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: 10/01/2012 to 09/01/2013
Date of Report: 09/04/2013
Annual Meeting Dates: 07/09/2013 to 07/10/2013

Boe, Arvid (arvid.boe@sdstate.edu) - South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD; Brummer, Charles (ecbrummer@noble.org) - Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK; Claessens, Annie (annie.claessens@agr.gc.ca) - AAFC, Quebec, QC; Coulman, Bruce (bruce.coulman@usask.ca) - University of Saskatchewan, SK; Ehlke, Nancy (nancy@umn.edu) - University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; Michaud, Réal AAFC, Quebec, QC; Papadopoulos, Yousef (papadopoulosy@agr.gc.ca) - AAFC, Charlottetown, NS; Riday, Heathcliffe (heathcliffe.riday@ars.usda.gov) - ARS, Madison, WI; Viands, Don (drv3@cornell.edu) - Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; (Administrative Advisor)

Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Legacy attachment file:

[Minutes]

Accomplishments

Objective 1: (1) One alfalfa snout beetle cultivar with moderate levels of resistance has been developed and was made available to growers in northern NY to plant in ABS-infested fields; (2) Potato leaf hopper resistant alfalfa populations are being developed with multiple mechanisms of resistance; a new cultivar with a very high level of resistance (glandular trichome type) is in seed production for use in the Northeast USA. (3) Seed of N-R-Gee, the first alfalfa cultivar bred for higher pectin concentration, was available more widely available for growers in 2013. (4) An acid tolerant alfalfa cultivar was developed; (5) Birdsfoot trefoil populations with higher rhizome production and vigor are being developed to enhance productivity and longevity of the crop; (6) Birdsfoot trefoil cultivars are being evaluated for forage production and persistence; (7) Marker assisted selection methods are been developed to accelerate breeding programs. Objective 2: (1) Selection methods for increased yield in alfalfa are currently under multiple site evaluation; (2) Red clover populations with improved persistence continue to be 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 are being evaluated for use as feedstocks for biofuels and livestock feed; Objective 3: (1) Selection of meadow and hybrid bromegrass continue to be under multiple site evaluation; (2) Improved red clover populations for general adaptation continue to be under multiple site evaluation; (3) The salt tolerant alfalfa cultivar Bridgeview was made available for grower use.

Impacts

1. The development of new cultivars with improved forage yield and quality characteristics, along with and biotic and abiotic stress resistances/tolerances will provide a more reliable source of economical feed for dairy and other livestock industries. For example, the release of 9558 SBR, the first alfalfa cultivar with some resistance to alfalfa snout beetle, should provide some control against this devastating insect.
2. The development of new 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.
3. 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).
4. 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 use of Bridgeview alfalfa, which was bred for tolerance to salt conditions in the soil, should expand the use of alfalfa for forage production.
5. 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.
6. The evaluation of experimental populations is essential to ensure that all stakeholders have the agronomic information to make decisions on use of forage species and cultivars within species.

Publications

Anower, M.R., I.W. Mott, M.D. Peel, and Y. Wu. 2013. Characterization of physiological responses of two alfalfa half-sib families with superior salt-tolerance. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. In Press. Belt, S., Rushing, B., Tangren, S., 2013. Plant Guide for southeastern wildrye (Elymus glabriflorus). USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center. Beltsville, MD 20705. http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_elgl3.pdf Blair L. Waldron, B.L., S.R. Larson, M.D. Peel, K.B. Jensen, T.C. Mukimov, A. Rabbimov, D.R. ZoBell, R.C. Wang, R.C. Smith, R.D. Harrison, and B.W. Davenport. 2013. Snowstorm, a New Forage Kochia Cultivar with Improved Stature, Productivity, and Nutritional Content for Enhanced Fall and Winter Grazing. J. Plant Reg. 7:140-150. Casler, M.D., Y.A. Papadopoulos, S. Bittman, R.D. Mathison, D.H. Min, J.G. Robins, J.H., Cherney, S.N. Acharya, D.P. Belesky, S.R. Bowley, B.E. Coulman, R. Drapeau, N.J. Ehlke, M.H. Hall, R.H. Leep, R. Michaud, J. Rowsell, G.E. Shewmaker, C.D. Teutsch, and W.K. Coblentz. 2013. Sparse-flowering Orchardgrass is Stable Across Temperate North America. Crop Sci. (in press). Hansen, J.L., D. Viands, R. Deubler, J. Crawford, J. Schiller, and R. Crawford. 2012. New York forage legume and grass variety yield trials summary for 2012. http://www.naaic.org/Resources/yields.html Hansen, J.L., D. Viands, R. Deubler, J. Crawford, J. Schiller, and R. Crawford. 2012. Alfalfa variety comparisons. 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, J. Schiller, and R. Crawford. 2012. New York forage legume and grass variety yield trials summary for 2012 - season totals http://plbrgen.cals.cornell.edu/cals/pbg/programs/departmental/forage/foragetest.cfm and http://www.nnyagdev.org/index.php/2012/12/21/forage-variety-trial-data-now-online/ Nelson, R.L., M.D. Peel, and C.V. Ransom. Submitted March 7, 2013. Small Burnet Response to Spring and Fall Postemergence Herbicide Applications. Weed Technology. In Review. Noviandi, C. T., J.-S. Eun, M. D. Peel, B. L. Waldron, B. R. Min, D. R. ZoBell, and R. L. Miller. Submitted Feb. 10, 2013. Effects of energy supplementation in pasture forages on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics in continuous cultures. Professional Animal Scientist. In review. Noviandi, C.T., K. Neal, J.-S. Eun, M. D. Peel, B. L. Waldron, D. R. ZoBell, and B. R. Min. Submitted June 6, 2013. Effects of grass-legume mixed pasture forages on microbial fermentation in continuous cultures with their different ratios. Professional Animal Scientist. In review. Papadopoulos, Y.A., M.S. McElroy, S.A.E. Filmore, K.B. McRae, J. L. Duyinsveld and A.H. Fredeen. 2012. Sward complexity and grass species composition affects the performance of grass-white clover pasture mixtures. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 1199-1205. Peel, M.D., C.V. Ransom, and I.W. Mott. 2013. Natural Glyphosate Tolerance in Sainfoin (Onybrychis viciifolia). Crop Sci. In Press. doi:10.2135/cropsci2012.10.0612. Peel, M.D., B.L. Waldron, K.B. Jensen, and J.G. Robins. 2013. Alfalfa and forage kochia improve nutritive value of semiarid rangelands. Forage and Grazinglands. doi:10.1094/FG-2013-121-01-RS. Rushing, J. B., B. S. Baldwin, A.G. Taylor, V.N. Owens, J.H. Fike, and K.J. Moore. 2013. Seed Safening for use in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) establishment. Crop Science 53: doi: 10.2135/cropsci2013.01.0050. 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. 92: 1163-1172. Viands, D.R., E.J. Shields, J.L. Crawford, A. Testa, and J.L. Hansen. 2012. Breeding alfalfa varieties with resistance to alfalfa snout beetle. Northern New York Agricultural Development Program Annual Report. http://www.nnyagdev.org/index.php/welcome/nnyadp-research-reports-by-year/ Dissertations: Cox, S. 2013. M.S. Thesis. Binary grass-legume mixtures of tall fescue, orchardgrass, meadow brome, alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil and cicer milkvetch in three planting ratios to maximize yield and nutritive value. Completion August 2013. Rushing, J.B. 2012. Evaluation of wildrye (Elymus spp.) as a potential forage and conservation planting for the southeastern United States. Miss. St. Libraries, Miss. St., MS 39762.

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