Agritope, Inc. today announced its most recent round of expansion with the hiring of four new
scientists. 

Dr. Jonathan Lightner and Dr. Vladimir Shulaev will expand Agritope's research and development capabilities into biochemical genomics and plant pathology and stress physiology, while Dr. Xing Liang Liu and Dr. Medard Ng will support Agritope's existing cell biology, molecular biology and virology programs. 

"The new scientific staff at Agritope complement our existing scientific personnel and provide an outstanding intellectual foundation for growth in our new research and development programs,'' said Adolph J. Ferro, president and chief executive officer. "With these additions, as well as the technical support staff we have hired, Agritope will be able to make rapid progress in new areas of research while continuing our ongoing efforts to discover new plant genes and to develop improved commercial plant varieties.'' 

Dr. Jonathan Lightner joined Agritope as director of biochemical genomics. Dr. Lightner earned his Ph.D. in Plant Physiology in the Institute of Biological Chemistry at Washington State University, and prior to arriving at Agritope was in the Agricultural Biotechnology Group at E.I. DuPont de Nemours. His expertise is in the area of plant fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism. At Agritope he has established a high-throughput gene isolation program for cloning genes that regulate oil content and composition using the Agrinomics LLC, ACTTAG(TM)gene discovery platform. 

Dr. Vladimir Shulaev joined Agritope as director of plant pathology and stress physiology. Dr. Shulaev received a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the Ukraine Academy of Sciences and a Ph.D. in Plant Biology from Rutgers University. Prior to joining Agritope, Dr. Shulaev led a plant disease resistance program at DEKALB Genetics Corporation and the Monsanto Company. Dr. Shulaev is directing several ongoing projects in plant disease resistance at Agritope, and developing a high-throughput gene isolation program for cloning genes that confer fungal resistance using the Agrinomics LLC, ACTTAG gene discovery platform. 

Dr. Xing Liang Liu joined Agritope's cell biology group to isolate genes responsible for new plant morphologies identified in our ACTTAG gene discovery programs. Dr. Liu recently completed postdoctoral research in plant development at the University of Oregon, where he studied the genetic control of flowering.  

Dr. Medard Ng will join Agritope's molecular biology group to expand the company's development of new gene discovery technologies. Dr. Ng is currently completing postdoctoral research with Dr. Martin Yanofsky at the University of California, San Diego, where he is studying the control of plant cell fate. 

Agritope is an Oregon-based agricultural functional genomics and biotechnology company that develops improved plant products and provides technology to the agricultural industry. Its fruit and vegetable division specializes in the development of improved fruit, vegetable and flower varieties. Agrinomics LLC, its 50% owned joint venture with Aventis CropScience, conducts a research, development and commercialization program in the field of plant functional genomics. Vinifera, Inc., its majority owned subsidiary, offers superior grapevine plants to the premium wine industry. 

Company news release
N2819