Overview of research program: The University of Tennessee has conducted research on corn breeding and genetics since 1922. In the early years of hybrid corn development, lines developed at UT were widely used in hybrid seed production. The current emphasis of the corn program is germplasm enhancement and development of parental white-grain lines. Dr. West is a collaborator on the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (GEM) project. The objective of the GEM project is to broaden the diversity of U.S. maize germplasm, and reduce genetic vulnerability of the crop. Exotic maize germplasm is evaluated, and superior materials are selected for crossing with elite U.S. lines. The resulting populations then enter selection programs to develop new lines. Under Dr. West's leadership the corn project has released 6 parental lines of white corn, 2 parental lines of yellow corn, 2 sweet corn lines, and 2 germplasm populations of white corn. The objectives of the wheat breeding program are variety development and wheat production research. The criteria for variety development include yield, milling characteristics, tolerance to plant pests (primarily fungal diseases), and environmental stress.