Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Meeting minutes, regional reports and genebank reports can be found in this PDF file at this link:

http://www.ars-grin.gov/nr6/tac/NRSP6_TAC_MINUTES_2016_FINAL_PACKAGE.pdf

A.  Acquisitions and associated work

In 2015, we collected 17 germplasm accessions from Arizona, with the support of K. Williams of the USDA Plant Exploration office at Beltsville.  Local cooperators joined the Sturgeon Bay team this year.  In particular, we began a research collaboration with Utah colleagues seeking to collect for genetic evidence that ancient Native Americans moved potatoes.  We found robust populations in places never previously reported:  Near the Grand Canyon for S. jamesii, and at the northwest limit of the range along the Mogollon Rim for S. fendleri.  A detailed trip report is available on request and on GRIN.  We also sought and received 3 new clones of adapted breeding stocks from cooperators (LUMPERS, CIKLAMEN and RH89-039-16).

New collecting partner, anthropologist Lisbeth Louderback, joined genebank collectors John Bamberg, Alfonso del Rio, Charles Fernandez and Ingrid Bamberg at a S. jamesii site near the Grand Canyon, Sept 18, 2015.

Two manuscripts were prepared describing the accumulation of genetic diversity resulting from 25 years of intensive collecting in the southwest USA, and the composition of core collections of these species, including the discovery of a "mega population"-- a single location that contains most of the total genetic diversity known in the region.

The NRSP-6 web page (http://www.ars-grin.gov/nr6) was updated to include all new stocks and screening information.  Clients who have ordered from NRSP-6 within the past four years were contacted three times in 2015, informing them of new stocks of true seed, tubers, in vitro plantlets, or other samples.  We used email and the website to extend technical instructions of various types.

B.  Classification

Dr. Spooner continued work on monographs that will fully document the taxonomic reduction of the genebank's holdings to about 100 species.   Taxonomic status was assessed on all stocks grown.  This year we started planning a project to grow a sprig from each accession for a color scan to attach to the GRIN record.  A tentative plan to move the PTIS herbarium to UW-Madison has also been made.

C.  Preservation and Evaluation.

About 4,000 individual field plots, greenhouse and screenhouse growouts were done locally and at the HARS research farm at Hancock, WI. 

1.  Propagation:  In 2015, 231 accessions were increased as botanical seed populations and 2928 clonally (based on 976 in vitro clones being transferred three times each).

2.  Germplasm health monitoring:  We did 756 PSTV tests, 380 PVX tests, and had Agdia test 105 clones for the six common potato viruses. 

3.  Characterization:  We did 1532 germination tests, 26 ploidy evaluations and 33 tetrazolium seed viability assays.  We demonstrated that some seedlots that have very low germination by conventional methods are actually highly viable if germination is nursed in vitro.

4.  Evaluation and Technology: 

Hybrid technology:  With Kemin (IA) cooperators, we created exotic hybrids only possible by embryo culture, and tested novel interspecific families with the ability to self, thereby making populations with full segregation for detecting QTLs for marker-assisted selection mapping.

Peru connection:  With Peru cooperator J. Arcos and J. Palta of UW, made crosses of various elites for wart, drought, frost, late blight, tuber calcium for Puno, a major center of potato production and breeding in Peru.  Puno is also a place with widespread and regular production challenges (especially frost).

Heat stress:  With ARS cooperators in Parlier, CA, re-screened 2014 selected tolerant clones.

Egg-yolk specialty potatoes:  With cooperators Curzio C. of Seed Savers, D. & I. Douglass and L. Zotarelli of UF, K. Haynes of ARS Beltsville, R. Lozano UMN, D. Holm of CSU, and T. Wagner of WA, replicated field grow-out of all orange flesh Criolla cultivar prospects we and others selected; continued field evaluation of elites, taste tests, recurrent selection.  Although not the classic Colombian form, a red skinned Criolla might have particular appeal in the USA, and Peruvians also consider this combination attractive.

Protein:  With Simplot cooperator initiated high protein screening project.

Genotyping genebank holdings:  With Frito Lay initiated GBS of 700 cultivars and breeding stocks and prepared materials for joint work on tuber calcium.  With Chinese cooperator initiated GBS of most of the genebank wild species accessions.  With MSU and CIP cooperators initiated SNP genotyping of most genebank named cultivars.  This promises to be a tremendous tool to show us hot spots of genetic diversity (core collections), which should lead to more efficient collecting, preservation, and evaluation of germplasm.

Core collections and other intra-specific groupings:  With MSU cooperator screened all species S. demissum pops for late blight and started AFLP characterization.  Started screening species S. cardiophyllum, ehrenbergii, commersonii for tuber traits and DNA markers. With ARS cooperator in WA, wrote paper on power of intuitive visual classification to predict groups within species with similar traits.

Folate and Nematode:  With Oregon State cooperators continued evaluation and selection projects for folate improvement and resistance for Colombia Root Knot Nematode.

Remote grow-outs:  With UC Davis, conducted remote winter greenhouse tuber grow-out to expand our capacity by using a location that requires less fuel to heat.  With potato grower in Hawaii, started winter grow-out tests for advance field evaluation of new (wild x cultivated) species hybrids.

Tuber freezing resistance:  Discovered first reported significant tuber freezing survival.  If we can dissect the physiology and apply it to other germplasm, it might lead to an efficient long-term germplasm storage tool.

Field tuber adaptation:  We discovered how to make large field tubers of jamesii and related species which typically have only marble-sized tubers, or none at all in Wisconsin fields.  This should allow screening for tuber traits that has previously been possible only in labor and resource-intensive winter greenhouse pot propagation.

Zebra chip:  With USDA/WA cooperator made hybrids between bulbocastanum clones which were found last year to be highly resistant to psyllids and evaluated all verrucosum pops (more breeding friendly), finding two very resistant.

Wart:  With Canadian cooperator A. Murphy, tested new S. ajanhuiri hybrids in NL.

Using S. jamesii:  With collaboration of A. Yermishin of Minsk, crossed all available germplasm of S. verrucosum with S. jamesii, identifying best bridge-species mothers and obtaining the first 6 true jamesii hybrids confirmed by SNP analysis in cooperation with D. Douches at MSU.

Potato beer.  Explored feasibility, achieving high quality product.  Began investigation of enhanced nutritional qualities, economic impact, characteristics of optimal germplasm.  Potato beer has exceptional flavor and smoothness.  Beer is a major food outlet in the US.  If potato captured some of that market, we would make a significant impact on sub-optimal potassium intake (for example).  With the juice of one potato per bottle, exclusive potato beer consumption in the US would require the entire annual potato crop.

D.  Distribution

Distribution of germplasm is at the heart of our service.  In 2015, distributions were typical:  211 domestic orders to clients in 34 states (10,789 units) and 13 foreign orders to 10 other countries (412 units).  About 1/3 of the domestic orders are for breeding and genetics, 1/3 for home gardeners, and remainder 1/3 for pathology, physiology, entomology, taxonomy and education.

In 2015 we maintained the popular offering of 100 cultivars as tubers by devising and implementing an iron-clad disease control and quarantine program for their production (full details available at our website).  We now only offer tubers of wild species by special order.

E.  Outreach

Trip to Peru in March solidified program for cooperative activities in Puno.  Met with FAS, INIA, CIP, and NGOs who are interested in participating in comprehensive germplasm evaluation and development on the Altiplano.

Hosted NRSP-6 TAC meeting.  Chaired Potato CGC and AJPR Editorial Board meetings.

Volunteered presentations with published abstracts: Four at PAA in Portland, ME plus one at PAG in San Diego.  Invited presentation with published abstract:  Society for In Vitro Biology conference on June 3 in Tucson.  Accepted full paper in In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology – Plants with M. Martin (UW), J. Abad (APHIS), M. Jenderek and J. Tanner (ARS, CO), D. Donnelly (McGill, Canada), AMK Nassar (Egypt), R. Veilleux (Virginia PI), R. Novy (ARS ID).

Badger Common'Tater feature story on the Genebank 67(11) p. 20-25.

Hired and managed three undergrad students as summer interns with research projects.

Maintained all US potato germplasm records in GRIN.

All germplasm documentation, and details about technology, outreach, and staff publications is available at our website:  http://www.ars-grin.gov/nr6/.

Bamberg, J., Moehninsi, R. Navarre, and J. Suriano. 2015. Variation for Tuber Greening in the Diploid Wild Potato Solanum microdontum. American Journal of Potato Research 92:435-443.

Hardigan, M., J Bamberg, C Robin Buell and D Douches. 2015. Taxonomy and genetic differentiation among wild and cultivated germplasm of Solanum sect. Petota. The Plant Genome. 8:1:16.

Bamerg, JB, J Suriano, A del Rio, WR Cooper, J Abad and C.Fernandez. 2014. Matryoshka: A New Floral Mutant in Potato. American Journal of Potato Research: 91:500-503.

Bamberg, JB, A del Rio, D Douches, and J Coombs. 2014. Assessing SNPs for predicting heterogeneity and screening efficiency in wild potato species. American Journal of Potato Research (submitted 08/20/14).

Cooper, WR and JB Bamberg. 2014. Variation in Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae) oviposition, survival, and development on Solanum bulbocastanum germplasm. American Journal of Potato Research 91:532-537.

Zorrilla, C, F Navarro, S Vega, JB Bamberg and JP Palta. 2014. Identification and Selection for Tuber Calcium, Internal Quality and Pitted Scab in Segregating Atlantic x Superior reciprocal tetraploid populations. American Journal of Potato Research 91:673-687.

Bethke, P, N Atef, S Kubow, Y Leclerc, X Li, M Haroon, T Molen, JB Bamberg, M Martin and D Donnelly. 2014. History and Origin of Russet Burbank (Netted Gem) a sport of Russet Burbank. American Journal of Potato Research 91:579-593.

Bamberg, JB. and AH del Rio. 2014. Selection and Validation of an AFLP Marker Core Collection for the Wild Potato Solanum microdontum. American Journal of Potato Research 91:368-375