Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Meeting was called to order (8:25 a.m.) by Chair Ian Ray. The agenda was introduced, with no changes discussed. Carol Miles moved to approve the agenda; Charlie Brummer seconded; the motion passed unanimously. 

Scot Hulbert (W6 Administrative Advisor) - report, remarks and budget

The next 5-year budget is due January 15, 2021. WRPIS also needs to hire a new Research Leader to replace Jinguo Hu. Washington State University (WSU) is currently operating under COVID-19 operating restrictions (Stage 2). WSU will suffer budget cuts due to COVID-19 budgetary loses, some loses will be permanent. A new USDA-funded building being built will overlap with Johnson Hall. It may be necessary to remove Johnson Hall during construction, which means ~3 years people may be displaced, impacting USDA, ARS personnel located in Johnson Hall. We are in the last year of the current 5-year plan. It was noted that it would be difficult to increase the budget for the next 5-year plan. The 5-year plan in this case is the regional multi-state plan, as opposed the ARS 5-year plan. Brian Irish will help write the multi-state 5-year plan. Scot Hulbert approved the budget as shown. The W6 state representatives will discuss budget in more detail later in the meeting.

For the complete Site and State reports, paste the following URL into your browser:  https://www.nimss.org/projects/attachment/18196

Peter Bretting (ARS National Program Office) – NPGS Update

Peter Bretting presented slides titled: The National Plant Germplasm System: 2020 Status, Prospects, and Challenges. NPGS accessions have increased over the last several years. NPGS distributes ~250,000 accessions per year. Land grant universities are the largest user of germplasm with an overall 2/3 public, 1/3 private usage. Due to COVID-19 all international shipments have stopped, for fear of delivery failure. USDA-ARS lowest budget was 2013, and 2019 saw a significant increase and 2020 a minor increase. Challenges faced by NPGS include increased distributions with decreasing purchasing power. In the next few years 1/3 of germplasm managers will likely retire. Coursework designed by Gayle Volk and Patrick Byrne will help train replacement managers. Budgetary increases were seen in FY 2019 for coffee genetic resources ($1.9 million), citrus genetic resources ($1 million), and industrial hemp genetic resources ($500,000). Development of an NPGS video was led by Barbara Hellier of NPGS operations https://youtu.be/uHOclGNELuw. 

Robert Matteri (Area Director, PWA Area Office) – PWA Update

Pacific West Area (PWA) includes eight states with ARS laboratories (Alaska is also included but, does not have an ARS location), a total of 20 locations with 375 Ph.D. scientists. The PWA budget has increased the last few years to ~$184 million, with~$29.5 million soft funds (16.6% of base). There are 7 germplasm sites in the PWA. The Consolidated Appropriations Act – FY2019 identified funds for coffee germplasm and citrus germplasm. The Senate Markup – FY2020 stipulated $1 million for blueberry breeding and $1 million for cranberry research. 

George Vademark (Acting Research Leader) – PGITRU/WRPIS Update

George Vandemark is normally the Research Leader for legumes in Pullman, however now he is also Acting Research Leader for this Unit. Current vacancies include a Plant Pathologist to replace Frank Dugan, which is soon to be posted. Three additional vacancies include the Research Leader position, formally held by Jinguo Hu, and two Curator positions formally held by Vicki Bradley and Ted Kisha. Priorities for W6 include 1) replacement of dehumidifier for the cold storage room, 2) a generator at the Central Ferry location and 3) resolving transportation issue to Central Ferry during the COVID pandemic. 

2019 TAC meeting minutes, discussion and approval

It was pointed out that no one from NIFA was participating in this year’s meeting due to lack of personnel and logistics of NIFA’s move to Kansas City. Brian Irish provided an update on alfalfa regeneration in Prosser, WA. Concerns have existed with the presence of GM alfalfa in fields surrounding Prosser. Sentinel plots (caged and open) are being used monitor possible gene flow with no evidence of this occurring in any covered cages. In 2020, sentinel plots have been placed in Central Ferry to monitor potential GE gene flow there, as this might be an alternative GE-free site for alfalfa regeneration. 

Carol Miles motioned to approve the 2019 minutes as is, Charlie Brummer seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved. 

Business meeting: ARS Site reports

NGRL, Beltsville, MD – Gary Kinard

Quinn Sinnott retired in August 2019 after more than 30 years of service as the GRIN Database Administrator. New IT Specialist, Benjamin Haag, who started in April 2019 and benefitted from overlapping with Quinn. There are four positions currently vacant in NGRL, including a Botanist position in the Plant Exchange Office (PEO). Most, if not all, of these positions will be filled in 2020. The deadline for submitting proposals to the Plant Exploration and Exchange Program in FY 2021 is July 24, 2020. The NGRL anticipates releasing a new version of the GRIN-Global public website in June or July 2020. 

WRPIS, Pullman, WA – Brian Irish

Presented an organizational chart showing currently four vacancies at the SY level including RL position. Pointed out that the W6 funds support 6 full-time employees (full crew - currently). Important to recognize WRPIS’s Curator, Dr. Clare Coyne, for her selection and honor of becoming a Fellow of the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA). The trend shows an increasing number of accessions (since 2010) at WRPIS with a number oscillating at about 100,000 accessions in the past few years. The number of germplasm distributions over the past ten years has shown a steady increase in the number of order items. Infrastructure additions this year include a refrigerated shipping container located on the grounds of the Central Ferry research farm. Saber Glass, Pullman FFM, has been working closely with WSU administration on securing additional land lost to the airport expansion a few years ago. It should be noted that a large dehumidifier that helps regulate seed storage conditions in Pullman is will need to be replaced soon (at a cost of $3-400,000). In 2019 a project to re-clad and update infrastructure of one of two screenhouses was undertaken and completed in early 2020 with a crop of peas growing in it currently. 

NSGC, Aberdeen, ID – Harold Bockelman

The National Small Grains Collection (NSGC) presently holds 147,996 accessions of the small grains collection (wheat, barley, oat, rye, triticale, rice, and related wild species), an increase of 102 in the past year. This number includes more than 10,000 accessions of mapping populations with GSHO (Genetic Stock – Hordeum) and GSTR (Genetic Stock – Triticum) numbers, which will not be maintained for perpetuity. NSGC distributed 27,500 accession samples in 594 separate requests in the past 12 months. Site continues efforts to capture voucher images of spikes, panicles, and seeds. Evaluations of NSGC wheat landrace accessions are continuing for reaction to the Ug99 stem rust race in Kenya. We continue to coordinate the assembly of the Stem Rust Nursery in Kenya in cooperation with the Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization, CIMMYT, and wheat and barley breeders in public and private programs throughout the U.S. 

NCGR, Corvallis, OR – Kim Hummer

3,007 active accessions, 73 genera and 799 taxa of 683 species of temperate fruit, nut, and specialty crops were conserved. Obtained 272 new accessions and 546 new inventory items in CY 2019. Shipped 6,605 items. Collaborated with staff of NCGR-Davis to backup genetic resources of hazelnuts in Parlier, and butternuts and kiwifruit in Corvallis, Oregon. Determined a Rubus phylogeny using target capture sequencing. Detected Black currant reversion virus infection in black currant (Ribes nigrum) collection; worked with APHIS to develop a national response plan for this disease. Used interstem grafts to evaluate pear germplasm for dwarfing potential. Correlated pear mother tree architecture traits with dwarfing potential. Analyzed genetic diversity and population structure of American wild southeastern blueberry germplasm in the NCGR collection- Identified true-to-type Florida-4B using parentage analysis and provided evidence of its hybrid status (V. darrowii and V. fuscatum). Demonstrated the diagnostic potential of a current marker for Phytophthora crown rot in the University of Florida breeding program but not in other diverse germplasm preserved at the NCGR. 

NCGR, Davis, CA – John Preece

Limited land space makes it difficult to add to the collections. During the winter of 2019/2020, about 90 Prunus seedlings were received from APHIS quarantine and planted in the field at Wolfskill. NALPGRU distributions are in the form of seed, green cuttings/propagules, tissue or rooted plants depending on the crop and the nature of the request and are filled and shipped year-round. Overall distributions decreased after 2015 due to a change in policy regarding non-research requests but are beginning to increase again slightly (Fig. 1). In FY 2019, 79% of orders were sent to domestic cooperators (Fig. 2), and these were sent mainly to universities (Fig. 3). 

NLGRP, Ft. Collins, CO – Gayle Volk

Two management units were combined into one unit titled Agricultural Genetic Resources Preservation Research Unit, with two sections: Plants (seed, clonal, microbe) and National Animal Germplasm Program. Five scientists work for the Plants Unit, while two scientists work for the Animal Unit. 81% of NPGS Seed collections are backed-up at NLGRP. 76% of Pullman (W6) germplasm is backed-up at NLGRP. Seeds of Success (SOS) is 94% backed-up at NLGRP. NLGRP and W6 are cleaning up passport data for the Seeds of Success data in GRIN with the help of Can Carver (W6), located in Fort Collins. Some NLGRP clonal collaborations in the western region include: Riverside, citrus shoot tips and date palm pollen; Davis, Prunus pollen, grape and mulberry shoots tips; Corvallis, mint and strawberry shoots tips; Hilo, starting breadfruit and coffee cryopreservation research. A training program in plant genetic resources management and use has been established with funding from a NIFA higher Education Challenge Program Grant: CSU, USDA, and ISU (Gayle Volk and Pat Byrne). Training materials will be freely available through new site associated with GRIN-Global. 

TPGRD, Hilo, HI – Carol Mayo-Riley/Ryan Domingo

Hilo repository maintains 14 designated clonal germplasm collections with 1,200 accessions representing 61 genera and 145 species in 38 acres of fields, greenhouses and a tissue culture laboratory. Coffee is the latest addition to our designated germplasm crop. Fifty-seven requests for 381 items were filled. Experiments have been conducted to optimize the source of explant material and final size of explant to obtain PMWV-free pineapple explants. Papaya seeds were distributed to University of Florida for cooperative field trial. In addition, papaya accessions were provided for breeding cold tolerant papaya and development of a blemish free commercial papaya tolerant to Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV). Foreign distributions included: guava seeds of three accessions sent to Malawi, Bvumbwe Agricultural Research Station for field trials. Backup of the cacao and avocado collection continues; all avocado introductions received by the repository in Hilo were tested and found to be free of Laurel Wilt (Raffaelea lauricola) and Sun Blotch Viroid. Thus far, a total of 8 accessions of papaya and 6 accessions of breadfruit were sent to Ft. Collins to develop cryopreservation protocols. Coffee and cacao Crop Germplasm Committee (CGC) is being established through the Office of National Programs. 

NCGRCD, Riverside, CA, Marylou Polek

Prior to 2008, international distributions typically accounted for approximately 2/3 of distributions. Since that time, the pattern has reversed and approximately 2/3 of distributions are now domestic. This shift is due to the large increase in Citrus huanglongbing (HLB) and stearoyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) research in the United States. Furthermore, there has been a significant increase in seed requests for HLB and ACP-associated research projects. Researchers conducting cultivar improvement using molecular technologies such as CRISPR, require seed embryos. Most international distributions are also for clean source budwood, as NCGRCD supports clean stock programs in countries that do not have a sanitization program. Distributions of nucleic acid are becoming more common, especially as restrictions on movement of citrus leaf tissue have increased; CY 2019 saw the largest distribution of nucleic acid in the history of the unit. In CY 2019, date palm germplasm distributions consisted of sending pollen from 14 accessions to Gayle Volk, USDA-ARS NLGRP for cryopreservation research. In May 2019, the NCGRCD was appropriated a permanent budget augmentation of $700,000. 

General Discussion:

Ian Ray thanked Gayle Volk and Pat Byrne for their initiative to train the next generation of germplasm managers. Also, during the general discussion, Scot Hulbert was asked to comment on the Multistate Research Fund (MRF) portion of the budget. The committee supported Scot Hulbert’s earlier recommendation that the 2021 budget be approved as shown. Given that FY2021 is the last year of the current 5-year multistate plan, a new 5-year plan and budget will need to be submitted by January 15, 2021. Note: a new proposed FY2021-2025 plan/budget will have been submitted for consideration of continued support and be available at the time of this meeting next year. In this regard, Brian Irish, Ian Ray, and Scot Hulbert will work towards leading this new writing plan/budget effort which will be forwarded to the committee for review and comment prior to the January 15, 2021 deadline. 

Business meeting: State reports.

For the complete Sites and State reports, past the following URL into your browser: https://www.nimss.org/projects/attachment/18196

California, Charles Brummer

The California state report was moved to general discussion. See below. 

Colorado, Patrick Byrne

A total of 2,475 germplasm accessions was delivered in Colorado in 2019, constituting 126 orders to 52 unique addressees. Orders were shipped from the following 14 locations in 2019: COR, DAV, GEN, GSOR, MAY, MIA, NC7, NE9, NR6, NSGC, OPGC, S9, SOY, and W6. When broken down by recipient institution, by far the largest recipient was USDA’s National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation (NLGRP) in Fort Collins, accounting for 55% of accessions shipped. Other federal agencies received 6% of the accessions. Universities received 22.7% of the germplasm, consisting of two large shipments to the University of Colorado and many small shipments to Colorado State University. Companies accounted for 12.2% of accessions, led by Cargill, which develops canola varieties at its Fort Collins location. Pat Byrne of Colorado State University received seed of maize, teosinte, and sunflower accessions to use in virtual and in-person tours of field plots demonstrating plant breeding principles. 

Idaho, Joe Kuhl

In 2019, 1,385 accessions were requested in Idaho from the National Plant Germplasm System. A total of 79 orders were placed from Idaho in 2019. The major user groups (assessed by the number of accessions requested) in 2019 were once again USDA scientists (primarily based in Aberdeen, Idaho) accounting for 40% of total accessions, while University of Idaho and private entities accounted for 35% and 25% of total accessions, respectively. The number of orders placed in 2019 by private, University and governmental entities was 40, 19, and 20, very similar to 2018 when 31, 14 and 18 orders were placed, respectively. Overall, USDA-ARS Aberdeen Plant Pathologist, Gordon Tyler, placed the largest request(s) with seven orders totaling 541 accessions, primarily for cereal rust and bunt research. Of the 1,385 accessions requested, there were 32 genera and 62 species. 

Montana, Michael Giroux

Twenty-three recipients received a total of 633 plant germplasm accessions in Montana during the last year. The biggest users were Montana State University wheat and pulse breeding programs. The biggest use by far was for varietal development. Germplasm user type included, MSU 10 Varietal development, Private company 7 Varietal development/ direct use for production, USDA 3 Host for insect biocontrol agents/varietal development and homeowner 3 Fruit and clover production. 

Nevada, Melinda Yerka

Thirteen (10 in 2017, 15 in 2018) individuals from Nevada placed 30 orders (17 in 2017, 39 in 2018) and received 193 accessions from the NPGS in 2019. Researchers at UNR continue to be the primary institutional users (96 accessions of 193). 

New Mexico, Ian Ray

Twenty individuals from New Mexico placed 35 orders and received 371 accessions from the NPGS in 2019. New Mexico State University was the largest user of this germplasm (55% of accessions), followed by the general public (42% of accessions), and the University of New Mexico (3% of accessions). Forty percent of these materials were utilized for research related to agronomy, bioremediation, botany, genetics, physiology, plant pathology, and taxonomy, while 33% were used for educational and demonstration programs, 11% for variety development, and 16% did not specify intended use of the germplasm. Ray, Ian and Kaur, Harpreet of New Mexico State University, received 10 Medicago/alfalfa accessions for use as standard checks to determine fall dormancy response and resistance to Fusarium wilt for advanced breeding lines. Another 79 diploid alfalfa accessions were received and are being evaluated for biomass productivity relative to commercial tetraploid varieties. 

Oregon, Shawn Mehlenbacher

Oregonians continue to use the NPGS system extensively. Users include state and federal researchers as well as private seed companies and private individuals. Oregon is a major user in the western region, along with California and Washington.  Shawn A. Mehlenbacher, of the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR uses germplasm for new sources of eastern filbert blight (EFB resistance continue to be investigated. Resistant accessions are crossed with susceptible selections, and the resulting seedlings exposed to EFB under a structure topped with diseased branches. 

Utah, Kevin Jensen

Utah state in 2019 had 12 NPGS orders requested by the University personnel and 16 private orders. Germplasm Activities for Nate Abbott - Order # 312542, 312543, 312545 (wide variety of Begionia species) which is being used for public education, demonstrations at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium a nonprofit aquarium in Draper Utah. 

Washington, Carol Miles

In 2019, 128 Washington State residents requested a total of 9,146 germplasm samples from 12 National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) repositories or stations and received germplasm in 234 orders. Recipients were with universities, USDA (17), private research groups (6), commercial firms, seed companies and nurseries (24), and non-profit organizations (5), as well as 31 private individuals. Most requested materials were Pisum (1,429), Spinacia (963), Triticum (798), Medicago (640), Lactuca (521), Citrullus (477), and Solanum (471). The germplasm material was used in diverse scientific disciplines such as agronomy, anthropology, archaeology, botany, genetics, horticulture, plant pathology, entomology, and soil science, and contributed significantly to scholastic and economic activity in the State of Washington. 

Alaska, Dan Barney

Eleven individuals from Alaska placed 15 orders and received 120 accessions from the NPGS in 2019. In general, these materials were utilized for varietal evaluations and varietal development with a focus on cold hardiness and adaptability to Southcentral Alaska in the Anchorage, Matanuska-Susitna Valley, and Kenai Peninsula areas and Interior Alaska in the Fairbanks area. 

Hawaii, Ahmad Amjad

In 2019, 303 items were sent to 15 recipients in Hawaii. There was a 100% satisfaction in the packaging and germination of the received germplasms. Most of the germplasm received were ordered for research purposes to increase diversity and evaluate suitability to Hawaii’s condition. In general, the overarching goal of the germplasm requests were to release them, if they appear to be useful and suitable for Hawaii. All receipts expected economic benefits (by increasing yield or reducing production cost), but on long-term bases since most of the lines are used in evaluation or breeding trials. 

Arizona, Lisa Taylor (WRPIS)

In 2019, 41 requestors from Arizona received 2,826 accessions in 63 orders from the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). Most orders were placed for research purposes (59%) while the remaining were for educational (13%), home gardening (4%) or undisclosed purposes (24%). Research purposes included genetic studies, botanical or taxonomic investigations, plant pathological investigations, and varietal development. Materials requested for educational purposes were used in classroom instruction and for public education and demonstrations. The most requested genus was Triticum and accounted for 74% of all order items. Brassica (5%), Capsicum (4%), and Malus (3.5%) were the most requested genera after Triticum. 

Wyoming, Lisa Taylor (WRPIS)

In 2019, 15 requestors from Wyoming received 207 accessions in 26 orders from the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). All orders were for 40 accessions and 19 were for 10 accessions or less. Most orders were placed for research purposes (65%) while the remaining were for educational (31%) or undisclosed purposes (4%). Research purposes included varietal development, genetic studies, and weed science or taxonomic investigations (Figure 1). Requestors received 36 different accessions in the form of seed, bulbs, and live plant material.

For the complete Site and State Reports, paste the following URL into your browser:  https://www.nimss.org/projects/attachment/18196

RTAC Nominations for Vice-Chair and Secretary

Ian Ray will remain chair in 2021. 

Nominations were taken for vice-chair and secretary.  Kevin Jensen was nominated for Vice chair and Amjad Ahmad was nominated for secretary. Carol Miles motioned to approve these nominations and Joe Kuhl seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved. 

Open discussion/New Business

A brief discussion occurred about how to best convey germplasm related information back to stations/curators. Several mechanisms are already in place, and curators were very open to any additional feedback. 

California, Charles Brummer – State Report:

In California during 2019 ~14,000 accessions were requested with 579 orders.  

A comprehensive discussion, introduced by Charlie Brummer, ensued on the how state reports might be improved to provide feedback to W6 and WRPIS. One purpose of the W6 RTAC is to document the needs of W6 and WRPIS and provide justification for individual western states to provide funding to W6 and WRPIS annually. A larger perspective was that such funding helps keep WRPIS/NPGS healthy and responsive to state needs. 

FOR DETAILS OF THIS DISUCSSION PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED FULL MEETING MINUTES/REPORT. 

2021 meeting date/site

Logan, UT was nominated for the 2021 meeting site (pending COVID-19/Pandemic developments). Kevin Jensen agreed to host the meeting and will suggest a date for the committee’s approval. The committee voted unanimously to approve the 2021 location in Logan, UT.

 Resolutions  

1: The W6 Regional Technical Advisory Committee (W6 RTAC) thanks Brian Irish, Carla Olson, Lisa Taylor, the staff of the USDA-ARS WRPIS in Pullman, WA and the W6 RTAC officers for their efforts in organizing and hosting the 2020 annual meeting with teleconference and Zoom options. 

2: The W6 RTAC thanks Gayle Volk, Pat Byrne, and Barbara Hellier for their leadership in developing multiple training resources to benefit the plant breeding and genetics community.  We also thank USDA-NIFA for their support of the educational challenge grant that supported development of some of these resources.

3: The W6 RTAC wishes to offer our sincerest gratitude to Jinguo Hu for his dedicated leadership over the past 12 years towards supporting the WRPIS. His leadership at annual meetings and follow-up regarding TAC recommendations demonstrated the positive collaboration and working relationship between USDA and land grant colleges throughout the western region.  It has been a real pleasure working with such an innovative, friendly, and courteous colleague. Jinguo has been a wonderful leader and we will greatly miss him.  He instilled trust, respect and cooperation among the committee and unit members. The W6 RTAC wishes him all the best in his retirement. 

4:  The W6 RTAC supports and appreciates ARS leadership efforts to move forward with refilling the vacancy left by Dr. Hu’s retirement so that vital crop plant germplasm collection, characterization, and utilization efforts will continue.

Shawn Mehlenbacher moved to adjourn the meeting; Charlie Brummer seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 

Meeting adjourned at 4:23 p.m.

The Western Regional Plant Introduction Station (WRPIS) is one of four regional plant introduction stations in the United States. Activities at WRPIS focus on acquisition, preservation, characterization, evaluation, documentation and distribution of assigned plant species and their associated information along with conducting mission-related research. The W6 Regional Multistate Research Project associated with the Station contributes considerable funding (~12% of the total operating budget) to support its mission. Funds are managed through the State Agricultural Experiment Station (SAES) and originate from the Hatch Multistate Research Fund (MRF) provided by the National Institute for Food and Agriculture. The global crop plant research community continued to show significant interest in the WRPIS germplasm collections. In 2019, 37,055 seed sample packets were distributed to 795 requesters residing in each of the 49 U.S. states and in 38 countries.

As of May 18, 2020, the WRPIS holds 100,667 accessions belonging to 1,072 genera, 4,603 species (5,249 taxa) in the WRPIS collection. The WRPIS is responsible for 16.9% of the active NPGS accessions. A total of 1,723 new accessions were acquired including 1,592 native plant accessions collected by the Seeds of Success (SOS) project, 40 Pisum accessions from the Millennium Seed Bank Project of the Kew Royal Botanical Gardens, 13 Pisum accessions from the Russian Federation, 65 expired IPR/CSR accessions from NCGRP and 13 other miscellaneous accessions.

A total of 37,055 seed samples packets were distributed to 795 requestors with addresses in 49 domestic states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 37 foreign countries. 74% (27564 packets) were distributed to the U.S. and 26% (9491 packets) were distributed to foreign countries. Requesters in all domestic states except Nevada received germplasm samples from WRPIS during the reporting period. A total of 6856 packets from WRPIS went to the 12 of 13 Western states. 

A total of 7,031 observation data points on 2,122 accessions were uploaded into the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)-Global database. These data points were for 31 established descriptors of 6 different crops. Collaborators contributed 25% and WRPIS staff provided 75% of the evaluation data. In addition, 1,967 voucher images were uploaded to GRIN-Global with most of them being seed, flower, and leaf images. This information can be accessed by researchers worldwide via GRIN-Global and the internet. 

Supported by a U.S. Alfalfa Farmer Initiative (USAFRI – ‘Checkoff’) grant, inoculation protocols were optimized for spring black stem and leaf spot disease on alfalfa seedlings in the greenhouses. Continued work screening for disease resistance in the collection has led to selection of disease resistant germplasm that can be used in alfalfa improvement. 

The spatial and environmental patterns of two progenitor species of domesticated pea in the Mediterranean Basin and in the Fertile Crescent in relation to the past and current climate was explored in a collaborative project. Based on genome-wide analysis, P. fulvum was identified as a well-supported species, while the diversity of wild P. sativum subsp. elatius was structured into five geographically positioned clusters. These findings help set research and discussion priorities and provide geographical and ecological information for germplasm -collecting missions, as well as for the preservation of extant diversity in ex situ collections. 

In collaboration with WSU’s Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Phaseolus Curator Ted Kisha analyzed 120 heirloom bean accessions for protein, extractable phenolics and non-extractable proanthocyanidins. There were 2 to 3-fold differences even within Red and Black market of beans classes. Much of the data has been entered into the GRIN-Global database associated with specific bean germplasm accessions. 

In collaboration with Shanghai Agrobiological Gene Center, the germination and viability of 255 NPGS lettuce accessions was tested at several temperatures (21°C, 28°C and 35°C) over a 40-hour period. All accessions germinated well at 21°C and displayed significant difference in germination at higher temperatures. Distinct metabolome changes during lettuce seed germination in response to thermal stress was revealed by untargeted metabolomics approach. Many of the accessions surveyed germinated well at the higher 35°C temperatures and might be useful for lettuce breeding programs developing cultivars suitable for extended summer production in temperate or tropical climates when soil temperatures are higher than the optimal. 

In 2019 advanced alfalfa populations continue to be evaluated for drought and salt tolerance in greenhouse and field trails. In these populations, molecular marker-trait association identified a group of genetic loci associated to drought and salt stressors. Most loci associated identified in this work coincide with previously reported quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with biomass under drought and high salinity in alfalfa. A Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) search using their flanking sequences revealed homology to several annotated genes with functions in stress tolerance. With further validation, these markers may be useful in marker-assisted breeding of alfalfa.

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