Phillip Griffiths
Associate Professor, School of Integrative Plant Science, Horticulture Section, Cornell AgriTech
The vegetable improvement program at Geneva focuses on vegetable crops breeding and genetics. The goals include the introgression of host plant resistance to economically important pests, tolerance to environmental stresses and the selection of niche-market crops and traits. The program supports the needs of commercial growers and processors, consumers, the seed industry, sustainable agriculture, international agriculture, integrated pest management, maintenance of biodiversity and new markets.
News articles about our recent releases:
- Public-private partnership results in new broccoli hybrid, ‘Northstar’
- ‘Delightful’ yellow tomato to be released in 2024
- Moonshadow joins ‘galaxy’ of colorful tomatoes
- Click Press tab above for more
Interests
Vegetable breeding (brassicas, tomatoes, beans)
International agriculture
Molecular breeding and diagnostics
Recent Research
Our research focuses on the development and introgression of new and novel traits of interest to the food industry. This includes the development and release of new varieties, developing foods to supply changing food systems and food products such as natural colors. We generated new vegetable genotypes with resistance to biotic and abiotic pests, and with new consumer quality traits including color and shape.
The research focuses on breeding for important traits in vegetable crops. These goals include the selection of new crops with consumer desirable traits, and crops adapted to regional, national and international growing conditions. The research includes the adaptation of crops to the Great Lakes Region and tropical/sub-tropical environments, including Sub-Saharan Africa. The research involves multi-state, multi-disciplinary and international collaborations with supporting laboratory techniques including molecular breeding and diagnostics, cellular techniques including flow cytometry, tissue culture and embryo rescue, and a large focus on controlled environment screening.
The research focuses on breeding for resistance to economically important disease and environmental stress constraints of vegetable crops. These goals include the selection of snap beans with resistance to aphid-transmitted viruses, common bean rust, white mold and heat stress, Brassica vegetables with resistance to black rot and heat stress and novel tomato traits. The research includes the adaptation of crops to the Great Lakes Region and tropical/sub-tropical environments, including Sub-Saharan Africa. The research involves multi-state, multi-disciplinary and international collaborations with supporting laboratory techniques including molecular breeding and diagnostics, cellular techniques including flow cytometry, tissue culture and embryo rescue, and a large focus on controlled environment screening.
Publications
- ResearchGate profile
- See also: Journal articles tab above.
Outreach and Extension Focus
Extension activities include regional, national and international efforts. Regional activities include liasing with New York State growers/companies, presenting at grower meetings and hosting field and greenhouse outreach activities and field days. National activities include committee roles and multi-state research activity and reporting roles. International activities include research and education activities associated with multi-location activities in Africa, and presenting at collaborating seed company field days.
View outreach videos:
- Specialty Brassica, tomato and dry bean breeding at Cornell University
- Brassica Week with the Culinary Breeding Network: Phillip Griffiths, Cornell University
- Brassica Week with the Culinary Breeding Network: Hannah Swegarden, Cornell University (Swegarden was former grad student of Griffiths.)
- Hannah Swegarden: Deploying consumer-driven breeding strategies in leafy Brassicas
- Next-Gen Toscano
Courses Taught
- PLSCI 2020: Foods of the Future
Peer-reviewed publications
See also: ResearchGate profile
- Celebioglu, B.; Myers, J.R.; Hart, J.P.; Porch, T.; Griffiths, P. 2024.Phenotypic variability for leaf and pod color within the Snap bean association panel. J. Am Soc. Hortic. Sci. 2024,149, 15-26.
- Celebioglu, B.; Myers, J.R.; Hart, J.P.; Porch, T.; Griffiths, P. 2023. Phenotypic variability for leaf and pod color within the snap bean association panal (SnaP). Genes 14(12)
- Arkwazee, H., Wallace, L., Hart, J., Griffiths, P. and Myers, J. 2022. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) of white mold resistance in snap bean. Genes 13(2).
- Swegarden, H., Sams, C. and P. Griffiths. 2021. Dissecting the genetic basis of consumer liking for novel leafy Brassica oleracea. Euphytica 217(5).
- Bjorkman, T., Davis, J., Hutton, M. Griffiths, P., Ward, B. and Zotarelli, L. 2021. Environmental stability of traits essential to quality broccoli. HortScience 56(9): 104-105.
- Astarini, I.A., Defiani, M.R., Suriani, N.L., Griffiths, P. D., Stefanova, K. and Siddique, K.H.M. 2020. Adaptation of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica L.) to high and low altitudes in Bali, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21(11): 5263-5269
- Swegarden, H., A. Stelick, R, Dando and P. Griffiths. 2019. Bridging sensory evaluation and consumer research for strategic leafy Brassica (Brassica oleracea) improvement. Journal of Food Science 84(12), 3746-3762
- Socquet-Juglard, D., Manns, D., Bennett, A., Mansfield, A. K. Robbins, R, Collins, T., Mattson, N. and P. D. Griffiths. 2019. Influence of fertilization on anthocyanin accumulation and acylation in Brassica oleracea. Journal of Horticulture and Biotechnology. 1-7
- Socquet-Juglard, D., Bennett, A., Manns, D., Mansfield, A. K. Robbins, R, Collins, T. and P. D. Griffiths. 2016. Effects of temperature and postharvest cooling on anthocyanin profiles in juvenile and mature Brassica oleracea. J. Agric. Food Chem 64(7):1484-1493
- Hart, J. P. and P. D. Griffiths. 2015. Genotyping-by-sequencing enabled mapping and marker development for the By-2 potyvirus resistance allele in common bean. Plant Genome 8(1), 1-14.
- Hart, J.P. and P. D. Griffiths. 2014. Resistance to Clover yellow vein virus in common bean germplasm. Crop Science 54: 2609-2618.
- Hart, J.P., and P.D. Griffiths. 2013. A series of eIF4E alleles at the Bc-3 locus are associated with recessive resistance to Clover yellow vein virus in common bean. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 126:2849-2863.
- Wasonga, C, Pastor-Corrales, M, Porch, T and Griffiths, P. 2012. Multi-environment selection of small-sieve snap bean genotypes reduces constraints in East Africa and sub-tropical regions. HortScience 47: 1000-1006.
- Griffiths, P., Stansted, E., and Halseth, D. 2012. Release of Cornell 607-612: Common bean breeding lines with resistance to white mold. HortScience 47:952-954.
- Wasonga, C.J., Pastor-Corrales, M., Porch, T. and Griffiths, P.D. 2010. Targeting Gene Combinations for Broad Spectrum Rust Resistance in Heat Tolerant Snap Beans Developed for Tropical Environments. J. ASHS 521-532.
- Porch, T.G., Smith, J.R., Beaver, J.S., P.D. Griffiths and Canaday, C. 2010. Registration of TARS-HT1 and TARS HT-2 heat tolerant dry bean germplasm lines: HortScience 1278-1280.
- Griffiths, P. D., L. Fredrick Marek and L. D. Robertson. 2009. Identification of Crucifer Accessions from the NC-7 and NE-9 Plant Introduction Collections that are Resistant to Black Rot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris) Races 1 and 4. HortScience 44 (2) 284-288.
- Griffiths, P. D., 2009. Release of Cornell 601-606: Common bean breeding lines with resistance to white mold. HortScience 44 (2): 463-465.
- Rainey, K. M. and P. D. Griffiths. 2005. Inheritance of heat tolerance during reproductive development in snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). J. ASHS 130(5):700-706.
- Rainey, K. M. and P. D. Griffiths. 2005. Diallel analysis of yield components of snap beans exposed to two temperature stress environments. Euphytica 142:43-53.
- Griffiths, P. D. and C. Roe. 2005. Response of Brassica oleracea var. capitata to wound and spray inoculation with Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in juvenile and mature plants. HortScience 40(1):47-49.
- Rainey, K. M. and P. D. Griffiths. 2005. Identification of heat tolerant Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray plant introductions following exposure to high temperatures in a controlled environment. Gen. Res. Crop. Evol. 52:117-120
- Rainey, K. M. and P. D. Griffiths. 2005. Differential responses of common bean genotypes to high temperatures. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 130(1):18-23.
- Griffiths, P. D., M. M. Jahn, and M. H. Dickson. 2004. Cornell 501: A white mold tolerant snap bean breeding line. HortScience 39(6):1507-1508.
- Cunha, C., M. Tonguc and P. D. Griffiths 2004. Discrimination of diploid Brassica species using PCR-RFLP of chloroplast DNA. HortScience 39(3):481-484
- Cunha, C., T. Hintz and P. D. Griffiths. 2004. Genetic diversity of snap bean cultivars determined using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. HortScience 39(7):1575-1577.
- Kim, D.O., Padilla-Zakopur, O., Griffiths, P.D. 2004. Flavanoids and antioxidant capacity of various cabbage genotypes at juvenile stage. Journal of Food Science 69(9): C685-C689.
- Tonguc, M. and P. D. Griffiths. 2004. Transfer of powdery mildew resistance from B. carinata to B. oleracea L. Plant Breeding 123:587-589.
- Tonguc, M. and P. D. Griffiths. 2004. Genetic relationships of Brassica vegetables determined using database derived simple sequence repeats. Euphytica 137:193-201.
- Tonguc, M. and P. D. Griffiths. 2004. Development of black rot resistant interspecific hybrids between B. oleracea L cultivars and accession A 19182. Euphytica 136:313-318.
- Tonguc, M. and P. D. Griffiths. 2004. Evaluation of Brassica carinata accessions for resistance to black rot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris). HortScience 39(5):952-954.
- Lucas, B. and P. D. Griffiths. 2004. Evaluation of common bean accessions for resistance to Pythium ultimum. HortScience 39(6):1193-1195.
- Tonguc, M., E. Earle and P. D. Griffiths. 2003. Segregation distortion of Brassica carinata derived black rot resistance in Brassica oleracea. Euphytica 134 (3):269-276.
- Griffiths, P.D. and J. W. Scott. 2001. Inheritance and linkage of tomato mottle virus resistance genes derived from Lycopersicon chilense. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 126:462-467.
- Stevens, M.R., D. K. Heiny, D. D. Rhoads, P. D. Griffiths and J. W. Scott. 1996. A linkage map of the tomato spotted wilt virus resistance gene Sw-5 using near isogenic lines and an interspecific cross. Acta Horticulturae 43:385-392.
- Griffiths, P.D., H. J. Ougham and R. N. Jones, R.N. 1994. Genotypic and environmental effects on endopolyploidy in the epidermal tissues of Lolium perenne L. and Lolium multiflorum Lam. New Phytol. 128:339-345.
Recent articles and social media
- Cornell Chronicle – Public-private partnership results in new broccoli hybrid, ‘Northstar’ (September 2025)
- Cornell Chronicle – Delightful ‘Yellow Submarine tomato to be released in 2024 (January 2024)
- Cornell Chronicle – Eastern broccoli partnership leads to promising variety (May 2023)
- Cornell Chronicle – Moonshadow joins ‘galaxy’ of colorful tomatoes (December 2021)
- Cornell Chronicle – New Cherry Ember tomato reveals striped charm, bright flavor (January 2021)
- United Press International - New, more appealing varieties of kale in the works (Feb 2020)
- Cornell Chronicle - Variety challenges 'Jaded' attitudes toward green tomatoes (Feb 2020)
- Cornell Chronicle - Moonbeam adds a big bang of flavor to Galaxy Tomatoes (Nov 2019)
- Cornell CALS - Plant breeding project gives East African farmers better leafy green options (June 2019)
- MarthaStewart.com - These 'Galaxy Tomatoes' are out of this world (April 2019)
- Cornell Chronicle - AgriTech releases Galaxy Suite grape tomato varieties (March 2019)
- FoodDive - New tomato varieties turn to the skies to meet consumer demands"(March 2019)
- Edible Manhattan – Starting with a Plant Breeder, Chefs Optimize Flavor from Seed to Plate (Feb 2018)
- VegEdge - Beyond Cabbage: NYSAES Vegetable Breeding Program (Dec 2017)
- Cornell Chronicle – Plant breeders take cues from consumers to improve kale (Nov 2016)
- NPR’s The Salt – Kale is about to have an identity crisis (Nov 2016)
Contact Information
635 W North St.
314 Hedrick Hall
Geneva, NY 14456
pdg8 [at] cornell.edu
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School & Section
School of Integrative Plant Science
Plant Breeding & Genetics Section
Graduate Fields
Graduate Fields
- Horticulture
- Plant Breeding
Education
- Doctorate
University of Florida
1998
- Master of Science
University of Wales
1993
- Bachelor of Science
University of Nottingham
1990
Phillip in the news
News
A new broccoli variety, a co-hybrid between parents developed at Cornell and the global seed company Bejo Zaden, can withstand warmer, more unpredictable conditions such as the ones in the Northeastern U.S.
- Cornell AgriTech
- School of Integrative Plant Science
- Horticulture Section
News
Phillip Griffiths, a Cornell plant breeder, has developed an unusual tomato – with yellow flesh and an oblong shape that prompted its fans to name it “Yellow Submarine.”
- Cornell AgriTech
- Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station
- School of Integrative Plant Science