SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report

Sections

Basic Information
Additional Info

Status: Approved

Basic Information

Project No. and Title: NE1010 : Breeding and Genetics of Forage Crops to Improve Productivity, Quality, and Industrial Uses
Period Covered: 10/01/2011 to 09/01/2012
Date of Report: 08/31/2012
Annual Meeting Dates: 07/10/2012 to 07/10/2012

Acharya, Surya, acharya@agr.gc.ca, AAC, Lethbridge, AB; Baldwin, Brian, BBaldwin@pss.msstate.edu, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS; Boe, Arvid, arvid.boe@sdstate.edu, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD; Brummer, Charles, ecbrummer@noble.org, Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK; Casler, Michael, michael.casler@ars.usde.gov, ARS, Madison, WI; Claessens, Annie, annie.claessens@agr.gc.ca, AAC, Quebec, QC; Ehlke, Nancy, nancy@umn.edu, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; Lamb, Joann, joann.lamb@ars.usda.gov, ARS, St. Paul, MN; Papadopoulos, Yousef, papadopoulosy@agr.gc.ca, AAC, Charlottetown, NS; Peel, Michael, mike.peel@ars.usda.gov, ARS, Logan, UT; Riday, Heathcliffe, heathcliffe.riday@ars.usda.gov, ARS, Madison, WI; Robins, Joseph, joseph.robins@ars.usda.gov, ARS, Logan, UT; Viands, Don, drv3@cornell.edu, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; (Administrative Advisor) Guests: Hansen, Julie, jlh17@cornell.edu, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; Bergstrom, Gary, gcb3@cornell.edu, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Abbreviations AFCCH: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Charlottetown, NS AFCL: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB AFCSF: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ste. Foy, QC AFCSK: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, SK FRRL: USDA-ARS Forage and Range Research Lab, Logan, UT GA: University of Georgia, Athens, GA KY: University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY MN: University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN NY: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY PSRUMN: USDA-ARS Plant Science Research Unit, St. Paul, MN PSWMRL: USDA-ARS, Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research Lab, PA SD: South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD USDFRC: US Dairy Forage Research Center, Madison, WI

Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The annual meeting was held 10 July 2012 at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Donald Viands was meeting chair and Annie Claessens was secretary. New Projects: Discussion of new projects focused primarily on crop genetics, breeding, production, and management for forage and bioenergy feedstock. Leaders have been identified to develop proposals for collaborative long-term multistate research projects that we will discuss during the next meeting. 1) Yield evaluation of N-R-Gee alfalfa bred for higher pectin concentration and of alfalfa germplasm bred for resistance to alfalfa snout beatle; Lead: Don Viands 2) Improving alfalfa water flooding tolerance and N uptake for sustainable production systems; Lead: Yousef Papadopoulos 3) Switchgrass genotyping platform; Lead: Michael Casler 4) Switchgrass diseases and share pathogens from various regions; Gary Bergstrom, Arvid Boe, Brian Baldwin 5) Kura clover and alfalfa molecular markers development for paternity testing; Lead: Heathcliffe Riday 6) Sainfoin and alfalfa mixture to reduce bloating problems; Lead: Surya Acharya 7) Grasses and legumes mixture for N transfer; Leads: Yousef Papadopoulos, Joann Lamb 8) Birdsfoot trefoil germplasm development for persistence, yield and nutrition; Leads: Heathcliffe Riday, Yousef Papadopoulos, Surya Acharya, Nancy Ehlke, Michael Casler 9) Domestication of native switchgrass and evaluation of how far north they will persist; Lead: Brian Baldwin 10) Evaluation of native grasses (i.e.: bermudagrass, bluestem, reed canarygrass&) as biomass crops; Lead: Michael Peel, Arvid Boe, Michael Casler, Annie Claessens 11) Clover germplasm evaluation for persistence, insect and disease resistance; Lead: Yousef Papadopoulos 12) Biomass and legumes mixture for N transfer; Leads: Michael Casler, Annie Claessens, Arvid Boe 13) Genomic research with water soluble carbohydrates in forage grasses; also winterhardiness and alfalfa-grass mixtures; Leads: Joseph Robins, Charles Brummer, Annie Claessens 14) Introduction of new species as forages; Brian Baldwin, Arvid Boe Accomplishments: 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 1.1.3 Breeding alfalfa for resistance to alfalfa snout beetle. Lead: Viands, NY. Cooperating locations: other alfalfa researchers. Problem is primarily in NY, but is spreading slowly. Progress has been made from 7 to 9 cycles of selection in several alfalfa populations. Both greenhouse and field evaluations show that the selection program is successful and can be used to find alfalfa seedlings that have some level of tolerance or resistance to ASB root feeding damage. Seed of a potential cultivar with moderate levels of resistance is being produced commercially, and we will be involving NE-1010 participants to evaluate this cultivar for yield and persistence at multiple field locations when seed is available next spring. 1.1.4 Developing alfalfa germplasm with potato leafhopper resistance from three diverse genetic sources. Lead: Viands, NY. Cooperating locations: Noble, SD. The goal of this project is to develop germplasm with multiple mechanisms for more stable resistance to potato leafhopper (PLH). A population created from three sources of resistance was established in a field nursery for the fourth cycle of selection in NY in 2012. 1.1.6 Aluminum tolerance in tetraploid alfalfa. Lead, Acharya, AFCL. Cooperating locations: NY, AFCCH, Noble. From Phase I we completed selection in four parent synthetics. In Phase II we are evaluating the performance of offspring on acidic soils in Kentville, Lethbridge and Ithaca. Experiment 1 was initiated in 2010 to determine heritability of acid tolerance. Experiment 2 was initiated in 2012 (Kentville, Lethbridge, Ithaca and Athens) to evaluate alfalfa response to selection for acid tolerance in four diverse regions. 1.2 Birdsfoot Trefoil 1.2.1 Rhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil for yield improvement. Lead: Riday, USDFRC. Cooperating locations: NY, SD, AFCCH. Riday is evaluating half-sib families from a Czechoslovakian population. NY has been selecting birdsfoot trefoil for rhizomes and plant vigor in germplasm developed by crossing rhizomatous germplasm with adapted germplasm related to Pardee. Seed of the backcross to Pardee-type germplasm will be available for evaluation after selecting for higher expression of the rhizomatous trait. 1.2.2 Evaluation of birdsfoot trefoil for yield or vigor. Lead: Peel, FRRL. Cooperating locations: MN, NY, AFCCH, USDFRC. This trial was established at Nova Scotia in 2010. Plots were harvested in 2011 and 2012. In spring 2010 NY established a replicated plot trial with 17 birdsfoot trefoil populations. These populations were evaluated for vigor, plant stand, and diseases in 2011 and 2012. This trial was established in 2010 at Utah State Universitys Pasture Research Facility as a seeded plot for forage yield and in a separate trial for grazing tolerance. It has been harvested once in 2011, and the second trial is being grazed with cattle in 2012. 1.3 Multiple Species 1.5.1 Selection of fiber digestibility and cell wall pectin. Lead: Viands, NY. Cooperating locations: AFCSF, USDFRC. In NY selection for higher pectin (neutral detergent soluble fiber) and lower NDF concentrations will continue on alfalfa populations in 2012, and a new field nursery was established in 2012 to continue selection in subsequent years in additional populations. A lamb feeding trial showed that the new alfalfa cultivar N-R-Gee has higher feed efficiency than the check cultivar Vernal. 1.6 Red Clover: Marker-assisted selection. To be developed. Lead: Riday, USDFRC. Cooperating locations: AFCNS, GA (and Europeans), NY (?). Riday is using this technique in his breeding program. Protocol is simple to use. 1.7 White Clover: Marker-assisted selection. Lead Brummer, Noble. Cooperating locations: USDFRC. Five hundred half-sib families were evaluated. The goal is association mapping. 1.8 Kura Clover: Vigor and spreadability. To be developed. Lead: Ehlke, MN. Cooperating locations: FRRL, USDFRC. 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 2.1.2. Replicated clonal selection from improving forage yield of alfalfa. Lead: Viands, NY. Cooperating locations: AFSSF, GA, AFCL. A broad-based alfalfa population is in the second cycle of selection using the replicated clonal evaluation method to increase forage yield compared to mass selection. Syn. 2 seed is being produced in 2012, and replicated plot trials will be established at multiple locations in 2013 to determine progress from selection. 2.2 Orchardgrass 2.2.1. Clonal selection in orchard grass for broad adaptation. Lead: Phillips, KY. Cooperating locations: GA, AFCL, AFCSF, AFCSK, FRRL, SD, Noble. Evaluation will begin when adequate clonal replicates are produced. 2.2.2. Non-heading orchardgrass research. Lead: Casler, USDFRC. Cooperating locations. AFCSK, AFCL, AFCSF, AFCNS, FRRL, ID, MN, KY, WV, NY, Newfoundland. Project was completed and manuscripts are in preparation. 2.3 Red Clover 2.3.1. Selection for general adaptation in red clover. Lead: Papadopoulos, AFCCH. Cooperating locations: NY, AFCL, AFCSF, AFCSK, SD, KY, GA, USDFRC. Seven of the cooperators completed plant selection. Crossing of the seven populations, using bees, was initiated in a diallel mating design. A total of 28 populations were developed in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Seed production was completed in 2011. In 2012 a new replicated plot trial was established in at seven locations, as part of a multiple location evaluation of the populations selected in previous years. Data will be collected in subsequent years. 2.3.2. Selection for persistence in red clover using half-sib families. Lead: Riday, USDFRC. Cooperating locations: GA, SD, NY, AFCCH. Populations are available to begin research. Riday will design experiments. 2.4.2 Legume/Grass Mixtures: Compatibility of legumes with various grasses. Lead: Peel, FRRL. Cooperating locations: AFCCH, AFCL, GA, MN, NY, USDA-MN. Peel is looking at 25%, 50%, and 75% legume composition. Lamb is directing grass/alfalfa mixtures biomass trials at MN, WI, and SD (management was different at three sites). Another mixture trial will be planned for the future. Robins is evaluating 24 cultivars of orchardgrass in monocultures and in mixtures with alfalfa in UT, to determine economic return from N fertilizer vs. biological N fixation from alfalfa. 2.5. Red Clover Biofuels Lead: Papadopoulos, AFCNS. Initial study included mixtures with grasses and several combinations of red clover and grasses that were identified as having potential for biofuels. Based on those results, a new study was initiated in 2011. 2.6. Methods to improve reed canarygrass Lead: Casler, USDFRC. Collections have been made from populations across North America. Evaluations of molecular and phenotypic variation are ongoing. 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. Lead: Peel, FRRL. Cooperating locations: AFCSF, AFCL, NGPRL, SD. Peel has both diploid and tetraploid populations in field evaluations. New populations recently developed in SD, UT, and WI (USDFRC) will be available for multiple-site testing after adequate seed supplies are generated (2014). 3.1.2. Hybrid alfalfa yield evaluation. Lead: Riday, USDFRC. Cooperating locations. USDA-MN, GA, NY, FRRL, SD. Data from all locations were sent to Riday, and a manuscript is in preparation. 3.1.4. Evaluation of salt tolerant alfalfa. Lead: Acharya, AFCL. Cooperating locations: FRRL. Acharya has one salt tolerant cultivar that was released (Bridgeview). He also has control environment facilities that could be used for the next round of studies with Peel. Peel also is doing selection in UT. 3.3 Multiple Species 3.3.1. Biomass alfalfa/grass mixture evaluation. Lead: Lamb USDA-ARS, Cooperating locations: SD, USDFRC. Biomass data and plant samples for species composition analysis will be sent to Lamb after the second harvest in autumn 2012. The alfalfa has died out in the SD trial, and the USDFRC trial is the grasses. 3.4 Meadow and hybrid bromegrass: Evaluation of meadow and hybrid bromegrasses. Lead: Coulman, Univ. Sask. Cooperating locations: AFCSF, AFCCH, SD, USDFRC. Plants from an experiment initiated in 2004 were selected to form two experimental synthetics: Hybrid brome (12 genotypes) and Meadowbrome (12 genotypes). Half-sib seeds from the selected plants were produced in 2007 and shipped to AFCSK. Phase II of this study was initiated in 2010, and stands of the lines selected from the above study were established at four sites. Due to poor establishment in 2010, the plots were reseeded in 2011 at three sites (AFCCH, AFCSF, USDFRC). Reseeded plots were successfully established, and the first production year data are being collected in 2012. 3.5 Red Clover Evaluation: Response to selection under controlled environment versus natural selection under field conditions across diverse regions. Lead: Papadopoulos, AFCCH. Cooperating locations: AFCSF, AFCSK, AFCL, NY, USDFRC, SD. Study was completed and manuscript is in preparation. 3.6 Tall Fescue. Selection for persistence in the Coastal Plain area. Lead: Brummer, Noble. Cooperating locations: KY, FRRL, Noble. This project is in development. Critical Midterm review of multistate research projects: Viands collected information from project participants to produce the report for the NIMSS web site. Election of Officers and Meeting Place in 2012:Annie Claessens will be chair, and Acharya was elected Secretary for 2013. The 2013 meeting will be held in Québec, QC in early July. The 2014 meeting will be held when the NAAIC meeting occurs at Lethbridge. Web sites for NE1010 and NIMSS will be sent to all participants

Accomplishments

Objective 1: (1) Alfalfa snout beetle resistant alfalfas have been produced and are currently being evaluated in the field; seed is currently being produced commercially on one alfalfa population that has potential to becoming the first resistant cultivar; (2) Potato leaf hopper resistant alfalfa populations are being developed with multiple mechanisms of resistance; (3) Seed of N-R-Gee, the first alfalfa cultivar bred for higher pectin concentration, was available for growers this spring. In a lamb-feeding trial, this cultivar had higher feed efficiency than the low quality check cultivar Vernal. (4) Alfalfa populations with increased aluminum tolerance have been developed; (5) Birdsfoot trefoil populations with higher rhizome production and vigor are being developed to enhance productivity and longevity of the crop; and (6) Birdsfoot trefoil cultivars are being evaluated for forage production and persistence. Objective 2: (1) Selection methods for increased yield in alfalfa are currently under multiple site evaluation; (2) Red clover populations with improved persistence are currently under evaluation at multiple sites, and a MAS (marker-assisted selection) strategy for red clover improvement is now in use; (3) Legume/grass mixture trials have been established and are being evaluated for use as feedstocks for biofuels and livestock feed; Objective 3: (1) Selection of meadow and hybrid bromegrass are currently under multiple site evaluation; (2) Improved red clover populations for general adaptation are currently under multiple site evaluation; (3) The salt tolerant alfalfa cultivar Bridgeview was released for commercial use.

Impacts

The impacts include enhanced livestock performance/health as well as economic advantages through the development of new cultivars of grasses and legumes with improved forage yield and quality characteristics, along with and biotic and abiotic stress resistances/tolerances to enhance productivity and longevity of the crop. Cultivars with good agronomic and morphological traits might be more persistent, thus providing more economical feed production, especially on marginal soils.
Forages with higher energy capacity should increase utilization of plant protein, thus making milk production more economical. With alfalfa comprising 50% of the ration dry matter, N-R-Gee is predicted to increase milk production up to 3.3 pounds of milk per day compared to an industry standard cultivar. This translates to a potential income increase of $181 per cow, based on milk at $18/cwt and 305 days of lactation.
This project improves environmental quality through the development of new cultivars of grasses and legumes with improved persistence, increased resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, and enhanced soil-binding improvement capabilities (e.g., reduced soil erosion; improved nutrient cycling; less soil surface runoff; increased soil carbon sequestration; reduced atmospheric CO2; reduced use of agricultural chemicals/fertilizers; reduced pollution/contamination of surface and ground waters).
Acid soils are very extensive in North America. Alfalfa cultivars with tolerance to these soils will provide more economical forage by eliminating or reducing the need for lime applications. New cultivars will convert such problem soils, previously unsuitable for agriculture, into areas of stable high quality forage production. In addition, the release of Bridgeview alfalfa, which was bred for tolerance to salt conditions in the soil, should expand the use of alfalfa for forage production.
With improved forages and biomass crops, increased diversification and sustainability in agricultural ecosystems can be achieved. Identification of breeding methods that will improve forage and biomass yield and quality is essential for improving the economics of these crops in production agriculture and in conservation and wildlife habitat systems. New cultivars of alfalfa from M. sativa ssp. falcata, will expand the area that alfalfa can be profitably grown to include semiarid and other dry marginal lands.
In the coming year, emphasis will be placed on: 1) publication of results of projects that were completed during 2012, 2) continued testing in multiple environments of promising synthetic populations and other germplasms developed over the last several years for potential cultivar development, and 3) development of new projects that reflect the national emphasis on the dual use of perennial grasses and legumes for forage and bioenergy production

Publications

Hansen, J.L., and D. Viands. 2011. Alfalfa variety comparison. University of Wisconsin Agriculture & Natural Resources. Editors Undersander, D., and K. Silveira. http://www.uwex.edu/ces/ag/alfalfa/index.cfm Hansen, J.L, D.R. Viands, R. Deubler, J. Crawford, and J. Schiller. 2011. New York forage legume and grass variety yield trials summary for 2011 - season totals http://plbrgen.cals.cornell.edu/cals/pbg/programs/departmental/forage/foragetest.cfm Mayton, H., J. Hansen, R. Crawford, J. Crawford, and D. Viands. 2011. Field-scale yield of switchgrass under varying nitrogen management treatments in New York State. ASA Ann. Meeting, San Antonio, TX, 16-19 October 2011. http://a-c-s.confex.com/scisoc/2011am/webprogram/Paper64926.html Noviandi, C.T., R.E. Ward, D.R. Zodell, R.D. Stott, B.L. Waldron, M.D. Peel, and J.S. Eun. 2012. Fatty acid composition in adipose tissue of pasture and feedlot-finished beef steers. Professional Animal Scientist 28:184-193. Papadopoulos, Y.A., M.S. McElroy, S.A.E. Filmore, K.B. McRae, A.H. Fredeen and J. L. Duyinsveld. 2012. Sward complexity and grass species composition affects the performance of grass-white clover pasture mixtures. Can. J. Plant Sci (In press). Peel, M.D., K.B. Jensen, B.L. Waldron, and J.G. Robins. 2011. Forage yield of grass-legume and graa-forage kochia mixture on semi-arid rangelands. Forage and grazinglands doi: 10.1094/FG-2011-0516-01-RS. Peel, M.D., B.L. Waldron, K.B. Jensen, and J.G. Robins. 2012. Alfalfa and forage kochia improve nutritive value of semiarid rangelands. Forage and Grazinglands (Accepted 3-9-12). Peel, M.D., B.L. Waldron, I.W. Mott and S. Walker. 2011. A growth stage and heat unit model for Hedysarum boreale. Native Plant Journal 12:4-12. Robins, J.G., B.S. Bushman, and K.B. Jensen. 2012. Dry matter yield combining ability among nine sources of orchardgrass germplasm. Euphytica doi: 10.1007/s10681-012-0707-z.Second paper to be submitted this fall. Robins, J.G., B.S. Bushman, K.B. Jensen, and G. Blaser. 2012. Genetic variation for morphology and maturity among the half-sib progeny of nine orchardgrass germplasm populations. Crop Science doi: 10.2135/cropsci2012/02.0120. Robins, J.G., K.B. Jensen, T.A. Jones, B.L. Waldron, M.D. Peel, C.W. Rigby, K.P. Vogel, R. Mitchell, A.J. Palazzo, and T.J. Cary. 2012. Establishment and persistence of perennial cool-season grasses in the intermountain West and Central and Northern Great Plains. Rangeland Ecology and Management (In press). Thilakarathna, R. M. M. S., Papadopoulos, Y. A., Fillmore, S. A. E. and Prithiviraj, B. 2012. Genotypic differences in root hair deformation and subsequent nodulation for red clover under different additions of starter N fertilization. J Agron. Crop. Sci. 198: 295-303. Thilakarathna, M. M. S., Y. A. Papadopoulos, A. V. Rodd, A. N. Gunawardena,S. A. E. Fillmore, and B. Prithiviraj. 2012. Characterizing nitrogen transfer from red clover populations to companion bluegrass under field conditions. Can. J. Plant Sci (In press). Viands, D.R., J.L. Hansen, and J.L. Crawford. 2012. Registration of Ezra alfalfa. J. of Plant Registration 6(3):1-4. Xie, W., B.S. Bushman, and J.G. Robins. 2012. A genetic linkage map of tetraploid orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and quantitative trait loci for heading date. Genome 55:360-369.

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