Genomics in Plant Agriculture
Our theme for October 2025, our second edition of BAtl, is “Genomics to Flavour: Breeding Better Fruits” We will explore different ways in which bioinformatics drives innovation in fruit breeding.
Prior to the seminar, our hosts will facilitate a tour of the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre (located on the Acadia University campus). Join us to explore the tissue culture lab, native plants, greenhouse facilities and more!
This seminar will be presented in a Hybrid format: in-person at Acadia University (Room 303, Elliot Hall) and online via Microsoft Teams. The seminar will be followed by an in-person social event Acadia University (Room 303, Elliot Hall). We hope you’ll join us to network with our speakers and peers!
Schedule
| Time (AST) | Event | Format | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16:00 | K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre Tour | In-person | K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre, 32 University Ave, Wolfville, NS |
| 17:00 | Seminar | Hybrid | In-person: (Room 303, Elliot Hall, 6 University Ave, Wolfville, NS Virtual: Microsoft Teams |
| 18:00 | Social Event | In-person | Room 303, Elliot Hall, 6 University Ave, Wolfville, NS |
Meet our Speakers:
Dr. Beatrice Amyotte, Research Scientist at
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Beatrice Amyotte is the small fruit germplasm development scientist at the AAFC Kentville Research and Development Centre. Her program focuses on breeding strawberries, raspberries and other small fruits for production in Canada. Dr. Amyotte co-leads the Canadian Berry Trial Network, an industry-funded project which coordinates advanced testing of small fruit varieties in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. As well as industry-focused research, Dr. Amyotte conducts pre-breeding activities including genetics studies and germplasm development. In today’s Bioinformatics series, Dr. Amyotte will discuss the application of bioinformatics tools and technologies for plant breeding. These include approaches such as genetic mapping, genetic marker development, genome-based pedigree and population analysis, and genomic selection. Novel techniques such as the integration of phenomics and AI prediction models to drive breeding advancement will also be discussed.
Clay Elzinga, Graduate Student at
Acadia University
Clay Elzinga (he/him) is in his second year of study for a Master of Biology at Acadia University after completing a BSc at Brock University. He is currently working with fruit and has previous research experience with apples at the Vineland Crop Enhancement and Adaptation lab. His research focuses on the genomics of apple aroma and the phenomics of strawberry aroma, integrating genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and phenotypic analyses to better understand the genetic basis of fruit quality.
Meet our Hosts:
Dr. Zoë Migicovsky, Assistant Professor at
Acadia University
Dr. Migicovsky (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in Biology and Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Agri-Food and Sustainable Agriculture at Acadia University. She draws on a decade of experience with perennial fruit crops to study variation in plant diversity at both a trait and genomic level. Of particular interest are consumer perception related traits such as fruit quality, nutritional content, and appearance. In addition to cultivated agricultural plants, her work examines variation in crop wild relatives for use as rootstocks, breeding, and conservation.
Alison Purcell, Research Associate at
KC Irving Environmental Science Centre
Alison (she/her) has previously worked in the lab (2023-2024) as a Tissue Culture Technician in partnership with Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia (CTCNS) focused on somatic embryogenesis and cryopreservation of Balsam fir genetic lines. She is an Acadia University biology alumni and has been working in government, industry, and academic research roles focused on agronomy, plant breeding, and extension before joining the Migicovsky lab. Alison is in the first year of her Master of Science degree in Biology to remediate virus in unique strawberry germplasm using tissue culture, evaluating morphological trait differences and plant performance among infected, remediated and nuclear plant stocks. Alison’s interests outside of the lab include gardening, growing houseplants and collecting vintage.
