Molecular Plant Breeding Lab at the Clemson Pee Dee Research and Education Center

Our Lab

Established in 2016, the Rustgi Lab is a molecular plant breeding lab located at the Clemson Unversity Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence, South Carolina. The lab's research has four primary areas of focus: development of nutritionally enhanced, allergen-free, or non-immunogenic crops, increasing genetic diversity in cotton germplasm and identification of cotton genotypes with annual growth habits, development of a novel eco-friendly pesticide to control sugarcane aphid, and breeding for recurrent flowering in rose and peach. If you are interested in learning more about our lab or interested in potentially becoming a member please click the link below.

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Recent Publications

Genetic regulation of major immunogenic protein accumulation in peanut seeds - Functional & Integrative GenomicsPeanut is a major oilseed crop in the U.S., which ranks third globally in production, with South Carolina ranking sixth nationally. Despite their economic and nutritional value, peanuts are unsuitable for 1–2% of the U.S. population due to allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, making the development of reduced-allergen peanuts a priority. This study aimed to identify peanut lines with reduced Ara h1, h2, h3, and h6 levels and to elucidate their genetic regulation using genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Ninety-two accessions from the U.S. peanut mini-core collection were screened using ELISA and SDS-PAGE, and the resulting data were evaluated for association with 5,532 SNP markers. Substantial phenotypic diversity was observed. Twenty-three lines with extreme protein phenotypes were further evaluated by RP-UPLC, and nine by LC-MS. GWAS identified 165 marker-trait associations (MTAs) across raw and log-transformed datasets, with 13 MTAs common to both analyses. These MTAs were grouped into protein quantitative loci (PQLs), revealing six trans-PQLs and cis-PQLs for two of the five Ara h genes. Seed-expressed candidate transcription factors (TFs), including MYB, MYC, ERF, and bZIP, and pleiotropic PQLs were identified. Promoter analysis (1 kb upstream of transcription start site or TSS) of the corresponding Ara h genes revealed binding sites for TFs underlying these PQLs. We hypothesize that these TFs trans-regulate the Ara h genes either directly or through a regulatory cascade. These findings provide initial insights into the regulatory landscape of Ara h genes and will facilitate breeding for reduced allergen content in peanut.

An insight into the gene-networks playing a crucial role in the cotton plant architecture regulation - The NucleusCotton is a global source of natural fiber and edible oil. Plant architecture and flowering time are key factors in determining the cotton yield and efficiency of mechanical harvesting. The molecular functions of plant architecture and flowering time-related genes are well-studied in Arabidopsis (a long-day plant), tomato (a day-neutral plant), and rice (a short-day plant). It has improved our general understanding of flowering mechanisms in plants. The upland (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and Sea Island (Gossypium barbadense L.) cotton are intrinsically perennial and exhibit indeterminate growth habit and a complex branching pattern. In this paper, we review the progress on gene identification for plant architecture (including branching patterns, branch angle, fruit branch length, and plant height) and floral induction in cotton. However, attention is given to the genes involved in plant hormone perception and signal transduction, especially the phosphatidyl ethanolamine-binding protein gene family in cotton, i.e., the FT/SFT and SP genes or the florigen and anti-florigen system. Furthermore, we identify areas that need further research. These findings lay the groundwork for engineering cotton cultivars with desirable plant architecture, flowering time, growth habit, and improved yield with suitability for mechanized cotton production. Graphical abstract

Gluten-free Diet, a Friend or a Foe, an American Perspective - Plant Foods for Human NutritionGluten proteins in cereal grains are often considered unsafe for health. Indeed, the dissemination of misinformation through various sources has led to a widespread misconception that the consumption of gluten by healthy individuals results in adverse health consequences and contributes to obesity. In recent years, many health-conscious consumers have started reducing or avoiding gluten consumption without a medical recommendation. Consequently, the adoption of gluten-free diets has expanded significantly. This study compared 39 gluten-free products and their gluten-containing counterparts for energy, sugar, dietary fiber content, and price. We found that, on average, gluten-free products available to United States consumers contained significantly less protein and more sugar and calories. Furthermore, on average, gluten-free products are more expensive than gluten-containing products. Our finding may serve as a guide for dietitians, nutritionists, and legislators in introducing a gluten-free prescription list for individuals with celiac disease, wheat allergy, and non-celiac wheat sensitivity.

In the News and Events

GSSM Honors Dr. Sachin Rustgi with 2025 Randall M. LaCross Distinguished Research Leadership Award | SC Governor's School for Science and MathematicsHARTSVILLE, S.C. (Nov.

The Lab is happy to announce that Dr. Sachin Rustgi has been awarded the 2025 Randall M. LaCross Distinguished Research and Leadership Award by the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics!
We’re thrilled to celebrate Hrishikesh Ingole, recipient of the Doctoral Dissertation Completion Grant for Fall 2026!
The Rustgi Lab congratulates Gaganjeet on being selected as a Wade Stackhouse Fellow for the 2026–27 academic year!
Zachary Jones has received the Clemson Pee Dee REC Travel Award and will attend and present at the XV International Gluten Workshop in Palermo, Italy, June 1–3, 2026.
Hrishikesh Ingole has been awarded both a Southern ASPB Travel Grant and a Clemson GSG Travel Grant to participate in the Southern ASPB Conference in Lafayette, Louisiana. Congrats Hrishi!
Gaganjeet is the recipient of the Fall 2025 GSG Travel Award, supporting attendance at the ASPB Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Zachary Jones has been selected as a recipient of the Myrtle Beach Endowment Assistantship, congrats!

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Rustgi Lab

Our Lab

Recent Publications

In the News and Events

Rustgi Lab | Clemson Pee Dee REC, 2200 Pocket Road, Florence, SC 29506