Aaron Jackson and Maria Valerio reviewing DNA markers run on an outcrossing experiment	Maria shown installing a drain pipe for the rice bay. This pipe is used to control flooding.

Maria Valerio is a Ph.D. weed science student attending the University of Basilicata in Potenza, Italy. Her focus is on weed interactions in tomatoes and peppers. Maria is currently working with Lew Ziska (USDA-ARS) in Beltsville, MD on a cooperative project with Dave Gealy of Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center. Maria arrived on May 2, 2010 and spent the week in Stuttgart Arkansas assisting in the planting of this joint experiment, which will determine potential effects of elevated carbon dioxide and climate change on geneflow between rice and weedy red rice.

While at Dale Bumpers, Maria interacted with several staff members. Maria spent most of her time shadowing Stefano Costanzo who demonstrated and discussed his molecular work with rice diseases. She also learned about planting rice and field screening techniques from Dave Gealy’s field crew. She spent time in the Genomics Core Facility where Aaron Jackson showed her DNA extraction and SSR marker techniques. Maria also learned more about DNA markers, the GSOR collection, and the GRIN collection.

Calibrating the planter is necessary so that the seeds are planted at the proper depth.	Rice was planted by hand for another study so that the samples could be easily separated.