The Crop Science Podcast Show - Dr. Candy Hirsch: Germplasm Collections for Crop Improvement | Ep. 143

In this episode of The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Candy Hirsch, Professor at the University of Minnesota, explains why germplasm collections are essential for crop improvement. She discusses how gene banks preserve genetic diversity, protect valuable alleles, and support breeding for future environmental conditions. Dr. Hirsch also examines how sequencing and computational tools can prioritize limited conservation resources. Listen now on all major platforms!

What you'll learn:  

• Germplasm collection value
• Preserving genetic diversity
• Protecting valuable alleles
• Prioritizing gene banks
• Breeding future varieties

Meet the guest:

Dr. Candy Hirsch is a professor at the University of Minnesota, where her work spans plant breeding, bioinformatics, genetics, maize genomics, and translational crop research. She earned a PhD in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics and a BS in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Learn more from Dr. Hirsch on The Crop Science Podcast Show, available on all major platforms. 

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