NC_old7: Conservation, Management, Enhancement and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources

(Multistate Research Project)

Status: Inactive/Terminating

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SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[03/09/2014] [01/21/2015] [06/09/2016] [01/04/2017] [04/05/2018]

Date of Annual Report: 03/09/2014

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 08/07/2013 - 08/08/2013
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2012 - 09/01/2013

Participants

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

2013 NCRPIS Collection Statistics (calendar year stats): # Accessions Acquired - 192; # Accession in Collection - 52,605; # Grown for Regeneration - 1,184; # Observations entered into GRIN - 7,269; # Accessions Distributed Externally - 17,788; # Packets Distributed - 40,409 The Germplasm Enhancement of Maize Project (GEM), in collaboration with ISU faculty and other investigators, completed development of over 200 doubled haploid maize lines derived from 60 maize landraces. These will be released as a public research resource in 2014. In addition, 8 newly released lines (conventional breeding) were released from the GEM Project for distribution in 2014 from the Ames, IA and Raleigh, NC GEM projects. These lines offer unique alleles from tropical germplasm for disease resistance and quality traits. Illinois: The impact of nitrogen fertility on seasonal variations in leaf traits was investigated across a canopy profile in Miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus Kansas State University: Annual winter canola variety trials were conducted to evaluate performance across the southern Great Plains with respect to stand establishment, winter survival, yield, forage yield and other key traits. Michigan State University: Strawberry fruit sensorial and nutritional qualities generated by Fragaria inter-species and intra-species crosses were evaluated on 78 offspring. Michigan State University: A cherry-peach comparative genomics strategy was used to develop a moderate-density cherry SNP array relevant for sweet and sour cherry breeding germplasm based on SNPs discovered using next generation sequencing platforms. University of Nebraska: One of the limitations to successful production of switchgrass in the North Central Region of the USA is poor seedling establishment affected by the interaction between seedling depth and soil characteristics. These factors were examined in greenhouse and field experiments. South Dakota State University: The effect of warm season grass monocultures and mixtures (switchgrass, indian grass, and big blue stem) on yield and chemical characteristics of biomass were evaluated

Publications

Publications 2013: *Illinois* Anderson, E.K., Parrish, A.S., Voight, T.B., Owens, V.N., Hong, C-H., and Lee, D.K. 2013. Nitrogen fertility and harvest management of switchgrass for sustainable bioenergy feedstock production in Illinois. Industrial Crops and Products 48:19-27. Boe, A., Owens, V., Gonzalez-Hernandez, J., and Lee, D.K. 2013. Seed Set in Prairie Cordgrass. Crop Sci.53:403410. doi:10.2135/cropsci2012.04.0250 Kim, S., Rayburn, A.L., Voligt, T.B., Ainouche, M.L., Ainouche, A.K., and Lee, D.K. 2013. Chloroplast DNA intraspecific phylogeography of cordgrass (Spartina pectinata Bosc ex Link). Plant Mol Biol Rep 31:1376-1383. Doi 10.1007/s/11105-013-0619-7. Voight, T.B., Lee, D.K., and Kling, G. 2013. Perennial herbacious crops with potential for biofuel production in the temperate regions of the USA. In: Plant Sciences Reviews 2012, CAB International, Boston, MA.. Ed David Hemming. Pg 45-53. Wang, D., Maughan, M. W., Sun, J., Feng, X., Miguez, F., Lee, D. and Dietze, M. C. (2012), Impact of nitrogen allocation on growth and photosynthesis of Miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus). GCB Bioenergy, 4: 688697. doi: 10.1111/j.1757-1707.2012.01167.x Seong, E.S., Yoo, J.H., Lee, J.G., Kim, H.Y., Hwang, I.S., Heo, K., Lim, J.D., Lee, D.K., Sacks, E.J., and Yu, C.Y. 2013. Transient overexpression of the Miscanthus sinensis glucose-6-phosphate isomerase gene (MsGPI) in Nicotiana benthamiana enhances expression of genes related to antioxidant metabolism. PlantOmics J 6(6):408-414. Zhang, C., Zhongyi, L., Yang, W., Pan, L., Gu, M., and Lee, D.K. 2013. Assessment of metals pollution on agricultural soil surrounding a lead-zinc mining area in the Karst region of Guangxi, China. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 90(6):736-741. Zhang, C., Zhang, P., Mo, C., Yang, W., Li, Q., Pan, L., and Lee, D.K. 2013. Cadmium uptake, chemical forms, subcellular distribution, and accumulation in Echinodorus osiris Rataj. Environ Sci.: Processes Impacts 15:1459-1465. *Kansas* George, N., Tungate, K., and Stamm, M. 2012. Exploring genotype by environment interaction in winter canola in North Carolina. J of Agricultural Sci (Toronto). 492): 237-244. Stamm, M. Berrada, A., Buck, J., Cabot, P., Claassen, M.,Cramer, G., Dooley, S.J., Godsey, C., Heer, W., Holman, J., Johnson, J., Kochenower, R., Krall, J., Ladd, D., Moore, J., ONeill, M.K., Pearson, C., Phillips, D.V., Rife, C.L., Santra, D., Sidwel, R., Sij, J., Starner, D., and Wiebold, W., 2012. Registration of Riley winter canola. J of Plant Registrations. 6(3): 243-245. Stamm, M., and Dooley, S. (2012). 2011 National Winter Canola Variety Trial. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, Kansas State University. *Michigan* Chagné, D., Crowhurst, R.N., Troggio, M., Davey, M.W., Gilmore, B., Lawley C., Vanderzande, S., Hellens, R.P., Kumar, S., Cestaro A., Velasco, R., Main D., Rees, J.D., Iezzoni, A., Mockler, T., Wilhelm, L., Van de Weg, E., Gardiner, S.E., Bassil, N., and Peace, C. 2012. Genome-wide SNP detection, validation, and development of an 8K SNP array for apple. PloS ONE 7(2):e31745. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031745 De Franceschi, P., Stegmeir, T., Cabrera, A., van der Knaap, E., Rosyara, U.R., Sebolt, A.M., Dondini, L., Dirlewanger, E., Quero-Garcia, J., Campoy, J.A., and Iezzoni, A.F. 2013. Cell number regulator genes in Prunus provide candidate genese for the control of fruit size in sweet and sour cherry. Mol Breeding 32:311-326. Diamanti, J., Capocasa, F., Balducci, F., Battino, M., Hancock, J., and Mezzetti, B. 2012. Increasing Strawberry Fruit Sensorial and Nutritional Quality Using Wild and Cultivated Germplasm. PLoS ONE 7(10): e46470. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0046470 Finn, C.E., Retamales, J.B., Lobos, G.A., and Hancock, J.F. 2013. The Chilean Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis): Over 1000 Years of Domestication. Hort Science 48(4): 418-421 Peace, C., Bassil, N., Main, D., Ficklin, S., Rosyara, U.R., Stegmeir, T., Sebolt, A., Gilmore, B. Lawley, C., Mockler, T.C., Bryant, D.W., Wilhelm, L., and Iezzoni, A. 2012. Development and Evaluation of a Genome-Wide 6K SNP Array for Diploid Sweet Cherry and Tetraploid Sour Cherry. PLoS ONE 7(12): e48305. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048305 Klagges, C., Campoy, J.A., Quero-Garcia, J., Mansur, L., Gratacós, E., Silva, H., Rosyara, U.R., Iezzoni, A., Meisell, L.A., Dirlewanger, and E., Lacape, J-M. 2013. Construction and Comparative Analyses of Highly Dense Linkage Maps of Two Sweet Cherry Intra-Specific Progenies of Commercial Cultivars. PLoS ONE 8(1): e54743.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054743 *Nebraska* Pavlista, A.D., Hergert, G., Santra, D.K., and Schild, J.A. 2013. Improving Bean Harvest with Gibberellic Acid. Hort Technol. 23(3):282-287. Rose, D.J., and Santra, D.K. 2013.Proso millet (Panicum mileaceum L.) fermentation for fuel ethanol production. Industrial Crops and Products. 43:602-605. Santra, M., Ankrah, N., Santra, D.K., and Kidwell, K.K. 2012. An Improved Wheat Microspore Culture Technique for the Production of Doubled Haploid Plants. Crop Sci 52(5): 2314-2320. *North Dakota* Berti, M.T., and Johnson, B.L. 2013. Switchgrass establishment as affected by seedling depth and soil type. Industrial Crops and Products. 41:289-293. Gesch, R.W., and Johnson, B.L. 2013. Post-anthesis development of oil content and composition with respect to seed moisture in two high-oleic sunflower hybrids in the northern US. Field Crops Research. 148:1-8. Solis, A., Vidal, I., Paulino, L., Johnson, B.L., and Berti, M. T. 2013. Camelina seed yield response to nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus fertilizer in South Central Chile. Industrial Crops and Products. 44:132-138. *South Dakota* Boe, A., Owens, V., Gonzalez-Hernandez, J., and Lee, D.K. 2013. Seed Set in Prairie Cordgrass. Crop Sci.53:403410. doi:10.2135/cropsci2012.04.0250 Hong, C.O., Owens, V.N., Lee, D.K., and Boe, A. 2013. Switchgrass, Big Bluestem, and Indiangrass Monocultures and Their Two- and Three-Way Mixtures for Bioenergy in the Northern Great Plains. Bioenerg Res 6:229-239. *Texas* Pavlista, A.D., Santra, D.K., and Baltensperger, D.D. 2013. Bioassay of Winter Wheat for Gibberellic Acid Sensitivity. Am J Plant Sci. 4(10): 2-15-2022. Thompson, W.H., Pietsch, D., Blumenthal, J.M., Ibrahim, A.M.H., Baltensperger, D.D. 2012. Agronomic Optimum Seeding Rate for Irrigated Maize in Texas is Concomitant to Growing Season Mean Daily Minimum Temperature. J of Agron and Crop Sci. 199(4):299-307. NCRPIS- Barney, D.L., Bauer, M., Jensen, J. 2013. Survival, frost susceptibility, growth, and disease resistance of corkbark and subalpine fir grown for landscape and Christmas trees. HortTechnology. 23:194-200. Berhow, M.A., Polat, U., Glinski, J.A., Glensk, M., Vaughn, S.F., Isbell, T., Ayala-Diaz, I., Marek, L., Gardner, C.A. 2013. Optimized analysis and quantification of glucosinolates from Camelina sativa seeds by reverse-phase liquid chromatography. Industrial Crops and Products. 43:119-125. Dutta, B., Block, C.C., Stevenson, K.L., Sanders, F., Walcott, R.R., Gitaitis, R.D. 2013. Distribution of phytopathogenic bacteria in infested seeds. Seed Science and Technology. 41:383-397. Henry, W.B., Windham, G.L., Rowe, D.E., Blanco, M.H., Murray, S.C., Williams, W.P. 2013. Diallel analysis of diverse maize germplasm lines for resistance to aflatoxin accumulation. Crop Science. 53:394-402. Romay, M.C., Millard, M.J., Glaubitz, J.C., Peiffer, J.A., Swarts, K.L., Casstevens, T.M., Elshire, R.J., Acharya, C.B., Mitchell, S.E., Flint Garcia, S.A., McMullen, M.D., Holland, J.B., Buckler IV, E.S., Gardner, C.A. 2013. Comprehensive genotyping of the US national maize inbred seed bank. Genome Biology. 14(6):1-18. Yangcheng, H., Jiang, H., Blanco, M.H., Jane, J. 2013. Characterization of normal and waxy corn starch for bioethanol production. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 61:379-386. Books or other non-periodical, one-time publications 2013: Block, C., Shepherd, L. and Pataky. J. 2013. Detection of Pantoea stewartii ssp. stewartii from maize seeds. Book Chapter submitted to the American Phytopathological Society. Accepted June 13, 2013. Mandel, J.R., Nambeesan, S., Bowers, J.E., Marek, L.F., Ebert, D., et al. (2013) Association Mapping and the Genomic Consequences of Selection in Sunflower. PLoS Genet 9(3): e1003378. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1003378 Dhillon, N.P.S., Monforte, A.J., Pitrat, M., Pandey, S., Singh, P.K., Reitsma, K.R., Garcia-Mas, J., Sharma, A., McCreight, J.D. 2012. Melon Landraces of India: Contributions and Importance. J. Janick, Editor. Plant Breeding Reviews 35:85-151. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ, publishers. Shepherd, L., and Block, C. 2013. Detection of Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. glycinea in soybean seeds. Book Chapter submitted to the American Phytopathological Society. Accepted June 13, 2013. Shepherd, L., Block, C. and Vidaver, A. 2013. Detection of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis in maize seeds Book Chapter submitted to the American Phytopathological Society. Accepted June 13, 2013. Other publications, conference papers and presentations 2013: Jensen, J., Barney, D.L., Bauer, M. 2013. Growing corkbark fir and subalpine fir for nursery production. Pacific Northwest Extension Publication. 645:1-11. Mickelbart, M., Carstens, J.D., Daniel, K., Gosney, M. 2013. Evaluation of Native U.S. Trees at Purdue. Indiana Nursery and Landscape News. 73(1):22-25. Mickelbart, M., Carstens, J.D., Gosney, M. 2012. Evaluation of Native U.S. Shrubs at Purdue. Indiana Nursery and Landscape News. 75(5):22-24.

Impact Statements

Providing well-characterized, well-documented plant genetic resources facilitates the efforts of researchers devoted to addressing crop production issues in the face of evolving production threats, climate change, and increasing demands to meet feed, feed, fiber and fuel needs.
The updated and expanded Laboratory Manual for the Detection of Plant Pathogenthic Bacteria from Seeds and other Planting Material provides valuable resources for individuals involved in the epidemiology of seedborne bacteria, seed health testing, phytosanitary regulation and certification programs, thus ensuring dissemination of healthy seeds helping prevent the spread of seedborne diseases.
Contamination of soil with cadmium and other heavy metals is a serious issue. Plant species that can take up and accumulate these contaminants can aid in efforts to remediate, or cleanup, contaminated sites. Identification of Echinodorus Osiris as a hyperaccumulator of cadmium in tropical and sub-tropical environments provides another tool for phytoremediation of contaminated soils. (University of Illinois)
Information obtained from the National Winter Canola Variety Trial (NWCVT) helps seed developers determine what experimental lines should be released as new varieties and where those varieties can be profitably marketed. Producers use the information to make informed variety selections. (Kansas State University

Date of Annual Report: 01/21/2015

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 08/11/2014 - 08/12/2014
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2013 - 09/01/2014

Participants

Baltensperger, David D (dbaltensperger@ag.tamu.edu) - Texas AgriLife Research;
Brand, Mark (mark.brand@uconn.edu) - Storrs;
de Leon, Natalia (ndeleongatti@wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin;
Flint-Garcia, Sherry A (sherry.flint-garcia@ars.usda.gov) - University of Missouri;
Fritz, Allan (akt@ksu.edu) - Kansas State university;
Gardner, Candice (gardnerc@iastate.edu) - Iowa State University;
Griffiths, Phillip (pdg8@cornell.edu) - Cornell University;
Hancock, J. (hancock@msu.edu) - Michigan State University;
Handel, Steven (handel@aesop.rutgers.edu) - Rutgers University;
Hastings, Amy P (aph54@cornell.edu) - Cornell University;
Iezzoni, Amy (iezzoni@msu.edu) - Michigan State University;
Janick, Jules (Janick@purdue.edu) - Purdue University;
Johnson, Burton (Burton.Johnson@ndsu.edu) - North Dakota State University;
Jose, Shibu (joses@missouri.edu) - University of Missouri;
Jourdan, Pablo (jourdan.1@osu.edu) - Ohio State University;
Juvik, J. A. (juvik@illinois.edu) - University of Illinois;
Kaeppler, Shawn (smkaeppl@wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin;
Karban, Richard (rkarban@ucdavis.edu) - University of California, Davis;
Kling, Gary (gkling@illinois.edu) - University of Illinois;
Korban, Schuyler S (korban@uiuc.edu) - University of Illinois;
Lamkey, Kendall (krlamkey@iastate.edu) - Iowa State University;
Lee, DoKyoung (leedk@illinois.edu) - University of Illinois;
Lubberstedt, Thomas (thomasl@iastate.edu) - Iowa State University;
Orf, James H (orfxx001@umn.edu) - University of Minnesota;
Phillips, Tim (tim.phillips@uky.edu) - University of Kentucky;
Sacks, Erik (esacks@illinois.edu) - University of Illinois;
Santra, Dipak K (dsantra2@unl.edu) - University of Nebraska;
Shannon, James G (shannong@missouri.edu) - University of Missouri;
Smith, Margaret E (mes25@cornell.edu) - Cornell University;
Stamm, Michael (mjstamm@ksu.edu) - Kansas State university;
Tracy, William (wftracy@cals.wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin;
Urrea, Carlos A (currea2@unl.edu) - University of Nebraska;
Wisser, Randall J (rjw@udel.edu) - University of Delaware

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

California During this past year, we documented that the communication process in willows and sagebrush has a genetic component and that plants communicated more effectively with other tissues that were genetically more similar. In the case of sagebrush, the cues are apparently organized in distinct chemotypes. The volatile cues that are emitted by damaged individuals within populations differ – e.g., some plants produce mostly camphor, others mostly thujone, camphor plants do not produce measurable quantities of thujone, and vice versa. Plants of the different chemotypes are morphologically indistinguishable although plants communicate most effectively with other individuals of the same chemotypes. Furthermore, the chemotypes are highly heritable. Our next step is to examine whether some chemotypes are more or less susceptible to the herbivores that attack this species. We will also determine if relatives share susceptibilities to herbivores. Connecticut In 2014, we continued to evaluate our newly developed polyploid barberries. An additional year of data about fruit production, seed production and horticultural performance were collected. Previous trends of extremely low fecundity for our selected polyploids continued. Softwood cuttings of six superior, near sterile genotypes were rooted at the University of Connecticut. Additionally, cuttings of one select genotype were distributed to six commercial nursery producers for rooting evaluation. Three genotypes with excellent sterility and desirable ornamental qualities have been identified for intensive propagation efforts in 2015. Dialogue was initiated with regulatory bodies in states where barberry is banned to develop cultivar exemptions for sterile barberries. Plants of a very compact (mature size of 2’ tall by 3’ wide) Aronia melanocarpa, selected from a cross of two low growing diploid accessions, were distributed to several commercial nurseries for evaluation. In addition, two prostrate Aronia melanocarpa genotypes were selected from breeding populations and introduced into tissue culture to produce plants for distribution and evaluation in 2015. All three genotypes of Aronia are dramatically different from material that is currently available in the nursery and landscape industries. Kansas Where winter wheat has been grown continuously for many years, rotating to winter canola can improve wheat yields by 10% to 50%. As a result, winter canola acres have increased in Kansas from 18,000 in 2012 to 59,000 in 2014. Four Roundup Ready cultivars and one conventional cultivar have been released by Kansas State University since 2011. Additional cultivars and new cropping systems are needed to improve agronomic sustainability of the region, generate greater economic returns, and combat the effects of climate change. • Two winter hardy, Roundup Ready cultivars, KSR4649S and KSR4650, were released by Kansas State in 2014 and will be marketed to southern Great Plains canola producers by CROPLAN by WinField. • Two early maturing, Roundup Ready cultivars, KSR07352S and KSR07363, were released by Kansas State in 2013 and will be marketed to southern Great Plains canola producers by Monsanto/DeKalb. • The first seed sales of Griffin, a dual-purpose forage and grain cultivar, were made in fall 2014. • 18 PI accessions were used in the 2013-2014 conventional crossing block. The accessions originate from European sources and possess traits such as high oil content, greater oleic acid content, horizontal and erect pod architecture, and prostrate growth habit. Illinois Twenty-one species of perennial woody species were evaluated for their potential as short rotation bioenergy feedstocks. One-year-old bare-root seedlings were planted in the field in Urbana, Illinois in the spring of 2010. The trees were grown for two seasons and cut to a height of 5 cm (coppiced) during the dormant season. The trees were re-grown as multi-stemmed trees for two additional seasons prior to harvest in the 2013-2014 winter. Black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia, the most productive species, produced an average annualized dry mass yield of 12.2 Mg/ha/yr, while silver maple, Acer saccharinum, produced 8.6, sycamore, Platanus occidentalis, produced 6.0 and northern catalpa, Catalpa speciosa, produced 5.1 Mg/ha/yr. Iowa See statement (under NCRPIS section) about joint release of 204 doubled haploid (BGEM) lines derived from exotic landraces. The 204 released and additional about 100 BGEM lines were genotyped by a private collaborator (KWS Saat AG, Germany), and evaluated in replicated field experiments, including a nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) trial at Burkey farm. Testcross seed has been produced in summer 2014 for hybrid level NUE trials in 2015. The BGEM line panel is currently used by five graduate students to identify valuable exotic germplasm for different agronomic traits, and to study root and other morphological characters including genetic mapping of respective genes. To more efficiently capture root traits, imaging software has been developed in cooperation with engineers on campus. A maize haploid inducer adapted to Midwest U.S. has been developed and is available from ISURF (http://www.techtransfer.iastate.edu/en/for_industry/technology_search/search.cfm?fuseaction=technology.details&id=4065). Two sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) resistance genes (Scmv1, Scmv2) have been isolated in collaboration with Dr. Mingliang Xu at CAU Beijing (publications in preparation). These resistance genes are currently transferred into Tanzanian parent lines of a hybrid in the frame of an USAID project. The susceptible hybrid is important in an area that is affected by Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND). MLND is caused by a mixture of SCMV and maize chlorotic mottle virus. Minnesota We evaluated 160 new soybean PI accessions of maturity groups 000,00,0 and I, in cooperation with Dr. Randy Nelson, curator of the Soybean Germplasm Collection. The evaluations involved verifying the descriptive characteristics of each accession, determining yield and other agronomic characteristics such as flowering date, maturity date, plant height, lodging score etc., evaluating for drought tolerance (canopy wilting score, and evaluating the seed for chemical composition including protein content, oil content, amino acid content, fatty acid content, soluble sugars content, etc.). Based on the agronomic and compositional data, crosses were made with advanced breeding lines to develop populations with greater genetic diversity for yield, drought tolerance and chemical composition. These populations will be advanced in our winter nursery in Chile and evaluated for possible release as new cultivars or for use as parents to add diversity to the soybean germplasm of the northern US. The data for the new PI's will be entered into the GRIN system so it is publicly available for soybean breeders and geneticists. Michigan Recently there is interest in using dwarfing precocious rootstocks to enable sour cherry trees to be planted at high densities to achieve higher yields per acre. For sweet cherry, small tree size will result in reduced labor costs and the number of harvest laborers needed, thereby having the potential to lead to increased grower profitability. Dwarfing precocious rootstocks have been developed from cherry germplasm present in the Michigan State University breeding collection. These dwarfing rootstocks are currently in test in the major cherry production regions of the US. Soybean aphid, a pest originating in Asia, was first found in the U.S. upper Midwest in 2000. Today it is a major pest of soybean in the U.S. where yield losses can reach as high as 88%. Aphid resistances found in the Plant Introductions (PI 567598B and PI 567536), are being bred into commercial soybean cultivars. New soybean cultivars with aphid resistance have the potential to reduce yield losses from this pest without the need for pesticide applications to control the aphid. Cultivated potato in North America has a narrow genetic data, despite the rich diversity of wild potato species present in South America, the potato’s center of origin. These wild species bring sought after alleles for disease resistance and other novel tuber quality traits. New breeding and genotyping techniques are accelerating the use of this wild germplasm due to the ability to purge deleterious alleles from these wild accessions during the introgression process. Day-neutral strawberry cultivars that fruit over an extended period in the summer have been of limited success in the mid-west due to the lack of suitable cultivars. Recently through the use of new germplasm sources, day-neutral strawberry cultivars that have a longer fruiting period and good eating quality will soon be available from the Michigan State University strawberry breeding program. Nebraska In 2014, 66 selected proso millet PI lines from the previously tested germplasm core collection (received from USDA-ARS North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station) were evaluated in the field for seed shattering, lodging, panicle length, neck length, internode length, plant height, grain size, seeds/panicle. Major emphasis was given identifying proso millet germplasm with resistance or tolerance to seed shattering and lodging. There was significant variation for these traits. Several of these lines showed consistency for many traits, most importantly tolerance to seed-shattering and lodging based on 2013 and 2014 data. These PI lines will be used in 2014 crossing. Forty-four new crosses were made where two PI lines were used as source of shattering and lodging tolerance. The F1 s were advanced to F2 in greenhouse. In 2014 summer, early generation lines were screened and advanced to next level. A total of 300 of 1040 F3:4 HRs were selected from field evaluation. The first waxy (amylose-free) proso millet cultivar ‘Plateau’ was released in 2014. The USDA line PI 436626 was used as source of waxy trait in developing this cultivar. In 2014, yield losses due to Ascochyta blight were experimentally assessed in a split plot design with treatment, (protected by one LEM 17 EC treatment vs. unprotected) as the main plot and chickpea lines assigned as the subplots, with three replications at the PHREC-Scottsbluff, NE under irrigated conditions. Thirty-one lines including 7 cultivars and 24 experimental lines selected from previous years were evaluated, and PHREC-Ca-Comp. #1 was used as the tolerant check. Ascochyta blight incidence was low due to high temperatures. No difference were detected due to chemical treatment. HB14 had the highest yield of 2808 lbs/acre followed by CDC-Frontier, NE21-11-18, and UCD 1104 with yields of 2775, 2688 and 2679 lbs/acre, respectively. A few lines showed promising resistance to Ascochyta blight in the past. Release of chickpea varieties with Ascochyta blight resistance will lower production costs and reduce pesticide use, making this a viable alternate crop in Nebraska. Identifying types that will bring the greatest value to regional production will facilitate this region becoming a competitive production area. A heat tolerance experiment conducted at the Scottsbluff, NE greenhouse used 43 dry bean lines and 10 tepary beans; 16 were from the shuttle breeding between Nebraska and Puerto Rico, 11 from the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Palmira, Colombia, and 6 reference checks. The tepary bean PI 319447 had the highest yield followed by the interspecific CIAT line INB 816 and the shuttle breeding line SB11. Sources of heat and drought tolerance have being identified from the on-going shuttle breeding between Nebraska and Puerto Rico. Sources of resistance to bacterial wilt and bacterial brown were identified. The identification of resistant germplasm sources and the development of new resistant cultivars would benefit any individual involved with the dry bean industry, directly or indirectly. These diseases can affect producer’s (1,300) profits by reducing both yield and quality parameters. This in turn affects the processor and general economy of the communities where the dry beans are produced. Thus it is particularly prudent now to be attempting to produce new brown spot and bacterial wilt resistant cultivars. Results were disseminated to communities of interest through field days and January and August meetings, the StarHerald local newspaper, the BeanaBag, and the web page at http://cropwatch.unl.edu/varietytest/othercrops. Efforts will continue to focus on selection of chickpeas with Ascochyta blight resistance and dry beans with heat tolerance. Introduce heat and bacterial brown resistance into elite Nebraska dry bean lines through hybridization About 300 Nebraska dry bean growers were reached though the field days, January and August meetings, the Star-Herald local newspaper, the BeanBag, and the web page at http://cropwatch.unl.edu/varietytest/othercrops. New York Seed was increased for release of a new Stewart’s wilt resistant sweet corn inbred. Two other advanced Stewart’s wilt resistant inbreds were selected in an effort to reduce problems with ear branching. Fourteen experimental sweet corn inbreds and their testcrosses were evaluated for Stewart's wilt resistance in replicated tests to identify potential releases. Anthracnose leaf blight resistance was evaluated on nine new inbreds and their testcrosses in replicated trials. Limited disease development in 2014 indicates this evaluation will need to be repeated in the coming year to make effective selections among these potential releases. Two sweet corn inbreds, each in combination with three testers, were evaluated for northern leaf blight resistance for a second year. Seed increase was also undertaken on these inbreds in preparation for release. Barrenness and stalk snapping at the ear node may preclude release of one of these inbreds. Breeding efforts designed to move multiple disease resistance into sweet corn based on exotic resistance sources were continued. Ten families that had demonstrated resistance to northern leaf blight, anthracnose leaf blight, rust, and Stewart's wilt as BC2S1 progenies in 2013 were advanced to the BC3 generation in 2014. Testcrosses of eight experimental sweet corn inbreds, developed using exotic sources of insect resistance, were evaluated for resistance to European corn borer and for resistance to corn earworm in replicated trials. Ear damage ratings for both insects and leaf feeding damage ratings for the corn borer were scored and will be used to identify the best candidates for release. Students in the course 'Plant Breeding Methods Laboratory' were taken to the breeding nursery field, introduced to the project activities, and educated regarding the importance of germplasm collections for pest resistance breeding. Provided educational talks, webinars, and radio and television spots addressing issues and concerns about genetically engineered crop varieties, reaching a broad array of public audiences. Emphasis in these presentations was on education about what genetic engineering is, how it fits within the context of long-term crop selection/improvement and conservation efforts, and what science tells us to date regarding its risks and benefits. OPGC (Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center), Colombus, Ohio • Completed a cut flower longevity assessment in support of an evvaluation grant awarded by the NPGS (“Cut flower longevity among accessions of Rudbeckia, Phlox, and Coreopsis in the National Plant Germplasm System”); over 1,300 stems have been evaluated and longevity ranges averaging from 1 to 36 days. • Developed new field growing facilities (raised beds, containers) at the OSU Waterman Research Farm for germplasm regeneration and characterization studies. • Promoted 2014 as the year of Phlox, through trade publications, presentations during the Cultivate14 Short Course and a Phlox-themed booth at the trade show. • Received a grant from the NPGS for collecting germplasm in northern California in 2015. • Andres Bohorquez-Restrepo began M.S. thesis research on the color and biochemical patterns of Phlox flowers supported by an evaluation grant from the NPGS. • Germplasm enhancement activities with Phlox have resulted in the production of 157 novel interspecific hybrids that may provide useful combination of traits for further breeding by the industry. • Graduate student Peter Zale completed his PhD dissertation on “Germplasm Collection, Characterization, and Enhancement of Eastern Phlox Species.” • Developed tissue culture protocols for the rapid propagation of Phlox to facilitate seed regeneration from plants collected in the field. Adapted the protocols for temporary backup of phlox accessions until seed production is completed. Acquisition- A total of 89 new accessions were acquired, 87 were priority genera (number of accessions in parenthesis): Phlox (20), Coreopsis (19), Rudbeckia (18), Begonia (16), Lilium (14). New Begonia accessions included 11Begonia cucullata collected during an exploration expedition to Florida in 2013 by P. Jourdan and S. Haba as part of an NPGS-funded germplasm collecting project. Maintenance & Regeneration- Accessions available for distribution: 1,019 / 4,174 (22.6%). Sixty-nine accessions were grown out in 2013, and 52 accessions successfully produced 10,000 or more seeds. Seed viability tests have been completed for 31 of these accessions. Accessions backed up- 1,888 / 4,174 accessions (45.2%). In 2013, 24 accessions were sent to NCGRP and 22 accessions to Svalbard for backup and long-term storage. Characterization- • Cut flower longevity was evaluated for 17 accessions of Coreopsis, 37 accessions of Phlox and 79 accessions of Rudbeckia. Average cut flower longevity ranged from 1-10 days for accessions of Coreopsis, 3-11 days for Phlox, and 3-36 days for Rudbeckia. This study will continue during the 2014 growing season. • Expanded the survey of ploidy in our accessions of Phlox, Rudbeckia and Coreopsis through flow cytometry; 528 samples were analyzed (99 Coreopsis, 278 Phlox, 151 Rudbeckia) representing 70 species. Polyploids were identified in multiple species. • Ph.D. candidate P. Zale worked on interspecific hybridization of Phlox and successfully produced 157 novel interspecific hybrids, currently being evaluated. Most of these hybrids provide opportunities for assessment of disease resistance, plant habit, and extended flowering periods. • The OPGC is working with Cornell University and other researchers in a collaborative project to evaluate garden performance of 18 varieties of lilies planted at the OPGC in 2013, both in-ground and in raised beds. Distribution- In 2013 the OPGC distributed 165 germplasm orders containing a total of 625 items; 43 of the 165 orders received (26%) were identified as home-gardener requests (i.e. not used for research or educational purposes). Situation: Many native North American species have immense potential as ornamental plants; some are already widely grown but too many others lack a sufficiently broad base of genetic diversity accessible to breeders in order to make needed improvements (for example, disease resistance) and to develop entirely new cultivated forms. These plants not only represent beauty in our landscape but also provide important ecosystem services that enhance the quality of life in communities. Response: The Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center has been systematically collecting and analyzing different genotypes of native species such as phlox, black-eyed susans, coreopsis and lilies. The collections have been examined for genome size and ploidy, flowering response, fragrance, disease resistance and potential for hybridization between species. A recent focus has been extensive hybridization studies in phlox. Impact: The floriculture and nursery industry is a global enterprise and Ohio has a significant place both in production and management services. The OPGC is the only center in the world focused on the conservation of germplasm for herbaceous ornamental plants. Availability of our phlox germplasm, for example, has created opportunities for breeding that had not been considered before and the industry is beginning to develop new crops with this material. Consumers benefit when hardy, adaptable, and beautiful plants are used in our landscapes to enhance the quality of life. NCRPIS (North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station), Ames IA 2014 NCRPIS Collection statistics (calendar year): Collection holdings grew to 53,145 with the acquisition of 765 new accessions; 40,276 are available (76%), while 42,291 are backed up (80%) at the NCGRP (Natl. Center for Genetic Resources Preservation) in Ft. Collins, CO. New germplasm included woody ornamentals from the Midwestern and Southern US, of ash tree species, river birch, oak, Aesculus, Cornus, Spirea and Diervilla; oilseeds, expired plant variety protected maize inbreds, vegetable germplasm, and wild spinach relatives. Helianthus winteri, a new wild perennial sunflower species endemic to a small region in central California and formally described in 2013, was collected and accessioned. New sunflower accessions include a 288 line association mapping population, UGA-SAM1, primarily developed from NCRPIS cultivated accessions (which were selfed two times before phenotyping and sequencing) and a selection of breeding lines from INRA (French National Institute for Agricultural Research). Regenerations (seed increases) were attempted for 1,250 accessions, of which 992 have been harvested. Nearly 3,300 accessions were tested for viability, or 6% of the collection. Additional resources are being applied in order to test approximately 10% of collection holdings each year. Nearly 47,800 new accession observations were entered into the GRIN dataset, of which about 22,700 are associated with Brassica germplasm. We distributed 33% of collection holdings to germplasm requesters (17,558 unique accessions) to fulfill 1,285 orders. More detail regarding NCRPIS activities and curatorial research can be found in the expanded annual report at the repository home page. The reproductive biology of Kentucky Coffeetree was investigated. The impact of de-winging ash (Fraxinus) seeds on germination was evaluated; the data indicate de-winging does not reduce germination in the short term. This is important in order to reduce cold storage space requirements; longer term data collection is needed. Oil analyses of wild collected H. winteri seed indicated a fatty acid profile similar to the mid-oleic NuSunTM hybrids although the high temperature growing conditions for the wild seed probably influenced the fatty acid composition. Analyses of seeds grown under more temperate conditions are planned. Mature H. winteri stems become very woody. Preliminary wood chemistry analyses (National Renewable Energy Lab, Golden, CO) of a lower stem cross-section indicated higher sugar and lower lignin concentrations in H. winteri than in cultivated sunflower and two wild annual sunflower species suggesting that a more comprehensive analysis of stem components is warranted. Because genomic analyses indicated a close relationship between H. winteri and wild H. annuus, transfer of traits from H. winteri to improve cultivated sunflower may be a reasonable endeavor. The Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (GEM) Project released six new S3 lines of 25% exotic germplasm background to GEM cooperators. With Iowa State University’s Doubled Haploid Facility 204 maize doubled haploid lines derived from 60 exotic landraces backcrossed onto expired plant variety protected maize inbreds (recurrent parents) were publicly released. Investigations of methods to eliminate photoperiod and more rapidly adapt photoperiod sensitive germplasm to temperate conditions continue. More than 400 visitors received tours or in-depth information exchanges. These include outreach to grade school, high school, undergraduate and graduate students and educators; the Iowa Honey Producers; commercial and public sector plant breeders of vegetables, oilseeds, maize, and specialty crops; and international agricultural ministry officials.

Publications

California: Karban, R., Shiojiri, K., Wetzel, W.C., Evans, R.Y. 2013. Kin recognition affects plant communication and defense. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 280:20123062. Karban, R., Wetzel, W.C., Shiojiri, K., Ishizaki, S., Ramirez, S.R., Blande, J.D. 2014. Deciphering the language of plant communication: volatile chemotypes of sagebrush. New Phytologist 204:380-385. Karban, R., Yang, L.H., Edwards, K.F. 2014. Volatile communication between plants that affects herbivory: a meta-analysis. Ecology Letters 17:44-52. Pearse, I.S., Hughes, K., Shiojiri, K., Ishizaki, S., Karban, R. 2013. Interplant volatile signaling in willows: revisiting the original talking trees. Oecologia 172:869-875. Iowa: Abdel-Ghani, A., Kumar, B.T., Montomares, J.R., Gonzalez-Portilla, P., Jansen, C., San Martin, J.P., Lee, M., Lübberstedt, T. 2013. Genotypic variation for root traits of maize inbred lines grown under contrasting nitrogen conditions. Euphytica 189:123-133. Arias Aguirre, A., Studer, B., Do Canto, J., Frei, U.K., Lübberstedt, T. 2013. Mapping a new source of self-fertility in Lolium perenne. Plant Breed. Biotech. 1:385-395. Brazauskas, G., Pasakinskiene, I., Lübberstedt, T. 2013. Estimation of temporal allele frequency changes in ryegrass populations selected for axillary tiller development. In: Breeding strategies for sustainable forage and turf grass improvement. Barth, S. and Milbourne, D. Eds., Springer, pp. 81-89. Brenner, E.A., Beavis, W.D., Andersen, J.R., Lübberstedt, T. 2013. Prospects and limitations for development and application of functional markers in plants. In: Diagnostics in Plant Breeding, Lübberstedt, T. and Varshney R. Eds., Springer, pp. 329-348. Chen, Y., Blanco, M., Ji, Q., Frei, U.K., Lübberstedt, T. 2014. Extensive genetic diversity and low linkage disequilibrium within the Bm3 locus in Germplasm Enhancement of Maize populations. Plant Science 221-222:69-80. De la Fuente, G., Frei, U.K., Lübberstedt, T. 2013. Accelerating Plant Breeding. Trends in Plant Sciences 18:667-672. Ding, H., Qin, C., Gao, J., Chen, Z., Liu, H., Leng, P., Lin, H., Shen, Y., Zhao, M., Zhou, S., Lan, H., Rong, T., Lübberstedt, T., Zhang, Z., Pan, G. 2014. Heterosis in early maize ear inflorescence development: A genome-wide transcription analysis for two maize inbred line pairs and their hybrids. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 15:13892-13915. Ingvardsen, C.R., Xing, Y., Frei, U.K., Lübberstedt, T. 2010. Genetical and physical fine mapping of Scmv2, a potyvirus resistance gene in maize. Theor. Appl. Genet. 110:1621-1630. Jansen, C., de Leon, N. Ruff, L., Lübberstedt, T. 2013. Mapping quantitative trait loci for cob architectural and biomass related traits in recombinant IBM inbred lines in maize. BioEnergy Research 6:903-916. Jeffrey, B., Kuzhiyil, N., Rover, M., Brown, R.C., Lamkey, K.R., Nettleton, D., Lübberstedt, T. 2014. Significant variation for bio-oil compounds after Pyrolysis/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry of cobs and stover among five near-isogenic brown-midrib hybrids in maize. BioEnergy Research 7:693-701. Kumar, B.T.N., Abdel-Ghani, A.H., Pace, J., Reyes-Matamoros, J., Hochholdinger, F., Lübberstedt, T. 2014. Association analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms in candidate genes with root traits in maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings. Plant Science 224:9-19. Liu, H., Qin, C., Chen, Z., Zuo, T., Yang, X., Zhou, H., Xu, M., Shen, Y., Lin, H., He, X., Zhang, Y., Li, L., Ding, H., Lübberstedt, T., Zhang, Z., Pan, G. 2014. Identification of miRNAs and their target genes in developing maize ears by deep sequencing. BMC Genomics 15:25. Lübberstedt, T. 2014. Bioenergie aus Maisrestpflanzen – Mit Pyrolyse aus trockener Biomasse Kraftstoff herstellen. Mais 01/2014:29-31. Lübberstedt, T. 2013. Diagnostics in plant breeding. In: Diagnostics in Plant Breeding, Lübberstedt, T. and Varshney R. Eds., Springer, pp. 3-10. Lukman, R., Afifuddin, A., Lübberstedt, T. 2013. Unraveling the genetic diversity of maize downy mildew in Indonesia. J Plant Pathology and Microbiology 4:162. Pace, J., Lee, N., Naik, H.S., Ganapathysubramanian, B., Lübberstedt, T. 2014. Analysis of maize (Zea mays L.) seedling roots with a new high-throughput tool to connect seedling roots to adult roots. PLoS ONE 9(9):e108255. Pfeifer, M., Mayer, K., Asp, T., Martis, M., Lübberstedt, T., Frei, U.K., Studer, B. 2013. The Lolium genome zipper – targeted use of grass genome resources for ryegrass genomics. Plant Phys. 161:571-582. Tao, Y., Jiang, L., Liu, Q., Zhang, Y., Zhang, R., Ingvardsen, C.R., Frei, U.K., Lai, J., Wang, B., Lübberstedt, T., Xu, M.L. 2013. Joint fine-mapping of Scmv1, a major locus involved in resistance to sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) in maize. BMC Plant Biol 13:162. Zhang, Y., Lübberstedt, T., Xu, M.L. 2013. The genetic and molecular basis of plant resistance to pathogens. Journal of Genetics and Genomics 40:23-35. Iowa - NCRPIS: Arbizu, C. K. Reitsma, P. Simon, D. Spooner. 2014. Morphometric Study of Daucus (Apiaceae): A Counterpart to a Phylogenomic Study. Am J Bot 101(11):2005-2016. Barney, D.L., Bauer, M., Jensen, J. 2013. Survival, frost susceptibility, growth, and disease resistance of corkbark and subalpine fir grown for landscape and Christmas trees. HortTechnology 23:194-200. Blanco, M.H., Gardner, C.A. 2014. Germplasm Enhancement of Maize - Strategies & Synergy with Maize Curation. In: Proceedings of the Illinois Corn Breeders School, March 3, 2014, Urbana, Illinois p. 1-23. Gilmore, B.S., Knaus, B., Bassil, N.V., Barney, D.L., Hummer, K.E. 2014. Short-read DNA sequencing yields microsatellite markers for Rheum. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 139:22-29. Marek, L.F., Barb J.B., Constable J.C., Seiler G.J. 2014. An exciting new wild sunflower species: Helianthus winteri. 36th National Sunflower Association Research Forum, January 8-9. 2014, Fargo, ND. Available: http://www.sunflowernsa.com/uploads/research/1237/marek.et.al_exciting.species_paper_2014.pdf. Peiffer, J.A., Romay, M.C., Gore, M.A., Flint Garcia, S.A., Zhang, Z., Millard, M.J., Gardner, C.A., McMullen, M.D., Holland, J.B., Bradbury, P., Buckler IV, E.S. 2014. The genetic architecture of maize height. Genetics 196:1337-1356. Spooner, D., P. Simon, M. Widrlechner, K.R. Reitsma, D. Palmquist. 2014. Reassessment of Practical Species Identifications of the USDA Daucus carota Germplasm Collection: Morphological Data. Crop Sci 54(2):706-718. Talukder, Z.L., Hulke, B.S., Marek, L.F., Gulya, T.J. 2014. Sources of resistance to sunflower diseases in a global collection of domesticated USDA plant introductions. Crop Sci 54:694-705. Ziebell A.L., Barb J.G., Sandhu S., Moyers B.T., Sykes R.W., Doeppke C., Gracom K.L., Carlile M., Marek L.F., Davis M.F., Knapp S.J., Burke J.M. 2013. Sunflower as a biofuels crop: an analysis of lignocellulosic chemical properties. Biomass and Bioenergy 59:208-217. Kansas: Assefa, Y., Roozeboom, K.L., and Stamm. M.J. 2014. Winter canola yield and survival as a function of environment, genetics, and management. Crop Sci. 54:2303-2313. Stamm, M., Dooley, S., Holman, J., and Rife, C. 2014. Registration of Griffin winter canola. J. Plant Reg. (accepted with revision). Stamm, M., Dooley, S., Angadi, S., Baldwin, B., Begna, S., Berrada, A., Bhardwaj, H., Braden, I., Bushong, J., Caldbeck, B., Caldbeck, C., Cebert, E., Chandler, J., Cramer, G., Damicone, J., Darby, H., Davidson, J., Davis, J., Delaney, D., DeLaune, P., Eriksmoen, E., Garner, J., Gassett, J., George, N., Gilmer, M., Gruenbacher, B., Gulick, S., Hathcoat, D., Henninger, M., Higgins, T., Holman, J., James, J., Johnson, B., Johnson, J., Jordan, H., Kochenower, R., Larson, K., Lee, D., Mansfield, C., Murdock, L., Nachtman, J., Neely, C., O’Neill, M., Owen, C., Patry, M., Pearson, C., Rife, C., Santra, D., Schrock, R., Sexton, P., Shockey, J., Thomas, T., Thomason, W., Trostle, C., Ware, G., West, D., Williams, A., and Wingerson, M. 2015. 2014 National Winter Canola Variety Trial. Kans. Ag. Exp. St. and Coop. Ext. Serv., Manhattan, KS (in preparation). Stamm, M., Dooley, S., Angadi, S., Baldwin, B., Berrada, A., Bhardwaj, H., Bushong, J., Caldbeck, B., Caldbeck, C., Cebert, E., Cramer, G. , Damicone, J., Darby, H., Davidson, J., Day, D., Delaney, D., DeLaune, P., Eriksmoen, E., Freed, R., Gassett, J., Gilmer, M., Gulick, S., Holman, J., Johnson, B., Johnson, J., Kochenower, R., Larson, K., Lee, D., Mansfield, C., Mason, H., Meki, N., Miller, P., Nachtman, J., Nelson, R., O’Neill, M., Owen, C., Pearson, C., Quiring, S., Rife, C., Sexton, P., Thomas, T., Thomason, W., Trostle, C., Ware, G. and West, D. 2014. 2013 National Winter Canola Variety Trial. Kans. Ag. Exp. St. and Coop. Ext. Serv., Manhattan, KS. Stamm, M., G. Cramer, S. Dooley, and R. Nelson. 2013. Kansas performance tests with winter wheat varieties – 2013 National Winter Canola Variety Trial. SRP1090:17-23. Kans. Ag. Exp. St. and Coop. Ext. Serv., Manhattan, KS. Michigan: Mookerjeea, S., Mathey, M.M., Finn, C.E., Zhang, Z. and Hancock, J.F. 2014. Heat tolerance plays an important role in regulating remontant flowering in an F1population of octoploid strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa). Journal of Berry Research 3:151-158. Stegmeir T., Schuster M,. Sebolt A., Rosyara U., Sundin G.W., Iezzoni A. 2014. Cherry leaf spot resistance in cherry (Prunus) is associated with a quantitative trait locus on linkage group 4 inherited from P. canescens. Mol Breeding 34(3):927-935. Nebraska: Rajput S., Plyler-Harveson, T. and D.K. Santra. 2014. Development and characterization of SSR markers in proso millet (Panicum milliaceum L.) based switch grass genomics. American J. Plant Sci. 5:175-186. Santra, D. 2014. Proso millet breeding trials at University of Nebraska. Oral presentation at ‘Customer Focus Meeting’, USDA-ARS Central Great Plains Research Station, Akron, CO., Jan 23, 2014 (40 growers attended). Santra, D. 2014. Proso millet breeding trials at University of Nebraska. Annual No-Till Conference, Burlington, CO. February 4-5 (145 growers attended). Santra, D. 2014. Proso millet breeding trials at the High Plains Ag. Lab dryland farm. Oral presentation at the HPAL Field Day, June 19, 2014 (110 growers attended). Santra, D., Rajput, S., Hazen, A., Florke, V. 2014. Proso millet breeding and genomics. Poster presentation at Plant Genomics Congress USA, September 11-2, 2014, St. Louis, MO. Santra, D., Rajput, S., Hazen, A., and V. Florke. 2014. Proso millet genetics and breeding in the USA. Oral presentation at International Conference in Industrial Crops and 26th Annual Meeting of Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops (AAIC). Program and Abstracts. September 13-19, 2014, Athens, Greece, Miller, T.E., E. Alexopoulou, and M.T. Betri (Ed.), pp. 78. Athens, Greece: International Conference on Industrial Crops and Products. The Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops. Urrea, C.A., and R.M. Harveson. 2014. Selecting for and improving chickpea disease resistance and adaptation to western Nebraska. The BeanBag 32(1):12 & 14. Urrea, C.A., and R.M. Harveson. 2014. Selecting for and improving chickpea disease resistance and adaptation to western Nebraska. The Star-Herald. May 25, 2014. Urrea, C.A. 2014. 2013 chickpea results and cooking time in dry beans. Poster presentation on January 14, 2014 at the Gering Civic Center during the Nebraska Dry Bean Growers Association meeting (150 growers attended). New York: Smith, M.E. 2014. Genetically engineered organisms (AKA GMOs): Issues and the science. pp. 48-57. Proceedings 2014 Cornell Nutrition Conference for Feed Manufacturers. 76th Meeting. October 12-14, 2014. Cornell University Department of Animal Science of the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Ithaca NY. Smith, M.E. 2014. Who put those genes in my food? Facts and myths about genetically engineered crops. pp. 15-17. Proceedings Field Crop Dealer Meetings, November 12, 2014. Soil and Crop Sciences Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Extension Series No. E14-1. Smith, M.E. 2014. The ABCs of GEOs. Dairybusiness East 6(2):28-29.

Impact Statements

Providing well-characterized, well-documented plant genetic resources facilitates the efforts of researchers devoted to addressing crop production issues in the face of evolving production threats, climate change, and increasing demands to meet feed, food, fiber, fuel needs (NCRPIS).
Public health and well-being is supported by enhancing aesthetic attributes of plants that are used to beautify constructed landscapes. Plant genetic resources are the raw material that permit development of new varieties of ornamental plants and that support the vibrancy of the multi-billion dollar floriculture and nursery industry. These resources must be available to breeders for improvement and incorporation into breeding programs (OPGC, OH).
Genetic variation in the ability of sagebrush and willow plants to communicate to adjust their defenses against herbivores was identified. Knowledge of how plants signal and communicate and coordinate their defenses can provide a powerful tool to shape resistance to specific environmental and pest conditions (California).
Dwarfing precocious rootstocks are being used to enable sour cherry trees to be planted at high densities to achieve higher yields per acre. For sweet cherry, small tree size will reduce labor costs and the number of harvest laborers needed, thereby increasing potential grower profitability. Dwarfing precocious rootstocks have been developed from cherry germplasm present in the Michigan State University breeding collection and are being tested in major U.S. cherry production regions.
Soybean aphid, a pest originating in Asia, was first found in the U.S. upper Midwest in 2000. Today it is a major pest of soybean in the U.S. where yield losses can reach as high as 88%. Aphid resistances found in the Plant Introductions (PI 567598B and PI 567536), are being bred into commercial soybean cultivars. New soybean cultivars with aphid resistance have the potential to reduce yield losses from this pest without the need for pesticide applications to control the aphid (Michigan).
Cultivated potato in North America has a narrow genetic data, despite the rich diversity of wild potato species present in South America, the potato?s center of origin. These wild species bring sought after alleles for disease resistance and other novel tuber quality traits. New breeding and genotyping techniques are accelerating the use of this wild germplasm due to the ability to purge deleterious alleles from these wild accessions during the introgression process (Michigan).
Day-neutral strawberry cultivars that fruit over an extended period in the summer have been of limited success in the mid-west due to the lack of suitable cultivars. Recently through the use of new germplasm sources, day-neutral strawberry cultivars that have a longer fruiting period and good eating quality will soon be available from the Michigan State University strawberry breeding program (Michigan).
The waxy proso millet cultivar Plateau (PI 672536) is expected to expand the proso millet market in human food and beverage industry due to its unique grain quality and perhaps to stabilize the proso market in the region. Waxy millet is desired in the food industry in Asian countries (Nebraska).
Improved potential for sweet corn productivity and quality by improving pest resistance in relevant sweet corn germplasm (New York).
Use of winter canola in rotation with winter wheat where winter wheat has been grown continuously for many years, can improve wheat yields by 10% to 50%. Additional cultivars and new cropping systems are needed to improve agronomic sustainability of the region, generate greater economic returns, and combat the effects of climate change (Kansas).
Providing an array of educational resources to reach a broad array of public audiences enables researchers to communicate and address issues and concerns about plant breeding, development of crop varieties, the technologies used, their risks and benefits, and how these fit within the context of long-term crop selection/improvement and conservation efforts. This supports a more informed public discourse about genetically engineered crop varieties (New York).
Use of shuttle breeding programs and winter nursery programs, between geographically distant researchers, can facilitate identification of sources of biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, thus enabling development of resistant new resistant cultivars. Use of improved cultivars offer producers, processors, and communities increased profitability.

Date of Annual Report: 06/09/2016

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 06/03/2015 - 06/04/2015
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2014 - 09/30/2015

Participants

Wendy Wintersteen, AA;
RTAC members: Thomas Lübberstedt, Terry Isbell, Burton Johnson, Michael Stamm, Erik Sacks, James Orf, Dipak Santra, and Jules Janick

Other participants: Manjit Misra, Kendall Lamkey, Marty Spalding, Maria Salas, Catherine Bonin, Matt Liebman, Peter Bretting, Gary Kinard, Stephanie Greene, Jessica Barb

NCRPIS staff: Candice Gardner, Mark Millard, Kathy Reitsma, David Brenner, Dan Barney, Jeff Carstens, Laura Marek, Larry Lockhart

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

NC7 RTAC June 3-4 2015 Meeting minutes and rpt 06092016.docx

Accomplishments

<ol> <li>Providing well-characterized, well-documented plant genetic resources facilitates the efforts of researchers devoted to addressing crop production issues in the face of evolving production threats, climate change, and increasing demands to meet feed, food, fiber, fuel needs (NCRPIS, Iowa).</li> <li>Public health and well-being is supported by enhancing aesthetic attributes of plants that are used to beautify constructed Plant genetic resources are the raw material that permit development of new varieties of ornamental plants and that support the vibrancy of the multi-billion dollar floriculture and nursery industry. These resources must be available to breeders for improvement and incorporation into breeding programs (OPGC, OH).</li> <li>Genome size and ploidy estimations of germplasm for important ornamentals provide useful information that can facilitate improvement of crops such as Phlox and Coreopsis (OPGC, Ohio).</li> <li>Genomic variation in tomato germplasm, from wild ancestors to modern breeding accessions, was evaluated. Based on genetic diversity of more than 1,000 tomato accessions, variation strongly supports a two-step domestication process, occasional hybridization in the wild, and differentiation through human selection (Ohio). </li> <li>Genetic variation in the ability of sagebrush and willow plants to communicate to adjust their defenses against herbivores was Knowledge of how plants signal and communicate and coordinate their defenses can provide a powerful tool to shape resistance to specific environmental and pest conditions. Error management theory is explored as a means of understanding how plant defense systems impact natural selection (California).</li> <li>Fruit flesh color in tetraploid sour cherry is an important market-driven trait in the USA. The dominant cultivar has brilliant red skin but clear/yellow flesh, whereas in Europe predominant cultivars have dark purple-red flesh.  Thirteen haplotypes with significant association for flesh color variation were distinguished based on genetic markers, and a marker was identified that uniquely identified the haplotype associated with the darkest purple-red flesh color; this provides a tool for to predict which individuals will have dark purple flesh  (Michigan).</li> <li>Understanding the genetic basis of trait variation will lead to improvements in breeding efficiency and success. Using a wide array of germplasm, quantitative trait loci were identified for the following traits: cucumber - fruit size and length, resistance to Phytohthora; soybean - isoflavone content, seed sugar content; dry beans - canning quality and color retention; Petunia - flowering traits; potato – yield components (Michigan).</li> <li>Seed application of gibberellic acid can overcome delayed growth resulting from delayed planting of winter wheat and rye under irrigation; this procedure is being recommended to and used by growers who benefit (Nebraska).</li> <li>Alternative types of planting methods and seedling growing conditions on the establishment and seed yield of spring oilseed crops were evaluated is six growing environments of the U.S. central High Plains. Relative productivity of the spring oilseed species has shifted from canola to Camelina with warmer and dried growing conditions.  Adapted spring oilseed germplasm for this area must address cold tolerance for emergence, intensive water extraction to avoid water stress, heat tolerance during flowering, and increased harvest index and oil content (Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming).</li> <li>Borage is an oilseed crop rich in gamma-linolenic acid utilized mostly in the pharmaceutical and nutritional industries. Borage has high value but low production volume, and its potential is limited by lack of defined best management practices.  Studies determined cardinal temperatures required for germination, the process of seed development from pollination to physiological maturity based on dry matter accumulation, seed moisture, seed germination, and changes in seed oil fatty acid composition throughout the growth period.  These findings will be used to develop best management practices (North Dakota). </li> <li>By including preceding cover crops into existing annual crop systems, input costs can be reduced and sustainability of energy/forage crops increased in the northern Great Plains. Biomass yield and quality of five annual energy/forage crops, following six leguminous and non-leguminous cover crop species were evaluated.  Results across years and environments showed all forage crops had greater biomass content and greater N content when preceded by a legume cover crop in the previous year (North Dakota).</li> <li>As carbon assimilation is the fundamental basis of crop productivity, understanding natural genetic variation in carbon assimilation is important to develop germplasm with superior photosynthetic capacity. Genetic analysis and phenotypic characterization of photosynthetic capacity of diverse sorghum germplasm identified genes/markers associated with variation in leaf photosynthetic rate. These findings could be exploited in breeding programs to develop germplasm with superior carbon assimilation capacity (Iowa).</li> <li>Miscanthus, a biomass crop, originated in Asia. In Japan, tetraploids, diploids, and hybrids of these can be found.   A study characterizing nearly 700 Miscanthus genotypes from Japan indicated that the tetraploids originated through autopolyploidy.  Introgressions from the diploid into the tetraploid forms were found in a gradient across Japan.  These results will help guide the selection of Miscanthus accessions for breeding of biomass cultivars (Illinois).</li> <li>Miscanthus is a C4 photosynthetic crop and some selections have significant chilling tolerance. Hybridization with sugarcane indicated that some hybrids were as tolerant to chilling as M x giganteus ‘Illinois’, a highly tolerant selection.  The selections have particular value for biomass feedstocks and may serve a starting point for efforts to extend sugarcane’s range to colder climates (Illinois).</li> <li>Plant responses to soybean cyst nematode HG type ‘O’ were evaluated for 282 representative soybean accessions from the university’s breeding program, and a genome-wide panel of markers was used to examine correlations of response with specific genetic loci. Genomic selection analyses resulted in better predictions for selection for resistance than did marker-assisted selection strategies. This demonstrates that association mapping can be effective for identifying genes of interest in diverse germplasm (Minnesota).</li> <li>Soybean is a major source of protein and oil, and a biodiesel feedstock, but limited information is available regarding genetic mechanisms that control seed composition and oil content. Knowledge of differential expression of genes for these traits among soybean germplasm is important to improvement efficiency of cultivar development.</li> <li>Improved understanding of the relationships between sweetness and ‘mouth feel’ in sweet corn, and the genetics underlying these traits support development of sweet corn varieties that meet consumer and processor criteria (Wisconsin).</li> <li>Breeding with characterized gray leaf spot resistant germplasm sources and selection/screening in five different states has identified an inbred source of multiple disease resistance in corn.  This inbred shows good resistance to four fungal leaf diseases (gray leaf spot, northern leaf blight, rust, and anthracnose leaf blight), one bacterial leaf disease (Stewart’s wilt), and one fungal stalk rot (anthracnose stalk rot).  Screening in Florida showed it to be resistant to southern corn leaf blight and bacterial blight as well.</li> <li>Screening of the USDA NAM population and the Goodman Diversity Panel in corn has revealed a number of loci affecting iron and zinc concentrations in corn kernels.</li> <li>Use of shuttle breeding programs and winter nursery programs, between geographically distant researchers, can facilitate identification of sources of biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, thus enabling development of resistant new resistant Use of improved cultivars offer producers, processors, and communities increased profitability (all states).</li> <li>Providing an array of educational resources to reach a broad array of public audiences enables researchers to communicate and address issues and concerns about plant breeding, development of crop varieties, the technologies used, their risks and benefits, and how these fit within the context of long-term crop selection/improvement and conservation This supports a more informed public discourse about genetically engineered crop varieties (all states).</li> </ol>

Publications

Impact Statements

Seed application of gibberellic acid can overcome delayed growth resulting from delayed planting of winter wheat and rye under irrigation; this procedure is being recommended to and used by growers who benefit (Nebraska).

Date of Annual Report: 01/04/2017

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 06/13/2016 - 06/15/2016
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2015 - 09/30/2016

Participants

Wendy Wintersteen (AA) by phone; Burton Johnson, Erik Sacks, William Tracy, Candice Gardner

Participants Attachment:

NC-007 RTAC 2016 Meeting report.docx

Brief Summary of Minutes

The meeting was hosted by the National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation (NLGRP) at the Hilton Garden Inn, Ft. Collins, and held in conjunction with the joint RTACs from W6, NE9, and S9, and the Plant Germplasm Operations Committee (PGOC).

Dean Wendy Wintersteen, Iowa State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences:

Discussed the current budget status and outlook for funding for NIFA and AFRI programs in 2017. Some discussion revolved around the challenges for the US, and in the context of global agricultural challenges, and in maintaining a leadership role in agricultural sciences. The importance of agricultural research was discussed at the 2016 AAAS meeting by Pam Johnson (Natl. Corn Growers Assoc, and member of the FFAR Board). The SoAR website (http://supportagresearch.org/) is supported by the Danforth group, and hosts publications on the importance of agricultural research. Messages focus on meeting public good needs. ASTA efforts were key to past successes.

The Dean indicated a draft case statement is needed for funding to support the Ames genebank.

NC-007 project reporting stresses accomplishments. The NC-007 Project renewal and revision will be submitted in 2016; information on distributions to the various US regions and internationally is important. Investments by the NCR Agricultural Experiment Stations in these efforts also provides opportunity for engagement by scientists across programs and projects, which enhances their ability to provide benefits for the public good. Scientists need to credit Hatch funding in their publications.

Burton Johnson, North Dakota State University:

Provided an update on the value of and research efforts associated with white sorghum and industrial hemp. Industrial hemp genetic resources were evaluated for grain and fiber yield. Hemp seed has low vigor and a short shelf life at ambient T. Studies are needed on optimum storage regimes to preserve viability; 20% seed mortality is an optimistic goal. A thick stand is needed for fiber production. Seed yields ranged from 600-1200 pounds per acre; in contrast, 1200-1600 pounds/acre is about average for canola and sunflower in North Dakota. The value of hemp seed ranges from $0.70 - $1.00/lb; the industrial hemp business in the US is valued at about $0.5 B. The DEA and ND issued permits for small acreages for five growers in ND, with a ready market.

White sorghum is of interest for organic production. Flowering and maturity was previously evaluated for 106 genotypes, and panicle display, plant height and seed characteristics. In 2016, 21 of the 106 were selected for further testing. This crop needs warm soil temperature for germination and establishment, and no herbicides can be used. There are no pesticides labeled for hemp here or in Canada. The crop can grow 24” in one week, and canopy closure was achieved in one month.

Erik Sachs, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana:

Presented information on Miscanthus research at the UIUC. One variety of Miscanthus x giganteus is grown in the US, a triploid. US naturalized populations are not very cold hardy, and do not thrive well in environments such as Wisconsin or Minnesota. Cold winters reduce yields.

M. sacchariflorus is of interest because it has multiple ploidy levels and is adapted farther north than M. sinensis. It survived the 2015/2016 winter in Saskatoon, Canada. In Eastern Russia, the interactions between M. sacchariflorus and livestock has been documented for more than 150 years. The first collection of this species by a western botanist was in 1855-1856 along rivers bordering Russia and China, and seeds were dispersed from St. Petersburg to European botanical gardens.

Interspecific hybrids of Miscanthus and Saccharum were originally reported in Fiji.

Jack Juvik’s research at UIUC focuses on anthocyanins from maize; germplasm is being screened for nutraceuticals. Brassica and arugula germplasm has been screened for glucosinolates with anti-cancer activity.

Gary Kling evaluates black locust and Chinese wingnut woody germplasm for biomass production.William Tracy, University of Wisconsin-Madison:

Phil Simon is sequencing Daucus (carrot) germplasm, and collecting germplasm with David Spooner.

Shawn Kaeppler and Natalia deLeon have screened 500 lines from a 1000 maize line diversity panel for SCMV and MDM; about 10% of the 500 lines were completely resistant.

A sweet corn diversity panel was established; about 50% of the lines included are from the NCRPIS collection. 50% of the lines in the panel are derived from historic IL inbred lines; a subset of these lines will ultimately be deposited to the NCRPIS collection. Wisconsin will add about 150 sweet corn lines. Michael Gore is examining the panel for carotenoids, using HPLC.

The source of the sugary enhancer gene was determined. This gene contributes to water-soluble polysaccharide content, a major factor in ‘mouth feel’ of sweet corn, and important for commercial quality.

The sweet corn breeding effort is working to combine improved husk cover and tightness with high maysin-content silks, to enhance resistance to corn earworm.

A culinary corn project works to breed non-sweet corn for vegetable use. Choclero germplasm from Chile has no known sweet genes. A long, shoe-peg type kernel, it is useful in soups. Pablo Jourdan, Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center, The Ohio State University:

Major efforts are devoted to collection and maintenance of Phlox germplasm. These are maintained as plants until seed production can be obtained, which is challenging. In the US, 65 species of phlox are found, about 40 western and 20-23 eastern. Taxonomy and phlogeny are being developed.

Peter Zales has developed a research herbarium of species collected across the eastern US from 2010-2013.

A graduate student’s research focuses on resistance to powdery mildew, an obligate pathogen, and other diseases.

Polyploidy is common among phlox species, and cryptic variation is more common on the fringes of its native distribution.

The relationship between flower color forms and patterning has been surveyed; multiple colors can have the same anthocyanin chromatographic pattern. The influence of pH on color expression is suspected.

Seed quality factor studies are being conducted, and germination requirements are usually unknown. Twelve week stratifications are involved. Seeds are not a problem for the annual phlox, but perennial phlox are rhizomatous and seed viability is a problem, as well as self-incompatibility. Polyploids commonly have seed viability issues.

Lepidopteran pollinator insects are utilized for pollination; clear-wing moths seem most effective.

Five or six new cultivars can be released as a result of interspecific hybridization efforts. Companies help with virus cleaning of phlox stocks, in appreciation for access to the collection.Candice Gardner, North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station:

Reported on status of collection availability, backup, and infrastructure improvements. The three backup generators are now operational at the NCPRIS, and cover providing power for all essential functions, including seed storage, greenhouses, server rooms, etc. The roofs of the headquarters building and the GEM seed storage building were coated with a polymer that will extend their life.

Since our last meeting, the following individuals have (or will soon) retire: Dan Barney, USDA-ARS Horticulturist; Lloyd Crim, ISU Farm Equipment Operator III; Irvin Larsen, USDA-ARS Agri. Research Science Technician; Larry Lockhart, ISU Program Manager III – July 1; Charles Block, USDA-ARS Plant Pathologist. It is a time of great change at the station. Fred Engstrom will assume Larry Lockhart’s position, having 10 years of experience at the station serving the GEM Project. Other departures: Susan Siev, Term Germplasm Program Asst; Robert Stebbins, Germplasm Program Asst.Resolutions:

Be it resolved that the NC-007 RTAC and the nation owe sincere appreciation to Larry Lockhart (ISU Program Manager II) and Charles Block (USDA Plant Pathologist) upon their retirement for their long-term public service to the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, the NC-007 Project, and for the many positive impacts of their work.

The NC-007 RTAC thanks Lloyd Crim (ISU Farm Equipment Operator III) and Irvin Larsen (USDA Agri. Science Research Tech) for their many years of service at the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, supporting station operations and oilseeds curation.

The NC-007 RTAC thanks our hosts at the National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation, Ft. Collins, for the excellent hospitality and meeting organization provided. The opportunity to engage with other Hatch project researchers, curatorial staff, and international genebank staff is greatly appreciated.Other discussion:

There is a need to train new plant genetic resource conservation professionals. Development of a certification type program was discussed. The CGIAR system could play a role. A workshop symposium on the structure/mechanics of a program to train these professionals should be developed, and curricula.

Accomplishments

2017 and future meetings: <ul> <li>Will be hosted by Bill Tracy in Madison, Wisconsin during the 3rd or 4th weeks of August.</li> <li>Bill Tracy will serve as chair in 2017; Erik Sachs as secretary.</li> <li>Future meeting schedule: 2018 – Illinois; 2019 – Iowa; 2020 – Ohio</li> </ul>

Publications

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 04/05/2018

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 08/16/2017 - 08/17/2017
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2016 - 09/30/2017

Participants

Brief Summary of Minutes

See attached minutes file.

Minutes Attachment:

NC7 RTAC agenda with minutes - short version.pdf

Accomplishments

Publications

See attached file for NC7's accomplishments, impacts, and publications for 2016/2017.