Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Opening remarks by Dr. Bill Schapaugh (Interim Head, Soybean Breeder, Dept of Agronomy) and Dr. Ernie Minton (Associate Director of Research and Technology Transfer for the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station) Introductions: Mark Widrlechner represented Candice Gardner who is on assignment in China. Minutes: Not submitted, Wendy and Candice will get the minutes for review and approval. Report from Wendy Wintersteen: NC7 is required to submit an annual report. In addition, every five years a new project is submitted for external review and approval. These documents require the submission of accomplishments and impacts related to the work of NC7. The NC7 project is an exemplary partnership between ARS and the Agricultural Experiment Stations. For more information about the NC7 project or other multistate projects go to the North Central Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors at http://ncra.info/. Report from Peter Bretting representing the ARS-NIFA National Program Staff: There was a $700,000 cut across the Germplasm System for the last fiscal year. The Germplasm System remains a high priority for germplasm security; however, the future is unclear. The FAO Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources is before the Senate. Mark Bohning - Germplasm Resources Laboratory update: " Exploration office -5 explorations were supported in 2011 (four domestic and one international, Georgia). " Crop Germplasm Committees: There are now 42 Crop Germplasm Committees. The two most recently established are Specialty Nuts and Medicinal &Essential Oils. " GRIN Global: Version 0.9 has been released and can be used to start testing. This initial version will be especially useful for international collaborators who want to use GRIN Global to manage their germplasm. The web site of this beta version is http://test.grin-global.org/gringlobal/search.aspx . The GRIN Global group hopes to have version 1.0 by Sept 2011. GRIN Global runs with free public domain software. Conversion within the US will begin in September 2012 (led by the ARS Plant Introduction Research Unit, Ames, Iowa). GRIN Public software is being improved. Feedback on GRIN  Global can be send to: feedback-grin.global@ars.grin.gov Dave Ellis & Dave Dierig (National Center for Genetic Resource Preservation - Ft. Collins): Presented overview of seed storage, including clonal crops in cryopreservation and germination tests. 63 teosinte accessions were collected in Mexico in 2009, increased and relayed to Ames. Mark Widrlechner  NC7 Station 2010 Report and Budget: Extra funding was received for silver leaf sunflower (e.g. biomass) and Sclerotinia research.The appointment of the medicinal plants curator could not be extended as the grants renewal was not successful. Broken aging irrigation lines require attention. Mark Widrelechner announced that he will retire on Sept 31, 2011. Budget footnote correction- Footnote #3, the 3% salary increase for FY11 did not occur. The EXTERNAL FUNDING SOURCES budget line is negative, but it represents budget supplements from external funding. The NC7 Committee Members recommended that all postal costs be paid by germplasm recipients. PVP activity is increasing. Once PVPs expire, there are a large number ofrequests for these accessions. The NC7 Committee Members recommended that the Plant Introduction Station leadership investigate the possibility of establishing cooperative agreements with key industry partners to support the on-going costs associated with the PVPs. Motion: The NC7 Committee Members recommended the budget as submitted. If there is a major reduction in Hatch funding the Committee also recommended that there not be a disproportionate reduction in the NC7 budget. Motion made by Michael Stamm, seconded by Richard Hall. Passed with a unanimous vote. New NC7 State members: Bill Berzonsky (South Dakota) and Pablo Jourdan (Ohio State University) joined as new members. Wendy Wintersteen will work closely with Candice Gardner to review the NC7 membership. Preparation for NC7 five year report: Accomplishments and impacts of PI Station within the NC region are needed for this report. Information was requested by the state members that would help themmembers gather these outcomes. Mark Widrlechner will send to Committee members: 1) spreadsheet by state of all orders from the PI Station in Ames to members state, 2) total number of orders that went to each members state in last 5 years, 3) spreadsheet that includes all germplasm that went to the members University from all NPGS sites. With this information it was suggested that various approaches could be used to gather accomplishments and impacts. These include: (1) NC7 rep call/visit with major users to ask about outcomes/impacts, (2) inquire from recipients whether any recent releases have material from the PI station in the pedigree, and (3) have the crop curators make a series of pilot phone calls to major recipients. Consideration should be given to increase internal (within each state) outreach for the Plant Introduction Station. This could include inviting Candice Gardner to give invited seminars, use of on-line content and newsletter articles. Amy Iezzoni suggested the possibility of a Jewel in the Germplasm series analogous to the USDA-SCRI RosBREED Project Newsletter feature article series titled Jewel in the Genome. RosBREED Newsletters are available at www.rosbreed.org/resources/newsletters Tours: Dr. Bikram Gill and his associated Duane Wilson gave the group a tour of the Wheat Genetics and Genomics Resource Center. Dr. Eva Horne gave the group a tour of the Konza Prairie Biological Station. Resolutions were drafted by Jules Janick and Rick Hall: Upon minor editing they were unanimously accepted. Be it resolved that: " The Committee thanks Mike Stamm and Kansas State University for hosting a very well-organized and productive 2011 NC-7 RTAC meeting in Manhattan, KS. " The Committee thanks Dr. Bill Schapaugh, Interim Head, Department of Agronomy, who welcomed us to KSU and the Department. Thanks are also extended to Dr. Ernie Minton, Associate Director of Research and Technology Transfer for the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station who extended a welcome from the College and provided us with some interesting information about the college and Kansas agriculture. " The Committee appreciated the outstanding tour and explanation of the Wheat Genetics and Genomics Resource Center. We extend our thanks to Dr. Bikram Gill, Plant Pathology Distinguished Professor and Center Director and Mr. Duane Wilson for sharing their many accomplishments and a view of the Center facilities in operation. The Committee expresses its concern for long-term funding for this Center which has worldwide impact on food security through the development of unique wheat germplasm (see attached editorial by Dr. Gill: A wheat called Norman just might feed a hungry world Kansas City Star, 26 Apr 2011). We encourage closer linkage between the NGPC and this Center. " Special thanks are due to Dr. Eva Horne, Assistant Director, Konza Prairie Biological Station, for the enjoyable and educational tour she provided of the landscape and explanations of the bison and prescribed fire management research of the Station. " The Committee pays special tribute to Dr. Mark Widrlechner who is retiring from the ARS and his position at the Ames Plant Introduction Station after 28 years of distinguished service. Mark has been an especially able scientist as Horticulture Curator. He has been a special friend and participant of the Committee. We know Mark will continue to make important contributions through his new appointment in the Horticulture Department at Iowa State University. We hope Mark will continue to attend NC-7 meetings whenever he can. Nomination Committee (Terry Isbell and Burton Johnson): Dipak Santra was nominated to serve as secretary in 2012. This nomination was accepted with a unanimous vote. Amy Iezzoni will serve as Chair in 2012. 2012 Meeting: After some discussion the Committee recommended that next years meeting be in Ames, as it is useful to meet in Ames every third year. The second week of August was suggested as a possible meeting time. Poem: Mark Widrlechner shared with the group the following poem he wrote, inspired by the groups visit to the Konza Prairie Biological Station. Konza Yesterday, before the thunder, A gang of bachelors stared at us From their side of the fence While calmly chewing their cud. Our guide then mentioned the herd of elk That grazes the high ground far to the west. Turning around& The view to the west, With its endless hills Quilted with prairie meeting a changing sky Seemed to go on forever. Participant reports were presented by: Rick Hall, Terry Isbell, Dipak Santra, Tomas Lubberstëdt, Mike Stamm, and Burton Johnson. Minutes submitted by: Amy Iezzoni

NCRPIS Accomplishments for 2011: The collection totals 51,701 accessions with 74% available for distribution and 79% backed up at Ft. Collins, CO. About 760 accessions were backed up to date. Four hundred forty five new accessions were acquired, most from within the NPGS through exploration and transfer. New germplasm includes ash, collected in order to respond to the Emerald Ash Borer threat; oilseeds, primarily wild and cultivated Helianthus; Amaranthus not previously held; wild populations of Aronia and Gymnocladus (Kentucky coffee tree, maize; and Daucus. Original seed samples of the accessions are stored at -18 C to extend seed longevity, while the working collection is stored at is improved by storage in -18 C rather than 4 C. Viability tests were conducted on 1,631 accessions, substantially less than in 2010 due to resource constraints. After-ripening progress in Calendula was documented in order to better understand loss of seed dormancy in cold storage over time. Alternative treatments to six week cold-stratification treatments were explored for breaking seed dormancy of wild Helianthus. Optimum germination conditions were experimentally determined for portions of the Thlaspi and Camelina collections, using a thermal gradient table. As of December 6, 2011 over 36,400 items accessions were distributed to recipients worldwide, a 33% increase over previous records. Approximately 72% of all distributions are domestic, and approximately ½ of these are to NC-7 Region researchers and educators. Some large requests included all of the available maize inbreds for a second year of a collaborative genotyping and multi-location phenotyping study, large numbers of ex-PVP lines, and large phenotypic screening and genotyping studies for a number of other crops. Many large requests await fulfillment, including one for a significant portion of the collections requested by an Asian genebank. More than 1,200 accessions were grown for regeneration in Ames and with collaborators, with harvest results not yet finalized. Five different insect pollinators were used to assist in pollination of those crops requiring them; multiple pollinators are needed for effective pollination of some accessions. Monsanto grew multiple nurseries of tropical, photoperiod maize accessions in their Hawaii nurseries for the maize curation project. Over 35,930 observations of 7,249 accessions were entered in the GRIN database. Phenotypic evaluation and genetic characterization of the Camelina and Thlaspi (pennycress) accessions progressed as part of a Ph.D. study, including analyses of oil content and composition. These crops are of interest for biodiesel production. The Project to develop the GRIN-Global System for international genebank management use was completed after four years and released internationally. A training session was held in Tetalticiplan, Mexico in November for Mexican and other international systems administrators and curators. U.S. migration to the new system from GRIN will likely occur in late 2012. The Ames Germplasm Enhancement of Maize Project developed about 200 new DH lines wfrom previously unsampled races, but have not yet released them. Financial Situation: Significant accomplishments continue to be achieved at the NCRPIS; financial resources for this project are becoming a major concern. Since 2004, NC-7 funded ISU positions have decreased from 12 to 9. Hatch funding has remained stable at $522,980 but its purchasing power has eroded somewhat over the past decade. ARS funding is essentially at the same level as 2003 funding at $2,066,297; potential rescissions may occur in FY 2012. Fewer students have been hired (compared to 2003-2005 levels) in order to maintain financial resources for operations, and resources from complementary projects have been leveraged. Regenerations have been reduced for major crops with extensive labor requirements, such as maize, oilseeds, and vegetables. NC-7 Project Participants Research Accomplishments: University of Delaware researchers have studied the relative results from and relative benefits of using modified single seed descent, doubled haploid, or conventional breeding methods to introgress exotic maize germplasm with elite germplasm. They have also explored the fitness benefits conferred by a previously discovered locus, Rcg1, which confers resistance to Colletotrichum graminicola Iowa State University and/or NCRPIS researchers are using diverse maize and other grass genetic resources for biomass investigations, development of double haploid lines from exotic germplasm, SNP discovery, and for testing hypotheses regarding the domestication of maize. Via international collaboration, new sources of wild Lactuca spp. germplasm variability were evaluated and described for us in lettuce improvement programs. Research findings related to the floral morphology of Prunella accessions and self-incompatibility phenomenon were identified that will be useful in basic research related to genetic control of reproductive biology as well as breeding programs. The first large-scale evaluation of extensive, diverse germplasm for resistance to the bacterial fruit blotch pathogen was completed. Using Cucumis seed vaccuum infliltration, 16 lines were identified as resistant to this seed-borne disease; they may be useful as sources of resistance in Cucumis breeding programs. Kansas State University researchers evaluated the Brassica napus germplasm collection for potential for winter canola variety development for the southern Great Plains. Participation in the National Winter Canola Variety Trial (NWCVT), the largest winter canola testing network in the United States and coordinated by Kansas State University, increased. The effects of five planting dates (between 15 August and 15 October) and two tillage methods (conventional tillage and no tillage) on winter canola fall plant density, fall crown height, fall vigor, winter survival, spring plant density, spring vigor, and yield were evaluated in western KS. Planting date affected every measurement with tillage only affecting yield. Findings support earlier planting of canola than previously indicated to ensure sufficient winter survival and yield. Comparisons of tillage regimens and residue on stand establishment indicated that residue removal favored stand establishment, and that varietal response differences exist. Ten different woody plant accessions are evaluated annually by the John C. Pair Horticultural Center. This program has greatly increased the diversity of woody plants evaluated for suitability to south-central Kansas, and is currently establishing a provenance evaluation of the native Kentucky Coffeetree. Michigan State University sour cherry researchers have identified sources of germplasm with improved cold hardiness, tolerance to late season frosts which are very damaging to fruit set and yield, better growth or fruiting habits, improved rootstocks, fruit color and flavor, and resistance to cherry leaf spot. The collection developed over 20 years of effort to acquire, evaluate and utilize wild species and cultivars is being used to investigate meiotic irregularities, genetic self-incompatibility, and trait improvement. A self-compatible mutant allele has been identified from a Hungarian sour cherry cultivar. The Rosaceae genetics community (apple, peach, strawberry, sweet and tart cherry) utilized the RosBREED newsletter forum to demonstrate phenotyping protocols and tools, use of Pedimap software, and to communicate discoveries of genetic marker information useful for marker assisted breeding, MAB, or trait improvement via the Jewels in the Genome series. In 2011, quantitative trait loci and flanking markers were described for sweet cherry fruit size, cherry self-incompatibility, apple quality and storage traits, and peach fruit texture and flavor. University of Missouri researchers and collaborators have used plant genetic resources extensively for a very wide range of purposes. Maize-teosinte introgression libraries were used to investigate aspects of genetic diversity and how levels of diversity affect our understanding of the genes that control agronomic and kernel quality traits, as well as though selected during domestication. Areas of the maize or teosinte genome present/absent in the germplasm libraries were characterized. A somatic karyotype for many maize accessions is being developed, including for maize relatives, in order to provide information about the diversity of chromosome structure and its evolution. University of Nebraska researchers and collaborators evaluated four spring planted canola varieties in five geographic regions across the High Plains in order to determine if this valuable crop for oil production and livestock feed could fit into the crop rotations used by High Plains producers and benefit them. They found seed oil content to be highest in the northern High Plains locations while yields were highest in the southern and central High Plains, and concluded the US High Plains would be excellent for growing spring canola. University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers are using NPGS maize germplasm to exploit the natural genetic variation observed in corn for identification of important genomic regions related to the utilization of corn as a source of feedstock for biofuel production. Testing of hybrids with one of two mutants, gt (grassy tillers) which increases the number of primary lateral branches from below ground nodes, or corngrass (Cg1) which increases the vegetative phase of corn plants and therefore their secondary cell wall composition, indicates that these native genes can be used to increase ethanol yield per acre, by increasing biomass and digestibility and energy yield.

Delaware: Frey, T.J., Weldekidan, T., Colbert, T., Wolters, P.J.C.C., and Hawk, J.A. 2011. Fitness Evaluation of Rcg1, a Locus which Confers Resistance to Colletotrichum graminicola (Ces.) G.W.Wils., using Near-Isogenic Maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrids. Crop Sci. 51: advance online copy at doi: 10.2135/cropsci2010.10.0613. Jumbo, M.B., Weldekidan, T., Holland, J.B., and Hawk, J.A. 2011. Comparison of Conventional, Modified Single Seed Descent and Doubled Haploid Breeding Methods for Maize Inbred Lines Development using GEM Breeding Crosses. Crop Sci. 51:1534-1543. Kansas: Holman, J., Maxwell, S., Stamm, M., and Martin, K. 2011. Effects of planting date and tillage on winter canola. Crop Management. doi: 10.1094/CM-2011-0324-01-RS. Michigan: Hamilton, J.P., Hansey, C.N., Whitty, B.R., Stoffel, K., Massa, A.N., Van Deynze, A., De Jong, W.S., Douches, D.S., and Buell, C.R. 2011. Single nucleotide polymorphism discovery in elite North American potato germplasm. BMC Genomics. 12:302. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-12-302. Illa, E., Sargent, D.J., Girona, E.L., Bushakra, J., Cestaro, A., Crowhurst, R., Pindo, M., Cabrera, A., van der Knapp, E., Iezzoni, A., Gardiner, S., Velasco, R., Arus, P., Chagne, D., and Troggio, M., 2011. Comparative analysis of rosaceous genomes and the reconstruction of a putative ancestral genome for the family. BMC Evolutionary Biology. 11:9. Weebadde, C., Sebolt, A., Iezzoni, A., Peace, C., and Bassil, N. 2011. RosBREED: Enabling marker-assisted breeding. In: Rosaceae Newsletter. 2(1). Weebadde, C., Sebolt, A., Iezzoni, A., Peace, C., Yue, C., McCracken, V., and Gallardo, K. 2011. RosBREED: Enabling marker-assisted breeding in Rosaceae Newsletter. 2(2). Nebraska: Dwivedi, S. H., Upadhyaya, H., Senthilvel, S., Hash, C., Fukunaga, K., Diao, X., Santra, D.K., Baltensperger, D., and Prasad, M. 2011. Millets: Genetic and Genomic Resources. Plant Breeding Review. (accepted). Pavlista, A.D., Santra, D.K., Isbell, T.A., Baltensperger, D.D., Hergert, G.W., Krall, J., Mesbach, A., Johnson, J., O'Neill, M., Aiken, R., and Berrada, A. 2011. Adaptability of Irrigated Spring Canola to the US High Plains. Industrial Crops and Products. 33(1):165-169. Wisconsin: Hansey, C.N and de Leon, N. 2011. Biomass yield and cell wall composition of corn (Zea mays L.) with alternative morphologies planted at variable densities. Crop Sci. 50:1005-1015. NCRPIS: Daly, C., Widrlechner, M.P., Halbleib, M.D., and Smith, J.I. 2011. In press. Development of a new USDA plant hardiness zone map for the United States. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology. Gardner, C.A., Blanco, M.H., Krakowsky, M.D., Goodman, M., Marshall, D.S., Smelser, A.D., Engstrom, F., Shen, N. 2011. GEM - Meeting the Challenge of Maize Diversification by Capturing Useful Alleles and Traits from Exotic Germplasm [abstract]. Maize Genetics Conference Abstracts. Abstract P221. Bretting, P.K., Stoner, A.K., Widrlechner, M.P., and Williams, K.A. (Compilers). 2011. Country Report on the State of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture  United States of America. FAO, 44 pp. Lebeda, A., Dole~alová,I., Kitner, M., Novotná, A., `machová, P., and Widrlechner, M.P. 2011. In press. North American continent  a new source of wild Lactuca spp. germplasm variability for future lettuce breeding. Presented by senior author to the International Horticultural Congress, Lisbon, Portugal, 22-27 August 2010. Acta Horticulturae. Mandel, J.R., Dechaine, J.M., Marek, L.F., and Burke, J.M. 2011. Genetic diversity and population structure in cultivated sunflower and a comparison to its wild progenitor, Helianthus annuus L. Theor Appl Genet (2011). 123:693704. doi: 10.1007/s00122-011-1619-3. Oh, C., Price, J., Brindley, M., Widrlechner, M.P., Qu, L., McCoy, J., Murphy, P., Hauck, C., and Maury, W. 2011. Inhibition of HIV-1 infection by aqueous extracts of Prunella vulgaris. L. Virology Journal 8:188 (10 pages) doi:10.1186/1743-422X-8-188. Available online at http://www.virologyj.com/content/8/1/188. Qu, L., and Widrlechner, M.P. 2011. Variation in the breeding system of Prunella vulgaris L. HortScience 46: 688-692. Ramasahayam, S., Baraka, H.N., Abdel Bar, F.M., Widrlechner, M.P., El Sayed, K.A., and Meyer, S.A. 2011. In press. Effects of chemically characterized fractions from aerial parts of Echinacea purpurea and angustifolia on myelopoiesis in rats. Planta Medica 77(17): 1883-1889. Wechter, W.P., Levi, A., Ling, K-S., Kousik, C., and Block, C. 2011. Identification of Resistance to Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli among Melon (Cucumis spp.) Plant Introductions. Hort Science. 46(2):207-212. Widrlechner, M.P. 2011. Personal note at end of: Biographical notice  Professor Alea Lebeda at sixty. Plant Protection Science 47: 79-82. Widrlechner, Mark P., Christopher Daly, Markus Keller, and Kim Kaplan. 2011. In press. Horticultural applications of a newly revised USDA plant hardiness zone map. HortTechnology. Qiang, Z., Ye, Z., Hauck, C., Murphy, P.A., McCoy, J., Widrlechner, M.P., Reddy, M.B., and Hendrich, S. Submitted 2011. Permeability of rosmarinic acid from Prunella vulgaris and ursolic acid from Salvia officinalis extracts across Caco-2 cell monolayers. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 137(3): 1107-1112. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.07.037