Professor Rebecca Grumet (left) with a student in the lab, courtesy of MSU.
Michigan State University (MSU) Professor Rebecca Grumet has dedicated her career to assisting specialty crop growers. A professor in the MSU’s Department of Horticulture, she is an expert in reproductive development and disease resistance in cucurbit crops such as cucumbers, melons, squash and watermelons. Grumet is the lead investigator on a multi-institutional, nationwide research endeavor called the Cucurbit Coordinated Agricultural Project (CucCAP). The project began in 2015 with a $6.5 million grant from the Specialty Crop Research Initiative within USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Researchers use genomics to better understand the genetic makeup of cucurbit species and breed disease-resistant varieties, one of the most effective tools to improve production when paired with a disease management strategy. For more information, read the MSU news article.
