S9: Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Utilization

(Multistate Research Project)

Status: Active

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SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[08/16/2024] [08/04/2025]

Date of Annual Report: 08/16/2024

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 07/30/2024 - 07/31/2024
Period the Report Covers: 09/01/2023 - 08/31/2024

Participants

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

Accomplishments A large and highly diverse set of plant germplasm was preserved and distributed to scientists and plant breeders. A total of 104,831 accessions of 1,596 plant species representing 269 genera were maintained in the Griffin plant genetic resources collection. Over 88% of these accessions were available for distribution to users and over 94% were backed up securely at a second location. A total of 39,731 seed and clonal accessions were distributed upon request to scientists and educators worldwide in CY2023. Sorghum, millets, pepper, and sesame were the most distributed crops. Clonal collections were continually maintained and distributed to stakeholders. Clonal collections include warm-season grasses, bamboo, Chinese water chestnut, perennial peanut, and sweet potato. Preservation methods include tissue culture, field plots, greenhouse plants, and hydroponics. Regeneration and evaluation activities are listed in detail below. These activities ensure that the crop genetic resources at the Griffin location are safeguarded for future use to develop new cultivars and identify novel traits and uses in our food and fiber crops. Regenerations and Acquisitions: <ul> <li>A total of 80 okra accessions were regenerated in collaboration with HM Clause; 340 pepper accessions were regenerated in collaboration with Curry Seed and Chile; 100 Citrullus accessions were regenerated in collaboration with Limagrain.</li> <li>A total of 382 cultivated peanut accessions were regeneration in the field and 52 accessions were regenerated in the greenhouse; 48 wild peanut accessions of 19 species were recently regenerated and 250 accessions were planted in the screenhouse and greenhouse for seed increase this year.</li> <li>A total of 96 newly regenerated cowpea accessions and 16 Bambara groundnut were submitted to the seed storage unit for processing; 60 cowpea accessions were sent to St. Croix for seed regeneration; 30 cowpea accessions are being regenerated in collaboration with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and 80 cowpea accessions with the University of Florida.</li> <li>Six new sweet potato accessions were introduced to our collection from Japan.</li> <li>A total 597 sweet potato accessions were maintained clonally; due to mold mite infestation, over 350 accessions have been regenerated from in vivo to in vitro; nine accessions of Ipomoea wild species were regenerated in ARS, Saint Croix.</li> <li>Clover, Basella alba, and grass accessions with low seed numbers or low viabilities were successfully rescued and regenerated in a tower hydroponic system.</li> <li>Since castor beans are wind pollinated, they were successfully regenerated using sunn hemp as a buffer.</li> <li>An ARS scientist from USDA-ARS in Lubbock, Texas donated 252 accessions of the ARS Sorghum EMS population to the collection.</li> <li>A total of 988 millets were sent to ARS, Saint Croix for regeneration in fall of 2023 of which 259 were finger millet to be grown under quarantine.</li> </ul> Evaluations: <ul> <li>Peanut evaluations currently being conducting include <ul> <li>Genotyping of 1200 accessions that originated from Bolivia and Brazil by University of Georgia and Hudson-Alpha collaborators; 1100 accessions from Argentina have already been genotyped.</li> <li>Smut resistance and marker development is being conducted in collaboration with ARS, Stillwater, OK.</li> <li>Leaf spot resistance is being evaluated in collaboration with North Carolina State, Raleigh, NC.</li> <li>Seed quality/nutritional traits is being evaluated by our unit scientists.</li> <li>Oil content and composition is being evaluated in collaboration with University of Georgia (Tifton, GA).</li> <li>New amphidiploids are being developed and characterization for nutritional traits and peanut wild species are being evaluated for disease resistances by collaborators with the University of Georgia.</li> </ul> </li> <li>Cowpea evaluations: <ul> <li>Biological nitrogen fixation efficiency in cowpea is being investigated in collaboration with Texas A&M AgriLife Research (Vernon, TX).</li> <li>Genome-wide association analysis and genomic prediction of seed mineral concentration in the cowpea germplasm is being conducted in collaboration with Texas A&M AgriLife Research (Vernon, TX).</li> <li>Seed phosphorous, iron and zinc estimations are being studies in collaboration with University of Nevada-Reno.</li> </ul> </li> <li>A Crop Vulnerability Statement for new and industrial crops was developed and published.</li> <li>Several guar genotypes were shown to vary for galactomannan content ranging from 72-81%. Galactomannan is used as a food additive and functional food source especially as a dietary fiber.</li> <li>A roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) genotype selected from an accession is being evaluated for ornamental use.</li> <li>Three roselle accessions identified in 2023 which produce seed and quality calyces in Georgia is an ongoing project with Pride Road, LLC for development of edible products from the calyces by Pride Road.</li> <li>Development of a sorghum SNP array was completed by ARS scientists in Cold Springs Harbor, NY and Agriplex.</li> <li>Genome sequences were completed for Capsicum pubescens and Cucurbita okeechobeensis.</li> </ul>   Impacts Germplasm distributed by researchers of this project resulted in numerous publications, plant variety releases, and patents as detailed in the state reports provided by the S-009 State Representatives. The state reports are provided below to document this impact. State Reports Submitted in 2024 Alabama Charles Chen, University of Alabama According to records provided by S-009, a total of 770 accessions were requested by Alabama from 2021 to 2023. In 2022, the requested germplasm covered 10 genera, Arachis, Ipomoea, Crotalaria, Citrullus, Solanum, Eleocharis, Lagenaria, Panicum, and Vigna, respectively (Table 1).  The most requested crop was peanut by Auburn University and HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology (Table 2) in which here are a total of 625 accessions in 2023. Auburn University, Tuskegee University, and HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology are the three major users of germplasm and requested 754 accessions of total 770 accessions. For peanuts, requested accessions have been used for screening drought tolerance and aflatoxin resistance. Table 1.  Requested Accessions by Genus in 2022 <table> <tbody> <tr> <td width="208"> Crop </td> <td width="208"> Genus </td> <td width="208"> Total </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="208"> Peanut </td> <td width="208"> Arachis </td> <td width="208"> 625 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="208"> Sweet potato </td> <td width="208"> Ipomoea </td> <td width="208"> 16 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="208"> Rattle pod </td> <td width="208"> Crotalaria </td> <td width="208"> 23 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="208"> Watermelon </td> <td width="208"> Citrullus </td> <td width="208"> 1 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="208"> Eggplant </td> <td width="208"> Solanum </td> <td width="208"> 1 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="208"> Sedge </td> <td width="208"> Eleocharis </td> <td width="208"> 1 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="208"> Gourd </td> <td width="208"> Lagenaria </td> <td width="208"> 1 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="208"> Grass </td> <td width="208"> Panicum </td> <td width="208"> 1 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="208"> Cowpea </td> <td width="208"> Vigna </td> <td width="208"> 1 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="208"> Peppers </td> <td width="208"> Capsicum </td> <td width="208"> 10 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" width="416"> Total </td> <td width="208"> 680 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>   Table 2. Requested Accessions by Recipients <table> <tbody> <tr> <td width="123"> Year </td> <td width="131"> University/Institute </td> <td width="136"> Public Service / Primary Education </td> <td width="111"> Private Sector </td> <td width="123"> Total </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123"> 2021 </td> <td width="131"> 16 </td> <td width="136"> 18 </td> <td width="111"> 9 </td> <td width="123"> 43 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123"> 2022 </td> <td width="131"> 45 </td> <td width="136"> 2 </td> <td width="111"> 0 </td> <td width="123"> 47 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123"> 2023 </td> <td width="131"> 669 </td> <td width="136"> 11 </td> <td width="111"> 0 </td> <td width="123"> 680 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123"> Sub-total </td> <td width="131"> 730 </td> <td width="136"> 31 </td> <td width="111"> 9 </td> <td width="123"> 770 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>   Arkansas No state report was submitted for Arkansas.   Florida No state report was submitted for Florida.   Georgia Soraya Leal-Bertioli, University of Georgia Between 2021 and 2023, 2722 accessions were distributed to 69 users. The majority are Sorghum (1168 accessions) and Arachis (including peanut and wild species, 1135 accessions). Others include Vigna, Ipomoea, Eleusine, Catharanthus, Citrullus, Solanum, Zoysia and others. Most users (49) were affiliated with U.S. state agencies and universities, seven with USDA-ARS, five with commercial companies, one with U.S. federal agency (not AID or ARS), one with non-profit organizations and six individuals with no affiliation. All requests reported here are from within the U.S.A. In order to have information about the utilization of these accessions, we emailed all users asking for a short description of the work they have done with the germplasm requested. We received 18 responses. A lot of the work being conducted is in the initial stages of characterization and crosses. The examples below are from these responses, from presentations from the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (UGA) retreat and literature search: Arachis High oil content peanut lines are being used for crosses for the future cultivar release (UGA, Tifton). High oil content is also being characterized at the USDA (USDA, Peanut Lab, Dawson). Valencia-type peanuts, adapted to Haiti and West Africa, were requested for crosses with wild-derived lines for development of germplasm for use in breeding programs in these countries, as part of the Peanut Innovation Lab, Feed the Future program in the Wild Peanut Lab (UGA Athens). Wild species were requested to be used in crossing schemes to produce peanut compatible allotetraploids to broaden the peanut genetic base. Since 2021, 24 confirmed hybrids were obtained and 18 allotetraploids were produced (Wild Peanut Lab, UGA Athens). Two accessions of peanut-compatible wild derived allotetraploids (BatSten1 and MagSten1) were requested for crosses with peanuts for the development of cultivars with disease resistance (ACI, GA). Wild Arachis seeds were requested for tests for Aspergillus spp. and aflatoxin production (UGA, Griffin). Peanut cultivars initially released in Africa and deposited at the PRGCU were requested for crosses with wild-derived lines for development of germplasm with multiple resistances, adapted to Africa (Wild Peanut Lab (UGA, Athens). Wild Arachis accessions were requested for the genetic characterization of all species of the section Arachis (Wild Peanut Lab, UGA, Athens; USDA Griffin – Leal-Bertioli et al., 2024). Cenchrus americanus  Seeds of Cenchrus americanus is being used to identify lines with better tissue culture response/transformation efficiency than the current line being used for pearl millet (UGA, Tifton). Citrullus Citrullus germplasm requested in 2021-2023 as well as germplasm requested in previous years was used to evaluate genotypes for non-preference to whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) and resistance to whitefly transmitted viruses (Cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV), Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV) and Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV)) Several of the PI lines were selfed and F2 populations were developed using PI 494528 as a resistance source for further study and selection (UGA, Athens). Cowpea Cowpea accessions are being evaluated for resistance to the Cowpea Curculio (UGA, Griffin) Cucurbita Cucurbita accessions are being used to investigate Powdery mildew resistance and for crosses in a breeding program (UGA, Griffin). Accessions that were requested in 2022 and prior were evaluated in the field for resistance to whitefly transmitted viruses: Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV), Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV), and Cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV).  This evaluation has led to 4 publications since 2022 (Luckew et al., 2022, Kavalappara et al., 2023, 2024, Adeleke et al., 2024). Yellow squash and zucchini squash are being used to map the resistance identified in the broad screen (UGA, Athens). Eleusine Eleusine Accessions were used to conduct a GWAS on a diverse finger millet panel (consisting of ~140 lines majorly from Ethiopia) to investigate the underlying genetics of salt tolerance. The future plan is to genotype the USDA mini-core collection (UGA, Griffin). Sorghastrum nutans  Accessions were used in a project to examine genetic variability in Sorghastrum nutans collections from across the Southeast. Their plan is to use the genetic information gathered in this project to make informed decisions about current and future releases of Sorghastrum nutans, including possible areas of adaptation, evaluation of genetic diversity within and across future accessions, and evaluation of practices used for long-term breeder and foundation seed maintenance of a germplasm (Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center). Sorghum Lines of sorghum are being tested for aphid resistance (USDA, Tifton). 48 ex-PVP sorghum lines were planted in an unreplicated nursery for initial observation (grain color, and took scores on naturally occurring grain mold, panicle-damage from insects, and leaf anthracnose) and seed increase. Selected lines will be used for crosses (USDA, Tifton). Lines of sorghum are also being tested for aphid resistance and physiological traits at the Fort Valley State University/UGA (see Somashekhar et al., 2022). Lines of sorghum are being used for RNA seq experiments (UGA, Athens). Wheat Accessions of wheat were used in different research projects at UGA Griffin: for identifying genomic regions associated with key agro-morphological traits (Babar et al., 2024); mapping pathogen response genomic regions (ElDoliefy et al., 2024) and mapping of genomic regions for Hessian Fly Resistance (Bagwell et. al., 2024) (UGA, Griffin). Zoysia Zoysiagrass accessions and commercial cultivars were used to explore differential host plant resistance against three different isolates of Rhizoctonia solani (UGA, Griffin).   Guam Mari Marutani, University of Guam Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) Two sweet potato germlines from the USDA germplasm in Georgia, USA (PI538289, PI531168) were transferred to the Guam’s US Department of Agriculture (DOAG) tissue culture facility in July 2023. Characterization of horticultural traits of eight sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) germlines was performed at Yigo farm during January to May 2023. Accessions studied included:  PI531126 (Vilca, Romero; Peru), PI531131 (Camote Morado; Peru), PI531150 (Lurin, Peru), PI531168 (Morado de Huarango; Peru), Liberty (SC, USA), Stokes Purple (NC, USA), SP16-0009 (creamy yellow, Guam), and SP10-0010 (purple, Guam). The experiment was discontinued due to the typhoon hit northern Guam in May 2023. Hot pepper (Capsicum sp.) Three of seven hot pepper lines, the University of Guam Accession No. HP01 (Dragon), HP06 (Guåfi Up) and HP14 (Guåfi Flat) were deposited to S-9 in 2021 as Capsicum annuum. However, in 2023 they were confirmed as C. frutescens by genetic studies of multiplexed inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq). A local hot pepper, Capsicum frutescens cv. Guåfi has shown some variation in horticultural traits. The field trial was conducted to determine the stability of each trait at Guam Agricultural Experiment Station Yigo farm from February to May 2023. Traits in the study included: the orientation of fruit position as ‘erect’ (the fruit is held in an upright position); ‘pendulous’ (the fruit is pendulous or in downward position); and ‘nubby or flat tip’ fruits.  Plants with three traits are labeled as ‘Guåfi Up’, ‘Guåfi Down’, and ‘Guåfi Flat.’ Plants with each trait were artificially self-pollinated to obtain seeds.  About 80 seedlings for each trait were studied.  Offsprings of ‘Guåfi Flat’ produced all ‘nubby or flat tip’ fruits and ‘Guåfi Down’ produced all ‘pendulous’ fruits.  ‘Guåfi Up’ produced ‘pendulous’ fruit instead of ‘erect’ fruit position seen in parent plants. The study indicates that trait of fruit tip (e.g. flat tip) may be inheriting to offspring.  An open-pollinated cultivar, cv. Guåfi is characterized to produce pendulous fruits with either flat or pointy tip.  Louisiana Don LaBonte, Louisiana State University Sweetpotato germplasm requests from the S-9 repository serve two purposes: 1) in search of a source of resistance to specific diseases, and 2) to evaluate resistance to diseases of germplasm in the collection to assist the curator in expanding the information in the characterization database.  The objective is to evaluate sweetpotato germplasm for resistance against the black rot causing pathogen Ceratocystis fimbriata. An S-9 core of plant introductions and an additional set of lines at the PGR Unit will be screened. Several of these are new introductions from Japan with putative resistance (Kyuushuu 100 and Kasho Nourin). Several lines are to be screened for guava root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii. Introductions of Citrullus lanatus, Solanum melongena, Abelmoschus esculentus and Capsicum annuum were made to educate home gardeners about the importance of preserving Louisiana heirloom vegetables as these are adapted to our climate and growing conditions, as well as preserving genetic diversity among open pollinated varieties available to gardeners. There is also an objective to increase seed in order to give home gardeners the opportunity to grow and try these varieties for themselves. Unique flavor profiles, and tolerance to pests, disease, heat and humidity are expected.  Hibiscus cannabinus was planted alongside the USDA S-1084 field trials consisting of 12 fiber/seed varieties of hemp. The objective is to compare kenaf and hemp side by side as an exploratory study. Mississippi Brian S. Baldwin, Mississippi State University Bheemanahalli Rangappa, R.  Eleusine coracana: We have phenotyped the 498 accessions for plant pigments, key agronomic traits, and yield-related traits under hot and dry conditions in marginal soil. We plan to do follow-up studies before we publish these findings. Some findings will be presented at the 2024 annual ASA-CSSA-SSSA meeting in November. Tentative title: Adaptability of Finger Millet to the Hot and Dry Environment of Mississippi. (abstract to be submitted). Two Paspalum distichum samples did not survive. We lack data and do not plan to use these lines. Sorghum bicolor: We could not phenotype the whole sorghum association panel (375) for early vegetative stage vigor. However, we characterized three accessions (SC35, Macia, and RTX430) from that pool for a comparative study between inbred and hybrid. We also presented these findings at the 2023 ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Meeting. Sakhanokho, Hamidou - REE-ARS. The H. mutabilis seeds were used for research purposes (breeding and genetic studies). We are currently conducting research on genetic control of flower color and doubled-flowering in H. mutabilis. We are also working on developing dwarf H. mutabilis via transformation and genome editing. There are no publications to date. Charles L Cantrell. The work conducted with these Capsicum annuum seed was not completed and there are no publications pertaining to these seed. Dong, Hongxu. Axonopus compressus germplasm was incorporated into a new carpetgrass breeding program being initiated. Cynodon species were used to map populations grouping.  Bermudagrass breeding and cultivar development is hampered by limited information regarding genetic and phenotypic diversity. A germplasm collection of 206 bermudagrass accessions from 29 countries was genotyped with high-throughput genotyping-by-sequencing technique. Genomic diversity in this diverse germplasm panel was assessed with multifaceted approaches including population structure, phylogenetic analysis, principal component analysis, and genetic diversity parameters. This study revealed substantial genetic variation in the Cynodon accessions, demonstrating the potential of this germplasm panel for further genetic studies and cultivar development in breeding programs. Another critical issue in turfgrass breeding is the lack of information regarding the genetic architecture of traits. Four agronomic traits leaf length, leaf width, internode distance and stem diameter were evaluated in a germplasm panel of common bermudagrass accessions. Then genome-wide association study was performed to dissect the genetic basis of the traits. This study revealed extensive genetic diversity in the two Cynodon species important to breeding turfgrass cultivars by exploiting a bermudagrass germplasm panel of worldwide origin. To the best of our knowledge, this study reports the highest number of genome-wide SNP markers in a bermudagrass germplasm study. Strong and distinct genetic structure, as revealed by multiple analyses, indicates rich genetic variation for further improvement and development of new bermudagrass cultivars to reach a new adaptive peak. The grouping of African bermudagrass with common bermudagrass populations originating in Africa is a new finding and suggests significance in evolution and adaptation in the Africa continent. This study reveals that naturalized bermudagrass in the Midwest and Northeast of the US were genetically similar and likely introductions from Europe or Asia. The separate groupings of common bermudagrass accessions provides information to breeders and geneticists aiding in parental line selection for developing breeding populations. This study provides a valuable guide for allele mining of desirable genes for the traits of interest (e.g., abiotic and biotic stress resistance), which will improve bermudagrass breeding and serve as foundation for genetic mapping of important traits. Dale Riser. Research with Capsicum annuum and C. chinense were used to develop a hardy regional strain of a particular color. No publication. Results weren't overly successful. Wang Mei. Different Arachis accessions of peanut seed were assessed for fatty acid quantity and quality.  No substantial differences were observed.  No publications yet. Zurweller, Brendan Brendan. Seed requested was used in a non-replicated seed size evaluation test. There were not any publications produced from this request. North Carolina Carlos Iglesias, North Carolina State University Over the past three years (2021 – 2023), institutions in North Carolina requested 1211 accessions (20 accessions seemed to have been ordered by organizations outside our State) from the PGRC unit at Griffin. Of these, 221 were requested in 2023, 444 in 2022, and 546 in 2021. We received use reports for 65% of the accessions (787 of them).  The largest number of accessions requested by genus were Sorghum (823); Hibiscus (118); Capsicum (64); Zoysia (55) Abelmoschus (38); Vigna (33); and Arachis (27); representing 95% of the total number of accessions requested by institutions in North Carolina. Kenaf: The whole kenaf (Hibicus cannabinus) collection was introduced to NCSU for a preliminary field evaluation in 2023.  Small plots were evaluated at Clinton, NC and based on biomass production and plant type, 31 of them were preselected.  Individual plants were cloned in the greenhouse and seed was produced during winter months.  A replicated trial is being conducted this year using the selected entries.  Fiber amount and quality will be evaluated.  Kenaf seems to have great potential as an alternative fiber crop with good prospects to complement the fiber hemp production movement. Sorghum: A collection of sorghum accessions was used for studies on understanding metabolic adaptations to environmental stresses by Dr. Rellan-Alvarez. His lab is currently performing genetic mapping of metabolic traits with these materials. Sorghum bicolor subsp. bicolor seeds obtained for ethylene response study comparing Sorghum bicolor subsp. bicolor to Zea mays. subsp. mays. In the process of collecting preliminary results to be used for grant submission (K. Fritz). Okra: Early crossing of introduced okra accessions to NCSU have resulted in segregating progenies which are under evaluation and selection for target traits this year (ornamental).  Previously, two generations of multiplication and observation were conducted in greenhouse and field, including some practice crossings. Field observations and selections were made in the field during 2021.  Selections were grown in 2023 and more targeted crosses were made.  The target is to develop okra varieties that combine different flower and pod colors as ornamental types. Okra accessions were also acquired by the Utopian Seed Project (USP).  The USP worked with the higher oilseed content accessions. Crosses were made in 2021 and the top 10 F1s were selected to grow out this year. Next year USP will grow the F2s and begin selection for higher oil content material.  The USP has also evaluated accessions from other species of the genus Abelmoschus. USP is especially interested in tropical A. manihot subsp. manihot and A. caillei. We are currently in the F3 grow out of a high oilseed breeding project which used S9 germplasm as the parental lines. We have been partnering with the Princeton Seed Farm to grow out the plants and run oilseed analysis via NMR for the purpose of selecting improved lines.  We have also collected leaf tissue samples for genome sequencing to identify genetic markers associated with higher oil content to assist with future selections. Peanut species: All germplasm acquired from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) and/or the National Peanut Germplasm Collection in Dawson, GA was used to validate seed sources already in the North Carolina State University peanut germplasm collection. The following studies required the validation of the peanut germplasm lines reported in S9 over the past 1 to 3 years: The plant introductions (PI) used in the development of three populations with the recurrent parent, Georgia Green, were verified based on sources obtained from GRIN – PI 371521, PI 471952 and PI 493693 were selected on the basis of high folate content and used for the purposes of mapping folate QTL for marker-assisted selection. Vigna Species: Thirty accessions of Bambara groundnuts (Vigna subterranea) were introduced and increased in the greenhouse in the Spring of 2022. Those accessions together with 220 introductions from the collection at IITA (Nigeria) were grown in the field in 2023 (Clinton, NC) to evaluate adaptation and crop potential.   Due to weed pressure and weather the yield was not very significant, and the 60 best performing lines were selected to be evaluated further. A new seed increase from the selected lines is currently being done at the greenhouse. We also established a collaboration with the weed science specialist to find potential pre and post emergent herbicides that are currently being evaluated in a field trial in Clinton, NC. The project was renewed and is financed during fy24 and fy25 by a small grant for New and Emerging Crops by the NCDA. The main target is the alternative protein market, given that there are already companies developing protein products based on Bambara groundnuts in Asia. Turfgrass species: A St. Augustinegrass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze] germplasm panel that includes all plant introductions in GRIN has been assembled for a genome-wide association study on drought tolerance. A zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) germplasm panel that includes all plant introductions in GRIN has been assembled for a genome-wide association study on components of seed yield. A reference genome for PI 410353 has been built and annotated. Differential gene expression data is being used to identify genes controlling GLS resistance that can be stacked for development of St. Augustinegrass cultivars with improved levels of resistance. A set of 24 Cynodon spp. germplasm was evaluated for their ability to grow under 63% shade. These accessions represent new sources of genetic resistance to shade to be used for developing improved bermudagrass cultivars. A manuscript summarizing this work is in preparation for submission to Crop Science. A mapping population using PI 231146 as the male parent was developed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with large patch (Causal agent Rhizoctoni solanii) resistance. A manuscript summarizing this work is in preparation for submission to Plant Disease. Oklahoma Shuhao Yu, Oklahoma State University Plant germplasm users in Oklahoma requested a total of 342 accessions maintained at the USDA ARS Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit at Griffin, GA in this reporting period. The Oklahoma users included scientists at Oklahoma State University, USDA ARS laboratories, University of Tulsa and private business, and farmers. The requested plant germplasm included peanuts (Arachis spp.), sorghum (Sorghum spp.), and grasses (Cenchrus spp). The number of requested germplasm in 2023 (342) is much less than that in 2020 (981), 2021 (872), and 2022 (2,374). Puerto Rico Carlos Flores Ortega, University of Puerto Rico During the years 2021 and 2022 Dra. Angela Linares, Professor/ Agro-Environmental Sciences Department and her graduate student Andrea Landron requested three cucurbita germplasm GRIF 9457, PI 458650 and PI 490354 (GRIN-Global), Taína Dorada, Soler and Verde Luz genotypes developed at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus, and the Waltham genotype as a susceptible control were evaluated for resistance to P. xanthii (GenBank OP882307, OP882308, OP882309 y OP882310). Previous studies suggest that GRIF 9457 is resistant, PI 458650 is partially susceptible, and PI 490354 is intermediate susceptible to powdery blight. Ten plants with three repetitions of each genotype were planted in the Lajas Agricultural Experimental Station nursery in December 2022. The plants were inoculated with a suspension of conidia of 5 x 104 conidia/mL at 7 and 14 days after sowing. Data were taken from cotyledons, first and second true leaves at 21 days after sowing using the modified scale of Horsfall and Barrat (1945) where 1 = free of infection and 6 = > 76% of white powdery specks in the foliar tissue. All the genotypes were susceptible to inoculation by P. xanthii, obtaining between 22 and 60% infection in the evaluated seedlings. The Taína Dorada, Soler, and Verde Luz genotypes were less susceptible to infection caused by P. xanthii than the rest of the study genotypes (P > 0.05). South Carolina Rick Boyles, Clemson University In 2023, number of individual requests and total number of accessions requested were both up from previous year numbers. At 1,193 accessions ordered in 2023, this was the second highest in the past six years (2021: 1,428), and more than double the 569 accessions requested in 2022. Very similar to the previous year, accessions of Citrullus spp. represented 72% of total accessions. While the USDA-ARS Vegetable Lab (Dr. Amnon Levi) requested accessions from five different Citrullus species, the majority of accessions in the Citrullus genus were ordered by Dr. Bhupinder Jatana’s program at the Clemson University Edisto Research and Education Center (Blackville, SC). These accessions were requested to conduct controlled environment studies that have not been initiated to date. There were also four accessions of tinda (Benincasa fistulosa) requested for this same experiment. Dr. Phil Wadl requested additional sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) accessions (n=174) again in 2023 to characterize them for resistance to the root-knot nematode species, Meloidogyne enterolobii and M. incognita. Any resistant accessions identified in this evaluation will be incorporated into USDA-ARS Vegetable Laboratory sweetpotato breeding nurseries. At 104 accessions, sorghum was the third most popularly requested genus in 2023. The majority of accessions are being used to study the role of root exudates’ chemical diversity in facilitating the assemblage of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The sorghum accessions are being used in the ongoing greenhouse experiment to collect root exudates, which are being analyzed using the mass spectrometric technique. The collected root exudates will be further used to investigate their ability to induce hyphal branching of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. There was also one accession of pearl millet (Cenchrus americanus) ordered for this study as an interspecies control. In a separate study conducted by Dr. Trevor Rife’s lab at the Clemson Pee Dee Research and Education Center (PDREC), 11 Sorghum bicolor accessions were used to test the ability of CD case mini-rhizotrons with 3D printed components as a high-throughput phenotyping approach to screen initial nodal root angles. The 11 accessions selected had previously shown to have high variation in root architecture. Twenty sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) accessions were obtained by Dr. Wonkeun “John” Park, based at the Clemson University PDREC, to evaluate regional adaptability, yield potential, and shattering traits and to compare with varieties available in the markets and from the private seed company in responding to the local farmers’ needs. There were two separate requests made for a small number of Capsicum accessions (16 total) that included a small farm operation (Freedom Acres LLC) that is using the peppers to develop proprietary hot sauces for market. Dr. Sachin Rustgi’s lab requested diploid peanut progenitors: two accessions each of the A subgenome donor, Arachis duranensis, and the B subgenome donor, Arachis ipaensis, along with three accessions of the non-donor A subgenome species, Arachis diogoi (Table 1). This study aims to explore the contributions of these subgenomes to the proteome of cultivated peanut, Arachis hypogaea, and evaluate the diversity in protein content and compositions across different subgenomes. Additionally, nine accessions of A. hypogaea were ordered, which included accessions previously tested for heat tolerance. Some genotypes were selected based on known deficiencies in specific immunogenic proteins, and one was chosen for its resistance to root-knot nematodes, with the objective of studying the impact of heat stress during anthesis on seed protein content and composition. <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="5"> Table 1. Statistics showing trends in South Carolina requests over the past six years. </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="67"> Year </td> <td width="132"> Total requests </td> <td width="132"> # of genera </td> <td width="146"> # of accessions </td> <td width="183"> % change accessions </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="67"> 2018 </td> <td width="132"> 10 </td> <td width="132"> 8 </td> <td width="146"> 837 </td> <td width="183"> N/A </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="67"> 2019 </td> <td width="132"> 17 </td> <td width="132"> 7 </td> <td width="146"> 736 </td> <td width="183"> -12 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="67"> 2020 </td> <td width="132"> 8 </td> <td width="132"> 6 </td> <td width="146"> 926 </td> <td width="183"> +26 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="67"> 2021 </td> <td width="132"> 10 </td> <td width="132"> 5 </td> <td width="146"> 1,428 </td> <td width="183"> +54 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="67"> 2022 </td> <td width="132"> 11 </td> <td width="132"> 5 </td> <td width="146"> 569 </td> <td width="183"> -60 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="67"> 2023 </td> <td width="132"> 13 </td> <td width="132"> 8 </td> <td width="146"> 1193 </td> <td width="183"> +110 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Tennessee Virginia R. Sykes, University of Tennessee Over the past three years (2021 – 2023), 859 accessions were requested from the PGRC unit at Griffin by individuals in Tennessee. Of these, 79 were requested in 2023, 579 were requested in 2022, and 201 were requested in 2021. The large increase in 2022 was from requests for cowpea germplasm from TN State University. In 2023, material was requested from 9 genera: Arachis (1), Citrullus (1), Crotalaria (2), Eleusine (1), Sesbania (7), Sorghastrum (1), Sorghum (1), Stylosanthes (33), Vigna (32). No publications or germplasm/variety releases related to these accession requests have been reported since the last S-009 report in 2023 Texas Gerald R. Smith, Texas A&M University Approximately 76 accessions (PIs) of sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx. Torr.) originally collected in Mexico, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas were obtained from the Plant Genetic Resource Conservation Unit at Griffin, GA and planted in the greenhouse (Texas A&M University, College Station, TX) in 4-inch pots during the fall, winter and spring of 2023-2024. In addition, seedlings of six commercial varieties released by the USDA-NRCS and collaborators and currently sold in NM, OK, and TX (Brewster, South Texas Native Germplasm, Niner, Vaughn, El Reno and Haskell) were also established. Current research at TAMU focuses on determining DNA content and genetic variation within and between accessions.  Previous studies prior to the availability of flow cytometry reported frequent aneuploidy with chromosome numbers ranging from 2N=20 to > 2N=100 in the species. While chromosome counts have yet to be determined, the 2C DNA content of the commercial varieties (El Reno, Haskell, and Vaughn) has averaged ca. 1.4 pg, while the 2C DNA content of the varieties (Brewster, Niner, and South Texas Native Germplasm) has averaged 3.75 pg or greater. The 2C DNA content of Uvalde and Premier, which are no longer commercially available, averaged ca. 1.4 pg and 3.75 pg, respectively. This is consistent with the classification of the rhizomatous tetraploid types as Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr var curtipendula and the higher ploidy accessions as Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx) Torr. var caespitosa Gould & Kapadia. Agronomic and plant pathology research with guar, chickpea, tepary bean, indigo, lentil, and cowpea was initiated at Texas A&M AgriLife, Vernon.  The guar PI lines were evaluated for plant size, disease occurrence and drought tolerance.  Cowpeas were evaluated under both organic and non-organic field conditions and cowpea seed were evaluated using NIRS technology. Sorghum grain quality was evaluated at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.  The ongoing research entails a systems-level investigation of networks regulating starch, protein, and oil production in sorghum grains.  Large seed sorghum PI lines were evaluated in Puerto Rico through the USDA Sorghum Research at Lubbock, TX. The Juenger lab at UT Austin has longstanding interests in c4 perennial grasses, including their comparative genomics, abiotic stress responses, and interactions with microbial communities.  Much of our research has focused on grasses in the genus Panicum.  In 2022 and 2023, we placed a GRIN request for a number of accessions of Panicum species (Panicum bergii, P. hirticaule, P capillare, P. turgidum, P. antidotale).  We’ve grown material from these accessions to harvest tissue for RNA and DNA and have moved forward with developing genomic resources for P. capillare and P. hirticaule.  We hope to generate well assembled and annotation full genome references for these species in the coming year.  These will be useful resources for us in the context of comparative genomic analyses. In addition, we’ve conducted a small experiment using several of these species to characterize the root-associated microbiome of Panicoid grasses. Progeny tests were conducted in both greenhouse and field sites at Texas A&M AgriLife, Overton to identify non-segregating lines of forage lablab bean from crosses between disease resistant lines and high seed yield lines.  Fifty F2 plants from hand crosses between southern root-knot nematode resistant forage cowpea lines and perennial wild-type cowpeas were evaluated at Overton, TX for maturity, seed and pod traits and perennial traits.  Elite F3 families were produced with high seed and forage yield potential.  Root-knot nematode resistance will be evaluated in these families in 2024. U.S. Virgin Islands Thomas W. Zimmerman, University of the Virgin Islands Melon worms are a major problem to cucumber production in the USVI. Cucumis sativus, 86 PI lines, were obtained from the USDA Germplasm Repository and evaluated for leaf flavonoid content and influence on melon worms during growth and production. Sweetpotato germplasm was evaluated for the influence of stem cutting length on production and weevil damage. Thirty-one West Indian cultivars of Avocado were planted to determine tolerance to caliche soils and month of production. Cultivars of Avocado can flower at different times during the year. The objective is to select five cultivars that would provide for year-round production. Hibiscus sabdariffa breeding continues toward developing new cultivars with extended production, tolerance to high pH soils and fusarium. Virginia Bas Bargmann, Virginia Tech Several institutions in Virginia have used germplasm provided by the S-009 project over the last three years for educational purposes as well as differing lines of research, some with promising results that are expected to lead to publications in the near future. There were no publications reported in the last year. Of the 15 Virginia users, we had a response from ten and five did not respond after repeated solicitation. Dr. Balota at Virginia Tech used Arachis hypogaea to study heat tolerance and pollen viability and multiple Vicia faba lines in a NIFA-SCRI project to test their winter survival and suitability for production in the Mid-Atlantic. Mr. Catania did not use the Solanum douglasii germplasm due to waterlogging at his growth location. Dr. Harbans Bhardwaj at Virginia State University used 492 accessions of Vicia faba during 2023 and evaluated these in the field for winter hardiness and agronomic traits. Mr. Hardin (affiliation unknown) used Abelmoschus esculentus for observation and the strain deemed to be of most significant agricultural potential was shared with the Utopian Seed Project for their 2024 Ultra-Cross breeding project. Ms. Hollowell at Southern Exposure Seed Exchange used Lagenaria, Indigofera, and Abelmoschus germplasm for observation and comparison, to assess which would be suitable for selling in seed packets, primarily to home gardeners. Ms. Liu at Virginia Tech used Cymbopogon citratus to study how different environmental conditions (such as lighting) affect their secondary metabolites (volatile aroma compounds) and gene expression. Mr. Nelson at CRR used the Cucurbita lundelliana accession successfully for hybridization with the domesticated species C. ficifolia and C. maxima. Mr. Swartz at Lost River Teas LLC stated the Phyllostachys germplasm he received did not survive and was not used for further study. Dr. Timko at the University of Virginia used his Vigna germplasm to grow plants out in the greenhouse to multiply seed and do a first pass analysis of phenotypic differences. Dr. Zhao at Virginia Tech evaluated the disease resistance of requested Capsicum germplasm.

Publications

Peer Reviewed Publications Adeleke, I. A., Kavalappara, S. R., Codod, C. B., Kharel, P., Luckew, A., McGregor, C., Simmons, A. M., Srinivasan, R., & Bag, S. (2024). Evaluation of plant introduction lines of yellow squash (Cucurbita pepo) for resistance against single infection of Cucurbit Chlorotic Yellows Virus and Cucurbit Leaf Crumple Virus. HortScience, 59(7), 949-956. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17861-24 Alam MS, Khanal C, Roberts J, Rutter W, Wadl PA (2024) Enhancing reniform nematode management in sweetpotato by complementing host-plant resistance with nonfumigant nematicides. Plant Disease 108(7):PDIS-07. doi:10.1094/PDIS-07-23-1412-RE. Amgain, N. R., Fontanier, C. H., & Martin, D. L. (2023). Evaluation of annual effect of selected cultivation programs for the management of creeping bentgrass putting greens in the transition zone. Crop Science, 63, 1592–1601. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20921">https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20921</a>. Amini, Z., H. Salehi., M. Chehrazi, M. Etemadi, and M. Xiang. 2023. miRNAs and their target genes play a critical role in response to heat stress in Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. Molecular Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-023-00713-2 Andreason SA, McKenzie-Reynolds P, Whitley KM, Coffey J, Simmons AM, Wadl PA (2024) Tracking sweet potato leaf curl virus through field production: Implications for sustainable sweetpotato production and breeding practices. Plants 13(9):1267. Awika HO, Ewer J (2022). Modeling the influence of leaf and flower carotenoid, flavonoid and chlorophyll in field cucumber fruit count using machine learning and rank fraction. ASA, CSSA, SSSA Annual Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Awika HO, Ewer J, Dreves AJ (2022). Total leaf flavonoid influences the resistance to melonworm in diverse cucumber accessions in the US Virgin Islands. ASA, CSSA, SSSA Annual Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Babar, M. A., Khan, N., Blount, A., Barnett, R. D., Harrison, S. A., DeWitt, N., Johnson, J., Mergoum, M., Boyles, R., Murphy, P., Mason, E., Shakiba, E., Ibrahim, A. M. H., Sutton, R., Brown-Guedira, G., Marshall, D., Cowger, C., Baik, B. K., Santantonio, N., … Mailhot, D. (2024). Registration of ‘FL16045-25’: An early-maturing, high-yielding, disease-resistant soft red facultative wheat cultivar for the southern United States. Journal of Plant Registrations, 18, 374–387. https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20343 Bagwell JW, Subedi M, Sapkota S, Lopez B, Ghimire B, Chen Z, Buntin GD, Bahri BA, Mergoum M. Quantitative Trait Locus Analysis of Hessian Fly Resistance in Soft Red Winter Wheat. Genes. 2023 Sep 17;14(9):1812. Branch, W. D., and T. B. Brenneman. "Registration of ‘Georgia‐23RKN’peanut." 2024. Journal of Plant Registrations 18.2: 285-289. Brown, J.M., Escalona Weldt, C., Holloway, H.M.P., Tuong, T.D., Patton, A.J., DaCosta, M., Livingston, D.P., Yu, X., and Milla-Lewis, S.R. 2023. A transcriptomic analysis of zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica) provides novel insights into the molecular basis of cold acclimation. Grass Research 3(1). Cerit, M., Wang, Z., Dogan, M., Yu, S., Valenzuela-Antelo, J.L., Chu, C., ... & Liu, S. 2023. Mapping QTL for yield and its component traits using wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) RIL mapping population from TAM 113× Gallagher. Agronomy, 13, 2402. doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13092402 Chandra, A., A. Genovesi, J. Fry, A. Patton, M. Meeks, R. Braun, M. Xiang, M. Chhetri, and M. Kennelly. 2023. ‘DALZ 1701’, a third-generation interspecific zoysiagrass hybrid. Journal of Plant Registrations. 17, 499-511. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20319">https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20319</a> Chandra, A., Genovesi, A.D., Meeks, M., Segars, C.A., Eads, J., Hejl, R., Floyd, W., Wherley, B., Straw, C., Bowling, R., Kenworthy, K.E., Schwartz, B.M., Raymer, P., Milla-Lewis, S.R., and Wu, Y. 2023. Registration of ‘DALSA 1618’ St. Augustinegrass. J. Plant Regist. DOI: 10.1002/plr2.20302 Chen YJ, Catto MA, Pandey S, Leal-Bertioli S, Abney M, Hunt BG, Bag S, Culbreath A, Srinivasan R. Characterization of gene expression patterns in response to an orthotospovirus infection between two diploid peanut species and their hybrid. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2023 Nov 13;14:1270531. Chen YJ, Pandey S, Catto M, Leal-Bertioli S, Abney MR, Bag S, Hopkins M, Culbreath A, Srinivasan R. Evaluation of wild peanut species and their allotetraploids for resistance against thrips and thrips-transmitted tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus (TSWV). Pathogens. 2023 Aug 28;12(9):1102. Cuevas, HE, Knoll, JE, Prom, LK, Stutts, LR, Vermerris, W. 2023. Genetic diversity, population structure and anthracnose resistance response in a novel sweet sorghum diversity panel. Frontiers in Plant Science. 14. DOI=10.3389/fpls.2023.1249555 Culbreath J, Wram C, Khanal C, Bechtel T, Wadl PA, Mueller J, Rutter WB (2023) A community-level sampling method for detection of Meloidogyne enterolobii and other root-knot nematodes in sweetpotato storage roots. Crop Protection 174:106401. doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2023.106401. Dilovan K. Yahya, Matthew W. Blair, Aron M. Felts, Ahmad N. Aziz. 2024. Individual Microspore Genotyping in Sorghum (S. bicolor) Cultivars Using a KASP Panel of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers. Annals of Plant Sciences.13(3): 6199-6211, ISSN 2287-688X. <a href="https://annalsofplantsciences.com/index.php/aps/article/view/1129">https://annalsofplantsciences.com/index.php/aps/article/view/1129</a>. ElDoliefy, A.E.A., Anderson, J.A., Glover, K.D. et al. Mapping of main and hidden epistatic QTL effects in spring wheat population using medium parental FHB resistance. Discov. Plants 1, 1 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44372-024-00001-6 Ganaparthi VR, Rennberger G, Wechter P, Levi A, Branham SE (2023) Genome-wide association mapping and genomic prediction of Fusarium wilt race 2 resistance in the USDA Citrullus amarus collection. Plant Disease 107(12):3836-42. doi:10.1094/PDIS-02-23-0400-RE Ganaparthi VR, Wechter P, Levi A, Branham SE (2024) Mapping and validation of Fusarium wilt race 2 resistance QTL from Citrullus amarus line USVL246-FR2. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 137(4):91. doi:10.1007/s00122-024-04595-z. Garcia C, Pauli D, Plecki C, Alnasser H, Rozzi B, Calleja S, Arnold AE. The root-endophytic microbiome shifts under drought in high-performing sorghum. Phytobiomes Journal. 2024 Mar 1(ja). Gouveia, B., Chandra, A., Schwartz, B.M., Kenworthy, K.E., Raymer, P.L., Wu, Y., and Milla-Lewis, S.R. 2024. Warm-season turfgrass species genotype-by-environment interaction for turfgrass quality under drought. J. Agron. Crop Sci. 210(1), e12681. Holbrook, C.C., Ozias-Akins, P., Chu, Y., Brenneman, T.M., Culbreath, A.K. 2024. Registration of ‘TifNV-HG’ peanut. Journal of Plant Registrations 17, 512-516. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20295">https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20295</a> Hui Zhang, Lisa dean, Ming li Wang, Phat Dang, Marshall Lamb, and Charles Chen. 2023. GWAS with principal component analysis identifies QTLs associated with main peanut flavor related traits. Front. In Plant Science. 14: 1204415. doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffpls.2023.1204415">10.3389/fpls.2023.1204415</a> Joseph, Samuel S., Thomas W. Zimmerman, Daryl A. Richard, Jr. and Theran Blackwood. 2023. Influence of Sweetpotato Cutting Length and In-row Spacing on Production AgriFest Bulletin 2023. Pages 25-26. Kavalappara, S.R., Bag, S., Luckew, A., McGregor, C.E. (2023) Small RNA Profiling of Cucurbit Yellow Stunting Disorder Virus from Susceptible and Tolerant Squash (Cucurbita pepo) Lines. Viruses, 15(3):788. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/v15030788">https://doi.org/10.3390/v15030788</a> Kavalappara, S.R., Bag, S., Luckew, A., McGregor, C.E., Culbreath, A.K., Simmons, A.M. (2024) Evaluation of Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) Genotypes for Resistance to Cucurbit Chlorotic Yellows Virus. Horticulturae, 10(3):264. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10030264">https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10030264</a> Kenworthy, K.E, Quesenberry, K., Aldrich, K., Buhlman, J., Rios, E.F., Unruh, J.B.,  Harmon, P. F., Dale, A., Milla-Lewis, S.R., Schwartz, B.M., Raymer, P.G., Chandra, A., Wu, Y., Zhang, J., Wherley, B.G., Martin, D.L., Moss, J.Q., Fontanier, C., Miller, G.L. 2023 Registration of 'FSA1602' St. Augustinegrass. J Plant Regist. https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20341 Knoll, J. E., Uchimiya, M., Hayes, C. M., Punnuri, S. M., Harris-Shultz, K. R., & Smith, J. S. (2023). Registration of three sweet sorghum lines with high tolerance to sorghum aphid (Melanaphis sorghi). Journal of Plant Registrations, 17, 551–560. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20310">https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20310</a> Kumar N, Boatwright JL, Boyles R, Brenton ZW, Kresovich S (2024) Identification of pleiotropic loci mediating structural and non-structural carbohydrate accumulation within the sorghum bioenergy association panel using high-throughput markers. Front Plant Sci 15:1356619. doi:10.3389/fpls.2024.1356619 Kumar N, Boatwright JL, Sapkota S, Brenton ZW, Ballén-Taborda C, Myers MT, Cox WA, Jordan KE, Kresovich S and Boyles R (2023) Discovering useful genetic variation in the seed parent gene pool for sorghum improvement. Front Genet 14:1221148. doi:10.3389/fgene.2023.1221148. Leal-Bertioli SCM, de Blas FJ, Chavarro MC, Simpson CE, Valls JFM, Tallury SP, Moretzsohn MC, Custodio AR, Stalker HT, Seijo G, Bertioli DJ. 2024. An analysis of the relationships of the wild peanut species in the taxonomic section Arachis using high-density single nucleotide polymorphisms – a resource for botanical classification, crop improvement and germplasm management. American Journal of Botany. 2024;111:e16357. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.16357">https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.16357</a> Luckew, A., Meru, G., Wang, Y., Mwatuwa, R., Paret, M., Carvalho, R., Kalischuk, M., Ribeiro da Silva, A. L. B., Candian, J., Dutta, B., Srinivasan, R., Kavalappara, S. R., RRD, N. C. K., Bag, S., and McGregor, C. (2022). Field Evaluation of Cucurbita Germplasm for Resistance to Whiteflies and Whitefly-transmitted Viruses. HortScience, 57(2), 337-344. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI16197-21">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI16197-21</a>. Manley, A., C. B. Adams, J. Cason, C. Ruhl, M. Brown, H. Pham, W. Ravelombola, C. Trostle 2024.  Evaluating USDA guar [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) germplasm for seed protein content. Euphytica. 220 (112):   Evaluating USDA guar [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] germplasm for seed protein content | Euphytica (springer.com) Manley, A., C. Adams, W. Ravelombola, C. Trostle, J. Cason, H. Pham, R. Shrestha, S. Malani 2023. Evaluating USDA guar [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] genotypes for Alternaria leaf blight resistance under field conditions. Euphytica 219 (56): 2-8. Evaluating USDA guar [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] genotypes for Alternaria leaf blight resistance under field conditions (researchgate.net). Patil NY, Hoffmann Jr L, Winans N, Perumal R, Hayes C, Emendack Y, Boyles R, Dahlberg J, Klein RR, Klein PE, Rooney WL (2024) Registration of sorghum backcross‐nested association mapping (BC‐NAM) families in a BTx623 or RTx436 background. J Plant Registr 18:204-219. doi:10.1002/plr2.20286. Proano Cuenca, F., C. Garzon, Y.Q. Wu, S. Marek, N. Walker. 2023. Draft genome sequences of eleven isolates of Ophiosphaerella spp., the causal agents of several turfgrass diseases including spring dead spot of bermudagrass and necrotic ring spot of Kentucky bluegrass. PhytoFrontiers.  Rockstad, G.B., Austin, R.E., Tome Gouveia, B., Carbajal, E.M., and Milla-Lewis, S.R. 2023. Assessing unmanned aerial vehicle-based imagery for breeding applications in St. Augustinegrass under drought and non-drought conditions. Crop Science https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21128 Serba, D., Y.Q. Wu, R. Hejl, C. Williams, and K. Bronson. 2023. Spectral reflectance estimated genetic variation in hybrid turf bermudagrass. Grass Research. DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.48130/GR-2023-0022">https://doi.org/10.48130/GR-2023-0022</a> Singh, L., McCurdy, J. D., Baldwin, B. S., Dong, H. 2023. Genetic diversity of bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) revealed by genotyping-by-sequencing. Front. Plant Sci. Vol 14 <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1155721">https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1155721</a> Singh, L., Y.Q. Wu, J.D. McCurdy, B.R. Stewart, M.L. Warburton, B.S. Baldwin, and H.X. Dong. 2023. Genetic diversity and population structure of bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) revealed by genotyping-by-sequencing. Frontiers in Plant Science. 14:1155721. DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1155721">https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1155721</a>  Somashekhar M. Punnuri, Addissu G. Ayele, Karen R. Harris-Shultz, Joseph E. Knoll, Alisa W. Coffin, Haile K. Tadesse, J. Scott Armstrong, Trahmad K. Wiggins, Hanxia Li, Scott Sattler, Jason G. Wallace. 2022. Genome-wide association mapping of resistance to the sorghum aphid in Sorghum bicolor. Genomics 114, Issue 4 Subedi, M., Bagwell, J. W., Ghimire, B., Lopez, B., Sapkota, S., Babar, M. A, & Mergoum, M. (2024). identifying genomic regions associated with key agro-morphological traits in soft red winter wheat using genome-wide association study. Crop Science, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21261 Tsai YC, Brenneman T, Holbrook CC, Chu Y, Ozias-Akins P, Bertioli D. Leal-Bertioli SCM. 2023. Development of a greenhouse method to evaluate peanut resistance to Athelia rolfsii. Phytofrontiers doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-06-22-0069-TA. Viteri, D. M., & Linares-Ramírez, A. M. (2024). Registration of indeterminate and photoperiod-insensitive IIPG-7 and IIPG-11 pigeonpea germplasm. Journal of Plant Registrations, 18, 426–435. https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20375 Viteri, D. M., Linares-Ramírez, A. M., & Shi, A. (2024). Genome-wide association study reveals a QTL region for ashy stem blight resistance in PRA154 Andean common bean. Plant Disease, 108, 407–415. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-07-23-1275-RE. Waldo BD, Branham SE, Levi A, Wechter WP, Rutter WB (2023) Distinct genomic loci underlie quantitative resistance to Meloidogyne enterolobii galling and reproduction in Citrullus amarus. Plant Disease 107(7):2126-2132. doi:10.1094/PDIS-09-22-2228-RE Woli, P., G.R. Smith, C.R. Long, and F.M. Rouquette, Jr. 2023. The El Nino-Southern Oscillation effects on cowpea and winter wheat yields in the semi-arid region of the southern US. Agric. Sci. 14:154-175. Woli, P., G.R. Smith, C.R. Long, J. Rudd, Q. Xue, and F.M. Rouquette, Jr. 2023. Exploring the Potential of Cowpea-Wheat Double Cropping in the Semi-Arid Region of the Southern United States Using the DSSAT Crop Model. Agric. Sci. 14. <a href="https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2023.141004">https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2023.141004</a>. Xiang, M.Y., S.H. Yu, L. Gopinath, H. Salehi, J. Moss, and Y.Q. Wu. 2023. Raising mowing height improves freeze tolerance of putting green type bermudagrass. HortScience. DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17351-23">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17351-23</a> Yu, S., C.H. Fontanier, D.L. Martin, J.Q. Moss, C.L. Goad, Y.Q. Wu. 2023. Effect of antecedent drought stress on spring green-up in turf-type bermudagrass. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 6:e20353. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20353 Yu, S., C.H. Fontanier, D.L. Martin, J.Q. Moss, and Y.Q. Wu. 2023. Advanced turf-type bermudagrass experimental genotypes show marked variation in drought response. HortScience. 58(6): 600-607. Other Publications Ahmad Naseer Aziz. 2024. Perspective advancements in plant science through segregating sorghum gametophyte developmental stages. Iris Online Journal of Sciences. OJS.MS.ID.000508. Online: <a href="https://irispublishers.com/iojs/volume1-issue2.php">https://irispublishers.com/iojs/volume1-issue2.php</a>. Alam T, Anco D, Rustgi S (2023) Breeding peanut for reduced allergen content. CU Land-Grant Press 1183. Delfin, M. 2023. Title: Flavonoids, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity in leaves and calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa and petals of H. rosa-sinensis. Poster presentation at the 14th University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability, Tumon, GU (April 12, 2023) Desamito, C. 2023. “Improving hot pepper production for increased value-added products in Guam.” Oral presentation at the Micronesian Chefs Association (MCA) meeting, Tumon, GU (April 13, 2023) and at the American Chef Federation (ACF) meeting, Tumon, GU (April 27, 2023). Marutani, M., Desamito, C., Salas, S. 2023. Seed production system expands public access to heirloom vegetables. Western Pacific Tropical Research Center 2022 Impact Report, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Mangilao, GU. Valsala Sankarapillai, L., Reddy, K. R., & Bheemanahalli, R. (2023). Resilience of Sorghum to Abiotic Stressors during the Early Vegetative Stage. ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO. (Poster). Vega-Martinez, A. & J. P. Morales-Payan. 2024. Comparative characterization of avocado accessions at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Lajas, Puerto Rico. Abstracts of the 42nd meeting of the Puerto Rico Interdisciplinary Meeting (PRISM), 42:56. (University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla Campus. April 20, 2024). Venegas Hidalgo, B. E. & J. P. Morales-Payan. 2024. Morphological fruit and tree attributes of breadfruit accessions from the germplasm collection of the Agricultural Experiment Station at Isabela, Puerto Rico. Abstracts of the 42nd meeting of the Puerto Rico Interdisciplinary Meeting (PRISM), 42:60.(University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla Campus. April 20, 2024). Yu, S., Schoonmaker, A.N., Yan, L., Hulse-Kemp, A.M., Fontanier, C.H., Martin, D.L., Moss, J.Q., Wu, Y.Q. 2023. How does African bermudagrass do in winter? Golf Course Management. <a href="https://www.gcmonline.com/research/news/african-bermudagrass-winter-resistance?utm_source=informz&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=general&_zs=D2EEN1&_zl=18R57">https://www.gcmonline.com/research/news/african-bermudagrass-winter-resistance?utm_source=informz&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=general&_zs=D2EEN1&_zl=18R57</a>   Germplasm Releases Milla-Lewis, S.R. (2023) Zoysiagrass plant named ‘XZ 14069’. United States Patent Application No. 18/445,332 filed on July 13, 2023. XZ 14069 (commercial name LOBO™) zoysiagrass, 2021. Milla-Lewis, S.R. (2023) St. Augustinegrass plant named ‘XSA 11377’. United States Patent Application No. 18/445,230 filed on June 6, 2023. XSA 11377 (commercial name SOLA™) St. Augustinegrass, 2021. Viteri, D. M., Linares-Ramírez, A. M., & Vázquez, R. (2024). Release of UPR-Mp-37 and UPR-Mp-48 white common bean germplasm with improved resistance to ashy stem blight. Journal of Plant Registrations, 18, 142–148. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20330">https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20330</a> Wu, Yanqi, Dennis Martin, Justin Q. Moss, Charles Fontanier. 2023. Bermudagrass cultivar ‘OKC1876’. US Plant Patent 35,548 P2. 8 pages. <a href="https://ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/PP35548">https://ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/PP35548</a> Wu, Yanqi, Dennis Martin, Justin Q. Moss, Nathan Walker, and Charles Fontanier. 2023. Bermudagrass cultivar ‘OKC3920’. US Plant Patent 35,539 P2. 4 pages. <a href="https://ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/PP35539">https://ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/PP35539</a>   Cultivar and Germplasm Releases from UGA Breeding Programs in 2023-2024.   <table width="556"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="232"> Cultivar Registration </td> <td width="108"> Main Breeder </td> <td width="108"> Category </td> <td width="108"> Date of Release </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="232"> Wheat 2230-1 -6-6-3 -20E36 </td> <td width="108"> Mergoum </td> <td width="108"> Cultivar </td> <td width="108"> 8/2/2023 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="232"> Peanut WPL-226C-R </td> <td width="108"> S. Leal-Bertioli </td> <td width="108"> Germplasm </td> <td width="108"> 2/26/2024 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="232"> Peanut GA 122544 “Georgia-23RKN” </td> <td width="108"> W Branch </td> <td width="108"> Cultivar </td> <td width="108"> 8/2/2023 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="232"> Peanut TifGP-8, TifGP-9 </td> <td width="108"> P Ozias-Akins </td> <td width="108"> Genetic Stock </td> <td width="108"> 8/3/2024 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="232"> Peanut TifCB 7 </td> <td width="108"> Holbrook </td> <td width="108"> Cultivar </td> <td width="108"> 11/21/2023 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="232"> G17-5173R2 </td> <td width="108"> Zenglu Li </td> <td width="108"> Cultivar </td> <td width="108"> 5/3/2023 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="232"> G21-245R2X </td> <td width="108"> Zenglu Li </td> <td width="108"> Cultivar </td> <td width="108"> 5/3/2023 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="232"> G16-8779 </td> <td width="108"> Zenglu Li </td> <td width="108"> Cultivar </td> <td width="108"> 5/3/2023 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 08/04/2025

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 07/08/2025 - 07/08/2025
Period the Report Covers: 09/01/2024 - 08/31/2025

Participants

Chen Charles Auburn University
Boyles Richard Clemson University
Rustgi Sachin Clemson University
Valliyodan Babu Lincoln University (Missouri)
Huang Chien-Yu Louisiana State University
LaBonte Don Louisiana State University
Pudzianowska Marta Mississippi State University
Iglesias Carlos North Carolina State university
Yu Shuhao Oklahoma State University
Chandra Ambika Texas A&M University
Liu Shuyu Texas A&M University
Septiningsih Endang Texas A&M University
Bertioli Soraya University of Georgia
Dean Jeffrey University of Georgia
McCullough Ellen University of Georgia
Phillips Timothy University of Kentucky
Sykes Virginia University of Tennessee
Bretting Peter USDA ARS
Fields Tiffany USDA PGRCU
Harrison Melanie USDA PGRCU
Morris Brad USDA PGRCU
Shade Jessica USDA NIFA
Tallury Shyam USDA PGRCU
Tonnis Brandon USDA PGRCU
Wang Mingli USDA PGRCU
Bargmann Bastiaan Virginia Tech

Brief Summary of Minutes

Meeting Minutes: S-009 RTAC Virtual Meeting

Chair: Dr. Carlos Iglesia

Time: 9:00 AM – 11:25 AM ET

S-009 State Representatives in Attendance:

Administrative Advisor Jeff Dean jeffdean@uga.edu

Alabama Charles Chen cyc0002@auburn.edu

Georgia Soraya Bertioli sbertioli@uga.edu

Kentucky Tim Phillips tphillip@uky.edu

Louisiana Don LaBonte dlabonte@agcenter.lsu.edu

Mississippi Martha Pudzianowska marta.pudzianowska@msstate.edu

North Carolina Carlos Iglesias caiglesi@ncsu.edu

Oklahoma Shuhao Yu shuhaoluy@okstate.edu

South Carolina Rick Boyles rboyles@clemson.edu

Tennessee Virginia Sykes vsykes@utk.edu

Virginia Bas Bargmann bastiaan@vt.edu

Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit Members in Attendance:

Tiffany Fields tiffany.fields@usda.gov

Melanie Harrison melanie.harrison@ars.usda.gov

Brad Morris Brad.Morris@usda.gov

Shyam Tallury shyam.tallury@ars.usda.gov

Brandon Tonnis brandon.tonnis@ars.usda.gov

Ming Li Wang mingli.wang@ars.usda.gov

Additional S-009 NIMMS in Attendance:

USDA, Office of National Programs Peter Bretting peter.bretting@usda.gov

USDA,NIFA Representative Jessica Shade jessica.shade@usda.gov

Clemson University Sachin Rustgi srustgi@clemson.edu

Texas A&M University Shuyu Liu sliu@ag.tamu.edu

Texas A&M University Ambika Chandra a-chandra@tamu.edu

Texas A&M University Mark Hussey mark.hussey@ag.tamu.edu

Louisiana State University Chien Yu Huang cyhuang@agcenter.lsu.edu

Lincoln University Babu Valliyodan valliyodanb@lincolnu.edu

University of Georgia Ellen McCollough emccullough@uga.edu

Texas A&M University Sakiko Okumoto Sakiko.okumoto@ag.tamu.edu

Texas A&M University Endang Septiningsih ending.septiningsih@ag.tamu.edu

Dr. Carlos Iglesia, S-009 RTAC Chair, called the virtual meeting to order at 9:00am ET, following with an overview of the agenda.

Melanie Harrison began the meeting by providing general PGRCU updates, highlighting brief overviews of the collections for new state reps and general attendees. The PGRCU maintains over 105,000 accessions across various species, with sorghum, pepper, and peanut being the most requested crops. Request numbers in 2024 remained stable compared to the previous 3–5 years. Personnel updates: Bob Jarrett retired. Melanie is in an acting role as the vegetable curator as the position was abolished. Tiffany Fields is assisting with germination testing following Phiffie’s retirement in 2023; the role remains unfilled due to a hiring freeze.

Ming Li Wang: Identified PI268941 as a mixed high-oleate/normal-oleate peanut accessionl After purification, genotyping, and chemical analysis, the high-oleate seeds showed improved germination and seedling vigor after long-term storage, compared to normal-oleate seeds. Identified two accession each with high oleate, high oil content, and high 100 seed weight, respectively from screening the entire sesame collection (1,232 accessions).

Shyam Tallury: 500 Arachis hypogea accessions were planted in Byron for seed increase, with the plots looking promising. Another 18 PIs are being increased in the greenhouse. There were 60 accessions from 31 species that were submitted for consideration to add into the USDA collection. Another 137 accessions representing 60 species that are being grown for seed increase in the greenhouse. Collaborations with genotyping A. hypogea accessions with Dr. Josh Clevenger, marker development to evaluate smut resistance with Kelly Chamberlin, investigation of neo allotetraploids derived from wild peanut species with by Drs. David Bertioli and Soraya Bertioli for new sources of disease resistance, and seed quality trait evaluations with Dr. Ming Li Wang are being continued. Also, 100 accessions each of cowpea and mung bean were planted in field plots for regenerations. 19 Bambara groundnut accessions were also planted in the field for seed increase. Additionally, fresh seeds harvested from 130 cowpea PIs and 103 mung bean PIs were submitted for processing into the USDA collection. Collaboration of mung bean germplasm characterization for yield, nutritional components and other physiological traits under high- temperature stress with researchers from Kansas State University and cowpea genetic diversity and genome-wide association studies with Tennessee State University were completed.

Brad Morris: There were 84 accessions (28 castor bean, 25 legumes, and 31 grasses) in total that were increased in 2024. Currently, there are 175 accessions (44 industrial crops, 79 legumes, and 52 grasses) growing in 2025 for increase. The industrial crop includes roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) continues to have interest and still working with private company Pride Road for use of roselle in various food products such as teas and jams. Increasing key roselle accessions has been successful to date. An ornamental roselle sample is in an ongoing project for its colorful purple leaves with bronzing at the terminal branch points and will produce seeds. It will change from purple to green when moved to the greenhouse and revert back to purple when moved outdoors. I am collaborating with Dr. Andrew Ogden, UGA on a project evaluating day netural roselle genotypes when grown in controlled environmental conditions.

Melanie: Regarding vegetable curation, most regenerations are occurring in Byron due to the location’s sandier soils are ideal for hill plots. Luffa’s collection is being regenerated in Florida. Drs. Steve Kresovich and Siva Sukumaran at Clemson University is regenerating and evaluating the okra collection. Eggplant is being screened by Greg Vogel at Cornell University. In terms of sorghum, working closely with the Sorghumbase team (Dr. Doreen Ware and Nick Gladman) for genotyping and seed imaging. Sorghum regenerations continue to be done in St. Croix, led by Dr. Hugo Cuevas.

Future priorities: Expand genotyping, high-throughput phenotyping (HTP), and automated data collection

Very grateful to the curators (once had eight curators and now are down to four) that still remain (Melanie Harrison, MingLi Wang, Brad Morris, and Shyam Tallury), as well as the dedicated staff (Tiffany Fields).

Q&A Session

Soraya: What is the funding situation for the PGRCU?

Melanie: At this point, base funding to the S-009 unit has not gotten cut. The unit did get an increase in the S-009 portion as well to support the salary increase for existing positions.

Rick: Do you know if there will be additional retirements or personnel changes in the near-term?

Melanie: No one in the unit has notified her of an intention to retire, but there are several employees in the unit who are eligible to retire.

Charles: Are there any policy changes?

Melanie: No major changes to date. All requests must go through GRIN to enforce Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) compliance.

Sachin Rustgi: Have there been any changes in policy in regard to international import of peanut germplasm?

Melanie: The international treaty remains in place and there have been no other changes.

Soraya: Introduces Ellen Mccullough from UGA Ag Econ field to provide an impact evaluation of the S-009 unit in terms of financial impacts. Ellen introduced herself and notified the PGRCU and RTAC that she will be reaching out to individuals for information to conduct this assessment.

State Reports:

AL (Charles Chen)

AR (no report)

FL (no report)

GA (Soraya Bertioli)

Guam (Mary Marutani): Sent report but could not attend.

HI (no report)

KY (Tim Phillips): 81 accessions requested in 2024, up from only 21 in 2023. Brandywine Seed Farm obtained 61 accessions of cowpea while Red Leaf Biologics received sorghum accessions for their business in anthocyanin-based products.

LA (Don LaBonte): Screening the sweet potato collection for black rot resistance with funding from a CGC grant. Also looking at guava root-knot nematode resistance. Had one sweet potato released in 2024.

MS (Marta Pudzianowska): There was a decrease in total accessions requested in 2024 compared to the prior year. Some requests in watermelon accessions by Alcorn State University.

NC (Carlos Iglesias): Total number of accessions requested was 376 in 2024, with sorghum making up 41% of requests.

OK (Shuhao Yu): A total of 31 accessions were requested by OK State University and the USDA-ARS scientists based in the state. Requests were for sorghum and turfgrasses, primarily for bermudagrass breeding. Two bermudagrass cultivars were released in 2024.

TN (Virginia Sykes): All requests in 2024 were made from scientists at Tennessee State University as part of Dr. Matt Blair’s breeding and genetics program.

TX (Shuyu Liu on behalf on Gerald Smith):

VI (no report)

VA (Bas Bargmann): Had 18 individuals contacted, with seven of them responding. There were five individuals who requested a total of 339 accessions. No publications, releases, or patents related to the recent requests.

Meeting took a 10 minute recess from 10:20-10:30am ET.

The meeting continued at 10:30 am ET to discuss the RTAC organizational structure, which continued discussions from the prior year about changing the term lengths to two years instead of only one. Shuhao Yu accepted the position to become incoming chair (2026-2027) and Kevin Kenworthy (as former Chair-Elect) would become secretary during the term (2026-2027). Kevin (not in attendance) will be contacted to confirm his acceptance of this new role. The intended meeting location for the 2026 RTAC meeting is College Station, TX, which is to be held immediately preceding or succeeding the National Association of Plant Breeders annual meeting hosted by Texas A&M University. Gerald Smith (TX rep) has agreed to help host the RTAC meeting in 2026.

Dr. Peter Bretting (on behalf of Dr. Neha Kothari): The NPGS genebanks (22 in total) are a highlight of the USDA in terms of providing a service to the plant science community. There are approximately 200,000 accessions sent out annually to requestors. There are 621,000 total accessions in the NPGS, with 476,000 accessions that are available (77%). Of the 621,000 accessions, 575,000 are seed and 44,000 are clonally propagated. The public sector (ARS and universities) are power users of the genebanks, with the private sector being more selective and strategic with requests. Priorities of the genebanks are to conserve germplasm and secondarily characterize the germplasm to provide more information on accessions to the community to support utilization of the genebanks. Issue with 30 to 90-years regeneration backlogs in certain accessions, while average seed viability begins lowering at 15 or so years. Focus on building partnerships with universities and ARS units to accelerate genotyping and characterize the accessions to help with efficient use and eliminate redundancies of accessions in the collection. Dr. Gayle Volk, who retired earlier in 2024, developed a plan to initiate NPGS Success Stories (e.g., Pawnee pecan release, black rice developed at USDA Dale Bumpers, and the peanut accession (PI203396) that had resistance to leaf spot and tomato spotted wilt virus which is in the pedigrees of key UGA cultivars such as ‘Georgia Browne,’ ‘Georgia Green’ and ‘Southern Runner’). Encourage folks to visit the genebanks.

Dr. Jeff Dean (Director of the UGA Experiment Station and Academic Advisor for the S-009 PGRCU): The SAAESD name has been changed to Ag Innovations – South, with other regions being denoted in the same manner. The RTAC member should consider providing direct feedback to the Ag Innovations – South group to help them with budget justifications of the S-009 unit. Dr. Dean highlighted that he is serving on the Multi-State Hatch committee to help evaluate ongoing individual projects and review new or renewed projects. Dr. Dean pitched the possibility of university scientists serving dual roles of leading a research program and acting as curators in some capacity of their plant species of interest.

Jessica Shade: There is a new NIFA Director, Dr. Jaye Hamby, that began his term in March 2025. Dr. Scott Hutchins was also appointed as the new USDA undersecretary. There remains much uncertainty at this time regarding budgets and timing to release funding to support ongoing research.

Melanie: Encourage all who have not sent in state reports to be added into the annual RTAC report.

RTAC Chair Dr. Carlos Iglesia adjourned the meeting at 11:25am ET.

Accomplishments

A large and highly valuable set of plant germplasm was preserved and distributed to scientists and plant breeders. A total of 105,957 accessions of 1,575 plant species representing 263 genera were maintained in the Griffin plant genetic resources collection. Over 88% of these accessions were available for distribution to users and over 95% were backed up securely at a second location. A total of 33,260 seed and clonal accessions were distributed upon request to scientists and educators worldwide in CY2024. Sorghum, pepper, peanut and guar were the most distributed crops. So far, this fiscal year 27,155 accessions have been distributed with sorghum and okra being the most distributed crops. Regenerations and Acquisitions: <ul> <li>Successful seed regenerations and descriptor characterizations occurred (late 2024) from 84 accessions of 28 castor bean, 25 legume, and 31 grass accessions.</li> <li>Regenerations continue for 175 accessions of 44 industrial crop, 79 legume, and 52 grass accessions to field plots, pots, and hydroponic systems (utilized for seed and plant rescue).</li> <li>Between 60 and 80 seeds of each of 500 different peanut lines were planted in field plots in Byron, GA, to harvest fresh seeds to replenish seed inventories.</li> <li>Growing plants of 137 different peanut wild relatives in the greenhouses to harvest fresh seeds to replenish seed inventories</li> <li>100 different lines each of cowpea and mung bean (total 200 lines) were planted in field plots in Griffin, GA, to harvest fresh seeds to replenish seed inventories</li> <li>Fresh pods harvested from 60 different lines of 31 peanut wild relatives were submitted to the seed storage unit for replenishment of seed inventories</li> <li>Fresh seeds harvested from 133 cowpea and 103 mung bean lines were submitted to the seed storage unit for replenishment of seed inventories.</li> <li>Regenerations of pepper, eggplant, and watermelon being conducted in the greenhouse and fields in Byron and Griffin.</li> <li>Sorghum regenerations are being conducted in collaboration with ARS researchers in Puerto Rico.</li> </ul> Evaluations: <ul> <li>Research continues to identify ornamental characteristics specifically leaf color from a field grown selected roselle sample. This selection will ultimately be used by the ornamental nursery industry as well as farmers, growers, and in home gardens. It will add economic value.</li> <li>Research continues for identifying roselle samples which will yield quality calyces and seed under field production systems in collaboration with researchers in Lithonia, GA. This research will result in the identification of day neutral roselle samples with high quality plant, calyx, and seed production characteristics useful for edible food products such as jams, chutney, and tea. New and healthy food products are very popular and important in the U.S. markets.</li> <li>Research continues for verifying field seed production from cold tolerant, over-wintered roselle samples with ornamental calyces. This evaluation will determine high quality roselle seed production and tolerance to over-wintering and freezing temperatures. This work will help the ornamental plant industry as well as farmers of ornamental plants with high quality seed and calyx production. Over wintering and cold tolerant roselle samples would add value to the perennial plant markets.</li> <li>Research has begun on evaluating 34 roselle accessions in collaboration with a University of Georgia Controlled Environment Breeder at Griffin, Georgia for the identification of day neutral samples. Selected samples will continue in a breeding cycle for the development of high-quality calyx production which will be used by small farming operations. This research will add value to controlled environment farming systems.</li> <li>Digital images of pods and seeds of 48 different lines of peanut wild relatives were uploaded to the public database (GRIN Global)</li> <li>Seed mineral content especially, of Iron, Zinc and Phosphorous, in cowpea was conducted to determine their role in plant growth and implications for child nutrition in fermented and non-fermented cowpea-based foods. This research was done in collaboration with the University of Nevada-Reno.</li> <li>DNA analysis of different peanut lines is being carried out to identify unique lines to efficiently maintain and manage the national peanut seed collection in Griffin, GA. This research is being done in collaboration with the researchers in Tifton, GA and Huntsville, AL.</li> <li>For developing new peanut germplasm lines (high oil content and disease resistance), we made four crosses and produced 30 true F1 hybrid seeds. These F1 seeds will be planted for developing F2 population to select high oil content and disease resistance (mainly leaf spot resistance) germplasm lines.</li> <li>Measured 2931 samples for oil content, 1006 samples for fatty acid composition, and 809 samples for protein content. The materials cover peanut MAGIC (Multi-parent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross) population, wild species, cultivated peanut, allotetraploids, drought tolerance cultivars and lines plus sesame germplasm accessions and mutant lines.</li> <li>Seed image capture and data extraction and genotyping subsets for sorghum are being done in collaboration with ARS, Ithaca, NY.</li> </ul> Impacts Germplasm distributed by researchers of this project resulted in numerous publications, plant variety releases, and patents as detailed in the state reports provided by the S-009 State Representatives. The state reports are provided below to document this impact. State Reports Submitted in 2025 Alabama Charles Chen, University of Alabama According to records provided by S-009, a total of 2,459 germplasm accessions were requested by institutions in Alabama between 2022 and 2024 (Table 1). In 2024 alone, the requested germplasm spanned four genera: Arachis, Abelmoschus, Lespedeza, and Trifolium (Table 2). The most frequently requested crop was peanut (Arachis hypogaea), with a total of 1,668 accessions requested in 2024, primarily by the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology and Auburn University. These two institutions together accounted for 1,709 out of the 1,732 total accessions requested in 2024. The peanut germplasm has been primarily used for screening traits related to drought tolerance and aflatoxin resistance. Table 1. Required Accessions by Recipients and Year <table> <tbody> <tr> <td width="121"> Year </td> <td width="137"> University/Institute </td> <td width="135"> Public Service / Primary Education </td> <td width="109"> Private Sector </td> <td width="121"> Total </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="121"> 2022 </td> <td width="137"> 45 </td> <td width="135"> 2 </td> <td width="109"> 0 </td> <td width="121"> 47 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="121"> 2023 </td> <td width="137"> 669 </td> <td width="135"> 11 </td> <td width="109"> 0 </td> <td width="121"> 680 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="121"> 2024 </td> <td width="137"> 1719 </td> <td width="135"> 0 </td> <td width="109"> 13 </td> <td width="121"> 1,732 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="121"> Sub-total </td> <td width="137"> 2,433 </td> <td width="135"> 13 </td> <td width="109"> 13 </td> <td width="121"> 2,459 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Table 2.  Required Accessions by Genus in 2024 <table> <tbody> <tr> <td width="208"> Crop </td> <td width="208"> Genus </td> <td width="208"> Total </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="208"> Peanut </td> <td width="208"> Arachis </td> <td width="208"> 1,668 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="208"> Okra </td> <td width="208"> Abelmoschus </td> <td width="208"> 13 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="208"> Bush clovers </td> <td width="208"> Lespedeza </td> <td width="208"> 4 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="208"> White clover </td> <td width="208"> Trifolium </td> <td width="208"> 47 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" width="416"> Total </td> <td width="208"> 1,732 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Arkansas No state report was submitted for Arkansas. Florida No state report was submitted for Florida. Georgia Soraya Leal-Bertioli, University of Georgia Between 2021 and 2024, 3032 accessions were distributed to 59 users. The majority are Arachis (1394 accessions, including peanut and 34 wild species), Sorghum (667 accessions) and Capsicum (465 accessions). Others include Cenchrus, Eleusine Vigna, Ipomoea, Catharanthus, Solanum, Zoysia and others. All requests came from domestic institutions. Most users (41) were affiliated with U.S. state agencies and universities, eight with USDA-ARS, five with commercial companies, one with U.S. federal agency (not AID or ARS). All requests reported here are from within the U.S.A. In order to have information about the utilization of these accessions, we emailed all 59 users asking for a short description of the work they have done with the germplasm requested. We received 13 responses. As expected, most of the work reported being conducted is in the initial stages of characterization and crosses. The examples below are from these responses, from presentations at the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (UGA) retreat and literature search. Many of the publications are likely to have been derived from germplasm requested prior to 2022. Arachis High oil content peanut lines are being used for crosses for the future cultivar release (UGA, Tifton). Wild species were tested for disease resistance. Wild species were tested weed quality trait evaluations Wild species were requested to be used in crossing schemes to produce peanut compatible allotetraploids to broaden the peanut genetic base. Since 2021, 28 confirmed hybrids were obtained and 22 allotetraploids were produced (Wild Peanut Lab, UGA Athens). In 2024, six new allotetraploids were released and deposited at the NPGS (see Leal-Bertioli et al., 2025). Wild Arachis species are being tested for Aspergillus spp. and aflatoxin production (UGA, Griffin). <ol> <li> pintoi seeds were requested to start experiments on forage peanuts at UGA Tifton.</li> </ol> Wild Arachis accessions were used in a comparative study with an unidentified collection in Tifton, using morphological and molecular methods, and for resistance evaluations against leaf spots and TSWV. Genotyping of A. hypogaea PIs. Cultivated accessions are being used for marker development and development of smut resistance populations. Cenchrus americanus  Seeds of Cenchrus americanus is being used to identify lines with better tissue culture response/transformation efficiency than the current line being used for pearl millet (UGA, Tifton). Citrullus Citrullus seeds requested in 2024 by UGA are being propagated to establish infection assays to determine races/aggressiveness of watermelon Fusarium wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Niveum. Germplasm requested in previous years was used to evaluate genotypes for non-preference to whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) and resistance to whitefly transmitted viruses (Cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV), Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV) and Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV)) Several of the PI lines were selfed and F2 populations were developed using PI 494528 as a resistance source for further study and selection (UGA, Athens). Cowpea Cowpea accessions are being evaluated for resistance to the Cowpea Curculio (UGA, Griffin) Curcubita Curcubita accessions are being used to investigate Powdery mildew resistance and for crosses in a breeding program (UGA, Griffin). Accessions that were requested in 2022 and prior were evaluated in the field for resistance to whitefly transmitted viruses: Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV), Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV), and Cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV).  This evaluation has led to 4 publications since 2022 (Luckew et al., 2025, Kavalappara et al., 2024, Adeleke et al., 2024). Yellow squash and zucchini squash are being used to map the resistance identified in the broad screen (UGA, Athens). Eleusine Eleusine Accessions were used to conduct a GWAS on a diverse finger millet panel (consisting of ~140 lines majorly from Ethiopia) to investigate the underlying genetics of salt tolerance. The future plan is to genotype the USDA mini-core collection (UGA, Griffin). Sorghastrum nutans  Accessions were used in a project to examine genetic variability in Sorghastrum nutans collections from across the Southeast. Their plan is to use the genetic information gathered in this project to make informed decisions about current and future releases of Sorghastrum nutans, including possible areas of adaptation, evaluation of genetic diversity within and across future accessions, and evaluation of practices used for long-term breeder and foundation seed maintenance of a germplasm (Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center). Sorghum Lines of sorghum are being tested for aphid resistance (USDA, Tifton). 48 ex-PVP sorghum lines were planted in an unreplicated nursery for initial observation (grain color, and took scores on naturally occurring grain mold, panicle-damage from insects, and leaf anthracnose) and seed increase. Selected lines will be used for crosses (USDA, Tifton). Lines of sorghum are also being tested for aphid resistance and physiological traits at the Fort Valley State University/UGA (see Punnuri et al., 2022). Lines of sorghum are being used for RNA seq experiments (UGA, Athens). Zoysia Zoysiagrass accessions were used for resistance tests and two publications were produced (Ghimire et al. 2024, Bahri et al., 2024) Guam Mari Marutani, University of Guam Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) After nine accessions of Hibiscus sabdariffa were evaluated earlier for their field performance, phytochemical and antioxidant capacities (Delfin and Marutani, 2025), PI 275414 ‘Rouge,’ a S-9 accession with fleshy-red calyces has been studied for its potential functional food crop in local production and local market in agrobusiness. In 2024, PI 275414 ‘Rouge’ was regenerated to increase its seed stock for future studies at University of Guam Horticulture Laboratory. The research results and general information of H. sabdariffa accessions were disseminated at a regional conference increasing local awareness of this new specialty crop. Hot pepper (Capsicum spp.) In 2023, the University of Guam Horticulture Laboratory acquired an anthracnose resistant Capsicum annuum accession (PI 508440 ‘Red Champion’) from the S9 repository with the primary objective of evaluating its disease tolerance in comparison to local Capsicum varieties under field conditions. The comparative study did not proceed as intended due to a major typhoon event in 2023, which halted all field studies. Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) Seven sweetpotato germplasm was requested from the S9 repository to evaluate their local adaptation to the tropical environment in Guam. In addition, two sweetpotato cultivars, ‘Beaureguard’ (deep orange-fleshed) and ‘Okinawa’ (purple-fleshed), were acquired in 2024 from two participating institutions of the National Clean Plant Network (NCPN), Louisiana State University and University of California Davis. As the University of Guam serves as an institution for distribution of sweet potato germplasm to other insular agricultural institutions in the western Pacific region, the tissue-culture laboratory focuses to maintain virus-free collections of sweetpotato planting materials with virus-indexing. A technical report summarizing the results of field trials of 8 local and 13 S9 sweetpotato accessions in past years is being prepared. Kentucky Timothy Phillips, University of Kentucky In 2024 81 germplasm accessions from S-009 were shipped to Kentucky addresses, up from 21 in 2023. Hebron Smith of Brandywine Seed Farm in Guthrie, KY obtained 60 cowpea accessions. Parker Camp, affiliated with the University of Kentucky through a startup company, Red Leaf Biologics, requested 15 sorghum accessions. Red Leaf Biologics produces novel, stable anthocyanin plant dyes from mutant sorghum lines. Another sorghum accession was requested by a researcher with BiOWiSH Technologies, a company selling microbial products for use in fertilizers. Zoe Schrader, a research analyst with Dr. Samuel Revolinski, a new weed scientist in the Plant and Soil Sciences Department at the University of Kentucky obtained 2 accessions of Saccharum alopecuroides and 3 accessions of Sorghastrum nutans.  Louisiana Don LaBonte, Louisiana State University Sweetpotato germplasm requests from the S-9 repository serve two purposes: 1) in search of a source of resistance to specific diseases, and 2) to evaluate resistance to diseases of germplasm in the collection to assist the curator in expanding the information in the characterization database.  The objective is to evaluate sweetpotato germplasm for resistance against the black rot causing pathogen Ceratocystis fimbriata. An S-9 core of plant introductions and an additional set of lines at the PGR Unit will be screened. Several of these are new introductions from Japan with putative resistance (Kyuushuu 100 and Kasho Nourin). Several lines are to be screened for guava root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii. A new variety of sweetpotato ‘Avoyelles’ was released by the LSU AgCenter in 2024. This is an orange flesh, light rose skin variety with early yield characteristics. Harvest can be as early as 90 days. It also has southern root-knot nematode resistance.  Panicum virgatum is being used for transformation experiments. Mississippi Marta Pudzianowska, Mississippi State University Eight hundred eleven accessions of nine genera were requested between 2022 and 2024 from three universities, two companies and USDA-ARS. Only three out of ten requestors have not replied. One peer-reviewed publication (cowpea) and two CSA News articles (cowpea and finger millet) were published by research group of Dr. Raju Bheemanahalli from Mississippi State University in 2024 and 2025. Dr. Bheemanahalli’s group also requested the highest number of accessions (total of 721 of finger millet and cowpea accessions), followed by Texas Tested Seed Company (36 watermelon accessions, no response) and Dr. Bed Prakash Bhatta from Alcorn State University (22 watermelon accessions). <table width="456"> <tbody> <tr> <td rowspan="2" width="96"> Genus </td> <td colspan="3" width="300"> Year </td> <td rowspan="2" width="60"> Total </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100"> 2022 </td> <td width="100"> 2023 </td> <td width="100"> 2024 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="96"> Bambusa </td> <td width="100"> </td> <td width="100"> </td> <td width="100"> 1 </td> <td width="60"> 1 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="96"> Capsicum </td> <td width="100"> 1 </td> <td width="100"> </td> <td width="100"> </td> <td width="60"> 1 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="96"> Citrullus </td> <td width="100"> </td> <td width="100"> 36 </td> <td width="100"> 22 </td> <td width="60"> 58 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="96"> Cucurbita </td> <td width="100"> 8 </td> <td width="100"> 15 </td> <td width="100"> </td> <td width="60"> 23 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="96"> Eleusine </td> <td width="100"> </td> <td width="100"> 498 </td> <td width="100"> </td> <td width="60"> 498 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="96"> Ipomoea </td> <td width="100"> </td> <td width="100"> 5 </td> <td width="100"> </td> <td width="60"> 5 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="96"> Paspalum </td> <td width="100"> </td> <td width="100"> 2 </td> <td width="100"> </td> <td width="60"> 2 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="96"> Phyllostachys </td> <td width="100"> </td> <td width="100"> </td> <td width="100"> 1 </td> <td width="60"> 1 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="96"> Vigna </td> <td width="100"> </td> <td width="100"> </td> <td width="100"> 222 </td> <td width="60"> 222 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="96"> Total </td> <td width="100"> 9 </td> <td width="100"> 556 </td> <td width="100"> 246 </td> <td width="60"> 811 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Cucurbita moschata (Cucurbita) Vaughn, A., NHC Distributors; UIND (2022, 2023) Mr. Vaughn grew those out the following spring and summer to test and breed for resistance to squash predators. Those accessions did not carry the traits he was looking for. They were not able to handle the pest pressure as well as produce fruit in higher temps.  Eleusine coracana (Eleusine) Paspalum distichum (Paspalum) Bheemanahalli, R., Mississippi State University; STA (2023) Dr. Bheemanalli’s group received 498 finger millet (Eleusine coracana) and two knotgrass (Paspalum distichum) in 2023. The two knotgrass did not survive in Mississippi conditions. They continue to work on Eleusine coracana germplasm. In 2023, they evaluated the entire germplasm set (498) in marginal soil during the summer to assess their adaptability in the Mississippi environment. 71% of them flowered and produced seeds. Among them, a panel of 317 agronomically superior germplasm lines was selected and characterized (both qualitatively and quantitatively) in the greenhouse in 2024. The same panel is also grown this year to develop the mini core panel based on agronomic superiority. Additionally, data on root variability among the germplasm will be generated this year. Ipomoea batatas var. batatas (Ipomea) Garner, J., Alcorn State Incubator; UIND (2023) Dr. Garner is maintaining a polycross nursery where requested lines are included among other selected lines of sweet potatoes. The lines received in 2023 are among the newest additions to the nursery.    Citrullus amarus, Citrullus lanatus, Citrullus mucosospermus, Citrullus amarus (Citrullus) Bhatta, B., Alcorn State University; STA (2024) During Summer 2024, 15 watermelon genotypes were evaluated in the research field at the Alcorn Experiment Station, Lorman, Mississippi. The study was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two replications. Eleven genotypes (PI 674463, PI 635642, PI 635699, PI 635598, PI 438677, PI 601228, PI 665007, PI 388021, PI 543212, Crimson Sweet, and Watermelon Ultra Cool Hybrid) were Citrullus lanatus type. Of these, the first nine genotypes were provided by USDA-NPGS. Crimson Sweet (PI 635688) and Watermelon Ultra Cool Hybrid were purchased locally. Three C. amarus accessions (PI 255136, PI 688009, and PI 189225) and one C. mucosospermus accession (PI 560013) were also obtained from USDA-NPGS. Traits recorded in this study include germination percentage, cotyledon leaf area, male: female flower ratio, true leaf area, internode distance, main vine length, number of nodes on main vine, yield (marketable and total), fruit traits (length, width, rind thickness, flesh firmness, and degree Brix). The five high-yielding watermelon genotypes from this study were PI 601228 (Yellow Crimson), PI 388021 (Arka Jyoti), PI 543212 (Sandia), PI 635699 (Charleston Diploid 59-1), and PI 674463 (Moon & Stars). Ten genotypes (PI 438677, PI 543212, PI 601228, PI 635598, PI 635642, PI 635688, PI 635699, PI 665007, PI 674463, and commercial hybrid) had an average degree Brix of 8 or higher. Bambusa multiplex (Bambusa) Phyllostachys rubromarginata (Phyllostachys) Chang, S., Mississippi State University (2024) After the two bamboo roots arrived from Georgia last year, Dr. Chang had a slight delay in putting into the ground. One of them did not germinate, and the other did not survive the cold winter this year. Vigna unguiculata, Vigna unguiculata group biflora, Vigna unguiculata group sesquipedalis, Vigna unguiculata group unguiculata, Vigna unguiculata (Vigna) Poudel, S., Mississippi State University; STA, Sivarathri, B., Mississippi State University; STA (2024) (Dr. Bheemanahalli’s group) Cowpea genotypes obtained from the NPGS were utilized for root phenotyping and evaluation of yield potential. A total of 202 genotypes were phenotyped for root traits before the flowering stage. In other studies, 15 genotypes were tested for drought tolerance at vegetative and reproductive stages. These genotypes were a mixture of seeds obtained from both NPGS and a collaborator. However, some of the genotypes did not germinate, and they didn’t use them in the study. They selected the 15 genotypes based on the maturity date around 70 days. The genotypes we used are mentioned in our peer-reviewed publication. North Carolina Carlos Iglesias, North Carolina State University Over the past three years (2022 – 2024), institutions in North Carolina requested 1041 accessions (24 accessions seemed to have been order by organizations outside our State) from the PGRC unit at Griffin. Of these, 376 were requested in 2024, 221 in 2023, and 444 in 2022. We received use reports for 60% of the accessions (622 of them).  The four largest number of accessions requested by genus were: Sorghum (420); Trifolium (137); Hibiscus (118); and Solanum (80), representing 72.5% of the total number of accessions requested by institutions in North Carolina. <table width="617"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2" width="378"> Overall goal </td> <td width="78"> Specifics </td> <td width="161"> lab </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" width="456"> Biotic constraints studies/breeding  </td> <td width="161">   </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123">   </td> <td colspan="2" width="333"> Evaluating the host range of the corn planthopper, Peregrinus maidis </td> <td width="161"> Dr. Seiter (NCSU) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123">   </td> <td colspan="2" width="333"> Grey leafspot disease and Southern chinch bug in St. Augustine grass </td> <td width="161"> Dr. Milla-Lewis (NCSU) </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" width="456"> Abiotic constraints studies  </td> <td width="161">   </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123">   </td> <td colspan="2" width="333"> Metabolic adaptation to stress in Sorghum </td> <td width="161"> Dr. Fritz (NCSU) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123"> </td> <td colspan="2" width="333"> screened for brown patch (Rhizoctonia solani) </td> <td width="161"> Dr. Milla-Lewis (NCSU) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123"> Quality attributes </td> <td colspan="2" width="333">   Hydrocolloids in Jute Mallow </td> <td width="161"> Dr. Iglesias (NCSU) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123">   </td> <td colspan="2" width="333"> High oil/edible quality in okra </td> <td width="161"> The Utopian Seed Project </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123">   </td> <td colspan="2" width="333"> Fiber quality in kenaf </td> <td width="161"> Dr. Iglesias (NCSU) </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" width="456"> New molecular methodologies  </td> <td width="161">   </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123">   </td> <td colspan="2" width="333"> Expression of a family of iron transport genes </td> <td width="161"> Dr. Cooper (UNCC) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123">   </td> <td colspan="2" width="333"> GWAS for seed yield in Zoysiagrass </td> <td width="161"> Dr. Milla-Lewis (NCSU) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123"> </td> <td colspan="2" width="333"> New de novo genome assemblies </td> <td width="161"> Dr. Cooper (UNCC) </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" width="456"> Starting a breeding program  </td> <td width="161">   </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123">   </td> <td colspan="2" width="333"> Assessment of kenaf potential for NC </td> <td width="161"> Dr. Iglesias (NCSU) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123">   </td> <td colspan="2" width="333"> Evaluation African Indigenous Vegetables </td> <td width="161"> Dr. Marconi (NCSU) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123">   </td> <td colspan="2" width="333"> Diversity in pepper breeding </td> <td width="161"> Open Pepper Breeding </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="123"> </td> <td width="255"> </td> <td width="78"> </td> <td width="161"> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Oklahoma Shuhao Yu, Oklahoma State University Plant germplasm users in Oklahoma requested a total of 31 accessions maintained at the USDA ARS Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit at Griffin, GA in this reporting period. The Oklahoma users included scientists at Oklahoma State University and USDA ARS laboratories. The requested plant germplasm included peanuts (Arachis spp.), Cyamposis, sorghum (Sorghum spp.), and grasses (Cynodon spp). The number of requested germplasm in 2024 is much less than that in 2022 (2,374) and 2023 (342). Puerto Rico Carlos Flores Ortega, University of Puerto Rico No report was received. South Carolina Rick Boyles, Clemson University General overview of state germplasm requests and trends over time. The number of requests, number of genera requested, and number of total accessions requested in 2024 were all down from 2023 statistics. The number of accessions requested was the lowest for the state in the past seven years, just below the recent low of 569 requested in 2022. The total user requests of nine were the second lowest during this period, just above eight total requests made in 2020. Unfortunately, there have been key USDA positions in the state that were vacated as a result of resignations and retirements, including changes at the US Vegetable Laboratory based in Charleston. That being said, South Carolina remains a dedicated user of accessions maintained by the S-009 unit to conduct very important research to the region and broader United States. <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="5"> Table 1. Statistics showing trends in South Carolina requests over the past six years. </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="65"> Year </td> <td width="125"> Total requests </td> <td width="124"> # of genera </td> <td width="138"> # of accessions </td> <td width="172"> % change accessions </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="65"> 2018 </td> <td width="125"> 10 </td> <td width="124"> 8 </td> <td width="138"> 837 </td> <td width="172"> N/A </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="65"> 2019 </td> <td width="125"> 17 </td> <td width="124"> 7 </td> <td width="138"> 736 </td> <td width="172"> -12 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="65"> 2020 </td> <td width="125"> 8 </td> <td width="124"> 6 </td> <td width="138"> 926 </td> <td width="172"> +26 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="65"> 2021 </td> <td width="125"> 10 </td> <td width="124"> 5 </td> <td width="138"> 1,428 </td> <td width="172"> +54 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="65"> 2022 </td> <td width="125"> 11 </td> <td width="124"> 5 </td> <td width="138"> 569 </td> <td width="172"> -60 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="65"> 2023 </td> <td width="125"> 13 </td> <td width="124"> 8 </td> <td width="138"> 1193 </td> <td width="172"> +110 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="65"> 2024 </td> <td width="125"> 9 </td> <td width="124"> 5 </td> <td width="138"> 568 </td> <td width="172"> -52 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2"> Table 2. Breakdown of accessions requested by genus in South Carolina in 2023. </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="311"> Genus </td> <td width="312"> Number of Accessions </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="311"> Arachis </td> <td width="312"> 16 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="311"> Capsicum </td> <td width="312"> 136 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="311"> Citrullus </td> <td width="312"> 270 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="311"> Ipomoea </td> <td width="312"> 18 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="311"> Sorghum </td> <td width="312"> 128 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="311">   </td> <td width="312">   </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="311"> Total </td> <td width="312"> 568 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Screening vegetable germplasm for biotic stress resistance. Multiple programs in Charleston, primarily led by Drs. Amnon Levi and Will Rutter, have been screening the USDA Citrullus amarus (Citron melon) collection for resistance to Fusarium wilt of watermelon. There are two prevalent races of Fusarium wilt in watermelon (races 1 and 2). We have screened the C. amarus for these two races and identified valuable sources of resistance. In recent years, a new and potentially more virulent race (race 3) has been emerging in the southeastern United States. We have also screened the C. amarus collection for resistance to this race and identified resistance resources. Dr. Will Rutter took a position with Kansas State University in 2024, but members of his program requested sweet potatoes, various Capsicum species, and C. amarus accessions to screen them for resistance to the two devastating root-knot nematode species Meloidogyne enterolobii and M. incognita. Screening Citron melon for traits associated with abiotic stress tolerance. The USDA US Vegetable Laboratory has also screened the Citrullus amarus (Citron melon) collection for root traits and identified several sources (PIs) with extensive root systems. These PIs with robust root systems could be useful in the development of rootstocks for grafted watermelon. In collaboration with Clemson, the same C. amarus collection was evaluated for potential salt tolerance. Evaluating Arachis species for quality, heat tolerance, and reduced allergenicity. In the last three years (2022 to 2024), we requested five diploid accessions, including Arachis diogoi (PI 276235 and PI 468354), Arachis duranensis (PI 475884 and PI 666084), and Arachis ipaensis (PI 468322), along with 20 cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea) genotypes. These included both released varieties from different time periods and plant introductions (Table 3). The genotypes represent three major market classes of peanut: Virginia, runner, and Spanish. These genotypes were evaluated for seed protein content and composition to study the impact of domestication and breeding processes, particularly on the levels of major allergenic proteins: Ara h1, Ara h2, Ara h3, and Ara h6. Additionally, we evaluated the genotypes for heat tolerance by exposing them to high temperatures—38°C during the day and 28°C at night—for 15 days during flowering. The effects of heat stress on pollen viability and germination were also assessed. This analysis of diploid and cultivated peanut varieties is part of a broader study aimed at understanding seed protein content and composition. We observed that grain protein content has gradually increased over the past six decades through breeding. However, neither domestication nor breeding has significantly affected the allergen content in peanuts. This finding suggests that the recent rise in peanut allergies cannot be attributed to modern breeding practices aimed at improving protein content or to the evolution and domestication of polyploids. Among the diploid accessions, only Arachis diogoi accession GK 10602 (PI 276235) exhibited reduced levels of Ara h1, Ara h3, and iso-Ara h3 compared to cultivated peanuts. The heat-stress evaluation identified two genotypes—PI 200441 and PI 493581—that showed high levels of pollen viability relative to the reference variety ‘Georgia Green.’ Examining the relationship between cereal crops and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). In the lab of Dr. Vidya Suseela at Clemson University, graduate students worked with sorghum accessions previously requested from the USDA collection to investigate root architecture and how this trait influences the uptake and transport of nutrients and water. These plant mechanisms are underlying factors in overall tolerance to environmental stress. The lab conducted a greenhouse experiment to evaluate whether the generalist AMF species Rhizophagus irregularis improved the root architecture in maize (inbred line, B73), and in two sorghum accessions (PI 297130- Sorghum caudatum and PI 562730 -Sorghum bicolor) than non-inoculated control plants when supplied with sparingly soluble iron phosphate. The results revealed that the total root length and total root surface area among different root diameter classes were higher in AMF-inoculated PI-297130 (Sorghum caudatum) and maize (inbred line, B73) than in the non-inoculated plants. These changes in root traits were also mirrored in plant biomass where AMF-inoculated PI-297130 and maize had higher shoot and root biomass than the non-inoculated control plants. We did not observe such an effect of AMF in PI 562730 (Sorghum bicolor). This study emphasizes that AMF symbiosis can modulate root traits and enhance biomass under limiting soil P, but this beneficial effect could be species/accession dependent. Developing new genetic resources to further sorghum improvement. Dr. Rick Boyles at Clemson University developed and released and sorghum Multi-parent Advanced Generation InterCross (MAGIC) population from four founders that are known maintainers of cytoplasmic male sterility. Genomics studies have showed that the seed parent gene pool has a narrower genetic base that likely results from fewer lines that do not possess one or more fertility restoration genes. In an effort to overcome this limitation, the lab of Dr. Boyles crossed the seed parents BTx642 (PI 656029) and BTxARG-1 (PI 561072) along with maintainer lines SC605 (PI 534096) and SC630 (PI 533937) and then intercrossed subsequent F1 progeny to make 708 recombinant lines that were advanced through single seed descent to the F7 generation. This population is now available to the sorghum community for trait discovery and pre-breeding. Table 3. List of Arachis hypogaea genotypes ordered from GRIN between 2022 and 2024. <table width="624"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="78"> Accession </td> <td width="156"> Name </td> <td width="390"> Remark </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> 2024 </td> <td width="156">   </td> <td width="390">   </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 506419  </td> <td width="156"> 'Southern Runner' </td> <td width="390"> Impact of breeding on protein content & composition (runner 1987) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 540461  </td> <td width="156"> 'NC-V11' </td> <td width="390"> Impact of breeding on protein content & composition (Virginia 1989) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 565448  </td> <td width="156"> 'FLORUNNER' </td> <td width="390"> Impact of breeding on protein content & composition (runner 1984) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 578304  </td> <td width="156"> 'SunOleic 95R' </td> <td width="390"> Impact of breeding on protein content & composition (runner 1995) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 641799  </td> <td width="156"> 'CHAMPS' </td> <td width="390"> Impact of breeding on protein content & composition (Virginia 2006) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 644011  </td> <td width="156"> 'TIFRUNNER' </td> <td width="390"> Impact of breeding on protein content & composition (runner 2006) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 200441  </td> <td width="156"> TAIWAN KOTSUBU NO </td> <td width="390"> Heat stress tolerance (High pollen viability) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 356004  </td> <td width="156"> CC488 </td> <td width="390"> Heat stress tolerance (low pollen viability) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 504614  </td> <td width="156"> 'Tatui-76' </td> <td width="390"> Heat stress tolerance (low pollen viability) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 493581  </td> <td width="156"> S.L. Tatu' </td> <td width="390"> f </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 360862  </td> <td width="156"> 55-437 </td> <td width="390"> Heat and drought tolerance and Aspergillus resistance (high) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 363058  </td> <td width="156"> 55-437 </td> <td width="390"> Heat and drought tolerance and Aspergillus resistance (high) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 407492  </td> <td width="156"> 55-437 </td> <td width="390"> Heat and drought tolerance and Aspergillus resistance (high) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 435062  </td> <td width="156"> 'Senegal 55-437' </td> <td width="390"> Heat and drought tolerance and Aspergillus resistance (high) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 462132  </td> <td width="156"> JL-24' </td> <td width="390"> Heat and drought tolerance and Aspergillus resistance (low) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 470238  </td> <td width="156"> 'JL 24' </td> <td width="390"> Heat and drought tolerance and Aspergillus resistance (low) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> 2023 </td> <td width="156">   </td> <td width="390">   </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 371521  </td> <td width="156"> NC-25 </td> <td width="390"> Reduced Ara h3 (Isreal 1972) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 608666  </td> <td width="156"> 'GREGORY' </td> <td width="390"> Reduced Ara h3 (Virginia 1999) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 610452  </td> <td width="156"> COAN' </td> <td width="390"> Reduced Ara h3 (runner 2001) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> 2022 </td> <td width="156">   </td> <td width="390">   </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="78"> PI 556992 </td> <td width="156"> ICGV 87157 </td> <td width="390"> Heat stress tolerance (tolerant) </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Tennessee Virginia R. Sykes, University of Tennessee Over the past three years (2022 – 2024), 995 accessions were requested from the PGRC unit at Griffin by individuals in Tennessee. Of these, 345 were requested in 2024, 607 were requested in 2023, and 43 were requested in 2022. In 2024, all requests were from TN State University for Vigna. Two manuscripts were published but no germplasm/variety releases were reported in 2024.   Texas Gerald R. Smith, Texas A&M University Sorghum germplasm was requested by the Mullet Lab (Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College station, TX) for studies involving flowering response.  The regulation of photoperiod-sensitive flowering in sorghum was evaluated using the genotypes SM100 (prr37-1) and 100M (PRR37).  The genotype SM100 was used as an early flowering photoperiod insensitive check .  Other sorghum plant introduction germplasm was used by USDA-ARS (College Station, TX) scientists to screen for resistance to anthracnose and grain mold in Burleson County, TX.  The TAMU Sorghum Breeding Program evaluated sorghum PI lines for production of aerial adventitious roots, which are associated with nitrogen fixation in biomass and forage sorghum. Multiple PI lines of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) were evaluated and used in tissue culture at Westlaco (Texas A&M AgriLife Research) to develop clonal plant material for future intercropping experiments. USDA GRIN (S-009) provided PI lines to UT Austin for a number of species from the Cucurbitaceae plant family, including both non-bitter and bitter forms of Cucurbita and related species.   Large numbers of these plants were grown to extract cucurbitacins and to conduct bioassays and feeding trials with corn rootworm beetles.  The plant material was also used in an undergraduate class at the University of Texas at Austin, where students were taught methods of extracting phytochemicals from plant material and bioassay methods with Diabrotica beetles. Two hundred and forty five cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) PI lines were obtained by the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Legume Breeding and Genetics Lab for a phenotyping project to identify traits useful in our multi-use cowpea improvement program. Eleven mung bean (Vigna radiata) lines were evaluated for maturity and seed production under greenhouse conditions. Peanut PI lines were provided to Lubbock Christian University for a variety of food quality and genetic studies.  Selected samples were sequenced for the development of genetic markers related to oil content, protein content, maturity, and fatty acid composition.  Lines were identified with higher-than-average saturated fatty acid composition. Peanut lines were phenotyped for  total oil, total protein, phytosterols and antioxidant capacity Plant introduction lines were used for a genetic study at Prairie View A&M University on the inheritance types in sweetpotato, the results of which have been summarized in a publication last year.  The use of the germplasm from S9 unit was acknowledged in the paper. In addition, the Resisto cultivar, originally obtained from the S9 unit was used as one of the parental line for two newly selected purple sweetpotato lines (R5 and PV4 experimental lines ). Multiple species of forage grasses were obtained by Univ. of Texas, Austin from S-9 and used for host specificity testing with classic biological control candidate insects under consideration for control of invasive Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) in the United States. The species requested from the Georgia USDA ARS Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit were included on a proposed host-specificity test plant list for potential biological control agents of Guinea grass in North America currently under review by the USDA – APHIS – Technical Advisory Group (T.A.G.). The seeds are being grown in a containment greenhouse at the University of Texas at Austin, Brackenridge Field Lab. Mature plants grown from seed will be exposed to biological control candidates, in containment, in no-choice and possibly follow-up choice tests. Dr. Mark Hussey’s program at TAMU has requested germplasm of Bouteloua curtipendula, Cenchrus setigerus, Cenchrus flaccidus, (syn. Pennisetum flaccidum) and Cenchrus orientalis (syn. Pennisetum orientale) from Plant Genetic Resource Conservation Unit at Griffin, GA over the past 3 years. Research with side-oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) has focused on determining the DNA content of the germplasm in the NPGS using flow cytometry and determining genetic variation within and between the requested germplasm and commercial varieties released by the USDA-NRCS using Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR’s) from Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) Columbus. All commercial varieties of side-oats grama are direct increases of individual plants or populations collected from Mexico to the Dakota’s. Of particular interest with the Bouteloua germplasm is understanding cross compatibility and potential gene flow between accessions classified as Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx) Torr var curtipendula and those characterized as Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx) Torr var caespitosa Gould & Kapadia. All accessions in the NPGS are currently classified as Bouteloua curtipendula even though 2C DNA contents range from ca. 1.3 to > 4.75 pg and ploidy ranges from ca.  2N=40 (var. curtipendula) to ca. 2N=100 (var. caespitosa) has been observed in the accessions studied to date. Seedlings from the Cenchrus setigerus accessions have been germinated and started in conetainers in the greenhouse. These will be evaluated to access variation in DNA content via flow cytometry and to make crosses with sexual and facultative apomictic buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) accessions this fall. Accessions of Cenchrus flaccidus and Cenchrus orientalis will be established in the field in 2026 to evaluate them for their ornamental potential. U.S. Virgin Islands Thomas W. Zimmerman, University of the Virgin Islands No report was received. Virginia Bas Bargmann, Virginia Tech Several institutions in Virginia have used germplasm provided by the S-009 project over the last three years for educational purposes as well as differing lines of research, some with promising results that are expected to lead to publications in the near future. A total of 339 accessions were requested by five different users, up from 67 by seven different users last year. There were no publications reported in the last year. Of the 17 Virginia users, we had a response from ten and seven did not respond after repeated solicitation. Alicia Anderson at Le Crush Station assessed Citrullus and Capsicum genetics for testing resiliency in a coastal landscape with salt water intrusion. Dr. Balota at Virginia Tech used Arachis hypogaea as well as previously obtained Vicia faba lines to assess winter hardiness in Virginia as part of a proposal "Enhanced Mid-Atlantic System Sustainability Through Development of High-Protein and Stress Tolerant Faba Bean for Winter Production". Patrick Bewick (in the lab of Dr. Bo Zhang) at Virginia Tech used Neonotonia wightii to see if they are adapted to Virginia growing environments. Edmund Frost at Common Wealth Seed Growers used Lagenaria siceraria, Luffa acutangular, and Luffa aegyptiaca germplasm to conduct trials, and seed increases for three of the luffa, they expect to make 1-2 of them (that stand out for earliness and productivity; for edible use, not sponges) commercially available.  Dr. Harbans Bhardwaj at Virginia State University used various germplasm and evaluated these in the field for winter hardiness and agronomic traits. Ron Catania (affiliation unknown) did not use the Solanum douglasii germplasm and has switched production interest to animal husbandry. Mr. Hardin (affiliation unknown) used Abelmoschus esculentus to grow out and observe for disease resistance and production traits they can combine with their existing hybrids. M. Kahhar used Capsicum annuum and Capsicum chacoense for varietal development and breeding. Dr. Liu (formerly in the lab of Dr. Yun Yin) at Virginia Tech used Cymbopogon citratus to study how different environmental conditions (such as lighting) affect their secondary metabolites (volatile aroma compounds) and gene expression. Dr. Timko at the University of Virginia used his Vigna subterranea germplasm to multiply seed and some first pass analysis of phenotypic differences, finding that most of the material was heavily susceptible to thrips and viral disease. Dr. Zhao at Virginia Tech evaluated the disease resistance of requested Capsicum germplasm.

Publications

Marshall, J.; Gilliam, L.; McGilton, M.; Patty, A.; Sowell, L.; Cherry, A.; Fisher, B.; Scholten, M.; Liebold, C.; Cowart, D.; Sterling, S. 2025. Total antioxidant capacity of Arachis hypogaea seed kernels and coats: an analytical and sensory investigation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences  *Adeleke, I. A., Kavalappara, S. R., Codod, C. B., Kharel, P., Luckew, A., McGregor, C., Simmons, A. M., Srinivasan, R., & Bag, S. (2024). Evaluation of Plant Introduction Lines of Yellow Squash (Cucurbita pepo) for Resistance against Single Infection of Cucurbit Chlorotic Yellows Virus and Cucurbit Leaf Crumple Virus. HortScience, 59(7), 949-956. <a href="https://www.doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17861-24">https://www.doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17861-24</a> Ahmad Naseer Aziz. 2024. Perspective advancements in plant science through segregating sorghum gametophyte developmental stages. Iris Online Journal of Sciences. OJS.MS.ID.000508. Online: https://irispublishers.com/iojs/volume1-issue2.php. Alam T, Rustgi S (2025) Peanut Genotypes with Reduced Content of Immunogenic Proteins by Breeding, Biotechnology, and Management: Prospects and Challenges. Plants 14:626. Arikilla, S., Cevallos, F. N., Moss, J. Q., Yu, S., Fontanier, C. H., Martin, D. L., ... & Xiang, M. (2025). Responses of turf‐type hybrid bermudagrasses to drought stress. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.178. *Ballén-Taborda C, Maharjan N, Hopkins M, Lindsey D, Guimarães L, Bertioli D, Leal-Bertioli SCM. 2024. A study of pod constriction in a peanut population with mixed wild and cultivated genetics. Crop Science. 2024:1-17. Barnes E, Leal-Bertioli SCM, Ballén-Taborda C, Timper P, Abernathy B, Brown N, Brenneman TB, Bertioli DJ. Elite agronomic performance in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea) with strong resistance to root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) introgressed from Arachis stenosperma. Crop Science. 65(3), e70096. *Boatwright, L., M. Thudi, M.K.R. Sangiredday, A.W. Coffin, H.K. Tadesse, S. Vutla, K. Harris-Shultz, J.E. Knoll, H. Cuevas, N. Kumar, C. Soman, J. Schnable, and S.M. Punnuri. GWAS analysis for plant height and stem diameter in sorghum using multiple phenotyping approaches. Plant Phenome.  The Plant Phenome Journal, 7, e70008. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/ppj2.70008">https://doi.org/10.1002/ppj2.70008</a> Branham SE, Ganaparthi V, Wechter W, Park Y, Wehner T, Davis A, Tetteh AY, Massey L, Hammar S, Grumet R, Kousik S, Levi A (2025) Extreme-phenotype genome-wide association study (XP-GWAS) of powdery mildew race 2 W tolerance in the USDA Citrullus germplasm collection. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 4781. Cevallos, F., Xiang, M., Zhang, X., Wu, Y.Q., Moss, J.Q., Fontanier, C.H., Martin, D.L., & Yu, S. (2025). Gene expression profiling of African bermudagrass under cold acclimation. HortScience. 60(5):645–656. Cevallos, F., Xiang, M., Yu, S., Moss, J.Q., Wu, Y.Q., Schwartz, B. Assessing drought resistance in bermudagrass using dual methodologies. Grass Research. doi.org/10.48130/grares-0025-0008 Pokhrel, B., Yu, S., Fontanier, C.H., Martin, D.L., Wu, Y.Q., & Xiang, M. Impact of a horticultural mineral oil on bermudagrass performance under salinity stress. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal. DOI: 10.1002/its2.70033 *Dang, P., Patel, J., Sorensen, R., Lamb, M. and Chen, C.Y., 2024. Genome-wide association analysis identified Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) underlying drought-related traits in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Genes, 15(7), p.868. Delfin, M. M., & Marutani, M. (2025). Studies on Phytochemistry and Antioxidant Capacity of Nine Hibiscus sabdariffa Accessions. HortScience, 60(6), 832-840. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18483-25 Dilovan K. Yahya, Matthew W. Blair, Aron M. Felts, Ahmad N. Aziz. 2024. Individual Microspore Genotyping in Sorghum (S. bicolor) Cultivars Using a KASP Panel of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers. Annals of Plant Sciences.13(3): 6199-6211, ISSN 2287-688X. <a href="https://annalsofplantsciences.com/index.php/aps/article/view/1129">https://annalsofplantsciences.com/index.php/aps/article/view/1129</a>. *ElDoliefy, A.E.A., Anderson, J.A., Glover, K.D., Elias, E. M., Ashry, H.A., ElZahaby, I.M. & Mergoum, M. 2024. Mapping of main and hidden epistatic QTL effects in spring wheat population using medium parental FHB resistance. Discov. Plants 1, 1 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44372-024-00001-6 Ganaparthi VR, Wechter P, Katawczik M, Levi A, Branham S (2025) Genome-wide association mapping and genomic predictions for Bacterial fruit blotch resistance in the USDA Citrullus amarus collection. Plant Disease. Ganaparthi VR, Wechter P, Levi A, Branham SE (2024) Mapping and validation of Fusarium wilt race 2 resistance QTL from Citrullus amarus line USVL246-FR2. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 137(4), 91. *Gangurde, S.S., Thompson, E., Yaduru, S., Wang, H., Fountain, J.C., Chu, Y., Ozias-Akins, P., Isleib, T.G., Holbrook, C., Dutta, B. and Culbreath, A.K., 2024. Linkage Mapping and Genome-Wide Association Study Identified Two Peanut Late Leaf Spot Resistance Loci, PLLSR-1 and PLLSR-2, Using Nested Association Mapping. Phytopathology®, 114(6), pp.1346-1355. Gao, M., Hua, T., Niu, G., Masabni, J. and Dewalt, W.  2024. A locus-dependent mixed inheritance in the segmental allohexaploid sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam). Frontiers in Plant Science, 15, p.1398081 *Ghimire, B., Orellana, R., Chowdhury, S. R., Vermeer, C. B., Patel, P., Raymer, P., Milla-Lewis, S., Buck, J. W., Martinez-Espinoza, A. D., and Bahri, B. A. 2024. Assessing biofungicides and host resistance against Rhizoctonia large patch in zoysiagrass. Pathogens. 13:864. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13100864 Gonzales M, Abernathy B, Kemerait R Jr, Bertioli DJ, Brewer M and Leal-Bertioli SCM. 2024. Chromosome-level genome sequence resource of Nothopassalora personata (syn. Cercosporidium personatum), a devastating fungal pathogen of peanut. Phytofrontiers. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-10-23-0135-A">https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-10-23-0135-A</a>. *Happs, R.M., Hanes, R.J., Bartling, A.W., Field, J.L., Harman-Ware, A.E., Clark, R.J., Pendergast IV, T.H., Devos, K.M., Webb, E.G., Missaoui, A. and Xu, Y., 2024. Economic and sustainability impacts of yield and composition variation in bioenergy crops: switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 12(5), pp.1897-1910. Ingole HP, Saripalli G, Jones ZT, Parthiban M, Toyinbo J, Narayanan S, Mir RR, Rustgi S (2025) Genome-wide association analysis for pollen viability under heat stress in peanut. Plant Stress 15, 100760. *Jha, U.C., Shafi, S., Tallury, S., Nayyar, H., Udgata, A.R., Ciampitti, I.A., Siddique, K.H. and Prasad, P.V., 2025. Dynamic changes in seed nutritional components of mung bean [(Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek)] under heat stress. Scientific Reports, 15(1), p.12586. Katuuramu DN, Levi A, Wechter WP (2024). Mapping the genetic architecture of low-temperature stress tolerance in citron watermelon. The Plant Genome, 17(2), e20443. * Kavalappara, Saritha Raman, Sudeep Bag, Alexander Luckew, Cecilia E. McGregor, Albert K. Culbreath, and Alvin M. Simmons. 2024. "Evaluation of Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) Genotypes for Resistance to Cucurbit Chlorotic Yellows Virus" Horticulturae 10, no. 3: 264. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10030264 Khanal C, Rutter W, Alam MS, Alarcon-Mendoza I (2025) Meloidogyne floridensis has a unique virulence profile against root-knot nematode resistant and susceptible pepper (Capsicum annuum) lines. Journal of Nematology 57(1), 20250007. *Knoll, J., Uchimiya, M.;, Hayes, C., Punnuri, S., Harris-Shultz, K., and Smith, J. 2023. Registration of three sweet sorghum lines with resistance to sorghum aphid (Melanaphis sorghi). Journal of Plant Registrations 17:551-560. Kumar N, Boatwright JL, Brenton ZW, Cox A, McCalla KE, Kresovich S, Boyles RE (2025) Registration of the sorghum multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) B-line population ‘MBL’: A source of seed parent genetic diversity. Journal of Plant Registrations, 19(2), e70013. *Leal-Bertioli SCM, Hopkins M, Leverett J, Gonzales M, Tsai Y-C, Matusinec D, Tonnis B, Araujo ACG and Bertioli DJ. Registration of six disease resistant, high protein, induced allotetraploids derived from Arachis duranensis and A. ipaënsis, the genome progenitors of peanut. Journal of Plant Registrations. In press *Luckew, A., Sari, N., Pandey, S., McAvoy, T., Simmons, A. M., Meru, G., & McGregor, C. (2025). Watermelon Germplasm with Resistance to Whitefly-transmitted Viruses. HortScience, 60(2), 245-253. doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18262-24. *Massa, Alicia N., Victor S. Sobolev, Paola C. Faustinelli, Shyamalrau P. Tallury, H. Thomas Stalker, Marshall C. Lamb, and Renee S. Arias. "Genetic diversity, disease resistance, and environmental adaptation of Arachis duranensis L.: New insights from landscape genomics." Plos one 19, no. 4 (2024): e0299992. *Mazarei, Mitra, Anne E. Harman-Ware, Thomas H. Pendergast, Vivek Shrestha, Yaping Xu, Cristiano Piasecki, Reginald J. Millwood, Katrien M. Devos, and C. Neal Stewart. Variation in Biomass Yield and Cell Wall Composition in Switchgrass Natural Variants Under Two Nitrogen Regimes. BioEnergy Research 18, no. 1 (2025): 1-14. *McBreen, J., Babar, M.A., Jarquin, D., Khan, N., Harrison, S., DeWitt, N., Mergoum, M., Lopez, B., Boyles, R., Lyerly, J. and Murphy, J.P., 2025. Enhancing prediction accuracy of grain yield in wheat lines adapted to the southeastern United States through multivariate and multi‐environment genomic prediction models incorporating spectral and thermal information. The Plant Genome, 18(1), p.e20532. Mohammed, S.B.; Ongom, P.O.; Togola, A.; Boukar, O. 2024. Enhancing Cowpea Tolerance to Elevated Temperature: Achievements, Challenges and Future Directions. Agronomy 2024, 14, 513. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030513 Phat Dang, Jinesh Patel, Ron Sorensen, Marshall Lamb, and Charles Y. Chen. 2024. Genome-Wide Association Analysis Identified Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) Underlying Drought-Related Traits in Cultivated Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Genes 2024, 15(7), 868; <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15070868">https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15070868</a> Poudel, S., Valsala Sankarapillai, L., Sivarathri, B. S., Hosahalli, V., Harkess, R. L., & Bheemanahalli, R. (2025). Characterization of cowpea genotypes for traits related to early season drought tolerance. Agriculture, 15(10), 1075. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15101075 *Punnuri SM, Ayele AG, Harris-Shultz KR, Knoll JE, Coffin AW, Tadesse HK, Armstrong JS, Wiggins TK, Li H, Sattler S, Wallace JG. Genome-wide association mapping of resistance to the sorghum aphid in Sorghum bicolor. Genomics. 2022 Jul;114(4):110408. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110408. Epub 2022 Jun 15. PMID: 35716823. Rutter W, Culbreath J, Khanal C, Wadl PA, Kai SL, Mueller, J (2024) Using a community-level sampling approach for detecting Meloidogyne enterolobii and other pathogens in sweetpotato storage roots. Journal of Nematology 56(1), 126–126. Sasia S, Bridges W, Boyles RE (2025) Exploring the influence of environmental and crop management factors on sorghum nutrient composition and amino acid digestibility in broilers. Agriculture, 15(3), 232. Singh S, Cutulle MA, Rutter W, Wadl PA, Ward BK, Khanal C (2025) Anaerobic soil disinfestation as a tool for nematode and weed management in organic sweetpotato. Agronomy 15(3), 548. Singh S, Rutter W, Wadl PA, Campbell H, Khanal C, Cutulle MA (2024) Effectiveness of anaerobic soil disinfestation for weed and nematode management in organic sweetpotato production. Agronomy 14(9), 1935. Singh, S., Yu, S., Xiang, M., Fontanier, C.H., Wu, Y.Q., Martin, D.L., & Kajla, A. (2024). Genetic variability of traffic tolerance and surface playability of bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) under fall simulated traffic stress. HortScience, 59, 73-83. doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17488-23 Souza, R., Buckley, B., Mian, M.R. and Li, Z., 2024. Mining exotic germplasm for genetic improvement of protein quantity and quality in soybean (Glycine max). Plant Breeding, 143(3), pp.292-304. *Suppa, Robert W., Ryan J. Andres, Jeffrey C. Dunne, Ramsey F. Arram, Thomas B. Morgan, and Hsuan Chen. 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In 56th annual meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. University of Guam Western Pacific Tropical Research Center. (2023). Hibiscus sabdariffa: A potential new crop to boost health, food security in Guam. In 2023 Impact Report (pp. 30-31). https://www.uog.edu/_resources/files/wptrc/2023-wptrc-impact-report-web.pdf Yu, S., Fontanier, C.H., Martin, D.L., Moss, J.Q., Goad, C.L., Wu, Y.Q. (2024). Will drought stress affect overwinter ability in turf-type bermudagrass? Golf Course Management. <a href="https://gcmonline.com/research/news/drought-stress-overwinter-ability-bermudagrass">https://gcmonline.com/research/news/drought-stress-overwinter-ability-bermudagrass</a> Yu, S., Fontanier, C.H., Yan, L., Martin, D.L., Moss, J.Q., & Wu, Y.Q. (2024). What controls African bermudagrass leaf blade and stem morphology? Golf Course Management. https://gcmonline.com/course/environment/news/what-controls-african-bermudagrass-leaf-blade-and-stem-morphology Yu, S., Fontanier, C.H., Martin, D.L., Moss, J.Q., Goad, C.L., Wu, Y.Q. (2024). Will drought stress affect overwinter ability in turf-type bermudagrass? Golf Course Management. https://gcmonline.com/research/news/drought-stress-overwinter-ability-bermudagrass Yu, S., Fontanier, C.H., Yan, L., Martin, D.L., Moss, J.Q., & Wu, Y.Q. (2024). What controls African bermudagrass leaf blade and stem morphology? Golf Course Management. <a href="https://gcmonline.com/course/environment/news/what-controls-african-bermudagrass-leaf-blade-and-stem-morphology">https://gcmonline.com/course/environment/news/what-controls-african-bermudagrass-leaf-blade-and-stem-morphology</a>   New Releases: Branch, W. D., and T. B. 2024. "Registration of ‘Georgia‐23RKN’peanut." Journal of Plant Registrations 18.2: 285-289. Branch, W.D., Brown, N. and Brenneman, T.B., 2025. Registration of ‘Georgia‐24NHO’peanut. Journal of Plant Registrations, 19(1), p.e20421. LaBonte, D.R., I. Power, T. Watson, T.P. Smith, A.Q Villordon, J.C. Gregorie, and L. Harvey. 2024. ‘Avoyelles’ Sweetpotato. HortScience 59:796-798. Two interspecific hybrid bermudagrass cultivars OSU2081 and OSU2082 were released with improved drought resistance and high turfgrass quality. Edmund Frost at Common Wealth Seed Growers reported that South Wind Slicer and Common Wealth Pickler, two original cucumber varieties they bred, are partially derived from S-009’s PI 432885 (those initial crosses were made in 2015). These varieties are being sold by several seed companies, including Common Wealth Seed Growers, Fedco Seeds, Sow True Seeds, and Nature and Nurture Seeds.   Table 1. Cultivar and Germplasm Releases from UGA Breeding Programs in 2023-2024 of crops curated in the Griffin, GA collection. <div>Cultivar Registration                                    Main Breeder   Category       Date of Release</div> <div>Peanut GA 192710                                         W Branch         Cultivar            8/9/2024</div> <div>Peanut 17-223                                               C Holbrook      Cultivar            4/7/2025</div> <div>Peanut WPL-IpaDur1-Heavy                            D Bertioli         Germplasm      4/7/2025</div> <div>Peanut WPL-IpaDur1-Medium                          D Bertioli         Germplasm      4/7/2025</div> <div>Peanut WPL-IpaDur1-Light                              D Bertioli         Germplasm      4/7/2025</div> <div>Peanut WPL-BatSten1-Introgression lines         D Bertioli         Germplasm      4/8/2025</div> <div>Pecan 3-6-72                                                 P Conner          Cultivar            4/7/2025</div> <div>Sorghum GTS1903                                         J Knoll             Germplasm      2025</div> <div>Sorghum GTS1904                                         J Knoll             Germplasm      2025</div> <div>Sorghum GTS1905                                         J Knoll             Germplasm      2025</div>