Greenhouse Genetic Testing Services
As seed technologies continue to advance, creating ever-expanding portfolios and related inventories that demand more sophisticated QC, look to Illinois Crop for invaluable third-party support. Our team of Registered Genetic Technologists and our depth of testing services can ensure you deliver, as promised, the traited or non-GMO seed products your customers need to succeed.
Crops & Kinds
Row Crops
Forage
Grains/Cereals
Grass/Turf
Vegetables
and more
Trait Test Functions
ELISA & Lateral Flow
Non-GMO Series
Herbicide Bioassays
Custom Screenings
Plant Breeder Trait Screens
and more
Zach Duray, Certified Genetic Technologist
Director
Contact
Zach joined Illinois Crop in 2020 after working at the University of Illinois and the USDA-Agriculture Research Service’s Wheat, Sorghum, and Forage Research Unit in Lincoln, Nebraska. While with the USDA, he performed disease bioassays in a greenhouse setting and confirmed the identity of transgenic plants by genotyping. Zach as evaluated the characteristics and pathogenicity of brown stem rot, sudden death syndrome, phytophthora root rot, and tar spot under greenhouse, growth chamber, and field conditions. At the University of Illinois, Zach was a Visiting Research Specialist for the Field Crops Pathology Research Lab in the Department of Crop Sciences. Under greenhouse, growth chamber, and field conditions the Crop Sciences lab evaluated the characteristics and pathogenicity of brown stem rot, sudden death syndrome, phytophthora root rot, and tar spot. Zach played an integral role in designing the PCR protocols to isolate fungal barcoding genes to maintain isolate identity and create a phylogeny of tar spot isolates collected from across the Midwest to learn more about this disease’s origin and its history evolved since its discovery in the US in 2015. Zach has a Bachelors Degree in crop science with a concentration in plant biotechnology and molecular biology and a Masters Degree in plant biotechnology under the Professional Science Master’s program from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Zach is a licensed pesticide applicator and a certified member of the Society of Commercial Seed Technologists working towards the Registered Genetic Technologist (RGT) accreditation.
Technicians & assistants
Field Services
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