Brett Carver

Dr. Brett Carver is a Professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Oklahoma State University (OSU), where he has served since 1992. He leads the OSU Wheat Improvement Team and specializes in quantitative genetics and wheat germplasm development. His research focuses on enhancing wheat varieties through breeding programs targeting disease resistance (e.g., stripe rust, leaf rust, powdery mildew), pest resistance (aphids, greenbug), and climate resilience. Carver earned his B.S. from the University of Georgia, M.S. from North Carolina State University (NCSU), and Ph.D. in Plant Science from NCSU.

• Education: B.S. Plant Science (UGA, 1980), M.S. Physiology (NCSU, 1982), Ph.D. Plant Science (NCSU, 1985)

Research Interests: Wheat genetics, disease and pest resistance mechanisms, high-throughput phenotyping, nitrogen use efficiency, and climate-smart crop improvement. His work continues a legacy of wheat breeding at OSU dating to the 1940s. Carver’s lab collaborates on projects funded by grants such as the NIFA CAP program addressing climate change impacts. He teaches courses like Breeding for Quantitative Traits and mentors students through thesis work.

Key Contributions: Developed resistant wheat varieties, identified novel resistance genes (e.g., Lr81, Dn625139), and pioneered genomic tools like KASP markers for marker-assisted selection. His team uses hyperspectral imaging and machine learning for rapid trait analysis in breeding nurseries. Carver’s work bridges traditional breeding with modern genomic approaches to ensure sustainable wheat production.