General: Plant genetics and genome analysis
Specific: 

• Elucidation of the genetics, evolution, reproduction, and patterns and mechanisms of development of Tripsacum, a distant relative of Zea mays ssp. mays (modern maize), utilizing maize as a model system
• Utilization of Tripsacum as a genetic resource for maize disease resistance genes and an alternative food source
• Current techniques used include those of molecular biology/genetics (RFLP, RAPD/PCR, DAMD/PCR) and classical genetics, and comparative genome analyses

C.A. Blakey, D. Costich, V. Sokolov, M.N. Islam-Faridi. 2007. Tripsacum Genetics: From Observations Along a River to Molecular Genomices Maydica 52:81-99