Great accolade

A special honor has been bestowed on a very respected guest and cooperation partner in the area of breeding research: KWS held a symposium for Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. Albrecht E. Melchinger from the University of Hohenheim in Southern Germany, who was given the title of emeritus in the spring.

Internationally renowned

KWS has thus paid tribute to an internationally renowned scientist who has made a major contribution to the (further) development of modern plant breeding with his outstanding research in quantitative genetics, corn breeding and diverse innovative breeding technologies.

Eminent authorities

Albrecht Melchinger held (and continues to do so at present) the chair for Applied Genetics and Plant Breeding at the University of Hohenheim, following in the steps of such eminent authorities as F. Wolfgang Schnell and Hartwig Geiger.

KWS team

The symposium was organized on the part of KWS by Christof Bolduan (Head of Breeding, Corn Germany), who himself was a doctoral student under Professor Melchinger. He was assisted by Pascal Schopp – likewise a former doctoral student and now working as a scientist in corn breeding. Milena Ouzunova (Head of Applied Breeding Technologies, Corn) and Rainer Leipert (Head of Breeding, Corn) also played an active part in assisting and organizing the event.

Hohenheim School

Our corn breeders emphasized the role the University Hohenheim and specifically Melchinger have played in plant breeding, noting that Hohenheim has an excellent reputation and is internationally renowned. Graduates from Hohenheim in the fields of quantitative genetics and plant breeding play a significant role in practical plant breeding – and for KWS as well, stressed Leipert.

Personal contacts

The guests also included Andreas J. Büchting, Chairman of KWS’ Supervisory Board, and Felix Büchting from KWS’ Executive Board. Andreas J. Büchting emphasized the special importance of cooperation between public and private research, adding that personal contact was vital in that.

Win-win situation

Scientists on both sides should seek cooperation partners who can deliver mutual benefits – but especially those with whom they have a good working relationship at the personal level. Andreas and Felix Büchting studied agrobiology at Hohenheim, as well as at other universities.

Commitment and openness

Albrecht Melchinger also stressed the importance of cooperation between publicly and privately funded scientists for progress in plant breeding. He noted that KWS had displayed a great deal of commitment in its collaboration with the University of Hohenheim and had always shown itself to be an open partner.

Brilliant research

Melchinger’s group has made important contributions to research into heterosis, breeding methods, hybrid corn breeding and quantitative genetics, including leading-edge methods such as quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, genomic selection and doubled haploid (DH) technology in corn.

Scientific program

The scientific part of the ceremony’s agenda dealt with issues in those fields, with talks on: QTL mapping (Dietrich Borchardt), doubled haploids and marker technology (Milena Ouzunova), hybrid wheat development (Erhard Ebmeyer), and genomic prediction of performance (Pascal Schopp).

Wine and opera

To conclude the symposium, Albrecht Melchinger was presented on behalf of the whole company with a selection of fine wines and tickets for the Vienna State Opera: Melchinger shares a passion for opera with his wife. That was also a subject at the subsequent reception and dinner, alongside many anecdotes and stimulating technical discussions. |