Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Current W-6 Officers: Kevin Jensen, Chair Jack Martin, Vice chair Ian Ray, Secretary Thursday June 24, 2004 Welcome to Corvallis and Oregon State University: Russ Karrow, Head Crop and Soil Science department at OSU welcomed the group to OSU and gave an overview or OSU and the Corvallis community. The meeting was called to order by Chair K. Jensen at 8:30 am. Committee members and guests were introduced. Jack Martin volunteered to be acting secretary in Ian Ray's absence. Minutes of 2003 annual meeting: Motion: Minutes of the 2003 TAC meeting should be approved as written. (Moved by R. Zemetra, second by J. Martin). Motion passed. Committee assignments: Resolutions: Mark Brick (chair) Dan Parfitt, and Jack Martin. Nominations: Dan Parfitt and Bob Zemetra. W6 Administrative Advisor's report - Sandra Ristow for Ralph Cavalieri: Western directors approved the 2005 budget as submitted pending approval of Hatch funds. Congress is scrutinizing all funding, especially those funds which are "off-the-top", such as those for W-6, to see if the activities are useful to Land Grant university researchers. Congress is considering shifting funds from multistate projects to competitive grant funding such as the USDA-NRI. Ralph would like all W-6 to TAC state representatives to inventory their distributions of accessions to researchers, versus those sent to home-owners and other recipients. He believes that if W-6 participants are striving to send the preponderance of their materials to researchers, our multistate effort will be seen in a positive light. These activities will be evidence to Congress that we are indeed achieving the important pillar of the mission to assist research and will help preserve funds for multistate activities. National small grains collection, Aberdeen, ID - Harold Bockelman (see submitted report and website): http://www.ars-grin.gov/ars/PacWest/Aberdeen/nsgc.html An addition to the Aberdeen facility is on schedule for construction. This will house advanced genetics research. National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis, OR - Kim Hummer (see submitted report and website): http://www.ars-grin.gov/cor/ Program additions include a molecular geneticist and seed physiologist. National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Davis, CA - Bernard Prins (see submitted report and website): http://www.ars-grin.gov/dav/ Dr. Ed Stover will assume the research leader/curator position this fall. National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Hilo, HI - No report: National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Riverside, CA - Robert Krueger (see website): http://www.ars-grin.gov/ars/PacWest/Riverside/homepg1.htm National Center for Genetic Resource Preservation, Fort Collins, CO - no report: Natural Resources Conservation Service - no report: Western Regional PI Station report and budget request, Pullman, WA - Rich Hannan (See submitted report and website); http://www.ars-grin.gov/ars/PacWest/Pullman/ The management unit included CRIS projects at Pullman, WA (Western regional plant introduction station), Prosser, WA (National Temperate Forage Legume Genetic Resources Unit) and Parlier CA (National Arid Land Plant Genetic Resources Unit). Staff changes included addition of a person to help with additional work related to the 40 acre site at Central Ferry. A laboratory technician was added for molecular geneticist. A competitive two-year postdoc position was awarded to Dr. Coyne in the pea program. A power unit was added to give backup power for seed storage. A modular unit was obtained and moved to provide office space for scientists and staff. Lease agreement on 40 acres at Central Ferry was firmed up, but water rights are still an unresolved issue. An 80 million dollar ARS building is due to be constructed on WSU campus. This building would provide space for W6 people. This is due to come on line in 2008. There is a need for additional space to store field samples. Staff will work on finding space for this purpose in the next year. Rich outlined and explained the proposed budget for FY 2006. The budget request is $365,000 from regional research funding. This proposed budget shows no increase over FY 2005. Regional research funding provides about 13% of total funding. Motion: The W6 TAC endorses and approves the proposed budget of $365,000 for FY 2006. (Moved by M. Brick, second by R. Zemetra) Motion passed. Rich noted that scientists within the management unit have obtained outside funding. Some grants have been across agencies. These activities foster interagency collaboration, which was the original purpose of regional research projects such as W6. As a means to learn about each person's role at the regional station, the Pullman station had Food and Fact day. Each staff person talked about their work, while scientists got only five minutes. National Artic Plant Germplasm Resource Unit, Palmer, AK - Dave Ianson (see submitted report): Rhubarb does extremely well in this Northern climate. They are looking at the feasibility of a rhubarb processing plant at Palmer, AK. National Arid Land Plant Germplasm Resource Unit, Parlier, CA - Maria Jenderek (see submitted report): A discussion followed on collecting rare plants and endangered species. National Germplasm Resources Lab - No report: Germplasm Resources Program - Peter Bretting (See submitted report): Recent budget increases have allowed for hiring new scientists and staff and upgrading existing and construction of some new facilities across the NPGS system. Nearly all ARS CRIS in National Program area 301 (includes plant genetic resource management, genetic improvement, genomics, bioinformatics, and genomic data base management) have been reviewed by outside peer reviewers. Negotiations regarding the international exchange of germplasm are ongoing. Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service - Ann Maria Thro: An organizational flow chart of USDA agencies was presented. This pointed out relationships between funding sources. Members were reminded of the importance of the impact statements on annual CRIS reports. These can be an effective means to convey importance of plant germplasm and genetic resources to the lay public. Several members pointed cut the importance of getting information from previous years, as it usually takes several years to fully utilize and obtain direct impact from a new plant accession. State reports: Wyoming, Robin Gross - see submitted report: New Mexico, Ian ray - see submitted report: Colorado, Mark Brick - see submitted report: Washington, Steve Jones - see submitted report: Montana, Jack Martin - see submitted report: California, Dan Parfitt - See submitted report: Utah, Kevin Jensen - See submitted report: Idaho, Bob Zemetra - See submitted report: Arizona, Dennis Ray - no report: Oregon, Shawn Mehlanbacher - see submitted report: Hawaii, reported by Rich Hannan: Alaska, reported by Rich Hannan: Members noted that PI's are being used extensively for genetic marker work. There is concern as to whether NPGS is being acknowledged. National Ag Library is being petitioned to implement a system to index on PI or taxa in order to better track usage of plant germplasm. There is concern about fate of plant germplasm collections held by individual breeders/geneticists. These are in danger of being lost when a person retires. NPGS has saved some of these collections. Business meeting: Plant exploration proposals - Fifteen proposals were considered. The final decision on the proposals was not known, but probably not all would be funded. New business: Elections - The nominations committee nominated Dan Parfitt as incoming secretary. Motion: Move that nominations be closed (Move by R. Zemetra, second by M. Brick). Motion passed. Motion: Move to elect Dan Parfitt as secretary (Move by M. Brick, second by R. Zemetra). Motion Passed. Meeting sites: The W6 TAC had voted to meet in Bozeman, MT in 2005. See 2003 W6 TAC minutes. Jack Martin will work with Rich Hannan on finalizing that date for the 2005 meeting. It was reported that NC7 TAC will issue an invitation to host a joint meeting of the four regional TACs in Ames, IA in 2006. Since the formal invitation has not yet been received, the committee did not take any action. The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 pm. Friday June 25, 2004 Kim Hummer and staff led a tour of facilities and programs at NCGR at Corvallis. Submitted by Jack Martin Acting W6 TAC Secretary Resolutions: Resolution 1: Be is resolved that W6 TAC thank personnel at National Clonal Germplasm Repository at Corvallis, OR for hosting the W-6 meeting, especially Drs. Kim Hummer, and Joseph Postman and the entire staff at NCGR. (Motion to approve the resolution. Move by R. Zemetra, second by D. Parfitt) Motion passed. Resolution 2: Be it resolved that W6 TAC thanks Kevin Jensen for his leadership as chair of the committee for past two years. (Motion to approve the resolution. Move by D. Parfitt, second by M. Brick) Motion passed. Resolution 3: Be it resolved that the W6 TAC thanks Peter Bretting from NPGS and Ann Marie Thro from CSREES for their participation in the W6 TAC meeting in Corvallis, OR June 24 and 25, 2004. The W6 TAC encourages their participation in the future. Motion to approve the resolution. Move by D. R. Zemetra, second by D. Parfitt) Motion passed.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS Successful agricultural production of most crops in the United States is based upon plant species that are not native to this country. Scientists rely on introduced germplasm to provide new genes to improve major crops, minor regional crops, and to develop new crops. Collectively, the Western Regional Plant Introduction Station (WRPIS) personnel at Pullman and other associated sites conduct one of the most extensive and well-established genetic resource management projects in the United States. Activities at the WRPIS are the collection, preservation, evaluation, distribution and research of plant germplasm. We utilize current technologies and information to best achieve germplasm conservation. This Management Unit (MU) includes CRIS projects located in Pullman, WA (Western Regional Plant Introduction Station), Prosser, WA (National Temperate Forage Legume Genetic Resources Unit) and Parlier, CA (National Arid Land Plant Genetic Resources Unit). The range in environments provides conditions amenable to the production of high quality seed of a wide and diverse array of plant germplasm. An integral and important goal of each site in the MU is to integrate the disciplines of plant pathology, entomology, genetics, plant physiology, botany, and general agricultural production into research programs. As part of a Multi State Research Project (W-6), all sites work in close association and collaboration with the State Agricultural Experiment Station scientists as well as scientists from other state and federal agencies and the private sector. Collaborative projects also exist with scientists at international centers, foreign institutes, foreign national programs, and in the private sector. -There are 2,770 taxa in 446 genera with a total of 71,847 accessions. This includes special genetic stock collections of pea and bean. There were 682 accessions in 45 genera added to the WRPIS collections from plant explorations, germplasm exchanges and from NCGRP in FY03. During the year, 11,598 accessions were distributed in 17,072 packets, with 693 accessions sent to NCGRP for long term storage. -One of the biggest achievements for us was to prepare, submit and successfully obtain 'accepted with minor revision' responses from the OSQR panel for the Pullman, Prosser and Parlier CRIS projects. -Advances were made in regeneration protocols (grass transplants, in situ site development, greenhouse production, IPM practices, etc.). Superior seed quality in our distributions was the result. -Steve Clement, Research Entomologist, was awarded a Visiting Fellowship by the Grains Research and Development Corporation of Australia to conduct cooperative research at a research facility of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Perth, Western Australia from September to December 2002. The project involved evaluation of chickpea germplasm from the Western Regional Plant Introduction Station (WRPIS) for resistance to the worlds worst insect pest of cultivated chickpea, the gram podborer. - -The first year of a two-year study on the optimum pollinator density for Allium ampeloprasum was completed and the second year is in progress. Field samples of two native North American Allium were collected to look at the genetic diversity within and between six populations using molecular techniques. -The Plant Pathology program has reported Fusarium proliferatum rot of garlic bulbs, which is a first report in North America. Frank Dugan contributed to a revision of the genera Mycosphaerella and Cladosporium, published a key to graminicolous species of Alternaria, and documented F. oxysporum f.sp. cepae and Embellisia allii on garlic in Washington State. -Understanding the relationships and interactions between monocot species naturally infested with fungal endophytes provides information on the biology of insect resistance in important grass crops. Greenhouse experiments to evaluate 18 tall fescue accessions for resistance to rose grass aphid were completed. Concurrently, a series of laboratory experiments to examine the susceptibility of endophyte-infected wild barley accessions to Hessian fly were conducted. Resulting data indicates that endophyte presence in tall fescue does not mediate resistance to rose grass aphid. With the Hessian fly/barley interactions preliminary results indicate that some endophyte-infected accessions are resistant. -A cost effective sampling method that maximizes the effective population size was researched and developed. The reduction in effective population size associated with variation in seed production per plant in three grass species was determined. Also, the utility of inflorescence sampling procedures for a wide range of species and accessions was determined, and lastly we compared cutting, rubbing, and inflorescence sampling methods in three grass species to determine effective population size differences. This research provides a scientific basis for germplasm conservation that minimizes genetic drift within an accession, and provides an efficient and economic strategy for best maintaining large grass germplasm collections. -Characterizing germplasm collections at both the morphological and molecular levels is critical to the effective utilization of these collections by the scientific community and seed industry. The cool season food legume research program expanded genetic marker and comparative genomic characterizations of selected grain legume accessions, and developed, maintained, and enhanced genetic marker and genomic data management and bioinformatic capabilities associated with these crops. We developed a SNP assay to assess allelic diversity in the pea core collection. Collaborative efforts in molecular genetics of disease resistance in Pisum sativum germplasm are under investigation in multiple environments (Washington, Minnesota, France, New Zealand). -Bean germplasm is occasionally received that has been stored for long periods of time under poor storage conditions, and is in danger of being lost. An embryo rescue and tissue culture program was continued. -Determining duplication of accessions in a germplasm collection is an important step in the efficient and effective conservation of large collections. A project to determine methods for genotyping accessions in alfalfa, a very heterogenetic species was started. Three alfalfa accessions each with a duplicate set of cultivar names were used. Different sampling methods and marker systems were used to determine the most effective sampling/marker system combination for genotyping alfalfa. -Dr. Clement was invited by the Organizing Committee of the XXII International Congress of Entomology to serve as the Overseas Convenor for a session which will be held in Australia in 2003. Domestic and foreign interest in Dr. Clements research on wild pea resistance to pea weevil was demonstrated by a request for cooperative pea-weevil resistance research from a commercial pea breeder and from breeders and entomologists in Turkey and South Africa. -Dr. Coyne has constructed a large Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) library for chickpea. Chickpea is an economically important crop throughout the world. The chickpea BAC library provides a valuable tool for geneticists to study the structure and function of plant disease resistance genes, other economic traits, and comparative genomics with other cool season food legume crops. -In January, 2003, Dr. Greene began an ARS-Former Soviet Union Scientific Cooperative Program entitled "Development of a GIS-based Interactive Agricultural Atlas to Promote Food Security in the Former Soviet Union". Also in January 2003, Dr. Greene was invited to Vietnam to present "Agrobiodiversity, Pilot Conservation Projects and the Taxonomy Gap" at the First International Workshop and to conduct training on the use of GPS, GIS software, and data management to support the UNDP project entitled "In situ conservation of native landraces and their wild relatives in Vietnam (VIE/01/G35). Dr. Greene has organized week-long GIS training workshop for NPGS personnel, which will be held in September, 2003. -Dr. Hannan initiated a collaborative project with the Nez Perce Tribe in Lapwai, Idaho and the University of Idaho Extension Service that will serve as a multifunctional project. The goals (tech transfer) are education in small plot, no-till gardening; genetic conservation of traditional food species of the Tribe; and generating fresh produce for distribution at the USDA, Food Distribution Center in Lapwai. -Barbara Hellier and Rich Hannan were invited to participate in a multinational plant exploration trip to Tajikistan. At the very last moment, they could not go due to lack of country clearance by the US State Department.

Braun, U., P.W. Crous, F. Dugan, J.Z. Groenewald, and G.S. de Hoog. 2003. Phylogeny and taxonomy of Cladosporium-like hyphomycetes, including Davidiella gen. nov., the teleomorph of Cladosporium s. str. Mycological Progress 2(1): 3-18. Clement, S.L., L.R. Elberson, F.L. Young, J.R. Alldredge, R.H. Ratcliffe, and C. Hennings. 2003. Variable Hessian fly populations in cereal production systems in eastern Washington. J. Kansas Entomol. Soc. 76:567-577. Douches, D.S., T.J. Kisha, J.J. Coombs. W. Li, W.L. Pett, and E.J. Grafius. 2001. Effectiveness of natural and engineered host plant resistance in potato to the Colorada potato beetle. Hort Science 36(5): 967-970. Dugan, F.M., B.C. Hellier and S.L. Lupien. 2003. First report of Fusarium proliferatum causing rot of garlic bulbs in North America. Plant Pathology 52: 426. Hellier, B.C., S.L. Clement, L.R. Elberson, M.A. Evans, R. Staska. 2003. Allium ampeloprasum Seed Production in Field Cages with Insect Pollinators. poster presentation. HortScience, 38(5):735. Johnson, R.C., W.J. Johnston, and C.T. Golob. 2003. Residue Management, Seed Production, Crop Development, and Turf Quality in Diverse Kentucky Bluegrass Germplasm. Crop Sci. 43: 1091-1099. Kuhl, J.C., F. Cheung, Q. Yuan, J. McCallum, W. Martin, Y. Zewdie, K. Sink, M.M. Jenderek, J.P. Prince, C.D. Town, and M.J. Havey. 2004. Unique set of 11,008 onion (Allium cepa) ESTs reveals expressed sequence and genomic differences between the Monocot orders Asparagales and Poales. Plant Cell journal 16:114-125. Lesica, P., H.E. Atthowe, and F.M. Dugan. 2003. Incidence of Perenniporia fraxinophila and its effects on green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) woodlands in eastern Montana, USA. Forest Ecology and Management 182: 153-159. Rajesh P.N., C.J. Coyne, K. Meksem, K.D. Sharma, V. Gupta, and F.J. Muehlbauer. 2003. Construction of a HindIII bacterial artificial chromosome library and its use in identification of clones associated with disease resistance in chickpea. Theoretical and Applied Genetics (published online Oct. 16, 2003). http://www.springerlink.com/media/5f8nxhxwd8nfd7nwdrwq/contributions/0/2/5/y/025YBLAD30X7B93G_html/fulltext.html Simon, P.W. and M.M. Jenderek. 2003. Flowering, seed production, and the genesis of garlic breeding. Plant Breeding Reviews 23:211-244. Books, Chapters, Proceedings, Popular Chen, W., C.J. Coyne, T. Peever, and F. Muehlbauer. 2003. Characterization of chickpea differentials for Ascochyta rabiei using an improved virulence assay. Phytopathology, 93:S161. Coyne C.J., D.A. Inglis , M-L. Pilet-Nayel, and G. Timmerman-Vaughan. 2003. Application of SNPs in identifying new positive alleles for genetic resistance to Aphanomyces root rot in pea germplasm. Proceedings 2nd International Aphanomyces Workshop, p. 76-78. http://www.usda.prosser.wsu.edu/grunwald/legumepathology/aphanomyces.htm Greene, S.L., A. Afonin, T. Kisha. 2003. Conserving Alfalfa (Medicago sativa subsp. sativa) wild relatives in Kazakhstan. In T. Hoa (ed.) Proceedings International Workshop on Agrobiodiversity, Pilot Conservation Project and Taxonomy Gap, Jan 10-11, Hanoi, Vietnam. Grünwald, N. J. and Coyne, C. (editors.) 2003. Proceedings of the Second International Aphanomyces Workshop. United States Department of Agriculture  Agricultural Research Service, Pasco, WA. 112pp. http://www.usda.prosser.wsu.edu/grunwald/legumepathology/aphanomyces.htm Jong, S.C., and F.M. Dugan. 2003. Zygomycetes: The Order Entomophthorales, pp. 127-139 in: Pathogenic Fungi in Humans and Animals, 2nd ed., D.H. Howard editor, Marcel-Dekker, N.Y. Johnson, R.C. V. Bradley, C. Foiles. 2004. Regenerating grass germplasm: Choosing the right compromise. In R.C. Johnson (ed.) Thirty-seventh Grass Breeders Work Planning Conference, Moscow ID,. May 14, 2002. p. 19-25. Johnson, R.C. W.J. Johnston, and Charles Golob. 2004. Characterization and Enhancement of the USDA-ARS Kentucky Bluegrass Collection. In R.C. Johnson (ed.) Thirty-seventh Grass Breeders Work Planning Conference, Moscow ID, May 14, 2002. p. 45-52. Pilet-Nayel, M.-L.T. Dormegnies, R. J. Mcgee, R. Esnault, P. Mangin, M. Roux-Duparque, N.J. Grünwald, A. Baranger, and C. J. Coyne: Genetics of partial resistance to Aphanomyces root rot in pea. Proceedings 2nd International Aphanomyces Workshop, p. 72-75. http://www.usda.prosser.wsu.edu/grunwald/legumepathology/aphanomyces.htm Abstracts, Reports Posters Bertoli, F.B., R.C. Johnson. T.J. Kisha, and W.J. Johnston. 2003. Molecular variation among and within diverse Kentucky Bluegrass germplasm. P. 141. Abstracts of the Third International Molecular Breeding of Forage and Turf Grasses Dallas, Texas, May 18-22. Bertoli, F.B., R.C. Johnson, B. Lucaroni, M. Romani, L. Russi, E. Piano, and M. Falcinelli. 2003. Agronomic and molecular evaluation of Kentucy bluegrass germplasm collected in Italy. XLVII Annual Congress, Societa Italiana di Genetica Agraria, Verona, 24-27 September. Bradley, V.L. Submitted photo of Carthamus tenuis that was used on the identification page of Ecoport. http://www.ecoport.org entity number 12946. Bradley, V.L. and R.M. Hannan. Western Regional Plant Introduction Station. Poster for display at the ASA, CSSA, and SSA annual meetings in Denver, Colorado. Clement, S.L. 2004. Grass endophyte peregrinations at the Western Regional Plant Introduction Station. Proc. 37th Grass Breeders Work Planning Conference, May 14-17, 2002, Moscow, ID. p. 6-10. Clement, S.L. 2003. Pea aphid, spring dry pea, and the Palouse. 62nd Annual Pacific Northwest Insect Management Conference. (Abstract). Clement, S.L., L.R. Elberson, N. Bosque-Perez, and D. Schotzko. 2003. Consequences of wild barley-fungal endophyte associations on phytophagous insect survival. Entomological Society of America, national meeting. (Poster). Coyne C.J. 2003. Allele discovery in the U.S. pea core collection. North American Pulse Improvement Assoc. Biannual Meeting Abstracts, Sacramento, CA. p. 9. Coyne C.J., M.C. Cashman, and R. Yarbrough. 2003. Incidence of Potyvirus the U.S. Lupinus Germplasm Collection. North American Pulse Improvement Assoc. Biannual Meeting Abstracts, Sacramento, CA. p. 18. Coyne, C.J., L. Razai, B-K Baik, M. A. Gruzak. 2003. Variation for protein in the USDA pea core collection. North American Pulse Improvement Assoc. Biannual Meeting Abstracts, Sacramento, CA. p. 19. Coyne, C.J. 2003. Refined pea core collection based on qualitative and quantitative characteristics. In Annual Meetings Abstracts. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting. [CD-ROM, p. 537] Dugan, F.M. 2003. Biodiversity of plant pathogens: new obstacles and opportunities. Phytopathology 93: S100. Dugan, F.M.. S.L. Lupien and B.K. Schroeder. 2003. Pink Seed of Pea. Washington State University Cooperative Extension Bulletin No. EB1967. Greene, S.L. 2003. National Temperate Forage Legume Germplasm Resources Unit. Poster presented at ASA/CSSA/SSSA meeting, Denver, Co. Nov. 3-5. Grunwald N.J., V. Coffman, J. Kraft and C.J. Coyne. 2003. Resistance to Fusarium root rot in the Pisum core collection. North American Pulse Improvement Assoc. Biannual Meeting Abstracts, Sacramento, CA. p. 14. Hellier, B., S.L. Clement, L.R. Elberson, M.A. Evans, and R. Staska. 2003. Allium ampeloprasum seed production in field cages with insect pollinators. Horticulture meetings. (Abstract).