![[Department of Plant Biology and Pathology]](http://njaes.rutgers.edu/_common/images/subheads/plantbiopath.gif "[Department of Plant Biology and Pathology]"){kind=small}
Contact Information
Mailing Address
Rutgers University
Department of Plant Biology & Pathology
Lipman Hall/ Cook Campus
76 Lipman Dr.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
CRFunk@aesop.rutgers.edu
Campus Location
Office: Room 76 Lipman Hall, 732-932-9480 x158
Research Interests
The aim of my research program is to develop superior cultivars of several cool season turfgrasses. Since 1962, the program has been one of the world's most extensive turfgrass breeding programs. We developed the first successful method of producing Kentucky bluegrass cultivars by means of intraspecific hybridization of apomictic parents. The program has accumulated one of the most valuable collections of Poa and Festuca germplasm in North America.
Our discovery that endophyte fungi are associated with many instances of enhanced performance in perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, hard fescue and many other turfgrasses has led to an intensive interest in this area of research. In addition to our continued breeding efforts, we are involved in the collection and selection of these beneficial endophytes in order to expand the host range.
Publications
Click on a link below to launch a publication search:
Rutgers Affiliations
