Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

W6 Technical Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes June 24, 2008 - Hilo, Hawaii Meeting start time - June 24, 2008, 8:29am Attendees: Ian Ray, Jinguo Hu, Kim Hummer, Bob Zemetra, Meg Gollnick (for Stephen Jones), Jack Martin, John Cho, Francis Zee, Richard Lee, Dan Parfitt Current W6 Officers:

• Ian Ray, Chair
• Dan Parfitt, Vice Chair
• Stephen Jones, Secretary

Opening remarks and welcome by Ian Ray - Chair: Dan Parfitt will be taking Ian Ray's place as chair for the next W6 Technical Advisory meeting. John Cho will be retiring to 40% starting October 1, 2008. W6 Administrative Advisor's Report: Good News, The Western Director's approved the budget for the full amount, $386, 245. Proposed budget for 2010 is $389,463 and 2011 is $399,425. The Hatch multi-state funds will go to the various research stations. Project Status: We have requested a 1-year extension because of the RL status. This is out of sink with the CRIS-ARS renewal. This must be completed by January 15, 2009. Ralph suggests a deadline of November 1, 2008 to have it written and sent out for comments/edits. Farm Bill Changes (Tree fruit and grapevine funding) - Clean Plant Bill independent from the germplasm system. Perhaps there will be collaborations from scientist to scientist but no other connection with NPGS. No one has up-to-date information regarding these changes. Ralph Cavalieri will look into this and report back to the W6 Advisory Committee. Dan Parfitt asked about how this connects with the PI Station and W6? Ralph stated that germplasm collection would be the connection. Dan Parfitt also asked about when the Specialty Crop Research Initiative RFP call (White Paper) would come out for this. Ralph stated that July 1 would be the RFP date and that this would have a 100% matching component (salaries, benefits, Commodity group funds could be used for the matching). The maximum amount for proposal funding will be $5 million. Ralph also stated that there is another RFP coming down the line regarding Biomass/Biofuel feedstock. Action Item: Ian Ray states that we need to move to accept the revised meeting minutes of the 2007 W6 Technical Advisory meeting. Will do so after Dr. Gonsalves' welcome. Welcome by Dennis Gonsalves, PBARC Center Director: Dennis Gonsalves welcomed the W6 committee and gave an update on the PBARC station. His projection is to have 35 scientists housed in the building. The second building will be built in the near future. Everything will be consolidated here at PBARC with the University of Hawaii scientists as collaborators. The goal is to have a closer link between scientists and an exchange of students etc. New construction started to include offices, screen house, and head house. The target date of completion is in January. PBARC has funds for this now, $1.5 million. PBARC focus is on doing good for Hawaii. Pineapple research, fruit fly research is on going and stakeholder workshops have been held to discuss the goals of PBARC. PBARC will be recruiting two new scientists: 1) Crop Improvement using modern techniques - (ornamentals) biotech and molecular breeding. 2) Nematode - Plant Pathologist position. Hawaii grows 80% GMO papaya. GMO Taro is the next step. Micronesia Taro crop is being devastated at this time. Hawaiians are showing some resistance to GMO Taro. Action Item: Bob Zemetra moves to accept the 2007 meeting minutes pending friendly amendments. Dan Parfitt seconded it. Ian Ray thanked Francis Zee for hosting this year's meeting. Action Item: Ian Ray stated that we will combine Resolutions and Elections later in the business meeting. Bob Zemetra self nominated himself to be Secretary. The chair will be Dan Parfitt, vice chair is Stephen Jones. Dan Parfitt moved to accept the elections and John Cho seconded it. Kim Hummer and Bob Zemetra volunteer to be the resolution committee. Western Regional PI Report and Budget Request: Dr. Jinguo Hu introduced himself as the new RL for the Western Regional PI Station. The W6 project has an increase in funds to $386,245. This number is the average of 2009, 2010 and 2011 budgets. This will compensate staff salaries and summer timeslip students. Dan Parfitt asked about how they will address the budget pitfalls. He suggests comparing # of orders to other regional stations to justify budget. Kim Hummer suggests giving reports and discuss budget issues after we hear about other programs budget issues. Kim Hummer also asks if they will be refilling the Parlier position. Jinguo Hu states it is in the process and that they will fill this position eventually. John Cho has comment for resolution committee regarding solar power for facilities, germplasm labs should become greener. Jinguo Hu states that WRPIS follows the established Environmental Management System (EMS) policy to reduce its environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency and WSU pays most of WRPIS's utilities. Action item: Bob Zemetra moves to approve the 2010 budget at $389,463, seconded by Jack Martin. Germplasm Resources Program Report (PGRC): Kim Hummer discussed the Global Consortium of Genetic Research Conservation. Bill Gates has given 32 billion to the Global Crop Diversity Trust to help preserve genetic diversity research and collection. There has been a standard material transfer agreement devised - an exchange of material with the CG center within GRIN. There were originally 64 crops (annex crops) exchanged but now other genetic resources are footnoted. This applies to all genetic resources. This will be done via the internet when you place an order within the GRIN system. GRIN is considered the primo database in the world. They want to establish GRIN Global (all databases together), one common system for the world. GRIN Global will be more user friendly and there will be some exciting activities regarding database management. GRIN received a grant to work with European databases as well. GRIN GLOBAL will manage all data associated with accessions. International access to genetic resources is exciting news. The Svalbart Gene Bank is now open, Kerry Fowler is overseeing the management of this operation. Steve Smith, head of Pioneer is looking into Seed preservation and possibly reinstating a lobbyist for seed trade. The PGOC is recruiting for a new director and have opened it up to international applications. Annual report for the NCGR will be uploaded to the website and available to all.

• National Arid Land Plant Germplasm Resource Unit
• National Temperate Forage Legume Genetic Resources Unit
• National Small Grains Collection Report
• Clonal Repository Reports

Francis Zee reported on the Tropical Plant Genetic Resource Management Unit. There main focus is Ginger, Lychee, Blueberry and Papaya. Report will be available via the website. Richard Lee, Germplasm Repository for Citrus and Date Palms. Report will be available via website. Business Meeting:

• Business (Elections, Meeting site and time for 2009/2010) Discussion of a possible biennial meeting or teleconference meeting. Teleconference one year and original meeting the following year.
• Action item: Bob Zemetra moves to go to biennial meeting with the off year being a teleconference. The teleconference year agenda would include budget, National Program Reports and State Reports. Jack Martin seconded it. Dan Parfitt abstained. Ian Ray will speak with Ralph Cavalieri to make sure this is within the guidelines. Discussion ensues to have the back-up site for next year be Davis, CA. Jack Martin movies to have Davis as the back-up site and Bob Zemetra seconds it.

  2009 - Teleconference

  2010 - National Meeting

• Project Renewal: Jinguo Hu will compile the document and everyone will work on the objectives and send in publications. Discussion over content of document. Jinguo Hu will contact Ralph Cavalieri to ask questions about this.
• Resolutions: 1. Be it resolved that the W6 Technical committee sincerely thanks Dr. Francis Zee and his staff at the Tropical Plant Genetic Resource Management Unit for hosting the 2008 W6 Technical committee meeting. 2. The W6 technical committee is concerned with the flat level of federal base funding that has led to critically low operating funds for the W6 Plant Introduction Station and the clonal repositories in the western US. With current and multi-year projected funding levels the units are either below or will be below the minimal discretionary funding level per SY as set by ARS jeopardizing maintenance of these critical national treasures. Given the current situation with the International Treaties concerning germplasm and germplasm exchange, adequate funding of the germplasm system is imperative for maintenance of current collections to prevent loss of potentially critical germplasm to protect the food security of the United States. Be it resolved that the W6 Technical Committee advocates increasing the level of federal base funding of all units of the national plant germplasm system to ensure adequate funding to pursue its mission of collection, maintenance, documentation, distribution, and evaluation.
• New Business: None

To view individual state reports, click on the "Copy of Minutes" link below. Also, to view a PowerPoint presentation from the Riverside,CA organization as well as reports from other years, go to: http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid=7240#

1. Endophytes are microbes that reside in internal tissues of plants without causing observable negative effects. It has been documented that Neotyphodium fungi may confer certain benefits to the grasses including increased resistance to pests and diseases and to some environmental stresses such as drought, mineral stress and soil aluminum or acidity. In the last few years, commercial endophytic turf grasses have bred and become widely available. Temperate grass collections at the Western Regional Plant Introduction Station (WRPIS) are important sources of Neotyphodium endophyte strains for the commercial development of new grass-endophyte associations by public and private sector scientists in the U.S. and abroad. WRPIS Research Entomologist, Dr. Stephen Clement, demonstrated that, through a 3-year research project, diverse endophyte strains have been preserved in regenerated seed of multiple tall fescue accessions stored for prolonged periods of time in the WRPIS seed bank. The potential impact of this research is expanded development of new grass cultivars harboring Neotyphodium strains that do not produce alkaloid toxins that adversely affect grazing cattle and sheep but still produce the necessary metabolites for insect resistance and other ecological benefits.

2. Safflower is a member of the sunflower family (Asteraceae) and is grown as an oil crop. Safflower oil is used for cooking and in salad dressings and margarine. Safflower seedcake, the byproduct after oil expressing, is a premium livestock feed for its high protein content. Safflower seeds are also marketed directed as birdseed. Since safflower has fairly high drought resistance and salt tolerance, the cultivation of safflower is widespread in dry areas of the southwestern United States, such as in California and Arizona. In many semi-arid regions a winter annual broadleaf is needed in a rotation system with wheat. WRPIS Research Agronomist, Dr. Richard Johnson, released three winter hardy safflower lines that could address that need. Fall planted safflower develops earlier has higher yield potential than spring planted safflower. Winter-hardy safflower varieties derived from the three newly released germplasm lines should offer farmers a number of benefits such as the option of fall plantings, winter ground cover, rotation with other crops like wheat, better weed control, improved water-use efficiency, and higher seed yields than spring-planted safflower crops.

3. High rubber content is found in the fleshy root of the perennial Russian dandelion, Taraxacum kok-sagyz, native to Kazakhstan. WRPIS Horticultural Curator, Dr. Barbara Hellier, participated in a successful collection trip in 2008 to Kazakhstan and brought in seed and root pieces from about 20 populations. These will be used in research and breeding programs to fulfill the federal mandate for the development of a domestic source of natural rubber.

4. Legume production, particularly of dry pea, has increased dramatically in the northern tier states of North Dakota and Montana. Fusarium root rot is a devastating disease of both vegetable and dry pea production in the USA, especially in summer rainfall areas. WRPIS Research Geneticist, Dr. Clarice Coyne, together with others released to the public three new pea germplasms (W6 26740, W6 26743 and W6 26745) with improved agronomic qualities and high levels of resistance to Fusarium root rot for immediate use by breeders for cultivar improvement.

5. Pathogens in germplasm constitute a threat to germplasm health, whereas symbionts constitute opportunities to augment germplasm value. Our results for taxonomy and nomenclature of Alternaria and Cladosporium greatly advanced basic understanding of these exceedingly numerous, cosmopolitan and ubiquitous seed-associated pathogens and saprophytes. Correctly identifying these microorganisms will form the base for developing proper strategies in germplasm management.

Babcock, C., X. Chen, P.W. Crous, F.M. Dugan, B. Goates, and P.N. Green. 2007. Plant germplasm centers and microbial culture collections: a user's guide to key genetic resources for plant pathology. Plant Disease 91: 476-484. Bragg, D.E, K. Tetrick and P. Murphy. 2007. Cereal Leaf Beetle Management with Seed Treatment Insecticides.. In:D.Bragg and J.D. Francesco (Eds.). Proc. PNWIMC 2007, 66, pp 55-56. PNWIMC, Portland OR. PNWIMC/OSU. Bragg, D.E. K. Tetrick and P. Murphy. 2007. Wire Worm Management in Spring Wheat - Bayer.. In: D. Bragg and J.D. Francesco (Eds.). Proc. PNWIMC 2007 , 66, pp 27-28. PNWIMC, Portland OR. Bragg, D.E. K. Tetrick and P. Murphy. 2007. Preliminary Research on Cereal Leaf Beetle Economic Thresholds.. In: D. Bragg and J.D. Francesco (Eds.), Proc. PNWIMC 2007, 66, pp 56-57. PNWIMC, Portland OR. Bragg, D.E. K. Tetrick and P. Murphy. 2007. Wire Worm Management in Spring Wheat-Valent. In: D. Bragg andJ.D. Francesco (Eds.), Proc. PMWIMC 2007 , 66, pp 25-26. PNWIMC, Portland OR. Clement, S.L., Elberson, L.R., Waldron, B.L. and Quisenberry, S.S. Variable performance of bird cherry-oat aphid on Neotyphodium-infected tall fescue from Tunsia. Proc. 6th Int. Symp. on Fungal Endophytes of Grasses (A.J. Popay, E.R. Thom, eds.), pp. 337-340). New Zealand Grassland Association, Dunedin. 2007. (Proceedings Chapter). Clement, S.L., Elberson, L.R. and Kynaston, M. High Neotyphodium infection frequencies in tillers and seed of infected tall fescue plants. Proc. 6th Int. Symp. on Fungal Endophytes of Grasses (A.J. Popay, E.R. Thom, eds.), pp. 49-52. New Zealand Grassland Association, Dunedin. 2007. (Proceedings Chapter). Clement, S.L., Hellier, B.C., Elberson, L.R., Staska, R.T. and Evans, M.A. Flies (Diptera: Muscidae, Calliphoridae) are efficient pollinators of Allium ampeloprasum L. (Alliaceae) in field cages. J. Econ. Entomol. 100:131-135. 2007. Clement, S.L., Hellier, B.C., Elberson, L.R., Bradley, V. and Johnson, R.C. Insect pollination in the regeneration of germplasm at the Western Regional Plant Introduction Station. pp. 62-63. Proc. 9th International Pollination Symposium on Plant-Pollinator Relationships - Diversity in Action. (Gardner, C.A.C. et al., eds.). Iowa State University, Ames, IA. 2007. (invited talk). Coyne C.J., M.T. McClendon, J. Walling, G.M. Timmerman-Vaughan, S. Murray, K. Meksem, D.A Lightfoot, J. L. Shultz, K.E. Keller R.R Martin., D.A Inglis., P.N. Rajesh, K.E. McPhee, N.F. Weeden, M.A. Grusak, C.-M. Li and E.W. Storlie. 2007. Construction and characterization of a bacterial artificial chromosome library for pea (Pisum sativum L.). Genome 50:871-875. Dugan, F.M. 2007. Diseases and disease management in seed garlic: problems and prospects. Americas Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology 1: 47-51. Dugan, F.M. 2007. Agonomycetes, pp. 214-215 in: McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology, 10th ed., vol. 1, McGraw-Hill, New York. Dugan, F.M. 2007. Blastomycetes, pp. 154-155 in: McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology, 10th ed., vol. 3, McGraw-Hill, New York. Dugan, F.M. 2007. Coelomycetes, pp. 363-364, in: McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology, 10th ed., vol. 4, McGraw-Hill, New York. Dugan, F.M. 2007. Hyphomycetes, pp. 780-782, in: McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology, 10th ed., vol. 8, McGraw-Hill, New York. Dugan, F.M., and B.G. Rector. 2007. Mycoflora of seed of common teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) in Washington State. Pacific Northwest Fungi 2(6): 1-10. doi: 10.2509/pnwf.2007.002.006. Dugan, F.M., and D.A. Glawe. 2007. Powdery Mildews on Weeds in the Pacific Northwest: A Miscellany of New Records. Pacific Northwest Fungi 2(1):1-7. doi: 10.2509/pnwf.2007.002.001. Dugan, F.M., and G. Newcombe. 2007. New records for powdery mildews and Taphrina species in Idaho and Washington. Pacific Northwest Fungi 2(8): 1-5, doi:10.2509/pnwf.2007.002.008. Dugan, F.M., B.C. Hellier and S.L. Lupien. 2007. Pathogenic fungi in garlic seed cloves from the United States and China, and efficacy of fungicides against pathogens in garlic germplasm in Washington State. Journal of Phytopathology 155: 437-45. Greene, S.L. 2007. User-friendly gis: helpful tools for crop development. In: Janick, J. and A. Whipkey (eds.). Issues in New Crops and New Uses-Proceedings of the Sixth National Symposium Creating Markets for Economic Development of New Crops and New Uses. 2007. ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA p. 19-22. Greene, S.L., Bell, A.B. 2007. Alternatives to Honeybees for Pollinating Clover (Trifolium L.) Germplasm Accessions. In: Proceedings 9th International Pollination Symposium on Plant-Pollinator Relationships - Diversity in Action. p. 64-65. Greene, S.L., Minoura, T., Steiner, J.J., Pentecost, C.G. 2007. Webgrms: prototype software for web-based mapping of biological collections. Biodiversity and Conservation Journal 16:2611-2625. Han, Y., Zhang, G., Sledge, M.K., Greene, S.L., Coyne, C.J., Monteros, M. 2007. Evaluation of genetic diversity, population structure and identification of a Medicago truncatula core collection using SSR markers. Abstract 278-3. Agronomy Abstracts. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI. Johnson, R.C. T.J. Kisha, and M.A. Evans. 2007. Characterizing Safflower Germplasm with AFLP Molecular Markers. Crop Sci. 47: 1728-1736. Johnson, R.C., B. C. Hellier, T. J. Kisha. Collection, conservation, and seed zones for Tapertip onion (Allium acuminatum Hook.). In Jeff Norcini (ed) Proceedings, Native Wildflower Seed Production Research Symposium, 19-20 July 2007, Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida (In press) Johnson, RC, AA. Hopkins, and MA Evans. 2007. Carbon isotope discrimination and forage production of tall fescue in contrasting environments. Accepted by Crop Science 11/20/2007. Johnson, RC, and Dajue Li. 2007. Fall growth, selection, water relations and membrane leakage in winter safflower. Submitted to Crop Science 12/21/2007. Johnson, RC, and Dajue Li. Registration of WSRC01, WSRC02, and WSRC03 winter hardy safflower germplasm. Accepted in Crop Science 12/2007. Johnston, W.J., R.C. Johnson, C.T. Golob, M.C. Nelson, K. Paré, and K.L. Dobson. 2007. Development of Kentucky bluegrass for non-burn seed production. P. 57-60 In Proceedings of the Sixth International Herbage Seed Conference, Gjennestad, Norway, 18-20 June 2007. Mimura M, C.J. Coyne MW Bambuck and TA Lumpkin. 2007. SSR diversity of vegetable soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Crop Evolution and Genetic Resources 54:497-508. Redden R.J., B.J. Furman, H.D. Upadhyaya, R.P.S. Pundir, C.L.L. Gowda, C.J. Coyne and D. Enneking. 2007. Biodiversity Management in Chickpea, p. 355-368. In: R. Redden, W. Chen, B. Sharma, Y. Yadav (eds.). Chickpea Breeding and Management. CABI Publishing, Oxfordshire, UK. Redden B., N. Maxted, B. Furman, C. Coyne. 2007. Lens Biodiversity, p. 11-22. In: S.S. Yadav, D. McNeil, P.C.Stevenson (eds). Lentil: An Ancient Crop for Modern Times. Springer, New York. Sharma, H., Gowda, C., Stevenson, P,C., Ridsdill-Smith, T.J., Clement, S.L, Ranga Rao, G., Romies, J., Miles, M., and El-Bouhssini, M. Host plant resistance and insect pest management in chickpea. pp. 527-544. In: Yadav, S.S., Redden, B., Chen, W. and Sharma, B. (eds.). Chickpea Breeding and Management. CAB International, UK. 2007. (Book Chapter). Tadych, M., M. Bergen, F.M. Dugan and J.F. White, Jr. 2007. The potential role of water in spread of conidia of the Neotyphodium endophyte of Poa ampla. Mycological Research 111: 466-472.