Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Meeting started at 9:09 am (PDT)

Opening remarks to the 2013 meeting - Mark Brick
After a brief delay due to connection issues Mark Brick thanked the Pullman group for making the meeting arrangements.

Directors Report and Budget - James Moyer
Dr. James Moyer joined Washington State University May 1st 2013, coming from North Carolina State University where he was department chair of Plant Pathology. He is working with Michael Kahn to get up to speed. WSU is committed to plant germplasm, plant breeding and plant genetics. WSU is supportive of USDA, ARS, specifically W6.

Report from National Program - Peter Bretting
The recent retirement of Molly Welsh, the Phaseolus curator, was mentioned along with the contribution she has made to the germplasm community.

Dr. Bretting mentioned the untimely death of Mark Boening and interim plans to cover the activities that he was responsible for. Also note the significant contributions that Mark made to the germplasm community.

ARS has implemented the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 (FY 2013 appropriations) which includes rescissions and other reductions to the ARSs budget due to sequestration. The Presidents FY 2014 budget proposal, presented on 10 April 2013, would increase ARSs funding by about 2.7% above the FY 2012 appropriated funding level, and specifically would increase the NPGSs budget by $581,000. The House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee mark-up the FY 2014 budget would provide a 5.6% increase above the enacted FY 2013 operating level, which translates to a total that is 2% lower than the FY 2012 appropriated funding level.

A standardize template was discussed for crop vulnerability statements (CVS), see report pages 5-7. A standardized format will help compare vulnerabilities across crops and provide structure for discussing changes over time, as well as provide a record of those changes over time.

Kim Hummer asked if CVS would be published within a single publication. Peter Bretting suggested that at least two publications would be required, one for horticultural crops and one for crop science crops. Dan Parfitt expressed interesting in seeing all CVS brought together. It was mentioned that this might cause delays in publication.

Report from NIFA - Ann Marie Thro
As with other programs, germplasm programs need to focus on outputs, outcomes and impacts. In particular, positive impacts need to be highlighted and recognized. She asked that any significant impacts be passed on to her.

A new code has been added to the new CRIS forms for Breeding, 1081. Researchers should, when appropriate, be sure to include this code as part of their reports.

Dan Parfitt asked if impacts from prior years and/or long-term impacts should they be reported. It was agreed that they should be reported.

Administration Update: ARS Regional Office - Maureen Whalen
Maureen Whalen, Associate Area Director, thanked the state representatives for their participation in the meeting. The 2013 budget for the Pacific West Area was down 7.8% compared 2012, which continued a trend of declining budget over several years. In 2013 there was a base budget of 2013, but it should be recognized that significant outside, intermural sources contributed to operations. David Ramming, Parlier grape breeder (now retired), was provided as an example of an innovative researcher, developing a new grape variety where grapes dry into raisins on the vine and can be mechanically harvested. Pacific West Area, 7 of 20 sites curate germplasm, and those seven hold a significantly percentage of the national germplasm. Aberdeen and Pullman are the top two sites for requests. There are approximately 1,000 users of germplasm in the thirteen western states.

Kim Hummer asked for advice for how curator managers should respond to declining budgets and limited labor to accomplish required activities. Maureen Whalen recommended matching needs with available resources. Peter Bretting suggested that PGOCs should discuss options and that four priorities in order of importance were: maintenance, distribution, characterization/evaluation, and enhancement. It was discussed that if budget cuts continued whether germplasm should be reduced. To help with these decisions Crop Germplasm Committees (CGC) should be approached with such concerns.

Michael Kahn raised the issue of an ongoing need for improved/expanded facilities as related to increases in the number of accessions. It was brought up that the Presidents budget included funding for a poultry facility in Athens, however this was not included in the House budget. Budgets are required to set aside money for repair and maintenance; however it frequently is insufficient to meet the needs, especially in the case of unexpected events. There is a limited amount of money at the Area for high priority needs. Jinguo Hu mentioned efforts to address the need for stabilized humidity in the Pullman seed storage facility. Coordination with the Area office was under way to find a solution. Dave Stout mentioned that the Pullman facility was at capacity, and additional accessions would need other arrangements.

Approval of 2013 meeting Agenda
Dan Parfitt suggested that approval of the 2012 meeting minutes should be postponed until after lunch so that people could review them. It was generally agreed this was a good idea. Dan moved that the 2013 meeting agenda be approved, moving approval of the 2012 minutes to after lunch. The motion was seconded by Ian Ray. The motion passed unanimously.

Meeting break  10:05 am to 10:20 am.

Mark Brick reconvened the meeting and began site reports.

Harold Bockelman  Aberdeen
Highlights of submitted report

• The National Small Grains Collection (NSGC) presently holds 140,487 accessions
• NSGC distributed more than 61,000 accession samples in >800 separate requests in the past 12 months. Approximately one-third of the distributions were to foreign scientists.
• They have an ongoing effort to identify ploidy levels of tens-of-thousands of the wheat, barley, and oat accessions using the Partec Cyflow " which counts chromosomes by flow cytometry. To date we have completed analyses on more than 13,000 landrace wheat accessions. A common mixture when observed is 4x and 6x lines in field plots.
• They continue to coordinate the assembly of the Stem Rust Nursery in Kenya in cooperation with the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, CIMMYT, and wheat and barley breeders in public and private programs throughout the U.S. The latest shipment in April included 6000 entries from more than 50 public and private breeders and researchers.
• The wheat and barley core subsets are being extensively phenotyped and genotyped as part of the new NIFA-funded Triticeae CAP.
• They are continuing our efforts to capture voucher images of spikes, panicles, and seeds. One of the goals of our new 5 year project plans is to fill in the gaps in the characterization data. The images and characterization data provides valuable information to both the germplasm user and for NSGC curation.

Gary Kinard - Beltsville, National Germplasm Resources Laboratory
Highlights of submitted report

• The Plant Exploration and Exchange program (PEO) supports the collection of germplasm for the NPGS through the management of a Plant Exploration and Exchange Grant Program. The deadline for submitting proposals for explorations or exchanges to be conducted in fiscal year 2014 is July 26, 2013.
• In late 2008 a project to provide thorough coverage in GRIN-Taxonomy to wild relatives of all major and minor crops was initiated. Initial work is completed on 96 crops, and an interface to query these data in various ways has been developed (http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxcrop.pl). Feedback is invited from NPGS curators and CGC members for those crop wild relative classifications already developed.
• We were saddened by the unexpected death of Mark Bohning from NGRL-DBMU on May 13, 2013. He had 33 years of service to USDA, almost all of it in NGRL.
• Although the exact date for the switch over from GRIN to GRIN-Global has not yet been determined, it will occur during fiscal year 2013, most likely in September. At the time of the switch the public website will change.

The question was raised by Dan Parfitt as to whether additional collection trips should be funded if resources are not available to curate the collected materials. Proposal calls for collection proposals might be postponed with priority on maintaining existing collections emphasized. Collecting contributes to a small/steady increase in accessions, a great demand was related to web based information associated with germplasm. Funding for collections in 2014 will be ~$70,000, compared to 1898 when ~$20,000 was spent on collecting.

Kim Hummer - Corvallis
Highlights of submitted report

• Maintain more than 12,000 accessions of temperate fruit, nut, and specialty crops were conserved.
• Obtained new accessions of Fragaria (42), Rubus (18) and Vaccinium (73) from Oregon and from subtropical locations through plant exchange with Canada.
• Obtained a total of 279 new accessions and 2447 new inventory items in 2012. This included inventory repatriated from Palmer, AK, when it closed.
• Received 659 new plant requests and shipped 6631 items in 2012.
• Received a number of outside grants, including SCRI and others
• Implemented a new technique, microsatellite allele dosage configuration establishment (MADCE), to fingerprint 947 strawberries with two SSR markers.
• The number of federally supported personnel in Corvallis has continued a decline started in 2006, and reached 2002 levels.
• The number of accessions maintained and distributed have continued a trend to increase, see graphs page 4 of submitted report.

Joseph Postman - Corvallis
Highlights of submitted report

• Of the more than 12,000 accessions maintained ~2/3 are clonal and ~1/3 seed
• Barbara Reed and Nahla Bassil maintain very productive research programs
• Significant efforts have been made to use genotyping to reduce redundancy in the collection
• Nahla Bassil has completed research on fingerprinting in fruit and nuts, leading to an identification system based on genotype that is useful for managing collections
• Two offsight studies were mentioned, one in Alaska prior to closure, and another in Minnesota with a collaborator

Roger Chetelat - Davis
Roger was not able to attend, but submitted a written report, Dan Parfitt summarized
Highlights of submitted report:

• The TGRC regenerated in 2012 a number of wild species accessions which had been stored in the seed vault but had never been grown for seed increase.
• Six new accessions of cultivated tomato were acquired from Muriel Quinet at the Univ. Catholique de Louvain, in Belgium. These stocks should be useful for genetic studies of meristem, flower and inflorescence development.

Dave Dierig - Ft. Collins report
Highlights of submitted report

• NGCRP has 420,121 unique accessions and 574,614 backed-up
• 80% of NPGS is backed-up
• January-June 2013, ~60,000 samples processed
• On average ~70% of Pullman collections are backed-up, ~100% of Aberdeen and Davis
• Making progress with clonally propagated material
• Seeds of Success, BLM native plant program, is coordinated with Pullman, backed-up at Fort Collins
  • 7,501 accessions at NCGRP
  • 2,600 unique taxon
  • Many species are difficult to germinate

Dan Parfitt asked about accessions in liquid nitrogen, David Dierig replied that grains do well in nitrogen storage.

Francis Zee - Hilo report
Highlights of submitted report:

• Five year project plan was approved in March 2013
• Hilo maintains a backup collection of 29 selected cacao, Theobroma cacao, accessions from Miami and Puerto Rico.
• Continued quarantine transfer of NPGS avocado germplasm from Miami to Hilo through Fort Detrick. Twenty three (23) avocado accessions showed no visible laurel wilt symptoms and tested free for Avocado Sunblotch viroid (ASBVd) during the one year quarantine period in Hilo.
• The Avocado CGC consultant established a core collection of about 150 accessions to represent the genetic diversity of the current 400 NPGS accessions.
• Nine accessions of papaya relatives including Horovitzia, Vasconcellea, Jacaratia & Jarilla were received from various cooperators nationally and internationally.
• Regenerated 13 non-transgenic papaya accessions in an isolated location; field planted 2 selected Kapoho papaya lines in a commercial field for evaluation.
• Provided pineapple tissue cultures and seeds of Vasconcellea spp. to NPGS scientists for cryopreservation and molecular studies.

Gabriela Romano - Parlier
Highlights of submitted report:
A new biological technician was hired and will be working on germination tests.

• Distribution of germplasm of site-specific collections:
  • Parthenium had the largest number of requests, 78 domestic, 41 international, 119 total
  • Prickly pear (Opuntia/Cereus/Hylocereus) 96 domestic requests
• The Bassia, Proboscidea and Atriplex collections have been destined for decommissioning. After fulfilling the final requests for Atriplex, the remaining seed will also be sent to NCGRP including the new accessions donated by Seeds of Success.

Jinguo Hu - W-6 Pullman
Highlights of submitted report:

• On December 31, 2012, there were 92,897 plant accessions belonging to 1,277 genera, 4,604 species and 5,143 taxa in the WRPIS collection.
• Acquired 2,723 new accessions including 1,942 native plant accessions from the SOS (Seeds of Success) project, 270 pea from China by way of Australia, 62 lettuce from the Netherlands and 44 clover from Norm Taylors collection.
• Distributed a total of 29,345 packets of seed samples to 1,259 requestors with addresses in each of the 50 domestic states and 53 foreign countries.
• Conducted laboratory studies of five bulb-rotting species of Penicillium for clarifying species identity and host range. They continued to acquire isolates and conducted pathogenicity tests on six edible and ornamental bulbs (onion, garlic, tulip, narcissus, crocus, iris, etc.).
• Entered 100,230 observation data points into the GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) database in 2012.
• Entered 5,067 seed viability records into GRIN in 2012. Pullman location tested 1,545 and National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP), Fort Collins, Colorado tested 3,436 accessions.
• Evaluated segregating populations derived from crosses between high oil and high oleic acid lines and winter-type safflower germplasms for cold tolerance under controlled conditions and in the field.
• In collaboration with Washington State University, conducted a preliminary study to examine the variation of L-DOPA concentration in the leaf and flower tissues of seven faba bean accessions with various flower colors.
• Initiated a collaborative project to evaluate cool season grain legume germplasm under a non-funded collaborative agreement between US and China. In October 2012, our collaborators planted 1,294 pea and 286 faba bean accessions for winter survival in Qingdao, China.
• The FY 13 budget for WRPIS was $2,453,972 (Pullman, WA) and $281,394 (Prosser, WA) for a total ARS budget of $2,735,366. This could allow for $28,381discretionary dollars per SY. However, the implementation of sequestration reduced total budget to $2,529,920 ($2,255,598 for Pullman and $274,322 for Prosser). The discretionary dollar per SY dropped to only $6,238. This situation forced them to reduce the work force by abolishing two vacant positions. Molly Welsh, the Phaseolus curator, retired leaving behind ~17,000 accessions.

Dan Parfitt raised discussion/approval of the W6 FY2014 budget and it was agreed that discussion and approval would take place during open discussion. James Moyer mentioned that the FY2013 funding situation was not completely resolved.

Richard Lee - Riverside
Highlights of submitted report:

• A total of 861 distributions were made in CY2012, these were mostly Citrus or citrus relatives with the majority of distributions being made domestically to citrus breeders, research scientists, and certification programs.
• The NCGRCD has been in an Asian Citrus Psyllid Quarantine area for all of CY2012; psyllid screening and exclusion steps were completed early in the year, and the facilities were certified in February 2012, and the Repository was then able to ship distributions upon request.
• In 2009 in cooperation with USDA ARS, Fort Pierce, FL, a field trial was established which included over 100 accessions of citrus and citrus relatives (eight replicates of each accession; a total of 800 trees) originating from NCGRCD. The trial was exposed to HLB and Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) under field conditions, and evaluated twice a year for presence of HLB and tested for Las by qPCR. In the fall 2012, they were able to classify the reaction of the accessions into 8 categories based on their susceptibility/tolerance to HLB spread under natural conditions.
• Many genotypes of citron (Citrus medica L.) are cultivated in southwestern China, an important center of origin for the species; along with local wild citrons, they exhibit considerable phenotypic diversity. Using SSRs and SNPs three clusters were identified: 1) mostly fingered citrons from China 2) non-fingered citrons from China and 3) citrons from other parts of the world.
• Accessions are being backed-up at Ft. Collins using cryopreservation. Another technique, called cryo-therapy, is being used to clean-up material contaminated by bacteria.
• A detection kit has been developed to detect HLB for use by the general public, $1.50 per sample.

John Preece - Davis
Highlights of submitted report:
During the past three years, they have sent out the following to our domestic plus international clientele as cuttings, leaves, pollen, fruit, etc.: 2011, 11,535 items from 356 orders, and 2012, 10,726 items from 337 orders. 2013 (to date), 5,022 items from 521 orders, and for Summer 2013, 51 orders are pending. For 2014, there are already 433 new orders.

• The switch to all online orders has helped increased requests.
• David Ramming is retiring. He helped develop 38 peach cultivars.
• The entire peach collection is being re-propagated. Virus-indexed peach rootstock is being donated. Next year apricot rootstock will be donated.
• The fig collection is being propagated, providing tasting for ~150 people.
• Malli Aradhya and Craig Ledbetter collected cuttings and seeds of fruit and nut species in Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan during July-August, 2012. Sixty-eight accessions were added to the collections.
• Grants focused on the collections at the NCGR-Davis: Almond Board, $41,000 (Almond Rootstock Development, 2012-2013); NIFA-SCRI, $1.1 million (Walnut Rootstock Development, 2013-2014); CDFA-SCRI, $129,000 (Olive Knot Evaluation, 2013-2014); California Fig Institute, $7,000 (Fig Cultivar Trial, 2013).
• Research: 1) increased disease resistance in almond, 2) NIFA-SCRI grant focused on walnut genetics and disease resistance, 3) CDFA-SCRI to propagate the entire olive collection and screen for disease resistance, and 4) Evaluate the fig collection for new cultivars, ultimately to expand the fig cultivars used by industry.

2012 Minutes - approved
Discussion occurred related to the 2012 minutes. Washington was removed from states without representation, and Carol Miles (WA) added under members absent. The spelling of John Preeces name was corrected. Start report was corrected to state report. Under Washingtons state report: Carol Miles was listed as absent, and submitted a written report, while Dave Stout made a brief presentation. Ian Ray moved to accept the 2012 minutes, Joe Kuhl seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

State Reports

California - Dan Parfitt
(See state report for more detailed information)

• Requests have been relatively flat since 2009, around 400.
• Responses were also similar to previous years, about 18 to 20%, ~12% email addresses bounce back.
• Seven publications in 2012 are listed.
• UC-Davis update, Plant Science department merge, 5 new FTE including director of the plant breeding center. It was noted that industry is concerned about the training of plant breeders in the U.S.
• Annual reports from the UC Davis Seed Biotechnology program may be accessed online.
• Support for grape and nut collections is strong. Stonefruit research has limited support and funding. Major interest in nuts is focused on walnut, almond and pistachio.

Colorado - Mark Brick
(See state report for more detailed information)

• Written report has not yet been submitted, in progress.
• Number of accession requested in Colorado is down from 2011, continuing a trend from 2010.
• Cargill made major requests for wheat accessions. Biofuels represent a significant reason for requests.

Idaho - Joe Kuhl
(See state report for more detailed information)

• In 2012, 4,221 accessions representing 33 genera and 81 species/subspecies were requested in Idaho from the National Plant Germplasm System. This is a decrease in number of accessions from 2011 (6,404), but a significant increase in the number of species requested, with 22 species requested in 2011.
• The major user groups in 2012 were ARS scientists (all based in Aberdeen, Idaho) (74% of total accessions) and University of Idaho scientists (15% of total accessions), accounting for over ~89% of the total accessions requested. The remaining accessions were requested by companies and private individuals.
• Four articles were published in 2012 utilizing germplasm from NPGS.

Montana - Jack Martin
(See state report for more detailed information)

• Montana received 462 germplasm accessions during 2012. Of those accessions 384 (75%) were Triticum species. Of the seventeen individuals receiving germplasm in 2012, eight were associated with Montana State University, one with University of Montana, three were from commercial businesses or non-profit organizations, and five were private individuals.
• Luther Talbert and Nancy Blake MSU-Bozeman as received 191 Triticum aestivum (bread wheat) and 154 Triticum turgidum (durum wheat) accessions as part of the multi-state TCAP project. The TCAP project has an extensive system for reporting both phenotypic and molecular data into the germplasm system.
• Mike Giroux, MSU Bozeman, received 2 Zea Mays accessions and 1 Oriza sativa accession. The rice accession was requested to determine whether that variety (Kitaake) would grow better under greenhouse conditions than the variety currently being transformed, Nipponbare. Kitaake actually looks a bit worse than Nipponbare.
• Norm Weeden, MSU-Bozeman received 1 Pisum sativum accession (JI 2739). The genotype was requested in order to do complementation tests on a dehiscent pod mutation that showed up in his work. Unfortunately, he did not see any evidence for the mutation in JI 2739 when it was grown out.
• Five articles were published in 2012 utilizing germplasm from NPGS.

New Mexico - Ian Ray
(See state report for more detailed information)

• Nineteen individuals from New Mexico placed 29 orders to request 595 accessions from the NPGS in 2012.
• Apples (82 Malus accessions requested) in New Mexico have been damaged by heavy frosts in recent years, causing interest in identifying frost tolerant varieties that grow well in New Mexico
• Peanuts (72 Arachis accessions requested) are being investigated for high oleic acid levels.
• It was observed that most people do not specify intended use when ordering germplasm and researchers dont follow-up when publications come out.

Oregon - Shawn Mehlenbacher
(See state report for more detailed information)

• A release notice for 'Dorris' hazelnut was published in HortScience. It has a very high level of resistance to eastern filbert blight (EFB) caused by Anisogramma anomala, and large kernels of excellent quality.
• Fluorescence microscopy tests on hazelnut over the past 15 years have identified the S-alleles in many cultivars.
• Potato accessions, identified as haploid inducers, will be incorporated into the OSU potato breeding program. The main aim is to incorporate haploid production and use of doubled haploids. Sagar Sathuvalli is the new potato breeder stationed in Hermiston, OR.
• Pat Hayes received two sets of accessions from the National Small Grains Collection in 2011: the World Core (~ 2,000) and the World Core winter subset (~400). Both were assessed as part of OSU's role in the USDA-NIFA Triticeae CAP project. He assessed the World Core in Corvallis for resistance to stripe rust and scald, plant height, and heading date.
• Aaron Liston used accessions of Fragaria were in ongoing phylogenetic analyses of the genus.
• Galen Williams is evaluating apple scion (Malus domestica) accessions for potential for hard cider production in the Willamette Valley and surrounding areas.
• Twelve articles were published in 2012 utilizing germplasm from NPGS. Carol Miles expressed interested in research on apple scions for use in hard cider production.

Utah - Kevin Jensen (absent)
Written report submitted but no presentation made.

Washington - Carol Miles
(See state report for more detailed information)

In 2012, 134 Washington State residents (73% were public and 27% were private) placed 254 requests and received 4,807 germplasm samples (492 taxa in the form of seeds and cuttings; 135 genera; 305 species and subspecies) from 16 NPGS repositories/stations.

Most samples requested were in the genus Triticum, followed by Zea, Solanum, Pisum, Malus, and Hordeum.

Feedback was provided by 41 (33%) recipients, and germplasm was used in diverse scientific disciplines such as agronomy, horticulture, genetics, botany, and plant pathology.

Several recipients noted that germplasm did not arrive in good condition:

• one case of PI miss-numbering
• one order of three envelopes leaked seeds
• several samples arrived too late for planting in 2012
• several reported problems of germination.

Four publications were reported.

Open Discussion

FY2014 Bugdet:
The W6 FY2014 budget was discussed. The proposed FY2014 would be the same as FY2012, $405,288. Some concern was expressed related to FY2013, and that a shortfall might occur. Shawn Mehlenbacher moved to endorse the FY2014 budget at $405,288, Jack Martin seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Dan Parfitt moved to endorse FY2015 at 2.5% increase over FY2014, and FY2016 2.5% increase over FY2015, while noting that FY2014 included no increase. The motion was not seconded and died.

Shwan Mehlenbacher moved to endorse FY2015 with a 2.5% increase and FY2016 with 2.5% increase, Dan Parfitt seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Packing list and use statements:
Mark Brick commented that he appreciated the text file sent by Dave Stout including information about individual orders. Dave Stout indicated that he might not be able to generate an identical file next year using GRIN-Global. However, the packing list should be available to send out. Access to the use statement is less certain.

Future Meeting Locations:
The 2014 meeting is to be held in Davis, CA. This was voted on and passed during the 2012 meeting in Corvallis. Joe Kuhl moved that the 2015 meeting be a teleconference based in Pullman, WA, and the 2016 meeting be a site visit in Pullman, WA. Shawn Mehlenbacher seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Officers:
Joe Kuhl nominated Carol Miles as secretary starting in 2014. Shawn and/or Dan seconded. Carol accepted the position.

Resolutions:
Resolution 1. The W-6 Technical Advisory Committee thanks Dr. Jinguo Ho, Gwen Pentecost and the staff of the USDA ARS WRPIS in Pullman WA for their efforts in organizing and hosting the W-6 teleconference/meeting for 2013.

Resolution 2. The W-6 Technical Advisory Committee thanks Dr. Robin Groose for his many years of service as a member and officer for the W-6 Regional Technical Advisory Committee.

Resolution 3. The W-6 Technical Advisory Committee thanks Dr. Molly Welch for her many years of service as curator of the Phaseolus collection at the WRIP, Pullman WA.

A motion (Dan Parfitt) was made and seconded (Shawn Mehlenbacher) to accept the resolutions as written.

The motion passed unanimously.

States without representation:
A brief discussion occurred that someone should solicit states that currently do not have representatives, i.e. AK, HI, WY and AZ (it was noted that this does not include NV).

Motion to adjourn:
Moved  Shawn Mehlenbacher
Seconded  Joe Kuhl>br> Passed unanimously

Meeting adjourned at 3:45 pm

This project manages a diverse collection of important agricultural crop genetic resources and related information. Plant breeders around the world are depending on available germplasm to contribute favorable genes to new varieties with increased productivity, which is critical for global food security for the expanding world population. Certain germplasm accessions also contain useful genes that enable crop plants to cope with adverse growing conditions, such as drought and heat that are resulting from climate change. Effort has continued in acquiring, characterizing and evaluating priority crop species and the resulting information has been uploaded to the GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) database, which the global user community can access via the Internet.

Short-term output:

• A Research Agronomist made good progress in improving the oil content and percentage of oleic fatty acids in winter hardy safflower to meet the need for the edible market. Segregating populations derived from crosses between high oil and high oleic acid lines and winter-type safflower germplasms were evaluated for cold tolerance under controlled conditions and in the field. This project will identify useful new sources of cold tolerant safflower germplasm with desired fatty acid profile.
• A Research Plant Pathologist surveyed fungi in seed of white lupine in multiple accessions at WRPIS for seed health. No major pathogens were detected, and overall results indicate seed is healthy, although fungi capable of causing damping off were detected. Some results comprise new fungus-host records.
• A researcher geneticist, in collaboration with Washington State University, conducted a preliminary study of examining the variation of L-DOPA concentration in the leaf and flower tissues of seven faba bean accessions with various flower colors. L-DOPA, a precursor of neural transmitter, is the major ingredient in medicines used to treat Parkinsons disease patients. A significant variation of L-DOPA concentration was observed in both flower and leaf tissues among the seven accessions studied. The accession with high L-DOPA concentration in the leaf and flower tissues is potentially useful for pharmaceutical purpose.
• WRPIS initiated a collaborative project to evaluate cool season grain legume germplasm under a non-funded collaborative agreement between US and China. WRPIS supplies available accessions and Chinese scientists evaluate the responses of these accessions to cold, heat, salinity and drought stresses at various research locations. In October 2012, our collaborators planted 1,294 pea and 286 faba bean accessions for winter survival in Qingdao, China. The resulting data will be entered into the NPGS GRIN (genetic resource information network) database, which is accessible to everyone in the global research community. We plan to expand the evaluation to other species like chickpea and lupine in the future.

Outputs:

• During 2012 calendar year, we distributed 29,345 packets of seed samples to requests from 53 foreign countries and all 50 domestic states. These seed samples are currently being used for research, breeding and education.
• During the year, the W006 station scientists published 20 research papers in peer-reviewed journals and made 22 oral or poster presentations at 20 international, national and regional conferences. W006 station scientists were active in serving the scientific community by reviewing research proposals submitted to funding agencies at national and regional levels, reviewing manuscripts for publication in national and international scientific journals, organizing workshops in international research conferences, and giving advice to researchers and growers. Staff members also participated in local career fairs and in outreach to local schools.
• We packed and stored 2,363 inventories of regenerated accessions and shipped 3,214 and 401 accessions to the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP), Fort Collins, CO and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Norway, respectively, for long-term security backup.

Activities:

• WRPIS temperate forage legume germplasm curator led a team of eight members and surveyed for the presence of the RRA (Roundup ready Alfalfa) transgene in roadside alfalfa in Fresno County, CA, May 19-25, 2012. They collected leaf samples from approximately 800 sites. Laboratory stripe test detected the presence of the RRA transgene in the leaf samples collected from over 100 sites. This confirmed the result from previous year.
• WRPIS curator and collaborators conducted a successful collection trip to Morocco and brought new useful wide beets germplasm to Pullman genebank.
• WRPIS staff uploaded 100,230 observation data points on 8,232 accessions into the GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) database, which is accessible by researchers worldwide via the internet. These data points are on 195 established descriptors of 21 different crop species.
• WRPIS and WSU co-organized the 4th NPGS Curators Workshop and the 2012 PGOC (Plant Germplasm Operations Committee) Meeting in Spokane in June. The event was a success and attracted 76 participants from over 20 plant germplasm management stations/repositories across the U.S. and four foreign countries.
• A graduate student in Logan UT is using the germplasm requested from Pullman for her thesis on the genetic diversity and evolutionary relationship among tall fescue and its wild relatives.
• Researches in Brigham Young University are using the W006 germplasm for an ongoing, NSF-funded, project in investigating the evolution of genes controlling floral development in the grasses.
• A research in Corvallis, OR is using the high-throughput DNA sequence technology to assess the genetic diversity of 58 Rhubarb accessions that were requested from Pullman.

Milestones:

• Develop and publish seed zones for the native rangeland species Indian ricegrass and Bluebunch wheatgrass to guide germplasm collection and selection for restoration.
• Upload to the GRIN database after compiling into electronic format of hard-copy evaluation data collected by cooperators in 1993 of more than 1,000 safflower accessions on 19 descriptors.
• Identify to species by current taxonomic criteria of five North American isolates of multiple species of Pencillium series Corymbifera (agents of bulb rot of Allium and other bulb crops), plus bulb-rotting Penicillium species outside series Corymbifera and document host ranges of these isolates .
• Update the taxonomic identity and evaluate the wild Beta accessions collected in the Imperial Valley, CA in 2011.
• Publish DNA markers for breeding for high level of tolerance to Aphanomyces root rot, a devastating disease in pea.
• Key intermediate targets necessary for achieving and/or delivering the outputs of a project, within an agreed timeframe. Milestones are useful for managing complex projects. For example, a milestone for a biotechnology project might be "To reduce our genetic transformation procedures to practice by December 2004."
• Select winter type safflower lines in 2014 from F3 families with improved oil content and high oleic acid needed for commercialization.
• Develop and publish DNA markers linked to the gene confirming resistant to Fusarium wilt race 1 of pea.
• Upload seed images of 2,216 safflower accessions to the GRIN database.

Indicators:

• We added 2,723 new accessions to our collection. These include 1,942 accessions of native species from our collaboration with the U.S. national native seed collection program, Seed of Success (SOS). SOS began with a directive from congress to the Bureau of Land Management (BIM) to establish a long-term program to develop native plant materials for the restoration and rehabilitation of native plant communities on federally managed lands.
• WRPIS cool season food legume crop curator worked with collaborators in Australia and obtained 270 pea accessions that were collected in China recently. WRPIS horticultural crop curator collected wild beet species from Morocco and acquired lettuce accessions that were reported as resistant to aphids. These newly added accessions filled the gaps in our collection and enable us to better serve the research community by providing additional needed genetic resources.
• A Conservation Agronomist in Corvallis, OR requested clover germplasm from Pullman and is planning to perform an initial evaluation of clover accessions in a common garden study for developing a perennial cover crop in Oregon and California.
• A researcher in Sun city, CA wrote: Let me say also that without this resource, we would not have the opportunity for on farm plant breeding and research. We would simply be "stuck" using the typical hybrid, or unimproved OP varieties commonly found everywhere. But with GRIN, we can improve and adapt our plants to microclimates and ecology that exists solely on a particular farm. It is basically making us better farmers by making us better breeders.
• A researcher in San Juan Bautista, CA wrote: "We at Enza Zaden Research USA sincerely appreciate all of the efforts of the NPGS in collecting, maintaining, and distributing germplasm."
• A researcher in UC Berkeley wrote "Without having this resource, along with information on the germplasm available online, it would have been impossible to identify and secure the germplasm. I am thankful for this resource."

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