Curt McCartney

Curt McCartney is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Science at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. He is based at the Fort Garry campus in Winnipeg, MB, where he conducts research and teaches in plant genetics and breeding. His primary affiliation is with the Department of Plant Science, contributing to both undergraduate and graduate programs.

Education:

• PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Manitoba
• BSc Honours in Genetics, University of Manitoba

His research is centered on wheat breeding and genetics, particularly focused on improving Canada Western Red Winter (CWRW) wheat varieties for Prairie conditions. Key areas include resistance to Fusarium head blight, rust diseases, and orange wheat blossom midge, using advanced molecular techniques such as SNP marker analysis, DNA sequencing, linkage analysis, QTL mapping, association mapping, and bioinformatics. He also explores the application of UAV-mounted sensors for phenotyping in breeding programs.

Although specific publications are not listed in the text, his research portfolio indicates a strong focus on genetic mapping, genomic selection, and variety development in wheat and triticale. His work supports both scientific advancement and practical agricultural applications in cereal crop improvement.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards explicitly mentioned.

Dr. McCartney advises graduate students in the Plant Science program and is involved in multiple research projects related to disease resistance and crop improvement. His lab integrates molecular genetics with field-based breeding, contributing to sustainable wheat production. He teaches PLNT 4330 (Intermediate Plant Genetics) and PLNT 7164 (Genetic Mapping in Plants), supporting the training of future plant scientists.

He is associated with research facilities within the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, utilizing both laboratory and field resources for his breeding and genetic studies. His work contributes to national variety registration efforts and ongoing genomic research in cereals.