Davis, California, USA
March 5, 2026

by By Deysi Alvaro Ceja and Connor Soderstrom
 

Dean Ashley Stokes, of the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, posted on her social media this collage of images she collected of students participating in the recent ASTA 65th Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference in San Diego, Calif. Upper right is Dean Stokes speaking at the conference; upper left is Stokes with master's student Deysi Alvaro Ceja, and lower center are doctoral students Ali Said Yusuf and Will Hazzard, all three in the Department of Plant Sciences.

Christine Diepenbrock, an associate professor in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, spoke at the ASTA 65th Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference. (Courtesy Allen Van Deynze)
 

The ASTA 65th Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference took place in San Diego, Calif., on Feb. 15-20. The week-long event brings together horticulture professionals, researchers and regulatory experts for networking and education centered on advancements in horticulture. This event includes educational sessions on innovation in the seed industry, regulatory policy updates and a trade show. 

This year’s agenda gave attendees an in-depth look at pressing issues in the seed industry such as emerging diseases and challenges, plus educational sessions focused on leadership and cutting-edge technologies. At the trade show, companies showcased innovations in seed packaging, coating technology, supply chain logistics and genomic tools. 

The conference also facilitated networking sessions for graduate students and industry personnel. The student poster showcase gave grad students the opportunity to share their research with the broader seed community and develop connections with industry professionals. 

This year, 25 graduate students and postdocs attended – 19 from UC Davis, three from UC Berkeley and three from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Each year, Seed Central facilitates student participation in these conferences by finding sponsors, recruiting students, organizing logistics and providing orientation. Students were sponsored by various companies to attend the event, with travel and accommodation expenses covered. To help students connect with the seed industry community, each student was assigned an industry mentor. This mentorship connection is a great opportunity for students to learn about internships and collaborations, receive career guidance and build relationships with industry members.

Connor Soderstrom: Sowing connections

As someone who is planning to pursue a career in the seed industry after graduation, I was very excited to have the opportunity to attend this year’s event. During the student showcase networking session, I received a lot of great insight and feedback from industry members on my ongoing research. Many of the people I connected with were enthusiastic and encouraging about the work I am doing and my future plans.

My industry mentor, Teresa Mitzel, helped me build my network by facilitating connections between myself and industry members. This event was a great way to introduce myself to the seed industry community and begin to develop relationships that will be valuable for my future career. 

Currently, I am a second year PhD student in the lab of Allen Van Deynze and Theresa Hill at UC Davis. My dissertation research focuses on understanding and breeding for yield under water deficit and heat stress conditions in sweet pepper. After graduating I plan to pursue a career in the seed industry as a plant breeder.

Deysi Alvaro Ceja: Challenges and innovations

As a graduate student interested in working in the seed industry, attending this conference was the perfect opportunity to engage with industry professionals and gain insight into the current challenges and innovations shaping the field. During the poster session, I was able to share my research and receive valuable feedback from breeders and researchers.

The conversations I had with professionals and my mentor, Teresa Mitzel, were both encouraging and motivating, reinforcing my plans to pursue a career in the seed industry as a plant breeder. 

I am currently a second-year Ph.D. student in the lab of Allen Van Deynze and Theresa Hill. My research focuses on understanding the genetic factors influencing bolting in colored carrot varieties as well as investigating the genetic basis of abiotic stress resilience under water deficit and heat stress.

Related links

Seed Central is a private-public partnership with a mission to link UC Davis with the seed industry in and around Davis, and beyond. Learn more about Seed Central here.

The 65th Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference was organized by the American Seed Trade Association. Learn more about ASTA here.

Website: http://www.ucdavis.edu

Published: March 6, 2026