The Graduate Program in Plant Genetics and Breeding at UFLA (PPGGM) was established in 1986 at the master's level and in 1995 at the doctoral level. Currently, PPGGM is classified among the excellence programs of CAPES (Grade 7).

The objectives of PPGGM are:

• To train master's and doctoral graduates to work in public or private breeding programs, thus contributing to the strengthening of agribusiness;

• To train new faculty members to work in public or private educational institutions, with strategic importance for the continued qualification of new professionals and innovation capacity to promote advances in methodologies and/or technologies based on new knowledge;

• To train professionals to work as entrepreneurs, contributing to the creation of new companies and new opportunities to compete in the national market.

PPGGM has a concentration area in Plant Genetics and Breeding, with projects organized into the following research lines:

• PLANT CYTOGENETICS – Study of the structural and functional aspects of chromatin and mitotic and meiotic chromosomes of cultivated and native species, using classical cytogenetics, molecular techniques, and immunolocalization.

• PLANT AND PHYTOPATHOGEN GENOMICS AND MOLECULAR GENETICS – Use of genomics tools in the improvement of annual and perennial plants and in genetic diversity evaluation. Studies on the basic genetics and genomics of phytopathogens aiming at plant resistance to diseases.

• PLANT GENETIC IMPROVEMENT, QUANTITATIVE GENETICS, AND BIOMETRY – Use of biometric methods in cultivated and native plants, both annual and perennial, to obtain estimates of genetic and phenotypic parameters that assist breeders in decision-making in breeding programs. Study of breeding methods applicable to economically important annual and perennial crops aimed at selecting better-adapted cultivars for recommendation in major cultivation regions.

The increase in agricultural productivity efficiency to meet the global demand for food, fibers, and energy due to population growth aligns with the challenges faced by PPGGM in developing scientific, technological, and innovative research. In this context, PPGGM faculty have led classical breeding programs for crops such as beans, corn, coffee, rice, soybeans, wheat, and vegetables, aimed at obtaining new cultivars that contribute to the development of regional and/or national agribusiness. There are also partnerships with public and private companies, such as breeding programs for forage and forest species and tobacco, which have enabled the development of priority research on issues directly aligned with the productive sector. Furthermore, PPGGM has faculty specialized in cytogenetics, molecular genetics, and phytopathogens, who provide support for the development of activities within these breeding programs, generating both basic and applied research for various crops, as well as integrating new tools to enhance the efficiency of selection strategies and management in breeding programs. PPGGM's research has enabled the qualification of students and the generation of numerous dissertations, theses, and scientific papers.

Admission to the program occurs through a biannual selection process, with exams held in all regions of Brazil and vacancies distributed among the research lines. For more details about the program, watch the promotional video.

PPGGM receives financial support from CAPES/PROEX, FAPEMIG, and CNPq.

ATTENTION: The Integrated Secretariat Coordination of the Institute of Natural Sciences (CSI/ICN) is responsible for managing the academic demands of PPGGM.

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