Rathore Receives 2011 Cotton Genetics Research Award
February 9, 2012 Dr. Keerti Rathore, a Texas A&M University associate professor and researcher, is the recipient of the 2011 Cotton Genetics Research Award.
The announcement was made at the 2012 Beltwide Cotton Improvement Conference, a part of the National Cotton Council-coordinated 2012 Beltwide Cotton Conferences.
Since 2003, Dr. Rathore has worked as an associate professor in A&M’s Soil and Crop Sciences Department and its Institute for Plant Genomics and Biotechnology. He also has served as director of the Institute’s Laboratory for Crop Transformation since 1997. Evidence of Rathore’s depth and breadth of knowledge in molecular biology and its application to cotton is highlighted by his 26 peer reviewed journal articles, 11 book chapter contributions and three granted patents.
A significant research highlight is Rathore’s work on the reduction in cottonseed of gossypol, which renders the seed unfit for human and monogastric animal consumption.
A nominator and co-worker, Dr. Wayne Smith, a professor – cotton breeding and associate head, agreed the recipient was deserving of the award on the basis of his gossypol-free seed development through gene silencing, specific promoter and gene insertion technologies.
“Keerti has lines that show 95% reduction in seed gossypol that makes these seed, an excellent source of oil and protein, edible by humans,” said Smith. “This effort could lead to a new, high quality food source for people around the world.”
U.S. commercial cotton breeders have presented the Cotton Genetics Research Award for more than 40 years to a scientist for outstanding basic research in cotton genetics.
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