Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the NE-1010 committee was hosted by committee member Michael Peel. The committee was welcomed to Logan, Utah by Jerry Chatterton, Research Leader of the USDA-ARS FRRL. Chatterton gave a brief overview of the Forage and Range Research Laboratory activities. Michael Peel gave an overview of the schedule of the meetings and introduced Joseph Robins, USDA-ARS Plant Geneticist at the FRRL. Meeting Site and Nominations Committee Report: Meeting site and nominations committee chair Arvid Boe reported the 2006 meeting will be in Madison, WI on September 18-20 and the 2007 meeting will be in Alberta, Canada. Surya Acharya was nominated and elected incoming secretary and Healthcliffe Riday was nominated and elected chair for 2006. The meeting adjourned at 11:00 AM, August 16, 2005. Collaborative Research Reports: 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. Alfalfa 1.1.1 Identification of traits useful for improving Medicago sativa ssp. falcata germplasm. Brummer IA-lead, AFCSF, NGPRL, SD, FRRL  Experiment is being finalized. Substantial variation was present in the germplasm including significant winter injury and survival at AFCSF. 1.1.2 Genetics and improvement of naturalized alfalfa (M. sativa subsp. falcata). Boe SD-lead, IA, FRRL  Experiment will be completed in 2006 and a publication will be written. The data measured include pod shape, flower color (over 30% of plants were pure yellow flowered), and biomass production. 1.1.3 Breeding for resistance to alfalfa snout beetle in alfalfa. Viands NY-lead, AFCSF, SD, IA. The third cycle of selection will be completed soon. Differences were observed among HS-families. Regional agronomic testing of the improved germplasm will be conducted in the future. 1.1.4 Developing alfalfa germplasm with potato leafhopper resistance from three diverse genetic sources. Viands NY-lead, IA, SD. Three germplasm sources of resistances including Peruvian, glandular trichromes, and M. falcata were evaluated for potato leafhopper resistance. Good tolerance was observed in the breeding materials and future research will include investigating the mechanisms of resistance. 1.1.5 Genetic mapping agronomic traits in alfalfa. Brummer, IA-lead, NY. Experiment is completed and the manuscripts have been submitted for publication. 1.1.6 Aluminum tolerance in tetraploid alfalfa. Acharya AFCL-lead, NY. Data collection this year showed large variability, which will make selection for aluminum tolerance difficult in 2006. Birdsfoot Trefoil 1.2 Rhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil for yield improvement. Brummer, IA-lead, AFCC, NY, SD. Evaluation and selection for rhizomes, winter hardiness, persistence, and forage traits is continuing. 1.3 Reed Canarygrass Collection and evaluation of naturalized reed canarygrass populations for biofuel and forage traits. Brummer, IA-Lead, SD, AFCSF, KY, AFCSK, NGPRL, USDFRC. Numerous collections are being evaluated at IA and USDFRC. Extensive variability has been observed for biomass production. Aggressiveness of this species may be an issue in its adoption for biofuel production. 1.4 Tall Fescue Interactions of nonstructural carbohydrates, seed yield, forage quality and yield components. Balasko, WV-lead, KY. Relationships between total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) concentration and forage and seed yield, quality, winter hardiness, and persistence are being investigated. Genetic variation and the relationship between TNC in inflorescence and seed yield have been documented. Clonal evaluation will continue and divergent populations will be selected. 1.5 Multiple Species 1.5.1 Selection for fiber digestibility and cell wall pectin. Viands, NY-lead, AFCSF, WI. In NY, selection for higher pectin concentration in alfalfa resulted in increased digestibility. Selection for changes in the fiber ratios was less successful. Simple selection for decreased NDF may be more cost and time effective and just as successful as pectin selection. At AFCSF, altering the fiber ratios in timothy stems was successful and produced no change in lignin content (ADL). 1.5.2 Grass-grass and grass-forb mixtures for long-term sustainable biomass production. Boe, SD-lead, IA, WV, PGRU, NY, MN. Due to high seed costs, many of the species proposed for this experiment will have seed produced in SD and MN. Trials should be planted in 2006 or 2007. Objective 2: Build on previous research to evaluate traditional 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: 2.1.1 Comparison of mass, S1, and S2 selection for forage yield: Two cycles of selection have been completed. Michaud, AFCSF-lead, NY. Seed is being produced for planting in replicated yield trials in 2006. Biomass data will be collected starting in 2007. 2.1.2 Clonal selection in multiple environments to improve forage yield. Viands, NY-lead, AFCSF, IA, AFCL. The first production year of the nursery measuring biomass, plant height and vigor will be completed in 2005 at NY and IA. Selection will begin in 2006 or after two years of data from all locations is available. 2.2 Orchardgrass: Clonal selection for broad adaptation: Phillips KY-lead, IA, AFCL, AFCSF, AFCSK, SD. Three source populations available (IA, KY, SK). During 2005-06, 200 plants will be clonally propagated to produce 9 ramets of each plant per location (3 ramets per replication and 3 replications per location). Ramets will be sent to each location for planting in spring 2006. 2.3 Red clover: 2.3.1 Selection for general adaptation in red clover: Papadopoulos, AFCC-lead, NY, AFCSF, AFCSK, KY, SD, IA, USDFRC. 1000 transplants were established at each location in 2005. Initial plant counts will be taken in Autumn 2005. Data collection will begin in 2006 with selections made after first growth and harvest in 2007. 2.3.2 Selection for persistence in red clover using half-sib families: Riday USDFRC-lead, IA, SD, AFCCH. Four locations planted in WI (USDFRC), two locations planted in IA and one location planted in SD and PEI. Initial stand counts will be taken autumn 2005. Additional data including height and biomass will be collected on the two plants in the center of each HS-family plot. 2.4 Legume/Grass Mixtures. Compatibility of legumes with various grasses. Brummer IA-lead, USDFRC, SD. Selection of Birdsfoot trefoil in monoculture or in mixtures with orchardgrass will be made in 2005 based on height, regrowth, and vigor. Fifty plants per population treatment combination per location to be selected and sent to IA for seed increase during winter 2005-2006. Half-sib seed from 150 parental plants per pop/treatment combo will be transplanted into the field in 2006 for evaluation of the selection protocol. 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: Evaluation of new selected M. sativa ssp. falcata populations: Brummer IA-lead, AFCSF, NGPRL, SD, USDFRC, FRRL, NY. Data collection will begin in 2005. Sward plots (SD, USDFRC, and IA), single row plots (AFCSF, NGPRL, SD, USDFRC, FRRL, NY, and IA) and grazing plots (USDFRC and IA) are being evaluated. Traits measured include yield, height, flower color, leaf hopper resistance, and stand. 3.3: Multiple species: Brummer IA-lead, NY, AFCSF, AFCC, PSWMRL, KY, SD, NGPRL, WI. Evaluation of cultivars and germplasms under grazing with the objective being the evaluation of new cultivars and advanced breeding materials.

Objective 1: (1) Useful traits have been identified in Medicago sativa ssp. falcata germplasm ; (2) Three cycles of selection for resistance to the alfalfa snout beetle has been completed and the germplasm will be tested in regional trials; (3) Alfalfa populations that contain three distinct sources of genetic resistance to potato leafhopper yellowing show good levels of tolerance; (4) the genetic mapping of agronomic traits in alfalfa is completed and the manuscripts have been submitted for publication; and (5) selection criteria were identified to increase digestibility by altering fiber digestibility and cell wall pectin while maintaining or increasing yield in timothy and alfalfa. Objective 2: (1) Two cycles of selection comparing effectiveness of mass, S1, and S2 selection were completed in alfalfa and seed is being produced to evaluate the selection methods; (2) additional studies have been initiated using clonal selection for improving forage yield in alfalfa and general adaptation in orchardgrass; (3) new experiments to select for general adaptation and persistence in red clover were initiated; and (4) selection for compatibility of birdsfoot trefoil with and without orchardgrass was completed in 2005. Evaluation of the selection program will begin in 2006. Objective 3: (1) Evaluation of new, selected M. sativa ssp. falcata from previous evaluations (NE 144) for forage yield, growth habit, regrowth potential, and potato leafhopper resistance at numerous locations as single row plots, sward plots, and grazing plots; and (2) numerous evaluations of cultivars, germplasms, and advanced breeding materials is being evaluated under grazing or in forage plots at numerous locations.

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