Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, August 9-10, 2007. The NE1010 meeting participants were welcomed by Graham Scoles, Acting Dean of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan. Steve Fales announced the forage breeding position will be replaced at Iowa State and circulated a job description. Objective 1: Evaluate new plant characters and develop germplasm and cultivars with these characters to improve perennial forage species as livestock feed and biofuel uses to enhance rural vitality and promote more secure energy sources. 1.1 Alfalfa 1.1.1 Identification of traits useful for improving Medicago sativa ssp. falcata Lead: Charlie Brummer; Locations: AFCSF, FRRL, IA, NGPRL, SD. The data collection is essentially complete and Charlie asked everyone to send final data to him. Some locations are done and at others the plots are still in the ground. Mike Peel has made selections. Arvid Boe stated that John Berdahl made 3 pops and gave them to him. 1.1.2 Genetics and improvement of naturalized alfalfa (M. sativa subsp. falcata) Lead: Arvid Boe; Locations: FRRL, IA, NGPRL, SD. Data collection is essentially complete, Arvid needs data from Charlie Brummer. John Berdahl created one population, Arvid Boe created two populations, and Mike Peel created one population. NEXT STEP - go to 3.1 1.1.3 Breeding for resistance to alfalfa snout beetle in alfalfa. Lead: Don Viands; Location: NY. Three cycles of selection completed. Data showed selection worked - see report. Don stated that he will likely seek cooperation for evaluation in yield trials sometime in the future. 1.1.4 Developing alfalfa germplasm with potato leaf hopper resistance from three diverse genetic sources. Lead: Don Viands; Locations: AFCL, IA, NY, SD, ?KS and WV? Charlie Brummer created one population and Don has created another and has planted both populations this year. All sources are at NY right now. Lethbridge also has plots and will select this year for vigor only. All plants are variegated. 1.1.5 Done and published. 1.1.6 Aluminum tolerance in tetraploid alfalfa. Lead: Surya Acharya; Locations: AFCCH, AFCL, NY SEE Papadopoulos report. Phase 2 locations: Charlottetown, Lethbridge, and Syracuse. Yousef requested soil samples of all sites. Discussion was initiated for changes in experimental design because soils have been variable. Next cycle of selection was proposed for 2008-2009. All seed will be sent to Lethbridge. Charlie Brummer offered a site for evaluation in Georgia. 1.2 Birdsfoot Trefoil 1.2.1 Rhizomatous Birdsfoot Trefoil for yield improvement Lead was transferred to Mike Peel then to Heathcliffe Riday - put on back burner. Locations: AFCCH, FRRL, NY, USDFRC. Currently there is no interest in leading this project. If Paul Beuselinck returns to the group perhaps he would have interest in leading this project. Viands still has the study at NY. 1.2.2 Single row plot evaluations for vigor in Birdsfoot Trefoil. Lead: Mike Peel; Locations: AFCCH, FRRL, MN, NY, USDFRC. Next cycle of selection discussion was initiated for establishment in 2009. The five cooperators involved will discuss again next year. Mike Peel established a grazing study at FRRL using materials from MN, NY, and AFCCH and will be collecting data this year. 1.3 Reed Canarygrass Collection of evaluation of naturalized reed canarygrass populations for biofuel and forage traits. NARC Phase II: NEW Lead: Mike Casler; Locations: IA, NY, USDFRC. Evaluation sites for yield trials of 90 sources of reed canarygrass are two in NY, two in WI and one in IA. Second and last year of harvests will be taken in 2007. Related: Mike Casler believes that reed canarygrass is native, but behaves as an opportunist. He would like to investigate whether sources are native or introduced from a European type, so asked everyone if they were traveling and came upon a generally undisturbed site with reed canarygrass to collect samples. Further discussion led to proposal for new research from Mike Casler and Charlie Brummer: SEE NEW Objective 2.5: Reed canarygrass 1.4 -Tall Fescue: not functional - No lead scientist at this time. 1.5 Multiple Species 1.5.1 Selection for fiber digestibility and cell wall pectin Lead: Don Viands; Locations: AFCSF, NY, WI, USDFRC. Selection in alfalfa for higher pectin concentration has more energy, "1.7 pounds milk equivalent energy per day". See Viands' annual report. Population is currently out for increase. Comment: Real Michaud has conducted divergent selection for non-structural CHO (soluble carbohydrates) in alfalfa. He has found large differences and variability between plots cut in the - AM and PM. Values are greater in the afternoon. Changes in NDF and ADF also occurred. 1.5.2 Grass-grass and grass-forbs mixtures for long-term sustainable biomass production. NEW Lead: Nancy Ehlke; Locations: MN and SD (possibly ND). Polycultures, up to 16 species and monoculture grasses with N rates at four locations in MN were established in 2006. Warm (one harvest) and cool (two harvest) season mixtures and monocultures were included in response to Tillman article. Yousef Papadopoulos has mixtures of alfalfa and reed canarygrass (less competitive type), and will be in contact with Nancy. This research is part of an overall biodiversity study he is participating in. Objective 2: Build on previous research to evaluate additional breeding methods for improving yield and persistence of alfalfa, red clover, orchardgrass, and other forage species to make production agriculture more economical and sustainable. 2.1 Alfalfa 2.1.1 Comparison of mass selection, S1 and S2 in alfalfa. Lead: Real Michaud; Locations: AFCSF (lost to winterkill), AFCSK, IA, PSRU, NY. Plots were established in 2006. Yield will be evaluated in 2007 and 2008. 2.1.2 Replicated clonal selection for improving forage yield in alfalfa. Lead: Don Viands; Locations: AFCL, AFCSF, IA, NY. Research essentially completed, but Don needs data from all sites in order to select clones for the next cycle which he would like to establish in 2009. Don will produce an overall group population, and each collaborator will produce individual location populations. 2.2 Orchardgrass 2.2.1 Clonal selection in orchardgrass for broad adaptation. Lead: Phillips; Locatons: AFCSF, AFCSK, IA, KY, SD. Tim did not attend or send a report - progress unknown. 2.2.2 Non-heading orchardgrass. NEW Lead: Mike Casler; Locations: AFCCH (was planted 2007), AFCL, AFCSF, AFCSK, FRRL, MN, NY, USDFRC. It appears that cold temperatures inhibit flowering in orchardgrass. Mike also mentioned that he believes that epistasis is involved. Phase 2 of OPUS3 see Casler's annual report. 2.3 Red Clover 2.3.1 Selection for general adaptation of red clover. Lead: Yousef Papadopoulos; Locations: AFCCH, AFCSF, AFCSK, GA, KY, NY, SD, USDFRC. See Papadopoulos annual report. Each site has selected slightly different criteria and number of plants to keep. Yousef requested that all seed be sent to him. He will take equal seed from each location and set up a series of diallel crosses. Increases of each of the location populations are also needed, and Yousef asked if each location cooperator could do a cage increase. Discussion continued on how best to do the crosses, and individuals involved will talk again before crosses are made. 2.3.2 Selection for persistence in red clover using half sib families. Lead: Heathcliffe Riday, Locations: AFCCH, GA, SD, USDFRC. See Riday annual report. Heritability estimate over locations equaled 0.7. - Heathcliffe would like to conduct a stability trial using transplants to be established in 2009. Scoring for yield or actually harvesting with two replications per site. Volunteered locations included: AFCCH, AFCSF, GA, NY, SD and USDFRC. 2.4 Legume/grass mixtures. Compatibility of legumes with various grasses. Lead: Charlie Brummer, currently; Locations: GA, SD, USDFRC. One cycle of selection for birdsfoot trefoil with orchardgrass has been completed. Seed of 70 half sib families was collected (seed needs to be cleaned  Heathcliffe has the seed at USDFRC). Birdsfoot trefoil was not a good fit with orchardgrass. If this research is to be continued, perhaps a different grass should be used. No interest in continuing this research at this time. If Paul Beuselinck returns to the group perhaps he would have interest in leading this project. The future of this research will be discussed again in 2008. Objective 3: Evaluate new experimental populations and cultivars of perennial forage species for characteristics necessary for breeders, seed companies, seed and forage producers, and crop consultants to make decisions on commercial use over large regions. 3.1 Alfalfa 3.1.1 Evaluation of new M. sativa subsp. falcata populations NEW Lead: Heathcliffe Riday; Locations: AFCL, AFCSF, NGPRL, SD. This year (2007) is the last year of data collection. Heathcliffe will compile data. NEW 3.1.2 Evaluation of M. sativa subsp. falcata hybrids. Lead: Heathcliffe Riday; Locations: GA (IA), MN, NY, SD, USDFRC. Plots were established in 2006. Plots will be harvested in 2007 and 2008. 3.2 Black medic  Done. 3.3 Multiple Species  Charlie Brummer stated that new ideas were needed for future studies. 3.4 Meadow and hybrid bromegrass Lead: Bruce Coulman; Locations: AFCCH, AFCSF, AFCSK, SD, USDFRC. At all three CA locations populations were selected for vigor. Mike Casler only selected meadow bromegrass plants, and rated recovery after scalping the plots, rust resistance and panicles to create his population. Real Michauds population is a mixture of hybrid and meadow bromegrasses. Both Yousef Papadopoulos and Bruce Coulman created separate hybrid and meadow bromegrass populations. Four out the five locations have produced seed and SD will produce seed this winter. All seed increases will be conducted by Bruce Coulman in 2008 and 2009. Evaluation trial will be established at all five locations in 2010. 3.5 Red clover evaluation Lead: Yousef Papadopoulos; Locations: AFCCH, AFCSF, AFCSK, AFCL, NY KY, SD, USDFRC.. Yousef asked for one more year of data. The following locations: AFCCH, AFCSK, NY, SD, and USDFRC, will keep the plots and collect data in 2008. NEW PROJECTS: NEW 2.5 Reed canarygrass - methods to improve forage yield. Lead: Mike Casler. Charlie Brummer and Mike Casler will make selections out of 2 polycross nurseries in reed canarygrass (one PIs, the other collection selections from Objective 1.3). They proposed seeding about 450 plots per location in 2009 and harvesting in 2010 & 2011. The goal is to create half sib families to compare methods of breeding for yield. Proposed empirical study is to compare selecting the best individuals within the families and using them or going back and using the parents of the best families. Two traits will be used: yield among families and survivorship within families. Volunteered future evaluation sites: AFCCH, AFCSF, AFCSK (possible), GA, KY, NY, SD, USDFRC. Topic will be discussed again next year. NEW 3.3.1 Evaluation of cultivars and germplasms under grazing. New Lead: Heathcliffe Riday . Initiate new experiment with red clover and grass mixtures under simulated and actual grazing treatments in 2010. Heathcliffe Riday and Mike Casler will bring proposal to group in 2008. New Objective on Tall Fescue: Charlie Brummer stated that he would like to initiate new studies with tall fescue in the near future. Nancy Ehlke mentioned that she could be a possible collaborator depending on the proposal. Other collaborators suggested were Tim Phillips and Andy Hopkins. New Objectives on Trifolium species: Research on sequencing (SSR) the Trifolium species is nearing completion and future research objectives should be proposed for both red and white clover. NEW Objective 1.6 Marker assisted selection in red clover Lead: Heathcliffe Riday New Objective 1.7 Marker assisted selection in white clover Lead: Charlie Brummer New Objective on Kura Clover: Lead: Nancy Ehlke. Heathcliffe Riday will look at old Dick Smith data for the seed coating trial that was conducted in the 1990's. Many in the group had this trial as well as Jane King (in Alberta) and Phillipe Seguin. Nancy Ehlke will bring a proposal in 2008 with the idea of establishing a study in 2009. Next meetings: 2008 - Lethbridge, AB, Canada August, 7-8, 2008 Host: Surya Acharya Flights to Calgary, then drive or catch a commuter flight. 2009  Minnesota either at St. Paul or at Roseau, MN (will discuss in 2008) Hosts: Nancy Ehlke and JoAnn Lamb

Objective 1: (1) Useful traits have been identified in Medicago sativa ssp. falcata germplasm and selections have been made; (2) Three cycles of selection for resistance to the alfalfa snout beetle have been completed and more resistant populations produced. The germplasm will be tested in regional trials; (3) Two alfalfa populations more tolerant to potato leafhopper that contain three distinct sources of genetic resistance have been selected; and (4) Selections have been made for higher pectin concentration. Objective 2: (1) Two cycles of selection comparing effectiveness of mass, S1, and S2 selection were completed and progenies are being tested at multiple sites; (2) Studies in red clover are underway to examine persistence and selections are being made for general adaptation at multiple sites; (3) selection for compatibility of birdsfoot trefoil with and without orchardgrass was completed; and 4) Selections of non-flowering orchardgrass have been made and are being tested at multiple locations. Objective 3: (1) Evaluation will be completed in 2007 of new, selected M. sativa ssp. falcata from previous evaluations (NE 144) for forage yield, growth habit, regrowth potential, and potato leafhopper resistance at numerous locations as single row plots, sward plots, and grazing plots; and (2) Selections of meadow and/hybrid bromegrass have been made at five locations. Seed will be increased and all selected lines tested at all five locations.

Hansen, J.L., D.R. Viands, R. Deubler, J. Neally, E. Thomas, J. Yaeger, M. Davis, and J.K. Waldron. 2007. New York forage legume and grass yield trials summary for 2007. http://plbrgen.cals.cornell.edu/programsand projects/departmental/foragestest/ also linked from the North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference web page at http://www.naaic.org/Resources/yields.html Hansen, J.L., D.R. Viands, R. Deubler, J. Neally, E. Thomas, J. Yaeger, M.Davis, and J.K. Waldron. 2007. New York alfalfa variety yield data. In Alfalfa Variety comparison. U. of WI. http://www.uwex.edu/ces/ag/alfalfa/ Hansen, J.L., D.R. Viands, R. Deubler, J. Neally, E. Thomas, J. Yaeger, M. Davis, and J.K. Waldron. 2007. Forage varieties. In Cornell field Crops Guide. http://www.fieldcrops.org/ McElroy M., Y.A. Papadopoulos, and Sina Adl. 2006. Effects of pasture sward diversity and composition on soil functional diversity. Can. J. Plant Sci. 86: (1414). Abstract. McElroy, M. 2006. Effect of plant species diversity and composition on soil organism functional diversity in an establishing pasture. M.Sc. thesis. Dalhousie University. Papadopoulos, Y.A., Tsao, R., McRae, K., Mellish, A.E. and Fillmore, S.A.E. 2006. Genetic variability of main isoflavones in red clover. Can. J. Plant Sci. 86: 1345-1347. Robins, J.G., D. Luth, T.A. Campbell, G.R. Bauchan, C. He, D.R. Viands, J.L. Hansen, and E.C. Brummer. 2007. Genetic mapping of biomass production in tetraploid alfalfa. Crop Sci. 47:1-10. Tsao, R., Papadopoulos, Y.A., Yang, R., Young, J.C. and McCrae, K. 2006. Isoflavone profiles of red clovers and their distribution in different parts harvested at different growing stages. J. Agric. Food Chem. 54:5797-5805.