Note to Editors: News media wishing to schedule an interview in the Seattle area with Dr. Dhingra can do so through the contacts listed above. A brief online video featuring him discussing his research is available at www.theinnovators.wsu.edu/aug27.
SEATTLE In Washington state, where tree fruit is a multibillion dollar industry, Washington State University researcher Amit Dhingra’s big ideas for improving fruit quality and growing techniques are making a world of difference.
As the fall kickoff of WSU’s “Innovators” luncheon series, in which leading faculty experts explore a variety of topics of significance to Washington and the world, Dhingra, assistant professor and scientist with the WSU Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, will be giving a presentation Aug. 27 entitled “Intelli-GEN-Design: Fruit of the Future,” focusing on new ideas for improving the quality and technology of growing tree fruit. Luncheon registration will begin at 11:30 a.m. in The Rainier Club in downtown Seattle. Registration is also available online at www.theinnovators.wsu.edu or by calling 877-978-3868.
An expert in fruit genomics, Dhingra uses gene discovery and biotechnology applications to understand and enhance the unique biological characteristics of major food crops, including apples, grapes, cherries and pears. With his colleagues at WSU, he is identifying the keys to growing more nutritious and delicious fruit. His pioneering work in genome sequencing is creating new knowledge for designing crops to meet the demands of our changing economic and environmental conditions.
Mapping the genomic blueprint of apples, one of Washington’s premier cash crops, has been a focus of Dhingra’s extensive, ongoing research. Apple growers and consumers across the state and worldwide are enjoying the benefits of his work on the apple genome project, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. His laboratory at WSU is now partnered with researchers from Italy, South Africa and New Zealand to form an international consortium on apple genome sequencing.
Improved fruit quality through genomics research promises myriad benefits for Washington fruit growers, who already produce some of the world’s best fruit. WSU, with its expertise in horticultural genomics, is uniquely positioned to advance crop development, spurring economic growth throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Dhingra holds a doctorate in plant molecular biology from the University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India and a master’s degree in botany from Agra University, India.
He is part of a team of scientists at WSU and the University of Washington spearheading a public, international effort to map and unlock the secrets of the apple genome to develop better tree fruit faster. WSU’s Agricultural Research Center is providing seed money for the project as part of its larger investment in basic and applied plant science programs.
