Dr. Rebecca Brown
Research Professor, Turfgrass
B.A., 1991, St. Olaf College
M.S., 1994, University of Minnesota
Ph.D., 2001, Oregon State University
I work in the areas of breeding and genetics of turfgrasses and native grasses. My background is in traditional plant breeding and the development of molecular genetics tools for use by plant breeders. I am currently working on QTL mapping and gene identification in perennial ryegrass, and on molecular marker development in the fineleaf fescues. I am also working on a project to identify native grasses and traditional turfgrasses which tolerate the roadside environment, including roadsalt. I conduct turfgrass variety trials; species currently being trialed include perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, fineleaf fescues, tall fescue, and bentgrasses. I also conduct mixed-species trials focusing on particular management needs.
- Mehlenbacher, Shawn A., Rebecca N. Brown, Eduardo R. Nouhra, Nahla V. Bassil. (2006) A genetic linkage map for hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) based on RAPD markers. Genome 49:122-133.
- Brown, R. N., R. E. Barker, S. E. Warnke, L. A. Brilman, M. A. R. Mian, G. Jung and S.-C. Sim. (2005) QTL Analyses for Morphological Traits Useful in Distinguishing Annual Ryegrass and Turf-type Perennial Ryegrass. Int. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 10:516-524.
- Brown, R. N., R. E. Barker, S. E. Warnke, L. A. Brilman, M. A. R. Mian, S.C. Sim and G. Jung. (2005) Identification of quantitative trait loci for flowering time in a field-grown Lolium perenne x Lolium multiflorum mapping population. in Molecular Breeding for the Improvement of Forage Crops and Turf. Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on the Molecular Breeding of Forage and Turf. XXth International Grassland Congress, July 2005, Aberystwyth, Wales. Wageningen Academic Publishers.
- Paris, H. S. and R. N. Brown. (2005). The Genes of Pumpkin and Squash. HortScience 40:1620-1630.
- R. E. Barker, S. E. Warnke, and R. N. Brown. (2005) Genetic Variability Among Intermediate Ryegrass Seed Lots and Cultivars Detected by RAPD Analysis. Int. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 10:490-494.
- Mehlenbacher S.A., Brown R.N., Davis J.W., Chen H., Bassil N.V., Smith D.C., and Kubisiak T.L. (2003) RAPD markers for eastern filbert blight resistance in Corylus avellana. Theor. Appl. Genet. 108:651-656.
- Brown, RN, AB Herrera, MK Jahn, and JR Myers (2003) The Inheritance of Resistance to Four Cucurbit Viruses in Cucurbita moschata (Duch. ex Poir.) and the Search for Molecular Markers Linked to Resistance, Euphytica 129:253-258.
- Brown, RN and JR Myers (2002) A Genetic Map of Squash (Cucurbita spp) with Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA Markers and Morphological Markers. J. American Society Horticultural Science 127:568-575.
- HATCH Grant, 2006-2007, "The Identification of Grasses with Improved Salt Tolerance for Roadside Use", $40,000
- URI Foundation Faculty Development Grant, 2006, "The Foundation of a Plant Breeding Program: Rebuilding URI's Grass Germplasm Collection" $1,700,
- ADVANCE Incentive Grant, 2006, "The Development of SSR Primers for Genetic Mapping and Population Studies in Festuca" $7,000
- Rhode Island Department of Transportation Research Program, 2006-2008, “Evaluation of Native Grasses for Highway Slope Stabilization and Salt Tolerance” $68,606
- ADVANCE Incentive Grant, 2005, “Successful Networking as a Tool for Success” (Travel Grant for conferences) $2,300
- Grant-in-aid, 2005, “Rust resistance in Kentucky bluegrass” (New England Sod Growers’ Association) $3,000
- University College faculty advisor for Environmental Horticulture and Turfgrass Management, EL_EHTM_BS.
Professional Society Memberships
- Crop Science Society of America
- International Turfgrass Society
- Turfgrass Breeders’ Association
- Golf Course Superintendents’ Association of America (Educator)
- Rhode Island Golf Course Superintendents’ Association
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Rhode Island Natural History Survey