Prabin Bajgain

Prabin Bajgain inspecting Kernza seed heads
Research Assistant Professor

Biography

Prabin Bajgain is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Bajgain received his B.S. and M.S. in Plant Genetics and Biotechnology from Brigham Young University in 2009 and 2011, respectively, and Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Molecular Genetics from the University of Minnesota in 2014. Dr. Bajgain leads the breeding efforts to domesticate Intermediate Wheatgrass (Kernza®) and develop high performing varieties adapted for the Upper Midwest. Dr. Bajgain’s applied research in Kernza genomics utilizes modern bioinformatic and statistical tools to expedite the crop’s domestication timeline. Primarily, his research focuses on 1) discovery of genomic markers and genes controlling important agronomic, domestication, and economic traits, and 2) implementation of genomic selection (genomic prediction) for population improvement and variety development.


Education
Intstituion Major Degree Year
Brigham Young University Plant Genetics B.S. 2009
Brigham Young University Plant Genetics M.S. 2011
University of Minnesota Plant Breeding Ph.D. 2014

 

Experience
Employer Location Dates Position
University of Minnesota Saint Paul, MN 2021 - Present Research Assistant Professor
University of Minnesota Saint Paul, MN 2017-2021

Postdoctoral Associate

Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 2015-2017 Postdoctoral Associate
KWS-Lochow GmbH Bergen, Germany 2015 Hybrid Rye Breeder

 

Publications

2021

Rauf Y, Bajgain P, Rouse MN, Khanzada KA, Bhavani S, Huerta-Espino J, Singh RP, Imtiaz M, Anderson JA. Molecular Characterization of Genomic Regions for Adult Plant Resistance to Stem Rust in a Spring Wheat Mapping Population (2021). (Plant Disease, accepted)

Bajgain P, Anderson JA (2021). Multi-Allelic Haplotype-Based Association Analysis Identifies Genomic Regions Controlling Domestication Traits in Intermediate Wheatgrass. Agriculture 11(7): 667

2020

Bajgain P, Sallam A, Annor G, Conley E, Steffenson BJ, Muehlbauer G, Anderson JA (2020). Genetic Characterization of Flour Quality and Bread-making Traits in a Spring Wheat Nested Association Mapping Population. Crop Science 61, 1168–1183; doi: 10.1002/csc2.20432

Sallam AH, Manan F, Bajgain P, Martin M, Szinyei T, Conley E, Brown‐Guedira G, Muehlbauer GJ, Anderson JA, Steffenson BJ (2020). Genetic Architecture of Agronomic and Quality Traits in a Nested Association Mapping Population of Spring Wheat. The Plant Genome 13: e20051; doi: 10.1002/tpg2.20051

Bajgain P, Zhang X, Jungers JM, DeHaan L, Heim B, Sheaffer CC, Wyse D, Anderson JA (2020) ‘MN-Clearwater’, the first food-grade Intermediate Wheatgrass (Kernza® grain) cultivar. Journal of Plant Registrations 14: 288-297; doi: 10.1002/plr2.20042

Bajgain P, Jin Y, Tsilo TJ, Macharia GK, Reynolds S, Wanyera R Anderson JA (2020) Registration of KUWNSr, a Wheat Stem Rust Nested Association Mapping Population. Journal of Plant Registrations 14: 467-47

Adeyemo E, Bajgain P, Conley E, Sallam A, Anderson JA (2020) Optimizing Training Population Size and Content to Improve Prediction Accuracy of FHB-related Traits in Wheat. Agronomy 10:543

Bajgain P, Zhang X, Anderson JA (2020) Dominance and G×E interaction effects improve genomic prediction and genetic gain in intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium). The Plant Genome 13: e20012

Crain J, Bajgain P, Anderson JA, Zhang X, Poland J, DeHaan L (2020) Enhancing Crop Domestication Through Genomic Selection, a Case Study of Intermediate Wheatgrass. Frontiers in Plant Science 11:319
Tyl C, DeHaan L, Frels K, Bajgain P, Marks D, Anderson JA (2020) Emerging Crops with Enhanced Ecosystem Services: Progress in Breeding and Processing for Food Use. Cereal Foods World 65:2

2019

Bajgain P, Zhang X, Anderson JA (2019) Genome-wide association study of yield component traits in Intermediate Wheatgrass and implications in genomic selection and breeding. G3: Genes | Genomes | Genetics 9(8): 2429-2439; doi: 10.1534/g3.119.400073

Bajgain P, Zhang X, Turner KM, Curland RD, Heim B, Dill-Macky R, Ishimaru CA, Anderson JA (2019) Characterization of Genetic Resistance to Fusarium Head Blight and Bacterial Leaf Streak in Intermediate Wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium). Agronomy 9(8): 429; doi: 10.3390/agronomy9080429

2018

Bajgain P, Russell B, Mohammadi M (2018) Phylogenetic analyses and in-seedling expression of ammonium and nitrate transporters in wheat. Scientific Reports 8:7082; doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-25430-8

2016

Bajgain P, Rouse MN, Tsilo TJ, Macharia GK, Bhavani S, Jin Y, Anderson JA (2016) Nested association mapping of stem rust resistance in wheat using genotyping by sequencing. PLoS ONE 11(5): e0155760

Bajgain P, Rouse MN, Anderson JA (2016) Comparing genotyping-by-sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphism chip genotyping for quantitative trait loci mapping in wheat. Crop Science 56: 1-17

2015

Gao L, Cook JK, Bajgain P, Rouse MN, Anderson JA (2015) Development of genotyping by sequencing (GBS) and array derived SNP markers for stem rust resistance gene Sr42. Molecular Breeding 35: 207

Bajgain P, Rouse MN, Bulli P, Bhavani S, Gordon T, Wanyera R, Njau PN, Legesse W, Anderson JA, Pumphrey MO (2015) Association mapping of North American spring wheat breeding germplasm reveals loci conferring resistance to Ug99 and other African stem rust races. BMC Plant Biology 15: 249

Bajgain P, Rouse MN, Bhavani S, Anderson JA (2015) QTL mapping of adult plant resistance to Ug99 stem rust in the spring wheat population RB07/MN06113-8. Molecular Breeding 35: 170; doi: 10.1007/s11032-015-0362-x

2012

Richardson BA, Page JT, Bajgain P, Sanderson SC, Udall JA (2012) Deep sequencing of amplicons reveals widespread intraspecific hybridization and multiple origins of polyploidy in big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata). American Journal of Botany 99: 12; doi: 10.3732/ajb.1200373

2011

Bajgain P, Richardson BA, Price JC, Cronn RC, Udall JA (2011) Transcriptome characterization and polymorphism detection between subspecies of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata). BMC Genomics 12:370 Morales AJ, Bajgain P, Garver Z, Maughan PK, Udall JA (2011) Physiological responses of Chenopodium quinoa to salt stress. International Journal of Plant Physiology & Biochemistry 3: 13; doi: 10.5897/IJPPB.9000034