Jim Hancock

Contact Me

Professor Emeritus
Department of Horticulture

Email:
hancock@msu.edu

Degrees:
PhD

Quick links: Education Publications Research

Joined Department

August 1, 1979

Appointment

90% Research
10% Teaching

Education

Ph.D. Genetics, University of California, Davis, 1977
M.S., Botany, Miami University, 1974
B.S., Biology, Baldwin-Wallace College, 1972

Research Interests

Highbush blueberry breeding and genetics

Our major goals are to improve the fruit quality and extend the harvest season of the highbush blueberry through the use of wild species, in particular Vaccinium darrowii.

Strawberry breeding and genetics

Our major goals are to develop remontant strawberries with extremely high fruit quality and resistance to black root rot. We are making liberal use of the wild species Fragaria chiloensis and F. virginiana.

Marker assisted breeding of strawberry and blueberry

We are using marker assisted approaches to tag the genes associated with remontancy in the strawberry, and chilling requirement in blueberry.

**Reconstruction of the strawberry, Fragaria x. ananassa**

A major emphasis ofour research program is to expand the germplasm base of the cultivated strawberry.Fragaria x ananassa is an interspecific hybrid of two species, Fragaria chiloensis and F. virginiana, but only a limited sample of native clones are in it's ancestry.

Environmental biosafety of GE crops

We are interested in developing risk assessment protocols for the safe deployment of transgenic crops. Our major emphasis is the possible evolutionary impact of gene flow from transgenic crops to their wild progenitors.

Honors

Fulbright Fellowship - Universidad de Talca, Chile - 1993
Outstanding Graduate Educator Award - American Horticultural Society - 1999
University Distinguished Professor - Michigan State University - 2008
Fellow - American Horticulture Society - 2008
Wilder Medal - American Pomological Society - 2011

Books

Retamales, J. and J.F. Hancock. 2012. Blueberries. CAB International, Wallingford, UK.
Grumet, R., J.F. Hancock, K. Maredia and C. Weebadde (eds.). 2011. Environmental Safety of Genetically Engineered Crops. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing.
Hancock, J.F. (ed). 2008. Temperate Fruit Breeding: Germplasm to Genomics. KluwerPublishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Hancock, J.F. 2003. Plant Evolution and the Origin of Crop Species. Second Edition. CAB International, Wallingford, UK.
Hancock, J. F. 1999. Strawberries. CAB International, Wallingford, UK.

Publications

Song, G.-Q., A. Walworth and J. F. Hancock. 2011. Factors influencing Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of switchgrass cultivars. Plant Cell, Tissue & Organ Culture. DOI: 10.1007/s11240-011-0056-y
Miles, T.D., J.F. Hancock, P. Callow and A. C. Schilder. 2011. Evaluation of screening methods and fruit composition in relation to anthracnose fruit rot resistance in blueberries. Plant Phytopathology. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3059.2011.02541.x
Alsmairat, N., C. Contreras, J. Hancock, P. Callow and R. Beaudry. 2011. Use of combinations of commercially-relevant O2 and CO2 partial pressures to evaluate the sensitivity of nine highbush blueberry fruit cultivars to controlled atmospheres. HortScience 46: 74-79.
Lobos, G.A., J.B. Retamales, J.F. Hancock, J.A. Flore, N. Cobo and A. del Pozo. 2011. Spectral irradiance, photosynthetic characteristics and leaf traits of Vaccinium corymbosum L. ‘Elliott' grown under photo-selective nets. Environmental and Experimental Botany 75: 142- 149.
Hancock, J.F. 2011. Chapter 6. Environmental considerations associated with genetically engineered crops. In: Environmental Safety of Genetically Engineered Crops. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing
Hancock, J.F. and M. Halsey. 2011. Chapter 7. Monitoring of gene flow from genetically engineered crops. In: Environmental Safety of Genetically Engineered Crops. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing
Hancock, J.F. and H. Quemada. 2011. Chapter 10. Problem-based approach to environmental risk assessment of genetically engineered crops. In: Environmental Safety of Genetically Engineered Crops. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing
Hummer, K.E. and J.F. Hancock. 2010. Strawberry genomics: Botanical history, cultivation, breeding and new technologies. In: Genetics and Genomics of Rosaceae. Springer, New York.
Liu, C., P. Callow, L.J. Rowland, J.F. Hancock and G.-Q. Song. 2010. Adventitious shoot regeneration from leaf explants of southern highbush blueberry cultivars. Plant Cell Tissue & Organ Culture 103:137-144.
Bradford, E., J.F.Hancock and R.W. Warner. 2010. Interactions of temperature and photoperiod determine expression of repeat flowering in strawberry. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 135: 1-6.
Hancock, J.F. C. E. Finn, J. J. Luby, A. Dale, P. W. Callow and S. Serçe. 2010. Reconstruction of the strawberry, Fragaria ananassa, using native genotypes of F. virginiana and F. chiloensis. HortScience 45:1006-1013.
Stegmeir, T.L., C.E. Finn, R. Warner, and J.F. Hancock. 2010. Performance of an elite strawberry population derived from wild germplasm of Fragaria chiloensis and F. virginiana. HortScience 45:1140-1145.
Hancock, J. F., C. Weebadde and S. Serçe. 2008. Challenges Faced by Day-neutral Strawberry Breeders in the Continental Climates of the Eastern United States and Canada. HortScience 43: 1635 - 1636.
Particka, C. A. and J. F. Hancock. 2008. Breeding for Increased Tolerance to Black Root Rot in Strawberry. HortScience 43: 1698 - 1702.
Brevis, P., N. Bassil, J. R. Ballington and J. F. Hancock. 2008. Impact of wide hybridization in southern highbush blueberry breeding. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 133:427-437.
Weebadde C. K., D. Wang, C.E. Finn, K.S. Lewers, J.J. Luby, J. Bushakra, T.M. Sjulin and J.F. Hancock. 2008. Mapping the genes associated with day-neutrality in strawberry. Plant Breeding 127:94-101
Guo-Qing S., K.C. Sink, P.W. Callow, R. Baughan, and J.F. Hancock. 2008. Evaluation of a Herbicide-resistant Trait Conferred by the Bar Gene Driven by Four Distinct Promoters in Transgenic Blueberry Plants. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 133: 605 - 611.
Hancock J. F., P. Callow, S. Serce, E. Hanson and R. Beaudry. 2008. Effect of cultivar, controlled atmosphere storage and fruit ripeness on the long term storage of highbush blueberries. HortTechnology 18: 196-319.
Hancock, J.F, P. Lyrene, C.A. Finn, N. Vorsa and G.A. Lobos. 2008. Blueberry and cranberry. In: J.F. Hancock (ed.). Temperate Fruit Breeding: Germplasm to Genomics. Kluwer Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Hancock, J.F, T. M. Sjulin and G.A. Lobos. 2008. Strawberry. In: J.F. Hancock (ed.) Temperate Fruit Breeding: Germplasm to Genomics. Kluwer Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Weebadde CK, D. Wang, C.E. Finn, K.S. Lewers, J.J. Luby, J. Bushakra, T.M. Sjulin and J.F. Hancock. 2008. Mapping the genes associated with day-neutrality in strawberry. Plant Breeding 127:94-101.
Luby J.J, A. Dale, J. F. Hancock and S. Serce. 2007. Reconstructing Fragaria´ananassa utilizing wild F. virginiana and F. chiloensis: Inheritance of winter injury, photoperiod sensitivity, fruit size, gender, female fertility and disease resistance in hybrid progenies. Euphytica 163: 57-65.
Hancock J. F., P. Callow, S. Serce, E. Hanson and R. Beaudry. 2007. Effect of cultivar, controlled atmosphere storage and fruit ripeness on the long term storage of highbush blueberries. HortTechnology 18: 196-219.
K.S. Lewers, W.W. Turechek, S.C. Hokanson, J.L. Maas, J.F. Hancock, S. Serce, , and Smith, B.J. 2007. Evaluation of elite native strawberry germplasm for resistance to anthracnose crown rot caused by Colletotrichum species. J. Amer. Soc. Hort Sci. (In press)
Soltis, D.E., P. Soltis, D.W. Schemske, J.F. Hancock, Thompson J.N., B.C. Husband and W.S. Judd. 2007. Autopolyploidy in angiosperms: Have we grossly underestimated the number of species. Taxon 56: 13-30.
Hanson, E.J., S.F. Berkheimer and J.F. Hancock. 2007. Seasonal changes in the cold hardiness of the flower buds of highbush blueberry with varying species ancestry. J. Am. Pom.Soc. 61: 14-18.
Dale, A. and J. F. Hancock. 2006. Highbush cultivar trial in Ontario, Canada. Inter. J. Fruit Sci. 5: 73-76.
Gepts, P. and J. F. Hancock. 2006. The future of plant breeding. Crop Science 46: 1630 - 1634.
Hancock, J.F. 2006. Introduction to the Symposium - Who will train Plant Breeders. HortScience 41: 28-29.
Schilder, A.M.C., E. J. Hanson and J.F. Hancock. 2006. An integrated approach to disease control in blueberries in Michigan. Acta Hort. 715: 481-488.
Hancock, J.F. 2006. Northern highbush blueberry breeding. Acta Hort. 715: 37-40.
Hancock, J.F. 2006. California public strawberry breeders: A perfect marriage of genetics and culture. HortScience 41: 12-13.
Hancock, J.F. 2006. Highbush blueberry breeders: Collected insights. HortScience 41: 20-21.
Qu, L.P., X.P. Wang, Y. Chen and J.F. Hancock. 2005. Commercial seed lots exhibit reduced seed dormancy in comparison to wild seed lots of Echinacea purpurea. HortScience 40:1843-1845.
Dale, A. and J.F. Hancock. 2005. Highbush blueberry cultivar trial in Ontario, Canada. Int. J. Fruit Sci. 5:73-76.
Hancock, J.F. 2005. California public strawberry breeders: A perfect marriage of genetics and culture. HortScience 41:16-17.
Hancock, J.F. 2005. Highbush blueberry breeding: Domestication, innovation and the liberal use of wild germplasm. HortScience 41: 20-21.
Retamales, J.B. and J.F. Hancock. 2005. Proceedings of the Colloquium: Research Advances on the native Chilean Strawberry [Fragaria chiloensis (L.)Duch.] - held at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile - 30 October 2002 - Introduction. HortScience 40:1632-1632.
Hancock, J.F., C.A. Drake and P.W. Callow. 2005. Genetic improvement of the Chilean native strawberry, Fragaria chiloensis. HortScience 40:1644-1645.
Carrasco, B., J. F. Hancock, R.E. Beaudry and J. Retamales. 2005. Chemical composition and inheritance patterns of aroma in Fragaria x ananassa and F. virginiana progenies. HortScience 40: 1649-1650.
Hancock, J. F. 2005. Native strawberry germplasm in the Americas. In: S. Khanizadeh (ed). Our Strawberries / Les Fraisiers de chez nous. Publishing Program PWGSC and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Hancock, J.F. 2005. Contributions of domesticated plant studies to our understanding of plant evolution. Ann. Bot. 96:953-963.
Patrica, C.A. and J. F. Hancock. 2005. Field evaluation of strawberry genotypes for tolerance to black root rot on fumigated and non-fumigated soil. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 130: 688-693.
Houghton-Thompson, J., H.H. Prince, J.J. Smith and J. F. Hancock. Evidence of hybridization between Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife) and L. alatum (Winged Loosestrife) in North America. Ann. Bot. 96:877-885.
Serce, S. and J.F. Hancock. 2005. Inheritance of day-neutrality in octoploid species of Fragaria. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 130:580-585.
Hancock, J.F., S. Serçe, C.M. Portman, P.A. Callow and J.J. Luby. 2004. Taxonomic variation among North and South American subspecies of Fragaria virginiana and F. chiloensis. Can. J. Bot. 82: 1632-1644.
Serçe, S. and J.F. Hancock. 2004. The temperature and photoperiod regulation of flowering in Fragaria chiloensis, F. virginiana, and F. ananassa genotypes. Scientia Hort. 103: 167-177.
Hancock, J. F. 2003. A framework for assessing the risk of transgenic crops. BioScience 53:512-519.
Serçe, S. and J.F. Hancock. 2003. Assessment of day-neutral scoring methods in strawberry families grown in greenhouse and field environments. Turk. J. Agric. For. 27:191-198.
Finn, C. E., J. F. Hancock, T. Mackey and S. Serce. 2003. Genotype x environmental interactions in highbush blueberry (Vaccinium sp. L.) Families grown in Michigan and Oregon. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 128:196-200.
Hancock, J. F., P. W. Callow, S. Serçe and P. Q. Phan. 2003. Variation in the horticultural characteristics of native Fragaria virginiana and F. chiloensis from North and South America. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 128:201-208.
Hancock, J.F., R. Beaudry and J. Luby and. 2003. Fruits of the Ericaceae. In: Encyclopedia of Temperate Fruit Crops. Elsevier, Inc.
Hancock, J. F. and K. Hokanson. 2003. Invasiveness of transgenic vs. exotic plant species: How useful is the analogy. In: S. H. Strauss and H. D. Bradshaw (eds.). The Bioengineered Forest: Challenges for Science and Technology. RFF Press, Corvallis, Oregon.
Draper, A. and J. Hancock. 2003. Florida 4B: Native blueberry with exceptional breeding value. J. Amer. Pom. Soc. 57:138-141.
Serce, S. and J. F. Hancock. 2003. Assessment of day-neutrality scoring methods in strawberry families grown in greenhouse and fields environments. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry 27:191-198.
Hancock, J. F., J. J. Luby, A. Dale, P. W. Callow, S. Serce and A. El-Shiek. 2002. Utilizing wild Fragaria virginiana in strawberry cultivar development: Inheritance of photoperiod sensitivity, fruit size, gender, female fertility and disease resistance. Euphytica 126: 177- 184.
Qu, L. and J.F. Hancock. 2002. Pitfalls of genetic analysis using a doubled haploid backcrossed to its parent. Theor. Appl. Genet. 105: 392-396.
Owens, C.L., M. F. Thomashow, J.F. Hancock and A.F. Iezzoni. 2002. Identification of CBF orthologs in sour cherry and strawberry and the heterologous expression of CBF1 in strawberry. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 127: 489-494.
Serce, S. and J.F. Hancock. 2002. Performance of strawberry germplasm for resistance to the two‑spotted spider mite. HortScience 37: 593 ‑ 594
.A. M. Connor, J. J. Luby, C. B. S. Tong, C. E. Finn and J. F. Hancock. 2002. Genotypic and environmental variation in antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and anthocyanin content among blueberry cultivars. J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 127: 89-97.
Hancock, J.F. 2002. The strawberry in North America: Past lessions and future promise. In: S.C. Hokanson and A.R. Jamieson (eds.). Strawberry research to 2001. ASHS Press, Alexandria , VA.
Serce, S., P.W. Callow, H. Ho and J.F. Hancock. 2002. High temperature effects on CO2 assimilation rate of Fragaria x ananassa, F. chiloensis and F. virginiana. J. Amer. Pom. Soc. 56:57-62.
Conner, A.M., J.J. Luby, J.F. Hancock, S. Birkheimer and E.J. Hanson. 2002. Changes in fruit antioxidant activity among blueberry cultivars during cold‑temperature storage. Agricul. Food Chemistry 50:893-898.