Research:   Breeding for hybrid and parental rice lines and cultivars. Priority traits aimed for include high grain yield (and component traits), grain quality (low chalkiness and high head rice percentage), and resistance to biotic (pathogen and insect pests) and abiotic stress (cold tolerance at germination). Studies and tools for use to attain goals will include (but not limited to) combining ability and heterotic groups, genome wide association, and marker- and model-assisted selection. Publications and presentations will be developed, funding and grants will be sought, and collaborations with scientists will be established.