The aim of research in plant breeding, genetics and genomics is to create new and improved plant varieties that are higher yielding, more disease resistant, more nutritious or of greater ornamental value.  Research at Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station centers and units focuses on improving plant cultivars from agronomic and horticultural species of importance both locally and globally.

The E.V. Smith Research Center Plant Breeding Unit is the only AAES unit devoted specifically to plant breeding and genetics. Current projects include soybean, cotton and forage breeding studies. Fusarium wilt on cotton is also being studied there.

Research at the Plant Science Research Center looks at the propagation of bananas, medicinal herbs, grasses and ornamental plants.