For Release : October 28, 2002

Dr. Calvin Qualset to be honored for his contribution to Genetic Resources Conservation.

William L. Brown Award Will Be Presented at the Missouri Botanical Garden on Nov. 5

St. Louis, Dr. Calvin O. Qualset of the University of California Davis will receive the William L. Brown Award for Excellence in Genetic Resources Conservation from the Missouri Botanical Garden for his accomplishments in conserving and utilizing genetic resources for future generations. Dr. Peter H. Raven, director, will present the award at a dinner following the Symposium on Plant Genetic Resources Conservation on Nov. 5.
The second annual William L. Brown Award is presented to an outstanding individual in recognition of contributions made in the field of genetic resource conservation and use. The William L. Brown Center for Economic Botany was established with a generous gift from the Sehgal Family Foundation and it honors the work and legacy of Dr. Brown—a distinguished scientist, businessman and humanitarian—and his lifelong efforts to collect, preserve, understand and share plant genetic resources.
Dr. Qualset is the founding Director of the Genetics Resources Conservation Program of the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of California at Davis. The goal of his 40-year research career was to discover interesting genetic resources of wheat, barley, oat and triticale, to access the genetic basis for those traits, and to use them efficiently in plant breeding.
As a research professor and professor emeritus, he remains active in developing biological conservation strategies and conducts research on plant genomics and genetic resource conservation. His work concentrates on the genetics of yield-determining factors in wheat, using molecular markers and genetic diversity in landraces of wheat in west Asia.
The Symposium on Plant Genetic Resources Conservation is sponsored by the Missouri Botanical Garden, in collaboration with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Washington University and the World Agriculture Forum.

NOTE: Digital image available upon request.
The Missouri Botanical Garden’s mission is to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment, in order to preserve and enrich life. Today, 143 years after opening, the Missouri Botanical Garden is a National Historic Landmark and a center for research, education and horticultural display.

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