Plant Breeder/Geneticist Duties & Responsibilities

The role and function of a Plant Breeder/Geneticist includes the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Analysing and scientifically assessing plant breeding in laboratory and field trials and selecting the best varieties;
  • Conducting scientific projects, which may be laboratory-based, especially in the winter months;
  • Multiplying up and producing virus-free plants;
  • Maintaining detailed records throughout the research and development cycle;
  • Managing, supporting and training technical and field staff;
  • Producing research aims and objectives, and predicting the costing of the work;
  • Researching methods and techniques for improving plant breeding;
  • Writing and presenting work to other scientists and publishing scientific findings;
  • Liaising with and visiting other scientists, commercial breeders and funding bodies.
  • Identifying and selecting plants exhibiting desirable traits based on natural genetic variation;
  • Crossing plants to produce new breeding material for field and glasshouse trials;
  • Keeping up to date in the fast-moving area of science and translating ideas from scientific literature into new approaches to breeding problems;
  • Monitoring the activities of competitors (in commercial settings) and developing a product market profile;
  • Responding to enquiries from farmers, agronomists and other professionals;

Note that this is not an exhaustive list of Plant Breeder/Geneticist duties and responsibilities. Job functions for specific Plant Breeder/Geneticist roles may vary, depending on the industry and type of employer.


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