Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

1. Providing well-characterized, well-documented plant genetic resources facilitates the efforts of researchers devoted to addressing crop production issues in the face of evolving production threats, climate change, and increasing demands to meet feed, food, fiber, fuel needs (NCRPIS, Iowa).
2. Public health and well-being is supported by enhancing aesthetic attributes of plants that are used to beautify constructed Plant genetic resources are the raw material that permit development of new varieties of ornamental plants and that support the vibrancy of the multi-billion dollar floriculture and nursery industry. These resources must be available to breeders for improvement and incorporation into breeding programs (OPGC, OH).
3. Genome size and ploidy estimations of germplasm for important ornamentals provide useful information that can facilitate improvement of crops such as Phlox and Coreopsis (OPGC, Ohio).
4. Genomic variation in tomato germplasm, from wild ancestors to modern breeding accessions, was evaluated. Based on genetic diversity of more than 1,000 tomato accessions, variation strongly supports a two-step domestication process, occasional hybridization in the wild, and differentiation through human selection (Ohio). 
5. Genetic variation in the ability of sagebrush and willow plants to communicate to adjust their defenses against herbivores was Knowledge of how plants signal and communicate and coordinate their defenses can provide a powerful tool to shape resistance to specific environmental and pest conditions. Error management theory is explored as a means of understanding how plant defense systems impact natural selection (California).
6. Fruit flesh color in tetraploid sour cherry is an important market-driven trait in the USA. The dominant cultivar has brilliant red skin but clear/yellow flesh, whereas in Europe predominant cultivars have dark purple-red flesh.  Thirteen haplotypes with significant association for flesh color variation were distinguished based on genetic markers, and a marker was identified that uniquely identified the haplotype associated with the darkest purple-red flesh color; this provides a tool for to predict which individuals will have dark purple flesh  (Michigan).
7. Understanding the genetic basis of trait variation will lead to improvements in breeding efficiency and success. Using a wide array of germplasm, quantitative trait loci were identified for the following traits: cucumber - fruit size and length, resistance to Phytohthora; soybean - isoflavone content, seed sugar content; dry beans - canning quality and color retention; Petunia - flowering traits; potato – yield components (Michigan).
8. Seed application of gibberellic acid can overcome delayed growth resulting from delayed planting of winter wheat and rye under irrigation; this procedure is being recommended to and used by growers who benefit (Nebraska).
9. Alternative types of planting methods and seedling growing conditions on the establishment and seed yield of spring oilseed crops were evaluated is six growing environments of the U.S. central High Plains. Relative productivity of the spring oilseed species has shifted from canola to Camelina with warmer and dried growing conditions.  Adapted spring oilseed germplasm for this area must address cold tolerance for emergence, intensive water extraction to avoid water stress, heat tolerance during flowering, and increased harvest index and oil content (Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming).
10. Borage is an oilseed crop rich in gamma-linolenic acid utilized mostly in the pharmaceutical and nutritional industries. Borage has high value but low production volume, and its potential is limited by lack of defined best management practices.  Studies determined cardinal temperatures required for germination, the process of seed development from pollination to physiological maturity based on dry matter accumulation, seed moisture, seed germination, and changes in seed oil fatty acid composition throughout the growth period.  These findings will be used to develop best management practices (North Dakota). 
11. By including preceding cover crops into existing annual crop systems, input costs can be reduced and sustainability of energy/forage crops increased in the northern Great Plains. Biomass yield and quality of five annual energy/forage crops, following six leguminous and non-leguminous cover crop species were evaluated.  Results across years and environments showed all forage crops had greater biomass content and greater N content when preceded by a legume cover crop in the previous year (North Dakota).
12. As carbon assimilation is the fundamental basis of crop productivity, understanding natural genetic variation in carbon assimilation is important to develop germplasm with superior photosynthetic capacity. Genetic analysis and phenotypic characterization of photosynthetic capacity of diverse sorghum germplasm identified genes/markers associated with variation in leaf photosynthetic rate. These findings could be exploited in breeding programs to develop germplasm with superior carbon assimilation capacity (Iowa).
13. Miscanthus, a biomass crop, originated in Asia. In Japan, tetraploids, diploids, and hybrids of these can be found.   A study characterizing nearly 700 Miscanthus genotypes from Japan indicated that the tetraploids originated through autopolyploidy.  Introgressions from the diploid into the tetraploid forms were found in a gradient across Japan.  These results will help guide the selection of Miscanthus accessions for breeding of biomass cultivars (Illinois).
14. Miscanthus is a C4 photosynthetic crop and some selections have significant chilling tolerance. Hybridization with sugarcane indicated that some hybrids were as tolerant to chilling as M x giganteus ‘Illinois’, a highly tolerant selection.  The selections have particular value for biomass feedstocks and may serve a starting point for efforts to extend sugarcane’s range to colder climates (Illinois).
15. Plant responses to soybean cyst nematode HG type ‘O’ were evaluated for 282 representative soybean accessions from the university’s breeding program, and a genome-wide panel of markers was used to examine correlations of response with specific genetic loci. Genomic selection analyses resulted in better predictions for selection for resistance than did marker-assisted selection strategies. This demonstrates that association mapping can be effective for identifying genes of interest in diverse germplasm (Minnesota).
16. Soybean is a major source of protein and oil, and a biodiesel feedstock, but limited information is available regarding genetic mechanisms that control seed composition and oil content. Knowledge of differential expression of genes for these traits among soybean germplasm is important to improvement efficiency of cultivar development.
17. Improved understanding of the relationships between sweetness and ‘mouth feel’ in sweet corn, and the genetics underlying these traits support development of sweet corn varieties that meet consumer and processor criteria (Wisconsin).
18. Breeding with characterized gray leaf spot resistant germplasm sources and selection/screening in five different states has identified an inbred source of multiple disease resistance in corn.  This inbred shows good resistance to four fungal leaf diseases (gray leaf spot, northern leaf blight, rust, and anthracnose leaf blight), one bacterial leaf disease (Stewart’s wilt), and one fungal stalk rot (anthracnose stalk rot).  Screening in Florida showed it to be resistant to southern corn leaf blight and bacterial blight as well.
19. Screening of the USDA NAM population and the Goodman Diversity Panel in corn has revealed a number of loci affecting iron and zinc concentrations in corn kernels.
20. Use of shuttle breeding programs and winter nursery programs, between geographically distant researchers, can facilitate identification of sources of biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, thus enabling development of resistant new resistant Use of improved cultivars offer producers, processors, and communities increased profitability (all states).
21. Providing an array of educational resources to reach a broad array of public audiences enables researchers to communicate and address issues and concerns about plant breeding, development of crop varieties, the technologies used, their risks and benefits, and how these fit within the context of long-term crop selection/improvement and conservation This supports a more informed public discourse about genetically engineered crop varieties (all states).