Fernando Guillen Portal, Ph.D.
Senior Plant Breeder with extensive experience in crop research and development using innovative methods and protocols
Research Interests
About
Publications
Evaluation of Near‐Isogenic Lines for Three Height‐Reducing Genes in Hard Red Spring Wheat
Crop Science / May 01, 2012
Lanning, S. P., Martin, J. M., Stougaard, R. N., Guillen‐Portal, F. R., Blake, N. K., Sherman, J. D., Robbins, A. M., Kephart, K. D., Lamb, P., Carlson, G. R., Pumphrey, M., & Talbert, L. E. (2012). Evaluation of Near‐Isogenic Lines for Three Height‐Reducing Genes in Hard Red Spring Wheat. Crop Science, 52(3), 1145–1152. Portico. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2011.11.0625
Compensatory Mechanisms Associated with the Effect of Spring Wheat Seed Size on Wild Oat Competition
Crop Science / Mar 01, 2006
Guillen‐Portal, F. R., Stougaard, R. N., Xue, Q., & Eskridge, K. M. (2006). Compensatory Mechanisms Associated with the Effect of Spring Wheat Seed Size on Wild Oat Competition. Crop Science, 46(2), 935–945. Portico. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2005.08-0270
Registration of ‘Plainsman’ Grain Amaranth
Crop Science / Nov 01, 1992
Baltensperger, D. D., Weber, L. E., & Nelson, L. A. (1992). Registration of ‘Plainsman’ Grain Amaranth. Crop Science, 32(6), 1510–1511. Portico. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1992.0011183x003200060047x
Clustering Environments to Minimize Change in Rank of Cultivars
Crop Science / May 01, 2003
Russell, W. K., Eskridge, K. M., Travnicek, D. A., & Guillen‐Portal, F. R. (2003). Clustering Environments to Minimize Change in Rank of Cultivars. Crop Science, 43(3), 858–864. Portico. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2003.8580
Selection Environments for Maize in the U.S. Western High Plains
Crop Science / Sep 01, 2004
Guillen‐Portal, F. R., Russell, W. K., Eskridge, K. M., Baltensperger, D. D., Nelson, L. A., D’Croz‐Mason, N. E., & Johnson, B. E. (2004). Selection Environments for Maize in the U.S. Western High Plains. Crop Science, 44(5), 1519–1526. Portico. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2004.1519
Best Types of Maize Hybrids for the Western High Plains of the USA
Crop Science / Nov 01, 2003
Guillen‐Portal, F. R., Russell, W. K., Baltensperger, D. D., Eskridge, K. M., D’Croz‐Mason, N. E., & Nelson, L. A. (2003). Best Types of Maize Hybrids for the Western High Plains of the USA. Crop Science, 43(6), 2065–2070. Portico. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2003.2065
Assessment of hard red winter wheat F2and F3hybrids for the Nebraska panhandle*
Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis / Apr 10, 2002
Guillen-Portal, F. R., Baltensperger, D. D., Nelson, L. A., & Frickel, G. (2002). Assessment of hard red winter wheat F2and F3hybrids for the Nebraska panhandle*. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 33(5–6), 963–972. https://doi.org/10.1081/css-120003077
Education
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Ph.D, Plant Breeding and Genetics / December, 2000
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Master's of Science, Plant Breeding and Genetics / August, 1996
Universidad Autónoma Juan Misael Saracho
Bachelor's Degree, Agronomy / October, 1990
Experience
Global Clean Energy Holdings
Global Director of Breeding / December, 2021 — February, 2024
• Develop and execute strategies to enhance and deliver SusOils’ breeding program, including applications of modern genomics and genome editing. Key member of the company’s Crop Design Product Development program. • Develop short- and long-term program goals, aligning with high level Business Goals and Objectives and in concert with the SusOils’ business model. • Apply conventional breeding approaches, enhanced by modern breeding technologies where possible, to further expand and speed up SusOils’ intellectual property portfolio and delivery of world leading Camelina varieties for sustainable biofuel feedstocks in major global commercial growing areas. • Drive initiatives to maximize breeding efficiencies and achieve operational excellence by leveraging data and workflow automation. • Develop the competencies and skills of the individual breeders to maximize the performance of the team.
Assistant Professor, Small Grains and Oil seed Crops Extension Specialist. Texas A&M University / March, 2020 — November, 2021
• Work closely with County Extension Agents, other extension specialists, research faculty and industry at the local, state and national level to develop and implement high quality educational programs, applied field research as well as conventional and electronic publications to inform the public on issues related to the sustainable production of small grains and cool-season oil-seed crops. • Provide leadership with regional, state and national commodity groups, serving as a liaison with the industry, linking research and Extension programming with the needs of the small grains and oil-seed industries. • Provide leadership to team efforts to develop educational resources and programming to advance small grains production in the state of Texas.
Private Consultant / March, 2019 — February, 2020
• Global Clean Energy Holdings (GCEH): Formulate a research plan for the implementation and execution of advanced yield trials of experimental lines of camelina (Camelina sativa) in representative sites in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Washington. Execute a statistical treatment of data collected and report results to the management team. Assist in the implementation and execution of demonstrative commercial production of camelina across representative sites in Montana. Assist in conducting an inventory of the breeding seed developed within the camelina breeding project at Sustainable Oils, LLC.
Research Associate, Montana State University / May, 2017 — February, 2019
• Implement lab, greenhouse, and field research projects related to biotic and abiotic stress from the Cereal Genomics Laboratory, Montana State University. • Assist with multivariate statistical analysis of data from research studies associated with the use of genomics and metabolomics approaches for better understanding biotic and abiotic stress in cereal crops. • Supervise lab personnel for the implementation of greenhouse and field research studies related to biotic and abiotic stress in cereal crops.
Research and Development, Northern Seed, LLC. / September, 2014 — December, 2016
• Lead a wheat TILLing (targeted mutations) research project (transferred from Targeted Growth, Inc.) • Assist in the implementation of applied breeding projects for the genetic improvement of small cereal crops.
Director of Wheat Development, Targeted Growth, Inc. / March, 2012 — August, 2014
• Set strategy and manage wheat breeding trait validation and introgression projects. The wheat breeding program is focused on a) validating increased yield in novel wheat lines selected from TILLing populations, and b) the development and commercialization of wheat with improved agronomic qualities incorporating mutations demonstrated to increase agronomic yield. • Identify, introgress, and evaluate in multi-location agronomic studies the best mutant product/s with highest potential for product completion, and value to the grower and TGI. • Work closely with off-site lab personnel to implement the use of molecular markers for marker assisted backcrossing. • Coordinate and manage greenhouse projects for wheat breeding.
Director of Research and Development, Sustainable Oils, LLC. / November, 2011 — February, 2012
• Formulate and lead the execution of an applied breeding plan for the development of superior camelina varieties with adaptability to target geographies. • Constitute a core contributor to the strategic plan and goals of the Company. • Manage the research center located in Bozeman, MT and all affiliated nurseries and off-season activity. • Formulate and execute annual research budgets in accordance with annual plans approved by the President and the Board of the Company.
Senior Plant Breeder, Sustainable Oils, LLC. / January, 2010 — October, 2011
• Develop and implement an applied breeding program for the genetic improvement of camelina. • Coordinate agronomic research of camelina across the USA. • Provide assistance to the execution of basic and applied research on new sources of biofuel.
Plant Scientist, Barkley Ag. Enterprises, LLC. / October, 2006 — December, 2009
• Develop and implement an applied breeding program for the genetic improvement of camelina. • Coordinate agronomic research of camelina across the USA. • Assist WestBred, a subsidiary of Barkley Ag. Enterprises, LLC, in the execution of a commercial breeding program in spring and winter wheat.
Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Montana State University / June, 2002 — June, 2006
• Plan and execute a breeding project for increasing the seed size of spring wheat. • Develop statistical models to assist with understanding crop-weed interactions. • Identify plant characteristics associated with weed competitiveness in small grain cereals.
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