. J. Schnell (2003) Resistance gene homologues in Theobroma cacao as useful genetic markers. Theor. Appl. Genet. 107: 191-202.
Meerow, A. W., R. J. Wisser, S. J. Brown, D. N. Kuhn, R. J. Schnell, and T. K. Broschat (2003) Analysis of genetic diversity and population structure within Florida coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) germplasm using microsatellite DNA, with special emphasis on the Fiji Dwarf cultivar. Theor. Appl. Genet. 106: 715-726.
Contact Information:
Randall J Wisser
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
163 Townsend Hall (office)
304 Worrilow Hall (lab)
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716
office: 302.831.1356
cellular: 919.723.8180
rjw@udel.edu