Thomas J. Molnar, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Plant Biology and Pathology Department
Rutgers, State University of New Jersey

Tom Molnar is not only one of the founding board members of IPPFBE and chairman of the research committee, but also an assistant professor at Rugers University and a member of various organizations.  He has traveled extensively throughout the world and published numerous papers.

Summary of accomplishments for 2006 and 2007

Thomas Molnar, Ph.D.

Research:

1. Over 23,000 accessions of over ten different temperate nut species are currently being evaluated in numerous field trials and greenhouses at Rutgers.  Poorly adapted accessions are being rigorously culled from our expanding field trials and increasing efforts are being placed on hazelnut, Persian walnut, and black walnut germplasm collection, evaluation, and breeding.
2. Over 3,500 hazelnut and 500 Persian walnut seedlings from controlled hybridizations or from germplasm collection trips made in the Baltic countries, Poland, and Central Asia in 2005 and 2006 were field planted in 2007 for rigorous evaluation for adaptation to New Jersey.  Additional seed nuts were obtained from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Russia, Ukraine, Estonia, Poland, Moldova and China in 2007, for germination in 2008.
3. In 2007 we identified several black walnut seedlings from our large germplasm collection that express very high resistance to anthracnose caused by Gnomonia leptostyla.  We are clonally propagating these rare and potentially very valuable selections for rigorous evaluation at different locations.
4. In 2007 we identified 15 highly precocious black walnut seedlings that produced nuts in only four years from seed.  This is a substantial reduction in the years required to reach maturity, which is generally 6 to 10 years for this species.  These selections were identified from a population of nearly 7,000 seedlings.  They will be very beneficial towards increasing the efficiency of our genetic improvement program.
5. In 2006 we identified a superior heartnut (Juglans ailantifola var. cordiformis) seedling from our genetic improvement efforts.  Our selected heartnut produces well-shaped, well-filled nuts that are nearly twice the size of all available cultivars.  Our selection is currently being propagated for evaluation at different locations.  If our heartnut proves to reliably produce high yields of nuts in colder locations, it may merit examination for cultivar status.
6. Based on our extensive germplasm collection efforts, we have assembled one of the most diverse Persian walnut collections in the United States.  From these collections we have identified several highly precocious Persian walnut seedlings from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in 2006 and 2007 that produced nuts in only two years from seed.  This is a dramatic improvement over most available germplasm, which generally takes over five years to reach maturity. They will be very beneficial towards increasing the efficiency of our genetic improvement program.
7. We identified several Persian walnut seedlings that produce a second crop of fertile flowers in June, approximately one month after normal flowering time.  This is a very rare and interesting trait.  The flowers on several of these selections are also hermaphroditic, producing both anthers and stigmas.  We are currently designing controlled pollination experiments to examine the inheritance of this trait, as well as the trait of extreme precocity.
8. Over 1,000 advanced generation hybrid Cornus seedlings were raised in the greenhouse and field planted in September 2007 to undergo rigorous evaluations for disease resistance and ornamental attributes.
9. A project was initiated to investigate the inheritance of several newly identified sources of genetic resistance to infection by the fungus Anisogramma anomala, which incites the destructive disease eastern filbert blight.  This work is based on techniques developed at Rutgers that were published in 2005 and is supported by a $5,000 grant from the Northern Nut Growers Association.  The study will be completed and published in 2009.
10. Studies to closely characterize the mode of resistance expressed by several sources of genetic resistance to EFB were initiated.  This work will be completed and published in 2008.
11. Work to investigate the genetic diversity of A. anomala using a number of approaches, including the analysis of several gene sequences, such as rDNA ITS, rDNA LSU, calmodulin, beta-tubulin-2, and retro-transposons, continues.  This work will be finalized in early summer 2008, with the completion of Sara Baxer's masters degree research.
12. In 2007 work was initiated to evaluate the oil production potential of superior hazelnuts selections growing at Rutgers.  Preliminary work strongly suggests hazelnuts can produce nearly double the oil yield of soybeans per acre.  Work to evaluate our top 250 selections for their oil production characteristics is underway, funded by a $58,062 grant from the Northeast Sun Grant Initiative Competitive Grants Program.

Teaching:

1. Main responsibility is Plant Propagation (11:776:310), Spring semester 2004-current.
2. Guest lectures were made in Plant Breeding ( 11:776:406) directed Drs. Stacey Bonos and Thomas Orton on April 19, 2006, and April 18, 2007 and Principles of Organic Crop Production (11:776:221) directed by Dr. Joseph Heckman on December 11, 2006 & Nov 6, 2007.
3. Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School, Ocean City, MD.  Two one-hour classes each year titled, "Hazelnuts and Heartnuts:  Getting started with new crops for the Mid-Atlantic region" on November 13, 2007 & "Nut crops for the Mid-Atlantic region:  Developing hazelnuts, walnuts, and heartnuts" on November 29, 2006.

 Service: 

1. Improving Perennial Plants for Food and Bioenergy, Inc.  IPPFBE, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation with headquarters in Richmond, Utah.  I am one of the founding board members of this not-for-profit corporation.  I am also chairman of the IPPFBE research committee.  These are both unpaid positions.
2. Northern Nut Growers Association.  Accepted position of Secretary and Chief Operations Officer of the Northern Nut Growers Association in 2007, an over 800 member not-for-profit organization that focuses on nut culture education and outreach to producers, the public, and scientists working on northern nut trees.  I am also on the cultivar inventory board.  These are unpaid positions
3. Ag Field Day, Cook Campus.  Responsible for organizing nut and ornamental crops outreach events for Ag Field Day 2003 through 2007.  Past events have included providing informative tours of edible ornamental crops, designing poster displays and handouts to promote the ornamental nut breeding program at Rutgers, and organizing an information booth where people play games, ask questions, and win prizes.

For a more detailed description of accomplishments and experience view the CV for Thomas Molnar
 Thomas Molnar - CV (96.3 kB)