b'CPBI SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS 2022ISAAC PEETOOM HEIDA, GENEVIVE ARSENAULT-LABRECQUE,UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIALAVAL UNIVERSITY BETTER UNDERSTANDING SILICON LEVELLING THE GENOMICSIsaac Peetoom Heida, 25, is a mastersPLAYING FIELDstudent studying the role of plant genet- In the course of her PhD project, ics and soil silicon in soil-plant-pest- andGenevive Arsenault-Labrecque developed pathogen interactions, primarily in wheat. The researcha genomic approach to characterize the spectrum of vari-will help shed light on the critically understudied roleants (haplotypes) for all the avirulence genes associated of silicon in agroecosystems. He is also working on hiswith the most common resistance genes used commer-certification as a professional agrologist and is a membercially. Her work could revolutionize the tools exploited in of several agricultural science societies.plant breeding for developing soybean lines resistant to one of its most devastating pathogens, Phytophthora sojae. She developed a predictive tool that can be easily used EMILEE STORFIE, by breeders so that they can introgress and recommend UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTAthe proper resistance genes to growers. This technology HELPING CANOLA FIGHT OFF CLUBROOT is unique in the world and as a result, she patented it and has created a startup, AYOS Diagnostic, currently housed Emilee Storfie, 28, is a PhD studentat Laval University. studying the molecular mechanisms of the interaction between canola and Plasmodiophora brassicae, a pathogen producing clubrootHENRY ALEXANDER CORDOBA NOVOA,disease that has a major effect on the $26.7 billion canolaMCGILL UNIVERSITY industry. Her research will help uncover how the clubroot pathogen infects canola plants and how canola can fightREVEALING THE SECRETS OF MUTATIONS off the infection. Emilees work could help transform club- IN SELF-POLLINATED CROPSroot resistance breeding and management.Henry Alexander Cordoba Novoas PhD research is focused on the study of agro-nomic and quality traits in common bean and the study JESSE MUTCHESON, of mutations that pose a threat in self-pollinated crop spe-UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA cies. As little is known about the role of the accumulation BOOSTING POD SHATTER TOLERANCE of harmful mutations in breeding self-pollinated species, his research will accelerate the understanding of genome Jesse Mutcheson, 28, is a second-yearbiology and will aid in the development of new crop masters student studying pod shattervarieties. tolerance in Brassica napus. His research could have a massive potential economic impact for Canadian farmers, as it includes multiple field trials over two years, genomics research and quantitative trait loci analyses. For video interviews with all our scholarship winners visitgermination.ca/cpbi-scholarshipsMARCH 2022 GERMINATION.CA 5'