Annual/Termination Reports:

[08/11/2009] [01/24/2011]

Report Information

Participants

Burr, Thomas - tjb1@cornell.edu, Cornell University;
Forsline, Philip - philip.forsline@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS;
Robertson, Larry  larry.robertson@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS;
Griffiths, Phillip  pdg8@cornell.edu, Cornell University;
Bridgen, Mark  mpb27@cornell.edu, Cornell University;
Hart, John  jph248@cornell.edu, Cornell University;
Loy, Brent  jbloy@cisunix.unh.edu, University of New Hampshire;
Liedl, Barbara  liedlbe@wvstateu.edu, West Virginia State University;
Marini, Richard  rpm12@psu.edu; The Pennsylvania State University;
Foolad, Majid  mrf5@psu.edu; The Pennsylvania State University;
Goffreda, Joseph  goffreda@aesop.rutgers.edu; Rutgers University (Conference Call); Labate, Joanne  joanne.labate@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS (Conference Call);Schwaninger, Heidi  heidi.schwaninger@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS (Conference Call);

Brief Summary of Minutes

The 2009 annual meeting was held Tuesday August 11 from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM on the campus of the Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Richard Marini, Head of the Department of Agriculture, welcomed the committee and made a brief presentation about the history of the Pennsylvania State University and the Department of Agriculture. Dr. Tom Burr then introduced himself as the Administrative Advisor of the NE-09 and Director of the NYSAES. Dr. Burr informed the committee that the budget of $208,000 was approved this March but mentioned that there are still some states questioning the use of off-the-top funding. He also mentioned that Cornell University is going through changes and that there will be mergers of departments, which will affect plant breeding at NYSAES. Dr. Majid Foolad was host for the committee this year and made arrangements for the meeting and the afternoon visits to vegetable and fruit research at the Horticulture Research Farm in Rock Springs, PA. Phil Forsline, Larry Robertson, Joanne Labate, and Heidi Schwaninger made brief presentations about the activities and research for the past year and referred to the RL report for NE9 for further details. Majid Foolad presented a report on his work with fresh market and processing tomato with early blight, late blight, and high lycopene; both conventional and molecular breeding research. If his report Joseph Goffreda mentioned his research with Kazakhstan apples and that he wasnt spraying them. Brent Loy discussed his work with high dry matter with butternut squash and reported developing some with a Brix of 12-14%. He mentioned he was able to reach 18% in acorn squash. Phillip Griffiths briefly discussed his research with African collards and block rot resistance and mentioned his work with resistant beans (W6). He also discussed research with pigmented radish from the collection at Geneva and his work with tomato color and shape. Barbara Liedl made brief presentation on her work with greenhouse tomatoes (late blight, whitefly and aphid resistance), melons and peppers, and with sustainable and organic growers (including grafting tomatoes for high tunnel organic production). Mark Bridgen made brief presentation on the Cornell Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center and the resources available for research and extension. The meeting adjourned for lunch at 12 PM. After lunch the group visited the Horticultural Research Station in Rock Springs, PA where Dr. Foolad presented vegetable research, Dr. Crassweller presented research on tree fruits, and Dr. Demchak discussed research with small fruits.

Accomplishments

Seed regenerations of vegetable Brassicas, tomatoes, wild tomatoes, tomatillos, celery, artichokes, radish, onion, buckwheat, and Cucurbits in 2008 were completed for 367 accessions and 58 accessions were grown for plants to store for seed production in 2009. For 2009, seed regenerations will total 325 accessions and 254 accessions will be grown for plants to store for seed production in 2010. In addition to standard regeneration activity; 84 Allium cepa accessions were sent to New Mexico State University for regeneration, 9 tomatoes were grown out for demonstrational /outreach purposes, 24 tomatoes were grown for an in-house molecular study to test genetic and phenotypic similarities and differences of 3 currently inactive tomatoes with the same Top Plant ID (San Marzano, Marglobe, and Baltimore), and 23 Orange Chatham tomatoes were grown out for identification purposes. A total of 12,462 accessions of seed-propagated crops were successfully maintained during the past year. The future availability of this germplasm is therefore assured. <p> Approximately 365 scanned and/or digital images were recorded in 2009 from 178 accessions of tomato, onion and winter squash grown for regeneration purposes. There were 441 scanned images recorded in 2008 from 141 accessions of tomato, onion and winter squash. These images are being processed and uploaded to GRIN as they become re-sized and named according to GRIN SOP. Characterization data were recorded on 144 accessions in 2008 and will be conducted on 138 accessions in the 2009 growing season for onion and tomatos minimal descriptor listings. These descriptors will then be uploaded to GRIN to enable stakeholders to better search for their research requirements. In addition to standard characterization and evaluation activity; 44 tomato accessions are being grown for analysis and characterization with cooperator Margaret McGrath and the Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center. <p> In 2008 and continuing in 2009 tomato images were analyzed using the Tomato Analyzer software created by Esther van der Knaap et al. at the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at Ohio State University. The Tomato Analyzer software is quickly becoming the standard for fruit morphological characterization. The Tomato Analyzer application provides accurate and objective measurements of fruit shape in a high-throughput manner, as well as for traits that are nearly impossible to quantify manually. <p> A total of 308 orders for 3,540 seed germplasm samples and 362 orders for 10,510 samples of apple, grape and cherry germplasm were filled for clients and stakeholders in Calendar Year 2008. In 2009, through July 31, there were 263 orders for 2,510 seed germplasm samples and 107 orders for 1634 samples of apple and grape germplasm. A large number of these samples were distributed in the northeast. For 2008, 410 seed and 5,504 clonal samples for 53 seed and 118 clonal orders were distributed to users in the states that are part of NE-9. For 2009, through July 31, there were 414 seed and 691 clonal samples for 48 seed and 47 clonal orders distributed to the NE9 region. Most of the samples of the clonal collection were for DNA and leaf samples for DNA extraction, but multiple samples of cuttings, pollen and seeds of wild species as well were sent. Delivery of germplasm to clients and stakeholders is the primary way in which the results of this Units activities are distributed to the public. <p> 955 Grape SSR fingerprints at eight loci (loaded into GRIN last year  15,280 data points) are being validated by fingerprinting the second vine per accession. This process is about 95% complete and will add another nearly 15,280 data points. The fingerprints of the first and second vine will be compared. Redundant fingerprints will be investigated when the vines are in fruit. Diversity will be analyzed to discover gaps or overrepresentation. Wild species diversity will be analyzed in the context of mildew response in collaboration with Lance Cadle-Davidson, Plant Pathologist with USDA-ARS Geneva. <p> We took 990 budbreak observations in grape over 2008-2009. The 2008 data included wild species only. The 2009 budbreak data was for a repeat of the wild species as well as the rest of the collection. The data are being converted to Julian dates and loaded into GRIN. <p> Much effort was put into photo documentation of the grape collection. We uploaded 1,220 photographic images into GRIN. These photos are of clusters hanging on the vine, detached leaf upper surface, and detached lower surface. Many of the cluster photos were taken 10 years ago. They were very nice photos, but we had to adjust them for aspect ratio, size, and color balance before loading them. This year we have taken photos of many flower clusters, both in the field and detached. They have yet to be loaded into GRIN. Last years detached leaf photos are all loaded, and we are continuing that effort this year. We choose to display photos of the leaves for ampelographic analysis as opposed to metric analysis. <p> PGRU has 2,621 Malus accessions maintained as clones in the collection. Specific core collections of Malus sieversii were designated after extensive phenotyping and genotyping. This added 120 accessions to our collection where scions from the original seedling trees were collected and propagated on EMLA 7 rootstocks. Publications that define these core subsets: 1) Richards, C.M., G.M. Volk, P.A. Reeves, A.A. Reilley, A.D. Henk, and P.L. Forsline, and H.S. Aldwinckle. 2009. Selection of stratified core sets representing wild apple (Malus sieversii). J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 134:228-235 and 2)Volk, G.M., A.A. Reilley, A.D. Henk, C.M. Richards, P.L. Forsline, and H.S. Aldwinckle. 2005. Ex situ conservation of vegetatively propagated species: Development of a seed-based core collection of Malus sieversii. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 130: 203-210. In addition 10 M. sieversii were added from a collection of M. sieversii being evaluated at Ohio State University: Volk, G.M., C.M. Richards, A.D. Henk, A.A. Reilley, D.D. Miller, and P.L. Forsline. 2009. Novel diversity identified in a wild apple population from the Kyrgyzstan. HortScience 44:516-518. A core collection of 27 M. orientalis accessions was also added to the main collection: Volk, G.M., C.M. Richards, A.A. Reilley, A.D. Henk, P.A. Reeves, P.L. Forsline, and H.S. Aldwinckle. 2009. Capturing the diversity of wild Malus orientalis from Georgia, Armenia, Russia and Turkey. Under review. We also maintain 1565 seed-lot accessions with 310 of these having variable size seedling populations under evaluation presently. These plantings include nearly 3000 individual seedlings that have been added to the GRIN record. We received 10 new accessions from the Quarantine program in Beltsville. Many of these were previously virus infected and now have been cleaned up through heat therapy. <p> We made excellent progress in doing corrective pruning on 3,000 wild apple seedlings so that they can be used for efficient evaluation projects over the next 5 years. We continue an SCA with Dr. Aldwinckle of Cornell to evaluate all of these seedlings for resistance to apple scab and fire blight. In addition, 85 M. sieversii accessions obtained in 2006-2007 from the University of Minnesota were screened under this program for apple scab and fire blight resistance. These 3,000 seedlings are now treated as separate accessions in GRIN since we have a record of morphological and molecular data for each. Our collaborator (G. Volk) at ARS in Ft. Collins, CO developed a protocol for adding molecular data to GRIN. The data on the 3000 wild apple species was the first to be loaded using this new protocol. <p> We continue additional collaborative projects in this period with programs at ARS in Kearneysville (Meyers, Bassett, Glenn, Norelli, Wisniewski, Janisiewicz) and Fort Collins (Volk, Richards, Walters, Ellis and Jenderek) as well as with SAES (Luby, VanNocker, Peace) and international programs. <p> We initiated two new projects in 2008 using the mapping populations of M. sieversii X Royal Gala that we maintain at PGRU. These seven populations (200 individuals in each) which have a common maternal parent Royal Gala and 7 different M. sieversii paternal parents completed the 5th leaf in PGRU orchards in 2008. Dr. Kenong Xu of Cornell University is collaborating with PGRU in a genomic assessment of population GMAL 4595. <p> Fruit from thirty individuals from each of three mapping populations (GMAL 4591, 4593 and 4595) are being phenotyped in 2009 at Washington State University. In addition, 70 Malus cultivars from PGRU have been added to the Crop Reference Set for phenotyping. This is part of an NRI-funded project which involves national and international collaboration  a project entitled Functional Markers for Rosaceae Tree Fruit Texture. This project will continue through 2012 based on an SCRI grant that was funded entitled RosBREED: Enabling marker-assisted breeding in Rosaceae. <p> The entire core collection and 90% of the main collection of Malus has been characterized for priority descriptors with the data loaded to GRIN. We have completed digital imaging of 65% of the collection. The original core collection of 190 accessions established at five sites in 1992 has been expanded with the addition of 67 accessions representing individuals of 12 species collected from the wild. We have established a planting (grafted to Budagovsky 9 rootstock) of the entire expanded core subset at the main farm. This planting is now in the sixth year and is used as a demonstration block for visitors and users to make observations of the tremendous diversity in Malus. All seedling populations that we grow out are own-rooted trees in a high density orchard. The planting dates range from 1997 to 2007. The seedlings of M. orientalis from the former USSR Republic of Georgia were planted in the field in May 2007. Most of the M. sieversii from Central Asia was planted in 1997 and 1998. As of fall 2006, 970 of the 1591 Central Asian seedlings of M. sieversii fruited and have been characterized for horticultural traits with 650 having digital images of fruits completed. Some of the other species collected 1997-2004 and planted later are starting to fruit and will be characterized for morphological traits. <p> In a collaborative project with the USDA-ARS National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP) in Fort Collins, CO, additional seeds of M. sieversii were produced though controlled pollination of core collections from two Kazakh sites. We produced 29,573 seeds on trees from Kazakhstan site 6 and assigned PI #s 646107  646153 to sublots of the seeds produced. For site Kazakhstan site 9, we produced 21,050 seeds and assigned PI #s 645631  645679 to sublots of the seeds produced. We germinated and planted 512 seeds representing each of these sites. All of the surviving seedlings (840) were screened for apple scab resistance in the SCA with Dr. Aldwinckle. The seedlings are growing in the nursery and will be dug in fall 2009. Dr. Fazio, apple rootstock breeder will complete a root imaging study on all seedlings. The seedlings will be sent to Washington State University in fall 2009 to be planted in an orchard for further phenotyping. In 2009 we initiated a project to validate the capture of genetic and phenotypic diversity represented in these seedlings by utilizing molecular markers and resistance to V. inaequalis (apple scab). Of the 399 seedlings in site 6 core, 41% are resistant to apple scab. Of the 456 seedlings in the site 9 core, 38% are resistant to apple scab. DNA has been collected from 42 parents from site 6 core, 43 parents from site 9 core, 397 seedlings from site 6 core and 450 seedlings from site 9 core. SSR fingerprints are being used to effectively determine if parental alleles are being conserved in seedlings. Because it is both expensive and risky to maintain wild seedlings in the field indefinitely, it is important to determine if maintaining the seeds of the core collection also maintains the core diversity as discussed in: Volk G.M., A.A. Reilley, A.D. Henk, C. M. Richards, P.L. Forsline, and H.S. Aldwinckle. 2005. Ex situ conservation of vegetatively propagated species: Development of a seed-based core collection of Malus sieversii. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 130:203-210. <p> To further the understanding of identity and diversity of apple accessions in the collection, molecular markers are being applied. SSR fingerprints at eight loci for 1,274 Malus domestica (common apple) were completed and loaded into GRIN last year with 20,384 data points. For the remaining 850 wild apple species accessions, DNA has been extracted and is ready for fingerprinting. This project has been coordinated with similar work done at Ft. Collins with other wild apple species and with other apple species in France and Italy. After review of our results, we will consider extending the effort to more markers. <p> The sour cherry (tetrapolid cherry) collection has developed over the last 13 years in close consultation with Dr. Amy Iezzoni of Michigan State University (MSU). Presently, the PGRU collection consists of 125 accessions. This includes Prunus cerasus (95 accessions), Prunus fruticosa (11 accessions) and other Prunus species and hybrids (19 accessions). We have continued to keep back-ups in pots in a screenhouse until accessions are well-established in the field. <p> In 2008 we phenotypically characterized tomato core collections (landraces and geodiversity) through field observations, collecting vine-ripened fruit, and optimizing and performing Vitamin C and lycopene assays in the lab. As part of an SCA with D. Francis, phenotypic evaluations of a replicate set and SNP genotyping were carried out by his group. These data are being analyzed comparatively with an Ohio State Univ. core set of fresh market, processing, and heirloom varieties. Hypotheses pertaining to centers of diversity and loss of diversity within modern breeding germplasm will be tested. A similar CGC grant is in progress for an heirloom core set in 2009. In collaboration with D. Panthee (NC State Univ), D. Francis (Ohio State Univ), and M. McGrath (Cornell Univ), data will be collected from field trials in three locations. <p> We adopted and optimized a Real-Time PCR platform (Roche Light Cycler 480) for genotyping based on S. lycopersicum SNPs. In 2009 we will apply a set of 12 markers to a set of putative duplicates and phenotypically evaluate the accessions in the field. The purpose is to evaluate genetic redundancy in duplicate accessions. <p> We are analyzing DNA sequences for 50 genes in S. pimpinellifolium PI 370093 (source of Cf-2, Cf-3, Pto), S. habrochaites PI 125445 (B), and Peru Wild PI 303801(Ve), S. arcanum G 32951, S. peruvianum G 32592, S. peruvianum LA1537, and S. pennellii PI 414773. The purpose is to compare wild species alleles to S. lycopersicum to test hypotheses of linkage drag as a consequence of interspecific breeding for crop improvement. <p> PGRU L. peruvianum accessions will be reclassified into Solanum spp. based on the recently published Monograph by Peralta et al. (2008). Fifty accessions were grown in the greenhouse and keyed out in 2009. The entire collection is being grown in the field in 2009 and will be keyed out against known checks. <p> Technical details of tomato SNP markers generated to date are available through GenBank (sequences, polymorphisms, protocols). Data released 2008-2009 are as follows:<br /> 1) SNPs, flanking sequences, and primers can be retrieved at http://tinyurl.com/preview.php?num=3h9mfe)<br /> 2) 50 PopSets (aligned sequences): Accessions EU935868 to EU937513. <br /> 3) Genomic sequences: Accessions EU797528 to EU797577, Accessions EU365695 to EU365773.<br /> <br /> J.A. Labate has co-edited four chapters (QTL mapping, Bioinformatics, Metabolomics/Proteomics, Comparative Genome Sequencing) of Genetics, Genomics and Breeding in Fruits and Vegetable Crops: Tomato for Science Publishers. The book volume involves over 30 contributing authors from around the world. The resultant product will be a comprehensive, up-to-date reference for plant breeders, researchers, and students that review germplasm, genetic tools, and applications of genome analysis for crop improvement. <p> The Public Seed Initiative (PSI) website continues to be a major source of information for organic farmers with over 12,591 hits since its creation. This website supplies detailed information on pepper genomics, seed production, participatory breeding, on-farm commercial variety trials and other related projects throughout the country: www.plbr.cornell.edu/psi. The Organic Seed Partnership (OSP) website has had over 8,820 hits since its creation in 2005 and has been viewed by people in over 70 countries. This website contains all the details that the PSI website had plus information about upcoming events, nationwide cooperators, updated news and events occurring around the country, and streaming video detailing on-farm vegetable breeding and seed production: www.organicseedpartnership.org.

Publications

Al-Turki, S., M. Shahba, P. Forsline, and C. Stushnoff. 2008. Biodiversity of total phenolics, antioxidant capacity, and juice quality in apple cider taxa. Horticulture Environment and Biotechnology 49:409-417. <p><br /> Baldo, A.M., L.D. Robertson, S.M. Sheffer, W.F. Lamboy, and J.A. Labate. 2008. Genetic diversity in tomato: SNPs from various sources show similar amounts of polymorphism and bottlenecking due to domestication. p. 6. In Final Abstracts Guide, Plant and Animal Genome XVI, San Diego, CA. <p><br /> Baldo, A.M, Malnoy, M., Aldwinckle, H.S. 2008. A Search For Novel Apple Resistance Genes Among Wild And Rootstock Accessions. p. 233. In Final Abstracts Guide, Plant and Animal Genome XVI, San Diego, CA. <p><br /> Baldo, A.M, Volk, G.M., Olmstead, J., Iezzoni, A. 2008. Resistance Gene Analogs In Cherries (Prunus spp.). p. 236. In Final Abstracts Guide, Plant and Animal Genome XVI, San Diego, CA. <p><br /> Baldo, AM, J.L. Norelli, R.E. Farrell Jr., C.L. Bassett, H.S. Aldwinckle, M. Malnoy . 2009. Identification of genes differentially expressed during interaction of resistant and susceptible apple cultivars (Malus x domestica) with Erwinia amylovora. Submitted to BMC Plant Biology <p><br /> Baldo, A.M., Y. Wan, K. Gasic, S. Korban, G. Fazio. 2009. Mapping Genes Expressed Preferentially In Apple Rootstock. Plant & Animal Genome XVII Conference, San Diego, CA. <p><br /> Baldo, A.M., G.M. Volk, A.D. Henk, A. Iezzoni, J.W. Olmstead, H.S. Aldwinckle, C.A. Weber, S. Samuelian, M.A. Malnoy. 2009. Resistance Gene Analogs In Six Genera Of Rosaceae: A Family-Wide Classification. Plant & Animal Genome XVII Conference, San Diego, CA. <p><br /> Baldo, A.M., K.M. Folta. 2009. The US Rosaceae White Paper In A Wiki. Plant & Animal Genome XVII Conference, San Diego, CA. <p><br /> Bassil, N.V., K.E. Hummer, J.D. Postman, G. Fazio, A.M. Baldo, I. Armas, and R. Williams. 2008. Nomenclature and genetic relationships of apples and pears from Terceira Island. Genet. Res. and Crop Evol. online doi: 10.1007/s10722-008-9369-z <p><br /> Bassil, N.V., K.E. Hummer, J.D. Postman, A.M. Baldo, G. Fazio, I. Armas, R. Williams. 2009. Microsatellite Markers Reveal Relationships Within Heritage Apple And Pear Cultivars In Terceira Island. Plant & Animal Genome XVII Conference, San Diego, CA. <p><br /> Bassett, C.L., Wisniewski, M.E., Baldo, A.M., Artlip, T.S., Farrell, R.E. 2008. Differential Expression Of Genes In Apple During Gradual Water Deficit Conditions. p. 136. In Final Abstracts Guide, Plant and Animal Genome XVI, San Diego, CA. <p><br /> Borejsza-Wysocka, E.E., Norelli, J.L., Baldo, A.M., Farrell, R.E., Bassett, C.L., Aldwinckle, H.S. 2008. High-Efficiency Generation Of RNAi Mutants Of Apple By Use Of Multi-Vector Transformation. p. 232. In Final Abstracts Guide, Plant and Animal Genome XVI, San Diego, CA. <p><br /> Borejsza-Wysocka, E.E., J.L. Norelli, A.M. Baldo, R.E. Farrell Jr, M. Malnoy, C.L. Bassett , H.S. Aldwinckle.2008. Making RNAi mutants of apple with high-efficiency by use of multi-vector transformation. p 62 in Final Abstracts Guide, 4th International Rosaceae Genomics Conference, Pucon, Chile<br /> Fazio, G., P.L. Forsline, H. Aldwinckle, and L. Pons. 2008. The Apple Collection in Geneva, NY: A Resource for The Apple Industry Today and for Generations to Come. New York Fruit Quarterly 3:3-6. 16: 5-8. <p><br /> Fazio, G., H.S. Aldwinckle, G.M. Volk, C.M. Richards, W. J. Janisiewicz, and P.L. Forsline. 2009. Progress in evaluating Malus sieversii for disease resistance and horticultural traits. Acta Horticulturae 814:59-66. <p><br /> Forsline, P.L., J. Luby, and H.S. Aldwinckle. 2008. Fire blight incidence on Malus sieversii grown in New York and Minnesota. 11th International Workshop on Fire Blight. Acta Horticulturae 793: 345-350. <p><br /> Janisiewicz, W., Robert Saftner , William Conway and Philip Forsline. 2008. Preliminary Evaluation of Apple Germplasm from Kazakhstan for Resistance to Blue Mold Decay Caused by Penicillium expansum After Harvest. HortScience 43:420-426. <p><br /> Jurick II, W.M., R.A. Saftner, W.J. Janisiewicz, I. Vico, P.L. Forsline, W.S. Conway. 2009. Evaluation of wild apple (Malus sieversii) germplasm from Kazakhstan for resistance to Penicillium expansum and Colletotrichum acuatum. 2009 APS annual meeting <p><br /> Kopsell, D.A., C.E. Sams, D.E. Deyton, K.R. Abney, D.E. Kopsell, and L. Robertson. 2009. Characterization of Nutritionally Important Carotenoids in Bunching Onion Accessions. HortSci (In Press). <p><br /> Labate, J.A. 2008. Ch. 2 Molecular markers in germplasm conservation. p. 45-74. In C. Kole and A. Abbott, (ed.) Principles and practices of plant genomics vol 2. Science Publishers, Inc., Enfield, New Hampshire, USA; Plymouth, UK. <p><br /> Labate, J.A., S.M. Sheffer, W.F. Lamboy, and A.M. Baldo. 2008. Genomic sequences of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) for comparison of three marker types. Direct submission to GenBank. Accessions EU797528 to EU797577. <p><br /> Labate, J.A. and Baldo, A.M. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and Insertion/Deletion polymorphisms (Indels) in four cultivated tomato lines. 2008. Submitted to dbSNP. NCBI ss# 76883011 to 76883086, 77106585 to 77106606.<br /> Labate, J.A. and Baldo, A.M. 2008. Anonymous genomic sequence of tomato. NCBI accessions EU365695 to EU365773. <p><br /> Labate, J.A., L.D. Robertson, and A.M. Baldo. 2009. Multilocus sequence data reveal extensive departures from equilibrium in domesticated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Heredity advance online publication doi:10.1038/hdy.2009.58.<br /> Labate, J.A., L.D. Robertson, F. Wu, S.D. Tanksley, and A.M. Baldo. 2009. EST, COSII, and arbitrary gene markers give similar estimates of nucleotide diversity in cultivated tomato (S. lycopersicum L.). Theor Appl Genet 118:10051014. <p><br /> Labate, J.A., L.D. Robertson, and A.M. Baldo. 2009. SNP diversity in cultivated tomato. In Final Program, 2009 Tomato Breeders Roundtable, Sacramento, CA. <p><br /> Malnoy, M., A.M. Baldo, C. Carlisle, D. Bowatte, E.E. Borejsza-Wysocka, J.L. Norelli, R.E. Farrell Jr, C.L. Bassett, S. Gardiner, H.S. Aldwinckle. 2008. Mapping of apple genes found to be expressed during the Erwinia amylovora:Malus interaction. p 85 in Final Abstracts Guide, 4th International Rosaceae Genomics Conference, Pucon, Chile <p><br /> Malnoy, M., A.M. Baldo, and H.S. Aldwinckle. 2008. Identification of new resistance gene analogs in 33 wild Malus species. p 57 in Final Abstracts Guide, 4th International Rosaceae Genomics Conference, Pucon, Chile <p><br /> Malnoy, M., Baldo, A.M., Carlisle, C.M., Bowatte, D., Borejsza-Wysocka, E.E., Norelli, J.L., Farrell, R.E., Bassett, C.L., Gardiner, S.E., Aldwinckle, H.S. 2008. Identification And Mapping Of Genes Differentially Expressed During Interaction Of Resistant And Susceptible Apple Cultivars (Malus Xdomestica) With Erwinia amylovora. p. 232. In Final Abstracts Guide, Plant and Animal Genome XVI, San Diego, CA. <p><br /> Myers, C. T., and P. L. Forsline. 2008. Pest resistance status of hybrid releases housed in USDA's "core" Malus germplasm collection. Entomological Society of America, Eastern Branch. Annual Meeting, 9-11 March, 2008, Syracuse, NY. <p><br /> Myers, C.T., W.H. Reissig, and P.L. Forsline. 2008. Susceptibility of fruit from diverse apple and crabapple germplasm to attack from apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. J. Econ. Entomol. 101(1): 206-215. <p><br /> Norelli, J.L., Gardiner, S.E., Malnoy, M., Aldwinckle, H.S., Baldo, A.M., Borejsza-Wysocka, E.E., Farrell, R.E., Lalli, D.A., Celton, J.M., Bassett, C.L., Korban, S.S., Wisniewski, M.E. 2008. Using Functional Genomics To Develop Tools To Breed Fire Blight Resistant Apples. p. 232. In Final Abstracts Guide, Plant and Animal Genome XVI, San Diego, CA. <p><br /> Richards, C.M., G.M. Volk, P.A. Reeves, A.A. Reilley, A.D. Henk, and P.L. Forsline, and H.S. Aldwinckle. 2009. Selection of stratified core sets representing wild apple (Malus sieversii). J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 134:228-235. <p><br /> Richards, C.M., Gayle M. Volk, Ann A. Reilley, Adam D. Henk, Dale Lockwood, Patrick A. Reeves, and Philip L. Forsline. 2009. Genetic diversity and population structure in Malus sieversii, a wild progenitor species of domesticated apple. Tree Genetics and Genomics 3:339-347. <p><br /> Rupasinghe, H.P.V, G.M. Huber, C. Embree, and P.L. Forsline. 2008. Red-fleshed apples as a source for functional beverages. Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology Conference. May 25-27, 2008. <p><br /> Samuelian, S.K., Baldo, A.M., Pattison, J.A., and Weber, C.A. 2008. Isolation and linkage mapping of NBS-LRR resistance gene analogs in red raspberry ( Rubus idaeus L.) and classification among 270 Rosaceae NBS-LRR genes. Tree Genetics & Genomes. Electronic Online First article http://www.springerlink.com/content/n423jnx741586448 <p><br /> Simon, C.J., Y. Wan, H. Schwaninger, G.-Y. Zhong, J.A. Labate, and A.M. Baldo. 2008. Nucleotide polymorphism analysis in Vitis: A broad survey across the grape genus. p. 240 In Final Abstracts Guide, Plant and Animal Genome XVI, San Diego, CA. <p><br /> Simon, C.J., A.M. Baldo, Y. Wan. 2009. Genetic Sequence Diversity In The Grape Genus (Vitis). Plant & Animal Genome XVII Conference, San Diego, CA.<br /> Sun, Lingxia, . Steve van Nocker, and Philip L. Forsline. 2008. Natural Variation for Fruit Abscission in Apple (Malus). HortScience 43:1271<br /> Sun, Lingxia, Steve van Nocker, and Philip. L. Forsline. 2008. Natural Variation in Fruit Abscission-Related Traits in Apple (Malus). Euphytica. Published on-line in 2008. <p><br /> Volk Gayle, Christopher M. Richards, Ann A. Reilley, Adam D. Henk, Patrick A. Reeves, Philip L. Forsline, and Herb S. Aldwinckle. 2009. Capturing the diversity of wild Malus orientalis from Georgia, Armenia, Russia and Turkey. Under review. <p><br /> Volk, Gayle, Christopher M. Richards, Adam D. Henk Patrick, Ann A. Reilley, Diane D. Miller, and Philip L. Forsline. 2009. Novel diversity identified in a wild apple population from the Kyrgyzstan. HortScience 44:516-518. <p><br /> Volk Gayle, Christopher M. Richards, Ann A. Reilley, Adam D. Henk, Patrick A. Reeves, Philip L. Forsline, and Herb S. Aldwinckle. 2008. Genetic diversity and disease resistance of wild Malus orientalis from Turkey and southern Russia. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 133: 383-389 <p><br /> Volk, Gayle M., Christopher M. Richards and Philip L. Forsline. 2009. A comprehensive approach toward conserving Malus germplasm. ISHS symposium on Molecular markers, Corvallis, OR, July 2009. <p><br /> Volk, G.M., Christopher M. Richards, Philip L. Forsline, and Herb Aldwinckle. 2008. Diversity of wild Malus germplasm available in the USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System. HortScience 43: 1136 <p><br /> Volk Gayle, Christopher M. Richards, Philip L. Forsline. 2009. A comprehensive approach toward conserving Malus germplasm. Acta Horticulturae. Under Review <p><br /> Volk, Gayle M., Christopher M. Richards, Philip L. Forsline, and Herb S. Aldwinckle. 2008. Assessment of the genetic diversity and disease resistance of wild Malus orientalis seedlings from Turkey and Southern Russia. 4th International Rosaceae Genomics Conference <p><br /> Walters, C., G.M. Volk, P.L. Forsline, and K.L. Koster. 2009. Long-term survival of cryopreserved germplasm: Contributing factors and assessments from 30 year-old experiments. ISHS 1st International Symposium on Cryopreservation in Horticultural Species. Leuven Belgium, April 5-8, 2009. <p><br /> Walters, Chrsitina, Gayle M. Volk, Leigh E. Towill and Philip L. Forsline. 2009. Survival of cryogenically-stored dormant apple buds: A 20 year assessment. 1st International Symposium on Cryopreservation in Horticultural Species. Leuven Belgium, April 5-8, 2009.

Impact Statements

1. Both the seed and clonal crops for which Geneva has responsibility are important components of agriculture in the Northeast. Many Northeastern State Agricultural Experiment Stations (SAESs) have research and extension responsibilities for these valuable commodities. The vegetable crops maintained at Geneva account for about 48% of the value of U.S. fresh market production and the fruit crops account for 53% of the value of production of non-citrus fruit trees and vines.
2. Germplasm is maintained and distributed in accordance with standards for viability, genetic integrity, and accurate identity. Increased characterization of germplasm and the addition of digital images have increased the efficiency of use of the germplasm collections.
3. Phenotypic characterization of tomato core collections will promote its use for continued improvement in fruit quality. For example, there is a need to develop new varieties to counter the recent increases of fresh-market imports by the US.
4. Combining genes from diverse sources into germplasm is more useful to plant breeders to produce improved germplasm and cultivars.
5. As biotechnology programs in the Northeastern U.S. have grown, plant genetic resource conservation has become more critical. Molecular biologists and genome researchers must have this reservoir of diversity available if they are to identify plants with useful genes that breeders can then exploit. Continuing progress in improving the performance of crop plants while simultaneously improving our understanding of plant biology will be accomplished by the integration of new technologies with the broadest possible array of genetic resources.
6. Tomato heirloom and landrace core collections will provide breeders with novel alleles influencing shape, color and superior nutritional value (Vitamin C and lycopene).
7. Evaluating genetic redundancy in putative duplicate tomato accessions using Real-Time PCR will a) provide a set of publically available, optimized SNP markers to the community, and b) support de-accessioning of germplasm in order to reduce costs of periodic regeneration and storage of the collection.
8. Wild tomato species are critical sources of alleles for improving tolerances and resistances to abiotic and biotic stresses. Reclassification of wild tomato accessions based on revised taxonomic keys will ensure that stakeholders can obtain field-verified material upon request.
9. Development of improved vegetable varieties and improved fruit varieties and increased understanding of these crops through research.
10. Screening of the Malus germplasm collection has led to identification of novel fire blight resistance genes and insect resistance Malus germplasm in the USDA, ARS germplasm collection in Geneva, NY and to identification of Malus germplasm with red flesh and high levels of antioxidants in the USDA, ARS germplasm collection in Geneva, NY. This has also led to an understanding and characterization of the genetic diversity present in elite apple cultivars and wild Malus species.
11. Cryogenic storage of apple and cherry has been used as a model to test other commodities in the National Plant Germplasm System for a reliable backup system for clonal crops. Our results have shown this method to be a 50-fold savings over having duplicate plantings at another site.
12. As new genomic tools are developed for genetic improvement of apple we have collaborated with ARS, Cornell and New Zealand labs to develop two new genetic maps. These populations were developed by crossing scab resistant M. sieversii accessions with the susceptible cultivar Royal Gala. Correlation of the markers with phenotype indicated some M. sieversii parents likely had known resistance genes but, in some cases, exhibited patterns suggesting they also contained novel resistance loci. These populations also have traits for resistance to fire blight, post harvest diseases and tolerance to drought and cold temperatures. With the sequencing of the Malus genome by the international community nearly complete. These genetic maps will allow for more rapid introgressing of these genes into new varieties.

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Report Information

Participants

Burr, Thomas  tjb1@cornell.edu, Cornell University;
Swietlik, Dariusz  dariusz.swietlik@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS, NAA;
Bretting, Peter  peter.bretting@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS,ONP;
Thro, Ann Marie  athro@nifa.usda.gov; NIFA;
Ellis, David  david.ellis@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS, NCGRP;
Zhong, Gan-Yuan  ganyuan.zhong@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS, PGRU;
Robertson, Larry  larry.robertson@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS, PGRU;
Fazio, Gennaro  gennaro.fazio@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS, PGRU;
Griffiths, Phillip  pdg8@cornell.edu, Cornell University;
Bridgen, Mark  mpb27@cornell.edu, Cornell University;
Loy, Brent  jbloy@cisunix.unh.edu, University of New Hampshire;
Foolad, Majid  mrf5@psu.edu; The Pennsylvania State University;
Zhang Donglin  donglin@maine.maine.edu; University of Maine;
Labate, Joanne  joanne.labate@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS, PGRU;
Schwaninger, Heidi  heidi.schwaninger@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS, PGRU;
Nearpass, Robert  robert.nearpass@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS, PGRU;
Srmack, Bill  wns1@cornell.edu, Cornell University;
Beckhorn, David  dab18@cornell.edu, Cornell University;
Noden, Greg  greg.noden@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS, PGRU;
Martens, Bob  rjm57@cornell.edu, Cornell University;
Garman, William  william.garman@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS, PGRU;
Balch, Teri  teri.balch@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS, PGRU;
Oughterson, John  john.oughterson@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS, PGRU;
Kisly, Paul  paul.kisly@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS, PGRU;
Spencer, Jonathan  jds392@cornell.edu, Cornell University;
Tennies, Sherri  sherri.tennies@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS, PGRU;
Dellefave, Dawn  dawn.dellefave@ars.usda.gov, USDA, ARS, PGRU

Brief Summary of Minutes

The 2010 annual meeting was held Tuesday July 27 from 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM on the campus of the New York Agricultural Research Station in Geneva, NY. Dr. Tom Burr introduced himself as the Administrative Advisor of the NE-09 and Director of the NYSAES. This year the meeting was held in conjunction with the Crop Germplasm Committee chairs and Plant Germplasm Operations Committee meetings. Dr. Burr informed the committee that the budget of $216,320 was approved this past March but mentioned that there are still some states questioning the use of off-the-top funding. He made the suggestion that a member of PGRU attend the NERA Spring Meeting to speak about the germplasm collection and also requested a new impact sheet be prepared for this meeting. Research highlights for NYSAES included two new apple varieties released and licensed by the NY Apple Growers Association.

Dr. Darius Swietlik, NAA Area Director welcomed the attendees on behalf of the North Atlantic Area. He mentioned the USDA priority to have all accessions in the germplasm collections to be eventually sequenced. Dr. Peter Bretting, NPL NPGS provided a summary of the NP301 update and provided handouts for this. He also mentioned the importance of the germplasm collections like those maintained at PGRU because of the new treaties on germplasm access. David Ellis gave a brief summary of the activities and research at the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP) to support the NPGS locations and provide backups for the various collections. Ann Marie Thro reported there is no change in Hatch funds which provide about 10% of the funding for the NPGS

Larry Robertson, Gennaro Fazio, Joanne Labate, and Heidi Schwaninger made brief presentations about the activities and research for the past year and referred to the RL report for NE9 for further details. Highlights included the nutritional screening of the tomato and grape collections and the DNA marker diversity research with apple, grape and tomatoes. Majid Foolad, Brent Loy, and Phillip Griffiths briefly discussed their research capitalizing on germplasm from PGRU and other locations in the NPGS. Mark Bridgen made brief presentation on the Cornell Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center and the resources available for research and extension.

The suggestion was made that the 2011 meeting be held at the Long Island Horticultural and Research Center at Riverhead, NY. Mark Bridgen, Director of the station, welcomed the suggestion and agreed to host the NE9 meeting for 2011. The meeting adjourned at 5:00 PM and was followed by the joint meeting banquet with the keynote speaker Susan Dworkin presenting "The Metaphor in the Seed Bank: Helping the Public to Understand Agriculture." Members of NE9 attended the joint meeting with the CGC and PGOC groups in the morning of July 28th and attended a tour of PGRU and Cornell University research with vegetable and fruit germplasm in the afternoon of July 28th.

Accomplishments

A total of 323 orders for 4,046 seed germplasm samples and 328 orders for 4,490 samples of clonal germplasm were filled for clients and stakeholders in Calendar Year 2009. In 2010, through July 15, there were 228 orders for 2,116 seed germplasm samples and 130 orders for 2,149 samples of clonal germplasm. A large number of these samples were distributed in the northeast. For 2009, 473 seed and 1,385 clonal samples for 56 seed and 109 clonal orders were distributed to users in the states that are part of NE-9. For 2010, through July 15, there were 291 seed and 329 clonal samples for 39 seed and 39 clonal orders distributed to the NE9 region. Most of the samples of the clonal collection were for DNA and leaf samples for DNA extraction, but multiple samples of cuttings, pollen and seeds of wild species were distributed as well. Delivery of germplasm to clients and stakeholders is the primary way in which the results of this Units activities are distributed to the public. <br /> <br /> Seed regenerations of vegetable Brassicas, tomatoes, wild tomatoes, tomatillos, celery, artichokes, radish, onion, buckwheat, and Cucurbits in 2009 were completed for 218 accessions and 164 accessions were grown for plants to store for seed production in 2010. For 2010, seed regenerations will total 278 accessions and 92 accessions will be grown for plants to store for seed production in 2011. In addition to standard regeneration activity, 12 Allium cepa accessions were sent to Nunhems in Oregon for regeneration. A total of 12,462 accessions of seed-propagated crops were successfully maintained during the past year. The future availability of this germplasm is therefore assured.<br /> <br /> PGRU has 2,621 accessions maintained as clones in the apple collection. We received: a) 3 new accessions from the APHIS program in Beltsville, b) 1 accession (Frostbite) from the Minnesota breeding program, c) 2 apple scab differential accessions from Herb Aldwinckle that we had not previously established, d) we propagated 111 M. sieversii accessions that represent the core collections. The core collection consists of 258 accessions. In addition, we maintain seven mapping populations (1,345 seedlings, own-rooted) of M. sieversii X Royal Gala. We made excellent progress in pruning the 3,039 wild apple seedlings and the 1,345 seedlings of the mapping populations so that they can be used for efficient evaluation projects over the next 5 years. Approximately 2,800 accessions of Malus are cryogenically backed up at the NCGRP. Some of these are seed lot accessions of the wild Malus spp. collections that are divided between PGRU and NCGRP. Presently 2275 of 2,621 apple cultivars/clones in the main collection are backed up in LN. <br /> <br /> Approximately 430 scanned and/or digital images were recorded in 2010 from 240 accessions of tomato, onion and winter squash grown for regeneration and trial purposes. There were 353 scanned images recorded in 2009 from 174 accessions of tomato, onion and winter squash. These images are being processed and uploaded to GRIN as they become re-sized and named according to GRIN SOP. Characterization data were recorded on 136 accessions in 2009 and will be conducted on 190 accessions in the 2010 growing season for onion and tomatos minimal descriptor listings. These descriptors will then be uploaded to GRIN to enable stakeholders to better search for their research requirements. In addition to standard characterization and evaluation activity, 51 tomato lines are being grown in Geneva, NY as part of a fruit shape diversity NSF grant awarded to Esther van der Knaap (The Ohio State University). We will evaluate these lines plus 52 PGRU obsolete varieties for fruit nutritional traits and morphology in 2010. Additionally, 25 heirloom tomato accessions were grown out as part of the Peoples Garden Initiative. <br /> <br /> The entire core collection and 90% of the main collection of Malus has been characterized for priority descriptors with the data loaded to GRIN. We have completed digital imaging of 70% of the collection. We continued our efforts in photo documenting the grape collection. We uploaded last years flower and detached leaf images (1,046 photographic images) into GRIN. We continue imaging flowers in the field with a size standard and we hope to complete the formal imaging of detached leaves on a grid for the main grape repository this year. We choose to display photos of the leaves for ampelographic analysis as opposed to metric analysis. In the fall 2010 we will begin taking formal images on a size grid of fruit clusters, berries, berry cross sections, and seeds.<br /> <br /> In cooperation with M. McGrath (Cornell University), D. Panthee (NC State University), and D. Francis (The Ohio State University) plants from heirloom and landrace tomato accessions were evaluated in 2009 field trials. Fruit quality components vitamin C, titratable acids, lycopene and soluble solids were assayed on homogenized tissue in collaboration with C.A. Breska, ARS Processed Foods Research, Albany, CA. Plants from the 44 heirloom accessions were phenotypically evaluated in the field. Fruit size, shape and color were analyzed using Tomato Analyzer software. Characterization of this core set of accessions will result in public access to high quality phenotypic data. The characterization of these lines will also contribute to our knowledge of the historical diversity of cultivated tomato and sources of new alleles that can be exploited by breeders.<br /> <br /> Wild tomato Lycopersicon peruvianum has been reclassified into four new Solanum spp. taxa. We grew 120 PGRU accessions in the field in 2009 and reclassified them using the new taxonomic keys. Leaves, flowers and fruits of all accessions were scanned. The reclassification of wild tomato accessions based on their revised taxonomy will ensure that stakeholders can obtain field-verified material upon request.<br /> <br /> In 2009 we coordinated phenotypic characterization of tomato accessions with SolCAP (D. Panthee, NC State University and D. Francis, The Ohio State University) and Great Lakes Vegetable Working Group (M. McGrath, Cornell University) projects. Plants from heirloom and landrace tomato accessions were evaluated in field trials in two to three locations. Fruit quality components vitamin C, titratable acids, lycopene and soluble solids were assayed on homogenized tissue. We phenotypically evaluated plants from the 44 heirloom lines. Fruit size, shape and color were analyzed using Tomato Analyzer software. Eighteen heirloom lines are being regenerated in 2010 for addition to the collection (the other 26 were already in the collection). Evaluation of this core set of accessions will result in public access to high quality phenotypic data. The characterization of these lines will also contribute to our knowledge of the historical diversity of cultivated tomato and sources of new alleles that can be exploited by breeders.<br /> <br /> In collaboration between Ft. Collins and PGRU, ploidy data has been obtained for the Asian Chinese apple species and the main collection. The data show most apple species are diploid; however, some have accessions that are both 2x and 3x, while others such as Malus hupehensis have individuals with ploidies of 2x, 3x, 4x, and 6x. As part of a 2010 Apple CGC grant, Dr. Volk and colleagues are sequencing 6 polymorphic regions of chloroplast DNA and comparing sequence data with phenotypic data to confirm species assignments of Chinese apple species. The chloroplast sequencing project has been expanded to include all Malus species available at the Geneva repository as well as many species in the Maloideae subfamily of Rosaceae. This work is very important for downstream utilization of germplasm as ploidy differences can be a barrier to successful hybridization.<br /> <br /> In 2009 the apple collection participated in an USDA NRI and industry supported project Functional gene markers for tree fruit texture aimed at characterizing domesticated apple ancestors and Malus sieversii derived populations. PGRU germplasm was included within a wider study involving the nationwide apple industry and breeding stock. PGRU germplasm, unique to our repository, provided critical pedigree connections with modern cultivars that allowed determination of their previous and potential contribution to apple production and helped determine the genetic basis of performance similarities in related cultivars. PGRU participated in multiple facets of this project beginning with the a) performance evaluation for fruit quality and b) DNA evaluation for texture-related genes.<br /> <br /> Several significant milestones were achieved in the evaluation and characterization of grape germplasm. One significant milestone was the collaborative effort with Dr. Ed Buckler of ARS in discovering and assembling 9,000 SNP markers of Vitis species in the Vitis9K array. The other significant milestone was the collaborative effort with Dr. Lailiang Chen of Cornell University, Ithaca, NY for characterizing 35-50 secondary metabolites across 400 V. vinifera accessions from the Davis repository and 200 wild accessions of mainly native species from the Geneva repository. Tremendous variation of various polyphenolic compounds (anthocyanins, hedroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonols) was found in the collections. This project will help develop a database of health and nutrition-related metabolites for USDA Vitis germplasm. It will also help develop future research models for integrating germplasm characterization with genetic and gene discovery research. <br /> The Organic Seed Partnership (OSP) website continues to be a major source of information for organic farmers with 19,500 hits since its creation in 2002 (originally named the Public Seed Initiative - PSI). This website, which has been viewed by people in over 70 countries, supplies detailed information on seed production, participatory breeding, on-farm commercial variety trials and other related projects throughout the country: www.plbr.cornell.edu/psi. This website contains all the details that the PSI website had plus information about upcoming events, nationwide cooperators, updated news and events occurring around the country, and streaming video detailing on-farm vegetable breeding and seed production: www.organicseedpartnership.org. Currently the OSP website is serving as an umbrella for any/all new organic program grants, including our present Northern Organic Vegetable Improvement Collaborative (NOVIC) grant. The NOVIC information was added to the OSP website in early 2010 and receives an average of over 100 hits per month from 18 countries.

Publications

Baldo, A.M., L.D. Robertson, and J.A. Labate. 2010. Comparing alleles between wild and domesticated tomato, P443. Plant and Animal Genome XVIII, San Diego, CA.<br /> <br /> Cadle-Davidson, L., Chicoine, D.R., and Consolie, N.C. 2010. Variation within and between Vitis species for foliar resistance to the powdery mildew pathogen Erysiphe necator. Plant Disease, in press.<br /> <br /> Fazio, G., H.S. Aldwinckle, G.M. Volk, C.M. Richards, W. J. Janisiewicz, and P.L. Forsline. 2009. Progress in evaluating Malus sieversii for disease resistance and horticultural traits. Acta Horticulturae 814:59-66.<br /> <br /> Jurick II, W.M., R.A. Saftner, W.J. Janisiewicz, I. Vico, P.L. Forsline, and W.S. Conway. 2009. Evaluation of wild apple (Malus sieversii) germplasm from Kazakhstan for resistance to Penicillium expansum and Colletotrichum acuatum. 2009 APS annual meeting<br /> <br /> Kopsell, D.A., C.E. Sams, D.E. Deyton, K.R. Abney, D.E. Kopsell, and L. Robertson. 2010. Characterization of Nutritionally Important Carotenoids in Bunching Onion Accessions. HortSci 45:463465.<br /> <br /> Labate, J.A., S.M. Sheffer, T. Balch and L.D. Robertson. 2010. Diversity and population structure in a geographical sample of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) accessions. Crop Science (in press).<br /> <br /> Labate, J.A., S.M. Sheffer and L.D. Robertson. 2010. Optimized work-flow for assaying tomato fruit quality: Vitamin C, titratable acids, brix and lycopene. Northeastern Branch of Crop, Soil and Agronomy Societies of America 2010 Conference, Ithaca NY.<br /> <br /> Labate, J.A., L.D. Robertson, and A.M. Baldo. 2009. Multilocus sequence data reveal extensive departures from equilibrium in domesticated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Heredity 103:257-267.<br /> <br /> Labate, J.A., L.D. Robertson, F. Wu, S.D. Tanksley, and A.M. Baldo. 2009. EST, COSII, and arbitrary gene markers give similar estimates of nucleotide diversity in cultivated tomato (S. lycopersicum L.). Theor Appl Genet 118:10051014.<br /> <br /> Labate, J.A., L.D. Robertson, and A.M. Baldo. 2009. SNP diversity in cultivated tomato. In Final Program, 2009 Tomato Breeders Roundtable, Sacramento, CA. <br /> <br /> Myles S, Chia J-M, Hurwitz B, Simon C, Zhong GY, Buckler E, and Ware D. 2010. Rapid Genomic Characterization of the Genus Vitis. PLoS ONE 5: e8219<br /> <br /> Richards, C.M., G.M. Volk, P.A. Reeves, A.A. Reilley, A.D. Henk, and P.L. Forsline, and H.S. Aldwinckle. 2009. Selection of stratified core sets representing wild apple (Malus sieversii). J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 134:228-235.<br /> <br /> Richards, C.M., G.M. Volk, A.A. Reilley, A.D. Henk, D. Lockwood, P.A. Reeves, and P.L. Forsline. 2009. Genetic diversity and population structure in Malus sieversii, a wild progenitor species of domesticated apple. Tree Genetics and Genomics 3:339-347.<br /> <br /> Robertson, L.D., T. Balch, S.M. Sheffer, and J.A. Labate. 2009. Phenotypic characterization of a diversity panel of tomato. ASA-CSSA-SSSA poster presentation 85-5, Pittsburgh, PA.<br /> <br /> Volk G., C.M. Richards, A.A. Reilley, A.D. Henk, P.A. Reeves, P.L. Forsline, and H.S. Aldwinckle. 2009. Capturing the diversity of wild Malus orientalis from Georgia, Armenia, Russia and Turkey. Under review.<br /> <br /> Volk, G., C.M. Richards, A.D. Henk Patrick, A.A. Reilley, D.D. Miller, and P.L. Forsline. 2009. Novel diversity identified in a wild apple population from the Kyrgyzstan. HortScience 44:516-518.<br /> <br /> Volk, G.M., C.M. Richards and P.L. Forsline. 2009. A comprehensive approach toward conserving Malus germplasm. ISHS symposium on Molecular markers, Corvallis, OR, July 2009.<br /> <br /> Volk Gayle, C.M. Richards, and P.L. Forsline. 2009. A comprehensive approach toward conserving Malus germplasm. Acta Horticulturae. Under Review

Impact Statements

1. Both the seed and clonal crops for which Geneva has responsibility are important components of agriculture in the Northeast. Many Northeastern State Agricultural Experiment Stations (SAESs) have research and extension responsibilities for these valuable commodities. The vegetable crops maintained at Geneva account for about 46% of the value of U.S. fresh market production and the fruit crops account for 51% of the value of production of non-citrus fruit trees and vines.
2. Germplasm is maintained and distributed in accordance with standards for viability, genetic integrity, and accurate identity. Increased characterization of germplasm and the addition of digital images have increased the efficiency of use of the germplasm collections. More than 26,700 accessions of fruit and vegetable germplasm have been distributed to institutions in the northeast by Geneva in the past five years.
3. Genes from wild tomatoes have been exploited to increase ease of harvesting, disease resistance and for stress and drought tolerance. More than 20 genes from the Geneva tomato collection for bacterial speck, spotted wilt virus, tobacco mosaic virus, leaf mold, fusarium wilt, verticillium wilt, late blight, and nematode resistance have been bred into modern cultivars.
4. Genes for resistance to apple scab, fire blight, wooly apple aphids, and powdery mildew maintained in the germplasm collection have been deployed in disease resistant apple rootstocks and cultivars and millions of insect and disease resistant apple trees trace their genes to the PGRU apple collection.
5. Grape breeders around the world use accessions from the PGRU grape collection to develop improved varieties with enhanced pest and disease resistance. ARS, university, and private plant breeders are using wild species and varieties to introduce resistance to powdery mildew and downy mildew to fruit producing varieties and nematode resistance to grape rootstocks. Researchers are using Pierces disease resistant accessions to determine the genetic and physiological control of resistance and tolerance to that deadly bacterial disease of grapevines.
6. Tomato germplasm nutritional characterization at Geneva will be exploited by breeders for enhancement of fruit quality for flavor, texture, and nutritional components such as vitamins, minerals, and cancer-preventing compounds.
7. Onion germplasm from Geneva is being used to develop Iris Yellow Spot Virus (IYSV) resistance, considered the number one up and coming threat to U.S. onion production.
8. Germplasm of apple progenitors in Central Asia is being screened for important disease resistances such as fire blight and scab and is being incorporated into breeding programs.
9. The grape germplasm collection in Geneva is being screened for medicinal and nutraceutical properties for development of cultivars that will improve the health benefits of consumption.
10. Dr. Philip Griffiths, Cornell University: DIGITAL IMAGING AND MORPHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THE CAULIFLOWER COLLECTION. $12,675. 06/01/09-5/31/2010.
11. Dr. Michael Mazourek, Cornell University, IDENTIFYING RESISTANCE TO DOWNY MILDEW IN THE CUCURBITA PEPO COLLECTION. $11,700. 08/01/2010-07/31/2011.
12. Dr. Cameron Peace, Washington State University, FRUIT QUALITY EVALUATION OF THE NPGS CHERRY COLLECTION. $13,650. 08/01/2010-07/31/2011.
13. Dr. Larry Robertson, USDA, ARS, NORTHERN ORGANIC VEGETABLE IMPROVEMENT COOPERATIVE (NOVIC). $75,116. 09/01/09-08/31/11.

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