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David M. Francis Assistant Professor Department of Horticulture and Crop Science OARDC Wooster, Ohio	Back to Scientists

Research Interests

Multi-disciplinary approaches to breeding for disease resistance and end-product quality. Use and development of genetic markers for marker assisted selection. Genetic mapping of single gene and quantitative traits. Plant-pathogen coevolution. Population genetics of plant pathogens. Evolution of tomato and its wild relatives.

Current Projects

• Tomato cultivar evaluation for processing, David M. Francis and Winston Bash (Food Industries Center), funding through Mid America Food Processors Association.
• Genetic Characterization of Resistance to Bacterial Diseases in Tomato, David M. Francis and Sally A. Miller (Plant Pathology), funding: Mid America Food Processors Association, OARDC research enhancement competitive grants program.
• Genetic basis of resistance to bacterial canker, David M. Francis, Dennis Fulbright (Michigan State University), Julia Bell (Michigan State University), and Mary Hausbeck (Michigan State University).funding: OARDC research enhancement competitive grants program
• Effect of tomato variety and processing conditions on lycopene degradation and isomerization. David M. Francis, Steven J. Schwartz, and Sherry Barringer. Funding: Midwest Advanced Food Manufacturers Alliance (USDA).

Selected References

• Scott, J.W., S. A. Miller, R. A. Stall, J. B. Jones, G. C. Somodi, V. Barbosa, D.M. Francis, F. Sahin. 1997. Resistance to race T2 of the bacterial spot pathogen in tomato. Hort Science 32:724-727.
• Francis, D. M. and D.A. St. Clair. 1997. Population Genetics of Pythium ultimum. Phytopathology, 87:454-461.
• Francis, D. M., Aitken, K. S., and D. A. St. Clair. 1995. The relationship between mating system and Lyt element abundance in Lycopersicon and Solanum. Genetics 140:418-419.
• Francis, D. M., Ghelen, M. F., and D. A. St. Clair. 1994. Genetic variation in homothallic and hyphal swelling isolates of Pythium ultimum var. ultimum and Pythium ultimum var. sporangiferum. Mol. Plant Microbe Interactions 7:766-775.
• Young*, R. J., D. M. Francis*, D. A. St. Clair, and B. H. Taylor. 1993. A dispersed family of repetitive DNA sequences exhibits characteristics of a transposable element in the genus Lycopersicon. Genetics . 137:581-588

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