NE9: Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources

(Multistate Research Project)

Status: Inactive/Terminating

Project Menu

SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[02/23/2001] [01/28/2002] [11/15/2002] [07/22/2003]

Date of Annual Report: 02/23/2001

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 12/31/2001 - 12/31/2001
Period the Report Covers: 01/01/2000 - 12/01/2000

Participants

Administrative Advisor: Dr. James E. Hunter, Director;
Project Leaders:

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U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service

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U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research Service

CSREES

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Plant Genetic Resources Unit, Geneva, NY

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Brief Summary of Minutes

Steven R. Alm (stevealm@uri.edu) - University of Rhode Island;

Paul Backman (pbackman@psu.edu) - Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station;

Mark J. Carroll (mc92@umail.umd.edu) - University of Maryland;

J. Marshall Clark (jclark@ent.umass.edu) - University of Massachusetts;

Bruce B. Clarke (clarke@aesop.rutgers.edu) - Rutgers University;

Richard S. Cowles (rcowles@caes.state.ct.us) - Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station;

J. Scott Ebdon (sebdon@pssci.umass.edu) - University of Massachusetts;

Steven Fales;

Karl Guillard (karl.guillard@uconn.edu) - University of Connecticut;

Richard J. Hull (rhu6441@postoffice.uri.edu) - University of Rhode Island;

Noel Jackson;

Peter J. Landschoot (pj11@psu.edu) - The Pennsylvania State University;

Pim Larsson-Kovach (il11@cornell.edu) - Cornell University;

James Lin - USEPA;

Bill Meyer (wmeyer@aesop.rutgers.edu) - Rutgers University;

Kevin Morris - NTEP;

Bridget Ruemmele (bridgetr@uri.edu) - University of Rhode Island;

Mike Sullivan (senmike@uriacc.uri.edu) - University of Rhode Island;

Patricia Vittum (pvittum@ent.umass.edu) - University of Massachusetts

Accomplishments

Approximately 12200 accessions of seed propagated crops (tomato, onion, squash, radish, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, other cole crops, celery, ground cherry, asparagus, and buckwheat) were maintained. There were 400 plots grown for seed production and 300 planted to produce first year bulbs and plants of biennial crops that were stored or mulched in the field for seed production in the upcoming season. 2800 seed samples of 1700 germplasm accessions were distributed to 131 qualified researchers and bona fide users worldwide. More than 90% of the samples were for onion, Brassica, and tomato. There were approximately 500 onion accessions characterized for the Crop Germplasm Committee minimal descriptor list. Digital images were produced for both foliage and bulbs for uploading to GRIN. Digital images for approximately 400 accessions of cabbage are now available for viewing on the web version of GRIN. For our clonally propagated crops, 3960 accessions of apple, 1350 accessions of grape, and 75 accessions of tart cherry were maintained during the last year, and approximately 115 orders for 3895 accessions were distributed. Repropagation of the apple collection on fireblight tolerant rootstocks is continuing. The main collection that was first planted in 1986 is being replaced in a 5-year, phased project using EMLA 7 rootstock. Characterization of 80% of the apple collection, including the entire core collection has been completed using 25 priority descriptors. Digital imaging of apple fruit morphology was begun on 400+ accessions. An additional 300 apple and 25 cherry accessions were processed for cryogenic storage. Characterization of the grape collection for 14 fruit characteristics (weight, cluster size, etc.) is complete except for several accessions that did not fruit this past season. Tests of grape seed in long term cold storage were begun. If successful, the genes contained in grape accessions will be preserved in seed form as security backup. Over 200 computer images of grape clusters were taken and were put into the GRIN database for public access. Probability models predicted the number of seeds needed to preserve all the genes in a grape clone have been developed. In apple rootstock breeding, all orchards, stoolbeds, and nursery field have been streamlined, and those not relevant have been eliminated (6 orchards and 6 stoolbeds). Over 500 rootstock genotypes were removed from further consideration and testing. Grape rootstock germplasm was acquired for evaluating resistance to plant parasitic nematodes. Nematode stock cultures were initiated for use in resistance evaluation. Over 2000 clusters were pollinated in rootstock breeding. Field trials to evaluate grape rootstocks for table and raisin grape production were planted in California. The PGRU hosted a two-day workshop September 18-19, 2000 for training 15 participants from organic farmer and seed-saving non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in heirloom plant characterization and regeneration. This workshop provided skills needed to describe varieties using the descriptor lists available from the National Plant Germplasm System and to multiply heirloom varieties showing potential in a manner that preserves their identity and provides sufficient high quality seed. This workshop has provided a pool of enthusiastic seed savers with the basic training needed to get started characterizing and regenerating heirlooms in a manner that meets minimal standards. These seed savers are interested in using the heirloom varieties in the genebanks for production on their farms. Through these informed laypersons we hope to get more of our germplasm out of the vault and into farmer fields, providing for on-farm conservation of important and useful heirloom varieties. USEFULNESS OF FINDINGS: Valuable crop germplasm of clonal crops and seed crops is being maintained and distributed in accordance with international germplasm standards for viability, genetic integrity, and accurate cultivar and species identity. Training of NGO participants in characterization and regeneration techniques will lead to complementary on-farm conservation of germplasm. These activities will provide benefits in the form of useful heirloom germplasm for non-traditional stakeholders who are involved in alternative agriculture and by providing a mosaic of traditional heirlooms for public consumption. Increased characterization of unit germplasm and the addition of digital images will increase the efficiency of use of the germplasm collections. Improvements in apple maintenance procedures using a rootstock that induces lower vigor and is resistant to fire blight will increase long-term survival of apple accessions and decrease need for regeneration. In addition, 85% of the apple collection and 60 % of the cherry collection have been backed up in cryogenic storage at Fort Collins, CO. For 50 apple accessions, this has been critical as we lost them due to heavy fire blight in the field collection but were able to rescue them from our cryogenic-storage inventory. Secure backup of grape genes should be possible if long term grape seed storage experiments are successful. DNA fingerprints of apple and grape accessions will assist in identifying duplicate accessions and provides more detailed information on relationships of very closely related cultivars. Higher quality apple rootstocks help to ensure reliable and consistent fruit production with decreased use of pesticides and increased use of more efficient cropping systems. Improved grape rootstocks will contribute to sustainable production, with enhanced canopy quality and decreases in foliar diseases, as well as reduction in the use of methyl bromide and other soil fumigants. WORK PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR Regenerations of cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli will continue, and 25 accessions of Cucurbita are scheduled for regeneration. Sixty accessions of cabbage grown last year will be planted for seed production and another 60 will be grown for first year plants for regeneration of seed in this and each subsequent year for the next nine years. Regenerations will be started for the other Brassica oleracea and Brassica rapa varieties that have low seed supply. Bulbs from approximately 180 accessions of long-day onion will be planted for seed production at Geneva and by private seed company collaborators. First-year bulbs will be produced for the remaining long-day onion accessions that need regeneration and have seed available. We are attempting to identify funding for a Cooperative Agreement for the regeneration of the short-day onions in New Mexico. SunSeeds will regenerate 12 short-day onion accessions in southern California. Five hundred tomato accessions that do not have data for the minimum descriptor list will be planted for characterization. The switch to use of the national germplasm database will be completed and the local databases will be locked. On-farm conservation and participatory plant breeding workshops will be developed and conducted at the NOFA-NY annual meetings. Repropagation of the apple collection onto fireblight resistant rootstocks will continue. Characterization of the grape collection for leaf descriptors will continue, and apple characterization will continue to include digital imagining of fruit and tree morphology. Over 3000 seedlings of Malus species are also being evaluated for horticultural traits after being screened for resistance to three apple diseases. This project to determine disease resistance of apple germplasm collected over the last 10 years from world centers of origin continues with Dr. H. Aldwinckle as a specific cooperative agreement. DNA fingerprinting of the grape collection will proceed with a goal of 100 additional accessions fingerprinted. Additional mathematical models predicted sample sizes necessary to preserve all copies of alleles in grape accessions will continue to be developed and tested using computer simulations. A series of apple rootstock grower trials will be conducted: two for semi-dwarf trees and one of multiple size rootstocks. Apple stoolbed production trials will continue. Phytophthora root rot tolerance, apple replant disease tolerance, and cold tolerance projects will continue. Field trials will be planted in the Lake Erie viticultural belt to examine the impact of rootstock variety in the production of Concord and Niagara juice grapes. Grape rootstock breeding blocks will be planted in New York and California. Evaluation of seedlings from the breeding program and germplasm from the clonal repositories for resistance to plant parasitic nematodes will commence.

Publications

(APPROVED DURING THE YEAR) Benson, L.L., R.H. Zimmerman, and W.F. Lamboy. Molecular Identification of Malus hupehensis (Tea Crabapple) Accessions Using Simple Sequence Repeats. Accepted in HortScience. B|ttner, R., M. Fischer, P.L. Forsline, M. Geibel and V.V. Ponomarenko. 2000. Genebank work for preservation of the genetic diversity of apple. EUCARPIA Fruit Breeding Section Meeting, Dresden, Germany. Acta Horticulturae 538:39-42. Cantini, C., A.F. Iezzoni, and W.F. Lamboy. DNA Fingerprinting of Tetraploid Cherry Germplasm Using Simple Sequence Repeats. Accepted in the Journal of the American Society of Horticultural Science. Ferguson, M.E., N. Maxted, M. van Slageren & L.D. Robertson, 2000. A re-assessment of the taxonomy of Lens Mill. (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Vicieae). Bot. J. Linnean Soc. 133: 41-59. Forsline, P.L. 2000. Procedures for collection, conservation, evaluation and documentation of germplasm using Malus as an example. XXV International Horticultural Congress. Part 12: Application of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology and Breeding - General Breeding, Breeding and Evaluation of Temperate Zone Fruits for the Tropics and the Subtropics. Acta Horticulturae 522:223-234 Geibel, M., K. Dehmer and P.L. Forsline. 2000. Biological diversity in Malus sieversii populations from Central Asia. EUCARPIA Fruit Breeding Section Meeting, Dresden, Germany. Acta Horticulturae 538:43-49. Hokanson, S.C., W.F. Lamboy, A.K. Szewc-McFadden, and J.R. McFerson. Microsatellite (SSR) variation in a collection of Malus species and hybrids. Accepted in Euphytica. Luby, J., P.L. Forsline, H.S. Aldwinckle, V. Bus and M. Geibel. 2000. Silk Road Apples - Collection, Evaluation, and Utilization of Malus sieversii from Central Asia. Proceedings paper from Workshop 11 "Collection, Utilization, and Preservation of Fruit Crop Genetic Resources-Some case studies". HortScience 35: In press. Maxted, N., Erskine W., Singh D.P., Robertson, L.D. and A.N. Asthana, 2000. Are our germplasm collections museum items? p. 589-602 In: R. Knight (Ed.), Proceedings of the Third International Food Legumes Research Conference: Linking Research and Marketing Opportunities for Pulses in the 21st Century (Current Plant Science and Biotechnology in Agriculture; V. 34), Adelaide, Australia. Sept. 22-26, 1997. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. Pavek, D.S., W.F. Lamboy, and E.J. Garvey. Selecting In Situ Conservation Sites for Grape Genetic Resources in the U.S.A. Submitted to Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. Robertson, L.D., Sadiki M., Matic R. and Lang Li-juan, 2000. Vicia spp: Conserved resources, priorities for collection and future prospects. p. 623-633 In: R. Knight (Ed.), Proceedings of the Third International Food Legumes Research Conference: Linking Research and Marketing Opportunities for Pulses in the 21st Century (Current Plant Science and Biotechnology in Agriculture; V. 34), Adelaide, Australia. Sept. 22-26, 1997. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. Sarker, A., Robertson, L.D. and C.G. Campbell, 2000. Lathyrus spp: Conserved resources, priorities for collection and future prospects". p. 645-654 In: R. Knight (Ed.), Proceedings of the Third International Food Legumes Research Conference: Linking Research and Marketing Opportunities for Pulses in the 21st Century (Current Plant Science and Biotechnology in Agriculture; V. 34), Adelaide, Australia. Sept. 22-26, 1997. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 01/28/2002

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 06/26/2001 - 06/27/2001
Period the Report Covers: 01/01/2001 - 12/01/2001

Participants

Administrative Advisor: Dr. James E. Hunter, Director

Project Leaders:

Dr. R. Arora, WV
Dr. R. Bernatzky, MA
Dr. J.C. Bouwkamp, MD
Dr. M.H. Brand, CT-Storrs
Dr. M. Foolad, PA
Dr. J.J. Frett, DE
Dr. J.C. Goffreda, NJ
Dr. P. Griffiths, NY-Geneva
Dr. M. Jahn, NY-Ithaca
Dr. B. Loy, NH
Dr. B. Maynard, RI
Dr. K.A. Stoner, CT-New Haven
Dr. D. Zhang, ME

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U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service

Acting Administrator, ARS Dr. E. Knipling
Assoc. Deputy Admin.- Crop Production
Product Value and Safety Dr. J. St. John
Director, North Atlantic Area Mrs. W. Martinez
Associate Director, North Atlantic Area Dr. H. Parker
Director, National Seed Storage Laboratory Dr. H. Shands
National Germplasm Resources Lab Dr. A.K. Stoner
National Program Staff Dr. P. Bretting
National Program Staff Dr. S. Cameron

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U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research Service

Supervisory Geneticist and Research Leader Dr. W.F. Lamboy
Horticulturist/Curator Mr. P.L. Forsline
Horticulturist/Curator Dr. L.D. Robertson
Molecular Biologist Dr. J. Labate
Apple Rootstock Breeder Dr. G. Fazio*
Grape Rootstock Breeder Dr. P.S. Cousins*
Grape Scion Breeder Dr. C. Owens*
Grape Plant Pathologist Vacant*
Molecular Geneticist Dr. H. Schwaninger
Office Manager Ms. T.J. Fisk
Office Assistant Ms. S. Walburn
Supervisory Farm Manager / Asst Curator Mr. W.N. Srmack
Supervisory Farm Manager / Asst Curator Mr. D.M. Sharman
Computer Systems Specialist Mr. R. Nearpass
Germplasm Program Assistant Ms. S.L. Tennies
Germplasm Program Assistant Ms. D.C. Dellefave
Biological Science Research Technician Ms. S.M. Sheffer
Biological Science Research Technician Ms. M. Lauver*
Agricultural Science Research Technician Ms. D.R. Johnston
Agricultural Science Research Technician Mr. B. Garman
Greenhouse Manager Mr. P.W. Kisly
Agricultural Science Research Technician Mr. D.A. Beckhorn
Biological Science Research Technician Vacant
Agricultural Science Research Technician Mr. R. Vaughan
Agricultural Science Research Technician Mr. J.M. Oughterson

*Staff not involved in NE-009 project

Brief Summary of Minutes

The USDA-ARS National Seed Storage Lab and Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado hosted the Year 2001 Annual Regional Technical Advisory Committee (RTAC) meeting of NE-009 on June 26, 2001. Warren Lamboy, in Kim Stoner‘s absence, chaired the business portion of the meeting. The PGRU report to the committee included discussion of preservation and research highlights, personnel changes, improvements to facilities, and future directions and plans. Guest presenters included Peter Bretting, National Program Leader from the USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System, Ann Marie Thro of USDA-CSREES, and David Tay and Susan Stieve of the new Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center, in Columbus, Ohio. A new budget was proposed and passed. The RTAC suggested that Warren Lamboy and Kim Stoner solicit committee members for non-Geneva locations for the 2002 RTAC meeting.

PROGRESS OF THE WORK AND PRINCIPAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

In the past year approximately 12200 accessions of seed propagated crops (tomato, onion, squash, radish, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, other cole crops, celery, ground cherry, asparagus, and buckwheat) were maintained. There were 450 plots grown for seed production and 185 planted to produce first year bulbs and plants of biennial crops that were stored for seed production in the upcoming season. 2057 seed samples of 1501 germplasm accessions were distributed to 93 qualified researchers and bona fide users worldwide. More than 90% of the samples were for onion, Brassica, and tomato. There were approximately 125 onion accessions characterized for the Crop Germplasm Committee minimal descriptor list. Digital images were produced for both foliage and bulbs for uploading to the national germplasm database, GRIN. We obtained funding for a specific cooperative agreement (SCA) for the regeneration of the short-day onions in New Mexico and will regenerate 50 accessions of short day onions that are in danger of being lost due to poor viability and low seed numbers. Duplicate accessions of tomato were identified and research has been initiated with molecular markers to determine the degree of duplication that can be eliminated from the collection. A preliminary core collection of tomato has been identified through interaction with the tomato CGC. Separate passport and inventory files for individual vegetable crops have been combined into only one passport and inventory file to facilitate the transfer to GRIN. Programs have been developed in SAS to allow automatic calculation of the status and need for regeneration of crops.

For our clonally propagated crops, 3744 accessions of apple, 1203 accessions of grape, and 103 accessions of tart cherry were maintained during the last year. In 2001, 119 orders for 1861 accessions of apple, 5 orders for 43 accessions of tart cherry, and 70 orders for 784 accessions of grape were distributed. Repropagation of the apple collection onto fire blight tolerant EMLA 7 rootstock continues and is 50% complete. It should be completed within the next 3 years. This will dramatically reduce the loss of trees from fire blight and will result in fewer CRIS resources being expended in regenerating and replacing lost trees. Evaluation by screening seedlings for disease resistance from the collection of wild apple from Turkey has begun, funded by an SCA with H. Aldwinckle. 400 of these seedlings will be field planted for horticultural evaluation. 1200, 400 and 300 seedlings, from Central Asia, China, and the Russian Caucasus, which previously screened positive for disease resistance, are in field plantings with horticultural evaluation in progress. Preliminary results indicate that both fire blight and apple scab resistance is present in the genotypes field-tested.

Nearly the entire collections of apples and tart cherries are now backed up in cryogenic storage at the USDA, ARS, National Seed Storage Lab, Fort Collins, CO. The project should be completed by 2004. This provides safe, off-site, backup storage for this germplasm. Volume 29 of "Horticultural Reviews" has been reviewed and edited and went to the publisher in Dec. 2001. It is entitled "Wild Apple and Fruit Trees of Central Asia", and comprises two books: "The Wild Apple Tree of Kazakhstan" and "Wild Fruit Plants of Kazakhstan", both translated from Russian to English as part of a PGRU SCA with Kazakhstan. Volume 29 will begin with the article "Collection, Maintenance, Characterization and Utilization of the Wild Apple of Central Asia". This is a detailed report describing the four PGRU-lead expeditions to collect wild apple in Central Asia during the years 1989-1996 and the follow-up work to evaluate and promote utilization of the genetic material.

Characterization of the grape collection for 14 fruit characteristics (weight, cluster size, etc.) is complete except for several accessions that did not fruit this past season. Leaf and flower characteristics have also been determined for 26-79% of the accessions (the % depending on the character). Tests of grape seed in long-term cold storage continued. Baseline tests on seed germination of 8 different species of fresh seed (no time spent in cold storage) resulted in 0 - 96% (ave. 52%) germination, depending on species. If cold storage is successful, the genes contained in grape accessions will be preserved in seed form as security backup. Over 400 computer images of grape clusters were taken and were put into the GRIN database for public access. Probability models predicting the number of seeds needed to preserve all the genes in a clonal crop have been developed and refinements and computer simulations are in progress.

The unit has successfully developed linkages with organic farming groups and seed savers organizations. Larry Robertson, Dave Sharman, and Phil Forsline made four presentations to the Northeast Organic Farmer-s Organization-New York annual conference in Syracuse, NY this year. PGRU will take the lead in organizing training workshops for small-scale vegetable seed production and participatory on-farm demonstrations of new publicly bred vegetable varieties with small seed companies and organic farmers as part of a successful three year project funded by the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS). Funding is provided for a horticulturist and the creation of a mobile seed-processing unit. PGRU will also have a major role in developing participatory plant breeding with these non-traditional stakeholders. Through this project, modern publicly bred cultivars will be identified for inclusion in the germplasm collections.

A scientist was hired to direct the activities in the PGRU Molecular Biology Lab and new equipment was purchased for carrying out medium- to high-throughput genotyping. This equipment allows the simultaneous processing of 192 plant samples, from the stage of grinding leaf tissue to final genotyping analyses. Development of a molecular marker database to serve the lab is also underway. A web site containing lab protocols and project descriptions has been developed to aid in transfer of knowledge within the PGRU lab and in order to freely share protocols with interested outside parties.

One Hobart and William Smith Colleges summer intern and two Research Apprentice Program (RAP) students were trained in the PGRU lab as Biological Science Aides in summer 2001. They assisted in optimizing molecular genetic markers in tomato and broccoli, and collecting data from pilot projects involving DNA fingerprinting of tomato and broccoli accessions. They also spent time assisting with various activities in the field and in the greenhouse.

We are carrying out molecular genotyping of broccoli accessions for a locus implicated in flower morphology. Genotype will be correlated with phenotypic measures of degree of branching in the flower head. All of the phenotypic data have been collected in the field. The molecular genotypic data is 90% complete. Two tomato DNA fingerprinting projects are also being carried out. One involves comparing genetic variation in American heirloom accessions to that found in modern day commercial hybrid varieties that are commonly planted in gardens. The other project involves comparing sets of duplicate (same or similarly named) accessions. More than 50% of the molecular data and all of the phenotypic data have been collected for the tomato projects.

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

USEFULNESS OF FINDINGS: Valuable crop germplasm of clonal crops and seed crops is being maintained and distributed in accordance with international germplasm standards for viability, genetic integrity, and accurate cultivar and species identity. Training of NGO participants in characterization and regeneration techniques will lead to complementary on-farm conservation of germplasm. These activities will provide benefits in the form of useful heirloom germplasm for non-traditional stakeholders who are involved in alternative agriculture and by providing a mosaic of traditional heirlooms for public consumption. Increased characterization of unit germplasm and the addition of digital images will increase the efficiency of use of the germplasm collections. Improvements in apple maintenance procedures using a rootstock that induces lower vigor and is resistant to fire blight will increase long-term survival of apple accessions and decrease need for regeneration. Virtually all of the apple and tart cherry collections have been backed up in cryogenic storage at Fort Collins, CO. For 50 apple accessions, this has been critical as we lost them due to heavy fire blight in the field collection but were able to rescue them from our cryogenic-storage inventory. Secure backup of grape genes should be possible if long-term grape seed storage experiments are successful. For the molecular work on the vegetable crops, genotyping of broccoli and cauliflower may lead to marker that can be used to predict flower morphology in accessions and for marker-assisted selection. For the tomato work, if patterns of genetic variation are different between modern-day versus heirloom types, the argument for characterizing and using heirlooms is made stronger because there may be valuable, underutilized genetic variation that has been unintentionally eliminated from the modern cultivars. Identification of true duplicate accessions in tomato based on phenotypic and genotypic data will aid the curator in making decisions about eliminating them, freeing up resources currently used to maintain them WORK PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR Regenerations of cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli will continue, and 25 accessions of Cucurbita are scheduled for regeneration. Fifty accessions of cabbage grown last year will be planted for seed production and another 60 will be grown for first year plants for regeneration of seed in this and each subsequent year for the next nine years. Regenerations will continue for the other Brassica oleracea and Brassica rapa varieties that have low seed supply. Bulbs from approximately 200 accessions of long-day onion will be planted for seed production at Geneva and by private seed company collaborators. First-year bulbs will be produced for the remaining long-day onion accessions that need regeneration and have seed available. We are attempting to identify funding for an SCA for the regeneration of the short-day onions in New Mexico. SunSeeds will regenerate 12 short-day onion accessions in southern California. Through collaboration with New Mexico State University regeneration of 50 short day onions in critical need for rejuvenation will be initiated with the production of first year bulbs. Five hundred tomato accessions that do not have data for the minimum descriptor list will be planted for characterization. The switch to exclusive use of GRIN for our vegetable seed collections should be completed and the local databases will be !%locked!&. As part of the IFAFS collaborative project with Cornell University on-farm conservation and participatory plant breeding workshops will be developed and conducted in collaboration with the other partners of the project (NOFA-NY and the Farmers Cooperative Genome Project). Additionally, on-farm demonstrations of new publicly bred vegetable varieties will be initiated through this project and a database of public vegetable breeders and varieties will be developed. The sour cherry collection with the initial field planting in spring 1998 is fruiting for the first time in summer 2001. By July of 2002, we can begin characterizing for minimal descriptors those accessions for which we lack this information. This data will be added to data already in GRIN that was obtained in 1999 from Dr. Amy Iezonni of Michigan State University. Forty accessions from her field plantings were characterized in a study done in East Lansing, MI. More than eight races of apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) have been identified and breeders have been unable to develop durable sources of apple scab resistant cultivars. In collaborative work with New Zealand scientists and with H. Aldwinckle at Cornell University we have identified sources of resistance in the Central Asian germplasm that has potential as new parental material in a breeding program. In spring 2002, PGRU will make crosses of scab resistant selections of Malus sieversii and a susceptible cultivar, ‘Gala‘. Seeds from these crosses will be screened at Cornell and in New Zealand. Using genetic markers, these populations and a broad spectrum of Malus sieversii will be characterized for the different scab resistant genes for which markers have been developed. This work will be expanded to include the laboratory of J. Luby at the University of Minnesota. Repropagation of the apple collection onto fireblight resistant rootstocks will continue. Characterization of the grape collection for leaf descriptors will continue, and apple characterization will continue to include digital imagining of fruit and tree morphology. Over 3000 seedlings of Malus species are also being evaluated for horticultural traits after being screened for resistance to three apple diseases. Additional work in grape genomics or taxonomy is expected for 2002, but specific activities have not yet been decided upon. The lab work on the vegetable crops will continue to focus on species that are a high priority with respect to characterization (tomato and Brassicas). Optimized molecular markers will be applied to these species, and molecular marker data combined with phenotypic data will be analyzed and reported. We will continue to adopt and optimize new marker systems for tomato and Brassicas, continue to develop a molecular marker database for the lab, and update and maintain the lab web site.

Publications

Aldwinckle, H.S., P.L. Forsline, H.L Gustafson and M.V.B Reddy. 2001. Fire blight resistance Malus species from Sichuan (China), Russian Caucasus, Turkey and Germany. The 9th International Workshop on Fire Blight, New Zealand. Acta Horticulturae (in press). Benson, L.L., R.H. Zimmerman, and W.F. Lamboy. 2001. Molecular Identification of Malus hupehensis (Tea Crabapple) Accessions Using Simple Sequence Repeats. HortScience 36: 961-966. B|ttner, R., M. Fischer, P.L. Forsline, M. Geibel and V.V. Ponomarenko. 2001. Genebank work for preservation of the genetic diversity of apple. EUCARPIA XVIth Genetic Resources Section Symposium, !‘Broad Variation and Precise Characterization - Limitation for the Future!(, Poznan, Poland, May 16-20, 2001. Cantini, C., A.F. Iezzoni, and W.F. Lamboy. 2001. DNA Fingerprinting of Tetraploid Cherry Germplasm Using Simple Sequence Repeats. Journal of the American Society of Horticultural Science 126: 205-209. Forsline, P.L. and H.S. Aldwinckle. 2001. Natural occurrence of fire blight in USDA Apple collection after 10 years of observation. The 9th International Workshop on Fire Blight, New Zealand. Acta Horticulturae (in press). Forsline, P.L. H.S. Aldwinckle, E.E. Dickson, J.J. Luby, S.C. Hokanson, G. Mink, L.L. Benson and A.D. Djangaliev. 2001. Wild Malus, Apple collections from Centers of Origin in Central Asia and Beyond. Symposium on: !‘Plant Germplasm Exploration--Adding to our Global Treasures!(. CD-ROM, ASA, CSSA, SSA Annual Meeting Abstracts, October 21-25, Charlotte, NC. Hannan, R., N. Acikgoz and L.D. Robertson. 2001. Chapter 6: Chickpeas (Cicer L.). p. 115-124 In: N. Maxted and S.J. Bennett, Plant Genetic Resources of the Mediterranean. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. Hokanson, S.C., W.F. Lamboy, A.K. Szewc-McFadden, and J.R. McFerson. 2001. Microsatellite (SSR) variation in a collection of Malus species and hybrids. Euphytica.118: 281-294. Luby, J., P.L. Forsline, H.S. Aldwinckle, V. Bus and M. Geibel. 2001. Silk Road Apples !V Collection, Evaluation, and Utilization of Malus sieversii from Central Asia. Proceedings paper from Workshop 11 !‘Collection, Utilization, and Preservation of Fruit Crop Genetic Resources-Some case studies!(. HortScience 36:225-231. Pavek, D.S., W.F. Lamboy, and E.J. Garvey. 2001. Selecting In Situ Conservation Sites for Grape Genetic Resources in the U.S.A. Accepted in Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. Robertson L.D. and N. Maxted. 2001. Chapter 14: Ex situ conservation of grain legumes. p. 245-262 In: N. Maxted and S.J. Bennett, Plant Genetic Resources of the Mediterranean. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. Street, K.A., L.D. Robertson and N. Maxted. 2001. Chapter 18: Utilisation of pasture legume diversity. p. 327-355 In: N. Maxted and S.J. Bennett, Plant Genetic Resources of the Mediterranean. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. Wouw, M. van de, D. Enneking, L.D. Robertson and N. Maxted. 2001. Chapter 8: Vetches (Vicia L.). p. 134-158 In: N. Maxted and S.J. Bennett, Plant Genetic Resources of the Mediterranean. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 11/15/2002

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 09/13/2002 - 09/13/2002
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2001 - 09/01/2002

Participants

Loy, J. Brent, University of New Hampshire
Zhang, Donglin, University of Maine
Hunter, James, Cornell University, NY - Geneva - RTAC Administrative Advisor

Other Attendees:
Forsline, Philip, USDA, ARS, PGRU, New York Geneva
Robertson, Larry, USDA, ARS, PGRU, New York Geneva
Schwaninger, Heidi, USDA, ARS, PGRU, New York Geneva

Guests:
Garvey, Ned, Plant Exchange Office Beltsville
Berndtson, Bill,

Brief Summary of Minutes

PGRU Activities: Robertson and Forsline discussed germplasm preservation and research highlights at the Plant Genetic Resources Unit. Additionally, Schwaninger described the molecular systematics work that she would start with grape and apple. This was followed by some more detailed discussion on several issues. A copy of the Research Leader‘s report is attached which gives details on preservation and research, facilities, personnel, and future directions and plans.

PGRU Facilities: Progress on construction of new greenhouse space was discussed as was the need for an additional headhouse because of the reduction in space due to sharing with the grape improvement project. The design of the new headhouse was completed in FY2002 and the construction has been funded in the budget for PGRU for FY2003.

Personnel Changes: The hiring of a new molecular biologist to further research on clonal germplasm collections was described.

Budget proposal for FY2003. The budget request for year Fiscal Year 2003 encompasses a $5K increase for salaries and benefits making the requested amount $150K. The budget submitted for FY2002 was at $150K, funded for $145K. Zhang moved that the budget proposal for FY2003 be accepted. Loy seconded. Unanimously approved.

Dr. Robert Bernatzky was nominated by Donglin as Chair of the NE9 Committee for the next two years and was seconded by Loy. Election of Bernatzky passed unanimously. The committee directed Robertson to contact Dr. Robert Bernatzky to request him to serve as Chair of the NE9 Committee for the next two years. He was contacted and has agreed to serve as Chair. The next meeting has been scheduled to be held in Geneva the third week of May (after classes end, but before Memorial Day), date to be set after requesting information about best date from committee members.

Robertson adjourned the meeting at 12:00 pm.

University of New Hampshire

In the past fiscal year approximately 11,750 accessions of seed propagated crops (tomato, onion, squash, radish, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, other cole crops, celery, ground cherry, asparagus, and buckwheat) were maintained. During the 2002 FY approximately 420 accessions were regenerated. For biennial crops, 165 accessions were grown to produce plants for use in seed production in 2003. Specifically, 2467 seed lots were distributed during FY 2002. These were sent in 135 orders, of which 29 were foreign orders. An SCA was initiated with New Mexico State University to rescue 75 short-day onions that were in danger of being lost. Bulbs were produced for all accessions to use in the upcoming year for seed production. The tomato CGC approved an initial core collection of tomatoes, which has been assembled at PGRU. A Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement was signed with Cornell University that provides support to PGRU in training of organic farmers and small seed producers in small-scale seed production of heirloom and new publicly improved vegetable varieties. In the molecular biology lab, equipment for high-throughput genotyping was purchased and protocols were optimized for SSR markers and DNA sequencing. A molecular marker database for long-term storage and easy access to and manipulation of data is under development. Markers were applied to projects in tomato and broccoli/cauliflower for measuring genetic diversity and molecular taxonomy, respectively.

In a collaborative project with P. Griffiths, 212 accessions of cauliflower from the PGRU collection were screened for resistance to white mold. Six accessions were found that provide additional crucifer germplasm for white mold resistant cultivars. Approximately 400 digital images for 200 accessions of tomato, onions, and winter squash were completed. Characterization data was recorded on 700 accessions of onions, tomato and Cole crops for minimal descriptor lists. Documentation, including these images and data, for all 11880 seed samples and 5538 orchard and vineyard accessions in our collections is publicly available on the Internet via the GRIN (Genetic Resources Information Network) database.

Workshops were held at the NOFA-NY annual meeting at Seneca Falls, NY on January 25 and at Turtle Tree Seeds on August 5 that provided training in small-scale seed production to small and organic farmers in small-scale seed production. Displays and demonstration s of a mobile seed unit on small-scale seed production were held at Empire Farm Days in NOFA-NY, the NOFA Annual Summer Conference at Amherst, MA, and at Common Ground Fair at Unity, ME. These provided displays of hand and small-scale equipment for seed threshing and processing. Three community seed days were held with the mobile seed unit throughout New York for wet processing of seeds (tomatoes). These provided training and facilities for seed processing for organic farmers and small-scale seed producers interested in seed production of heirloom and new publicly bred varieties of PGRU. These activities were supported by the RCA with Cornell University where the PGRU has the lead role in this project in the extension of small-scale seed production of heirloom vegetable germplasm and new public open-pollinated varieties by organic farmers and small-scale seed producers.

Accomplishments

In the past fiscal year approximately 11,750 accessions of seed propagated crops (tomato, onion, squash, radish, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, other cole crops, celery, ground cherry, asparagus, and buckwheat) were maintained. During the 2002 FY approximately 420 accessions were regenerated. For biennial crops, 165 accessions were grown to produce plants for use in seed production in 2003. An SCA was initiated with New Mexico State University to rescue 75 short-day onions that were in danger of being lost. Bulbs were produced for all accessions to use in the upcoming year for seed production. The tomato CGC approved an initial core collection of tomatoes, which has been assembled at PGRU. A Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement was signed with Cornell University that provides support to PGRU in training of organic farmers and small seed producers in small-scale seed production of heirloom and new publicly improved vegetable varieties. In the molecular biology lab, equipment for high-throughput genotyping was purchased and protocols were optimized for SSR markers and DNA sequencing. A molecular marker database for long-term storage and easy access to and manipulation of data is under development. Markers were applied to projects in tomato and broccoli/cauliflower for measuring genetic diversity and molecular taxonomy, respectively. In a collaborative project with P. Griffiths, 212 accessions of cauliflower from the PGRU collection were screened for resistance to white mold. Six accessions were found that provide additional crucifer germplasm for white mold resistant cultivars. Approximately 400 digital images for 200 accessions of tomato, onions, and winter squash were completed. Characterization data was recorded on 700 accessions of onions, tomato and Cole crops for minimal descriptor lists. Documentation, including these images and data, for all 11880 seed samples and 5538 orchard and vineyard accessions in our collections is publicly available on the Internet via the GRIN (Genetic Resources Information Network) database. Workshops were held at the NOFA-NY annual meeting at Seneca Falls, NY on January 25 and at Turtle Tree Seeds on August 5 that provided training in small-scale seed production to small and organic farmers in small-scale seed production. Displays and demonstration s of a mobile seed unit on small-scale seed production were held at Empire Farm Days in NOFA-NY, the NOFA Annual Summer Conference at Amherst, MA, and at Common Ground Fair at Unity, ME. These provided displays of hand and small-scale equipment for seed threshing and processing. Three community seed days were held with the mobile seed unit throughout New York for wet processing of seeds (tomatoes). These provided training and facilities for seed processing for organic farmers and small-scale seed producers interested in seed production of heirloom and new publicly bred varieties of PGRU. These activities were supported by the RCA with Cornell University where the PGRU has the lead role in this project in the extension of small-scale seed production of heirloom vegetable germplasm and new public open-pollinated varieties by organic farmers and small-scale seed producers.

Publications

Berger, J., L.D. Robertson, and P. Cocks. 2002. Agricultural potential of Mediterranean grain and forage legumes: Key difference between and within Vicia species in terms of phenology, yield, and agronomy give insight into plant adaptation to semi-arid environments. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 49: 313-325. Chetelat, R. T. (2001) Revised list of wild species stocks. TGC 51:37-66. Chetelat, R. T. (2001) Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomato). In: Brenner, S. and J. H. Miller (eds) Encyclopedia of Genetics. Academic Press. pp1125-1127. Jones, C.M., J.R. Myers, R.T. Chetelat (2001) Allele tests of high pigment genotypes using root anthocyanin expression. TGC 51:23-26. Ji, Y., Y. Du, R.T. Chetelat (2001) Pairing and recombination between Solanum lycopersicoides and Lycopersicon esculentum chromosomes: taxonomic implications and breeding prospects. In: R.G. van den Berg, G.W.M. Barendse, G.M. van der Weerden, C. Mariani (eds) Solanaceae V: Advances in Taxonomy and Utilization. pp217-224.

Impact Statements

Two thousand four hundred sixty-seven (2,467) seed lots were distributed during FY 2002. These were sent in 135 orders, of which 29 were foreign orders.

Date of Annual Report: 07/22/2003

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 05/22/2003 - 05/22/2003
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2002 - 09/01/2003

Participants

Project Leaders:
Dr. R. Arora, W.V. Dr. R. Bernatzky, MA
Dr. J.C. Bouwkamp, MD Dr. M.H. Brand, CT-Storrs
Dr. M. Foolad, PA Dr. J.J. Frett, DE
Dr. J.C. Goffreda, NJ Dr. P. Griffiths, NY-Geneva
Dr. M. Jahn, NY-Ithaca Dr. B. Loy, NH
Dr. B. Maynard, RI Dr. K.A. Stoner, CT-New Haven
Dr. D. Zhang, ME

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service

Acting Administrator, ARS Dr. E. Knipling
Assoc. Deputy Admin.- Crop Production
Product Value and Safety Dr. J. St. John
Director, North Atlantic Area Mrs. W.H. Martinez
Associate Director, North Atlantic Area Dr. H. Parker
Director, National Center for Genetic Dr. H. Shands
Resources Preservation
National Germplasm Resources Lab Dr. A.K. Stoner
National Program Staff Dr. P.K. Bretting
National Program Staff Dr. S. Cameron

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research Service

CSREES
Technical Advisor Dr. Anne-Marie Thro

Plant Genetic Resources Unit, Geneva, NY

Research Leader** Dr. C.J. Simon
Curator (former Acting RL) Dr. L.D. Robertson
Horticulturist/Curator Mr. P.L. Forsline
Molecular Biologist Dr. J. Labate
Molecular Geneticist Dr. H. Schwaninger
Apple Rootstock Breeder Dr. G. Fazio*
Grape Rootstock Breeder Dr. P.S. Cousins*
Grape Scion Breeder Dr. C. Owens*
Grape Plant Pathologist Dr. L.E. Cadle-Davidson***
Molecular Geneticist Vacant*

Office Manager Ms. T.J. Fisk
Office Assistant Ms. S. Walburn
Supervisory Farm Manager / Asst Curator Mr. W.N. Srmack
Supervisory Farm Manager / Asst Curator Mr. D.M. Sharman
Greenhouse Manager Mr. P.W. Kisly
Computer Systems Specialist Mr. R. Nearpass
Germplasm Program Assistant Ms. S.L. Tennies
Germplasm Program Assistant Ms. D.C. Dellefave
Agricultural Science Research Technician Mr. T. Holleran*
Biological Science Research Technician Ms. S.M. Sheffer
Biological Science Research Technician Ms. M. Lauver***
Agricultural Science Research Technician Ms. D.R. Johnston*
Agricultural Science Research Technician Mr. B. Garman
Agricultural Science Research Technician Ms. T. Ferrin*
Agricultural Science Research Technician Mr. J.M. Oughterson
Agricultural Science Research Technician Mr. D.A. Beckhorn
Agricultural Science Research Technician Mr. N. Lepak
Agricultural Science Research Technician Mr. R. Vaughan

*Staff not involved in NE-09 project
**Joined July 2003
***Joined September 2003
****Left June 2003

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

The Plant Genetic Resources Unit hosted the Year 2003 Annual Regional Technical Advisory Committee (RTAC) meeting of NE-09 on May 22, 2003. Robert Bernatsky, as the new chairperson of the committee, called the meeting to order. Larry Robertson presented the PGRU report to the committee which included discussion of preservation and research highlights, personnel changes, improvements to facilities, and future directions and plans. The PGRU plant germplasm senior staff made progress reports on the conservation activities and research for vegetable and clonal germplasm conservation and the state of molecular diversity research in the unit. The apple rootstock and grape scion breeders also made presentations to update committee members on the development of their research programs. They were followed by a number of NE-09 committee members who made presentations about their research that is relevant to NE-09. The committee expressed the desire to have this type of meeting with presentations about research relevant to NE-09 every two or three years. The majority of the new business of the meeting addressed concern about continuation of the project and the pressures from some NE-09 directors about multistate project funding. A presentation will be made at the NERA summer meeting by the Director of the National Germplasm Resources Laboratory to inform the station directors of the relevance of the National Plant Germplasm to their stations. Also discussed was the new project proposal for a further five year extension of NE-09. Requests were made to the committee members for information concerning resource allocations and a list of publications relevant to NE-09. A total of 189 orders for 2549 seed germplasm samples and 216 orders for 2545 germplasm cuttings were filled for clients and stakeholders in FY 2003. A large number of these samples were distributed in the northeast, 1468 samples for 98 orders were distributed to users in the states that are part of NE-09. Most of the samples of the clonal collection were cuttings but multiple samples of pollen and seeds of wild species as well as DNA and leaf samples for DNA extraction were sent. Delivery of germplasm to clients and stakeholders is the primary way in which the results of this CRISs activities are distributed to the public. Seed regenerations of vegetable Brassicas, tomatoes, onions, and Cucurbits were completed for 497 accessions and 242 accessions will be grown for plants to store for seed production in 2004. A total of approximately 11,700 accessions of seed-propagated crops were successfully maintained during the past year. The future availability of this germplasm is therefore assured. The changeover to rental of bee hives instead of year-round maintenance of our own bee hives was successfully implemented which has resulted in the savings of approximately 0.9 of a technical support staff at little additional cost since the rental cost is mostly covered by the cost of supplies that were previously purchased to maintain hives. This arrangement provides flexibility in meeting requirements for pollinators while providing an additional staff for other critical regeneration activities and greenhouse requirements. A germplasm collection for Physalis philadelphica conducted in five southern states of Mexico resulted in a major addition to the germplasm collection of tomatillo in the National Plant Germplasm System. Previously there were only 18 accessions of tomatillo in the collection, this mission added 107 accessions and greatly expanded the genetic diversity in the collection. Planning for the collection of new grape germplasm has been initiated. The goal is to collect population samples across the geographic range of each North American wild grape species and to place into repositories a subset containing the majority of each species genetic variation. Foreign grape germplasm will be collected as opportunities arise and the effect of new treaties regulating the acquisition of biodiversity is decided. Planning for collection of new tomatillo and onion germplasm has been initiated and collection of Physalis in Guatemala will be conducted in November of 2005 in the Departments of Quiche, Huehuetenango, Guatemala, Chimaltenango, Sacatepequez, and Santa Rosa. Collection of cultivated onion will be mainly in the mountainous regions of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and the mission is planned to be conducted 2007. Approximately 360 digital images were recorded from 190 accessions of tomato, onion and winter squash. These are being processed and will be loaded onto GRIN. Characterization data was recorded on 168 accessions of onions, tomato and Cole crops for minimal descriptor lists for loading on GRIN to enable stakeholders to better search for their requirements. In apple, 270 additional accessions were characterized with 25 descriptors. Morphological characterization with priority descriptors in grape is continuing with nearly 90% of the collection completed. Digital images were taken on 436 additional apple accessions bringing the total to 710. Disease resistance screening of seedlings from the collection of wild apple from China and Armenia as well as additional seedlings from Kazakhstan was completed in 2002/2003 as a result of the SCA with H. Aldwinckle. Preliminary results indicate that both fire blight and apple scab resistance is present in the genotypes tested. If durable, they could be important new sources of disease resistance genes for use in apple breeding programs. In 2002, 40% of the 1200 Central Asian seedlings of M. sieversii fruited and were characterized for horticultural traits. In 2003, we expect to have 65% of that population characterized. In addition, disease screening of 45 elite clones of M. sieversii that were collected in Kazakhstan in 1995 and 1996 was completed. Molecular genetic studies have been initiated to 1) elucidate evolutionary relationships among wild grape species, 2) determine genetic population structure of North American grape species, and 3) determine intra- and inter-specific variation in biologically/ ecologically/economically important traits. The results will facilitate more effective ex-situ conservation of grape genetic diversity in the repositories and a more effective use of that diversity by researchers and breeders. We adapted an assay to estimate tomato fruit quality (lycopene content) in high-throughput mode and designed molecular markers for several candidate genes in the lycopene biosynthetic pathway. These will be used to study the genetics of tomato nutraceutical quality through characterizing germplasm. Broccoli and cauliflower are different botanical varieties of the same species (Brassica oleracea) with very different phenotypic traits. A molecular assay to distinguish between broccoli and cauliflower will be useful to curators because they wont have to wait until flowering (which sometimes takes two years or more) to determine whether a plant is broccoli or cauliflower. In collaboration with Thomas Bjorkman from Cornell University Hort Sciences, we continued work on testing the correlation between phenotype (broccoli versus cauliflower) and genotype at a locus that is a candidate for conferring cauliflower phenotype in B. oleracea. Results showed that the correlation was highly significant but genotype at this locus did not absolutely predict phenotype. We plan to continue this project by genotyping additional candidate loci for determining phenotype in populations segregating for phenotype. Plant Breeding Reviews, Volume 29 which is a translation of two books from Russian to English with a third section on collection and evaluation of apple germplasm from Central Asia collected in 1989, 1993, 1995 and 1996 came out in print October 2002. Outreach efforts to bring organic farmer groups and seed saver groups into our stakeholder base has been greatly strengthened by implementation of an RCA from Cornell University funded by IFAFS to support efforts with organic farmers, small farmers, and small seed producers in training and demonstrating small-scale seed production of heirlooms and improved public varieties of vegetables. PGRU conducted a workshop on seed saving in October 2003. Three community field days for seed saving of tomato were conducted in NY and additional community field days were conducted in October and November of 2002 for Crucifers, squash, and onions. PGRU developed and maintains a website for the public seed initiative that provides information for seed saving, breeding and results of vegetable variety trials conducted on organic farms.

Publications

Aldwinckle, H.S., P.L. Forsline, H.L Gustafson and M.V.B Reddy. 2002. Fire blight resistance Malus species from Sichuan (China), Russian Caucasus, Turkey and Germany. The 9th International Workshop on Fire Blight, New Zealand. Acta Horticulturae 590:369-372. Forsline, P.L. and H.S. Aldwinckle. 2002. Natural occurrence of fire blight in USDA Apple collection after 10 years of observation. The 9th International Workshop on Fire Blight, New Zealand. Acta Horticulturae 590:351-357. Forsline, P.L. H.S. Aldwinckle, E.E. Dickson, J. J. Luby, and S.C. Hokanson. 2003. Collection, Maintenance, Characterization and Utilization of Wild Apples of Central Asia, p. 1-61. In: J. Janick, P. Forsline, E. Dickson, R. Way and M. Thompson (eds.). Horticultural Reviews, vol. 29. Wild apple and fruit trees of Central Asia. Wiley, New York. Gethi, J.G., J.A. Labate, S. Kresovich, M.E. Smith, & K.R. Lamkey. 2002. SSR variation in important U.S. maize inbred lines. Crop Sci. 42:951-957. Labate, J.A., K.R. Lamkey, S.E. Mitchell, S. Kresovich, H. Sullivan, and J.S.C. Smith. 2003. Molecular, agronomic, and phylogenetic aspects of Corn Belt Dent diversity. Crop Science 43: 80-91. Labate, J.A. and L.D. Robertson. 2002. Genetic variation in heirloom versus modern tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) cultivars. p. 27 In Program for the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Economic Botany, NY Botanical Garden, NYC, NY. Labate, J.A., S.M. Sheffer, and L.D. Robertson. 2002. Genotype variation in duplicate accessions of heirloom tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) using eight microsatellite markers. p. 27-28 In Program for the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Economic Botany, NY Botanical Garden, NYC, NY. Luby, J., P.L. Forsline, H.S. Aldwinckle, V. Bus and M. Geibel. 2001. Silk Road Apples Collection, Evaluation, and Utilization of Malus sieversii from Central Asia. Proceedings paper from Workshop 11 "Collection, Utilization, and Preservation of Fruit Crop Genetic Resources-Some case studies". HortScience 36:225-231.

Impact Statements

Distribute germplasm: 2549 seed germplasm samples in 189 orders and 2454 germplasm cuttings in 216 orders were distributed with 98 orders and 1468 samples distributed in the northeast.
Acquire germplasm: 107 accessions of Physalis philadelphica (tomatillo) were collected in Mexico. Planning initiated to collect North American wild grape species in the US and Physalis in Guatemala.
Maintain germplasm: Regenerations were completed for approximately 500 accessions of vegetables and cryo-preservation of apple has reached 90% and for tart cherry has reached 95%.
Characterize and evaluate the germplasm collections: 360 digital images of vegetables and 436 digital images of apple were acquired. Characterization data was recorded on 168 accessions of vegetables and on 270 accessions of apple.
Determine the basis and extent of genetic variation in the collections: several molecular markers for candidate genes for lycopene in tomato were designed. BoCal locus tested for efficiency in differentiating broccoli from cauliflower. Molecular studies
Impact 6. Determine the genetic mechanisms controlling the inheritance of important traits: both fire blight and apple scab resistance found in the same accessions of apples collected from China, Armenia, and Kazakhstan.