Benjamin Fallen

Assistant Professor
Soybean Breeding and Genetics Lead
Plant and Environmental Sciences Department

Office: 213 Pitner Center
Phone: 843-519-0472

Email: BFALLEN@clemson.edu

Educational Background

Ph.D. Plant Sciences, Soybean Breeding & Genetics Program
University of Tennessee 2012

M.S. Plant Sciences
University of Tennessee 2009

B.S. Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Biotechnology and Genetics option
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 2006

Research Interests

My primary research focus is to provide genetic solutions to improve soybean production that will ultimately lead to new and improved soybean germplasm lines and cultivars. My research interests include: a) incorporating genetic diversity to broaden and improve sources of pest resistance, seed composition and yield in soybean, b) increasing key seed traits - oleic acid, meal protein and oil content, c) improving tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, d) incorporating new technologies into soybean to improve agronomic production and economic profitability, and e) working towards sustainable agriculture by working with other collaborators in different fields of research. The key is not only what is accomplished in one field, but a combination of multiple fields.

Publications

PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES
Narayanan, S.K. and B.D. Fallen. 2019. Evaluation of Soybean Plant Introductions for Traits that can Improve Emergence under Varied Soil Moisture Levels. Agr. J.9(3), doi.org/10.3390/agronmy9030118.

Smallwood, C.J., A.M. Saxton, J.D. Gillman, H.S. Bhandari, P.A. Wadl, B.D. Fallen, D.L. Hyten, Q. Song, V.P. Pantalone. 2019. Context-specific Genomic Selection Strategies Outperform Phenotypic Selection for Soybean Quantitative Traits in the Progeny Row Stage. Crop Science. 59(1):54-67, doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2018.03.0197.

Harrison, G.F., B.D. Fallen and S. N. Narayanan. 2018. Characterization of a Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) Germplasm Collection for Root Traits. PLOS ONE. 13(7): e0200463.

Smallwood, C.J., B.D. Fallen, V.R. Pantalone, C.N. Hatcher and P. Arelli. 2018. Registration of ‘TN09-008’ Soybean Cyst Nematode-Resistant Cultivar. J. Plant Reg. doi.org/10.3198/jpr2017.11.0084crc.

Smallwood C.J., J.D. Gillman, A.M. Saxton, H.S. Bhandari, P.A. Wadl, B.D. Fallen,
P.B. Cregan, D.L. Hyten and V.R. Pantalone. 2018. Identifying and Exploring Significant Genomic Regions for Soybean Yield, Fatty Acids, Protein, and Oil. J. Crop Sci. Biotech. 20:243-253.

Fallen, B.F. and E. Shipe. Registration of ‘Agustina’ Soybean. J. Plant Reg. 2017 11: 256-262.

Smallwood, C.J., B.D. Fallen and V.R. Pantalone. 2017. Registration of ‘Ellis’ Soybean. J. Plant Reg. 11:250-255.

Fallen, B.F. and E. Shipe. Agustina Soybean. U.S. pat. PV201700010. Nov. 16, 2016.

Fallen, B.D, F.L. Allen, D.A. Kopsell, A.M. Saxton, L. McHale, J.G. Shannon, S.K. Kantartzi, A.J. Cardinal, P.B. Cregan, D.L. Hyten, and V.R. Pantalone. 2015. Selective Genotyping for Marker Assisted Selection Strategies for Soybean Yield Improvement. Plant Genetics, Genomics, and Biotechnology 2:95-119.

Fallen, B.D., C.N. Hatcher, F.L. Allen, D.A. Kopsell, A.M. Saxton, P. Chen, S.K. Kantartzi, P.B. Cregan, D.L. Hyten, and V.R. Pantalone. 2013. Soybean Seed Amino Acid Content QTL Detected Using the Universal Soy Linkage Panel 1.0 with 1,536 SNPs. J. Plant Genome. Sci. 3:68-79.

CULTIVAR RELEASES
Pantalone, V.R., B.D. Fallen and C.S. Smallwood. 2018. Release of Conventional Soybean Cultivar with >48% Meal Protein, TN11-5140. Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station.

Fallen, B.D., E.R. Shipe, P.F.Williams, Jr., J.D. McCall, R.F. Graham and M.S. Lennon. 2017. Release of Soybean Forage Cultivars: SC06-306RR and SC10-261RR. Clemson University Experiment Station.

Fallen, B.D., E.R. Shipe, P.F.Williams, Jr., J.D. McCall, R.F. Graham and M.S. Lennon. 2016. Release of Conventional Soybean Cultivar, SC10-170. Clemson University Experiment Station.

Pantalone, V.R., B.D. Fallen and D.L. Ellis. 2015. Release of Conventional Soybean Cultivar, TN05-5018. Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station.

Shipe, E.R., P.F.Williams, Jr., J.D. McCall, B.D. Fallen and J.D. Mueller. 2014. Release of Roundup Ready Soybean Cultivar, Cheraw. Clemson University Experiment Station.