Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Plant Introduction Research Unit and the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS):

Obj 1: Development and utilization of diverse plant genetic resource (PGR) collections (germplasm) are essential, valuable sources of genetic diversity for use in scientific research, education, and crop improvement programs in the U.S. and internationally. The NCRPIS is a key element of the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), specializing in heterozygous, heterogenous, outcrossing crops and their wild relatives of maize, vegetables, oilseeds, woody and herbaceous ornamentals, and a wide variety of crops such as amaranth, perilla, quinoa and more. For the past 75 years, the crop collections important to the North Central Region (NCR) have been supported through the partnerships with Hatch Multi-State Project NC-007, the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, the State Agricultural Experiment Stations of the NCR, and Iowa State University (ISU). These resources are used to improve crop production genetics and technologies to address challenges related to climate instability, changing abiotic and biotic stress pressures, demands for bioenergy resources, and to enhance the health and nutrition of society.

Curatorial personnel acquire, maintain and conserve, phenotypically evaluate, genetically characterize, document, and distribute plant genetic resources and associated information. Collection development is a complex process and depends on access to resources controlled by public and private state, national, international entities. Identification of gaps in PGR collection representation is necessary to develop acquisition priorities, and gaps are addressed via exploration and/or exchange with other collections.

Obj 2, 4, 5: Germplasm Acquisition, Maintenance and Distribution: The NCRPIS collection holds 55,187 active accessions (55,117 in 2023). In 2024 to date, 22,312 items have been distributed year to date, compared with 40,055 items distributed in all of 2023. To date in 2024, 3176 items were distributed for the internal PGR management needs of viability and pathogen testing, back up orders shipped to Ft Collins and regenerations. In 2024 to date 789 distribution orders have been shipped. 316 (40%) of the YTD 2024 orders were made by researchers in the 12 NC7 RTAC states. 141 orders (18%) were made by researchers at international locations.

The NCRPIS collections are 80% available. More than 500 seed health tests have been performed to comply with phytosanitary import requirements associated with international maize and sunflower seed requests. Approximately 1500 accessions have been tested for viability as part of routine maintenance activities to ensure the quality of the collections. Backup seed lots have been sent of 733 accessions to the National Laboratory for Genetic Resource Preservation (NLGRP) in Ft. Collins, CO; 84% of the NCRPIS collections are backed up.at Ft Collins.

Approximately 336 accessions were grown for seed increase across all taxa, including perennials that will be maintained until seed increase goals are achieved. This is well below historical averages at the NCRPIS and the low volume of regenerations results from a change in USDA budget management which has affected the number of temporary labor positions that could be filled and from three vacant technician positions (two funded by NC7 money, one by the USDA) and one vacant farm management post (funded by NC7 money) to help manage field and processing work. Replacements for three of the open positions are being actively sought. A portion of the NC7 salary money not being spent for technicians was used to fund temporary labor during the spring and summer 2024.

Obj 3: Evaluation and Characterization: Observations for about 10,000 accessions and images for 2,467 accessions were loaded to the GRIN-Global (GG) database. Data continue to be recorded but the open technical positions have created a backlog in the loading of that information to the GRIN database.

Obj 4: Software Development: Our development staff released new Curator Tool versions and enhancements to various wizards used by genebank personnel to manage workflows and seamlessly integrate information in GG. The most recent Curator Tool version significantly enhances the ability to add and update report and label templates dynamically (including an integrated barcode generator that can be used in labels for data automation). Additionally, there is now a new Trait Wizard bundled into the Curator Tool for easier addition of crop trait data. Finally, the BrAPI interface hosted on the GRIN-Global server (used for server-to-server interoperability) has been enhanced to more fully support the Model Organism Database communities (such as MaizeGDB and SoyBase). These products support management of associated information, curatorial workflows, and public access to information associated with PGR which facilitates their use. All enhancements must be coordinated with changes made to the public GG website’s functionality.

Obj 5: The NCRPIS is again providing tours for many different groups after a hiatus caused by now expired covid era restrictions. In August 2023, the NCRPIS celebrated its 75^th year of operation. We sponsored a formal presentation early in the day involving ARS and ISU guests as well as genebank personnel and in the afternoon, we hosted a public open house featuring a 1.3-acre demonstration garden with multiple plots from each project highlighting accessions of particular interest. Curators described the germplasm for interested visitors. Additional curator outreach activities included tours for a summer camp (44 children), three different ISU classes including one focused on our seed cleaning equipment and visiting scientists. Professional findings have been presented at scientific conferences and virtually to educators and other stakeholders. The amaranth curator has become involved with an ISU supported project in Uganda where grain amaranth is being promoted as a well-balanced protein source in nutrient limited areas.

Accomplishments and Impacts – State Reports:

Illinois (Sacks): No report submitted

16 orders were sent to University of IL researchers in the past year, 52 orders sent to other universities, seed companies, and other researchers in Illinois; 1114 items all orders.

Indiana (Hoagland):

A diverse group of faculty and graduate students at Purdue University utilized resources from the National Germplasm Repository in their research programs over the past year. In particular, NC-7 participants Lori Hoagland and Diane Wang, used germplasm for research to investigate beneficial plant-microbial relationships and resistance to water stress, respectively. Work in the Hoagland Lab focused primarily on specialty crops, including carrot, tomato, spinach, quinoa and turf species, and the primary goal of her studies is to mediate pathogen and heavy metal stress by leveraging beneficial plant-soil-microbial relationships. The role of domestication of these crops on these microbiome-mediated processes is of particular focus in her lab. Work in the Wang Lab focused on identifying traits within rice, wheat and corn germplasm with potential for mediating water stress and other stresses associated with climate change. Both lab groups used Purdue’s new phenotyping facility to optimize the application of hyperspectral imaging in quantifying differences in these stress traits.

Other faculty and graduate students at Purdue who reported using resources from the National Plant Germplasm Repository in the past were Mohsen Mohammadi, Katherine Rainy, Mitch Tuinstra and Fionna Fahey. Work in the Mohammadi Lab is primarily focused on identifying root traits in wheat with potential to help mediate water stress. Work in the Tuinstra Lab was focused on developing maize and sorghum varieties with better adaption to abiotic stress and is also developing new approaches to quantify these traits using imaging tools in the field. Finally, Fahey is a graduate student working with Andrew Flachs in the Anthropology Dept. Her research is focused on using feminist science studies and environmental anthropology to study public plant breeding efforts in the Pacific Northwest. Along with her ethnographic research she is analyzing archival documents, such as the Plant Inventory Books from the National Plant Germplasm System. These documents are integral to understanding the biocultural histories of accessions used in today's public plant breeding. 

Iowa (Lübberstedt):

The Lübberstedt research team’s efforts to understand the basis of spontaneous doubling of the haploid maize genome (SHGD) resulted in fine mapping of a major QTL (qshgd1) on chromosome 5 (Foster et al., 2024), which was located in public inbred line A427. Currently RNA_Seq expression profiling is employed to help identifying candidate genes for this QTL. The screening for additional donors with high levels of SHGD, and potentially major causative QTL, was continued by PhD student Mercy Fakude. She has meanwhile evaluated ca. 300 public inbred lines from the NCPRIS collection, and about 10% of these inbreds showed haploid male fertilities (main trait underlying SHGD) of >30%, when evaluated at the haploid level. Since these inbred lines have been genotyped more than 10 years ago using genotyping-by-sequencing (Romay et al. 2013), the outcomes of Mercy Fakude’s PhD research will not only be publicly available SHGD donors, but also chromosome regions and candidate genes affecting SHGD (to be presented at 2024 CSSA meeting). A complementary study was conducted by Tyler Foster in sweet corn in the frame of an ongoing USDA SCRI project (SweetCAP), where also ca. 10% of the accessions showed >30% haploid male fertility (Foster et al., submitted).

The Millet breeding program at Iowa State University was started in 2022 by Dr. A.K. Singh and team. The germplasm collection in the USDA GRIN genebank for Finger (Eleusine coracana), Barnyard (Echinochloa sp.), Foxtail (Setaria italica), and Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) were screened during 2022 and 2023 growing seasons in field conditions near Ames, IA. More detailed evaluation of morphological and physiological traits was carried out on selected lines the following year. Selected lines from Finger (65) and Banyard (18) species were planted in replicated field trials in 2023, and Finger, Proso (42) and Banyard in the 2024 growing season. These trials yielded promising results, particularly in terms of crop performance of lines mostly adapted to mid-west growing conditions. Drought tolerance was specifically evaluated for finger millet lines in a dedicated drought nursery, with encouraging outcomes. From the 2022 and 2023 study trials, we identified potential millet lines suitable for cultivation in Iowa and the Midwest regions of the USA. Based on these findings, we initiated our breeding program in spring 2024, initially focusing on finger millet. We completed hybridizations among parental lines using three different emasculation techniques. The promising lines from the agronomic and drought evaluations have been used in breeding crosses to develop new varieties, instilling optimism for the future of the program. In the 2024 summer growing season, we also initiated a mutation breeding project targeting two millet species: finger millet and proso millet. This experiment involves exposing two genotypes of each species to gamma rays at two different dosages. In finger millet, the genotypes PI462765 and PI462441 were used, while in proso millet, we selected PI220537 and PI649384. The primary goal of this study is to enhance genetic diversity and characterize gamma ray-induced mutations in both millet species. The treated seeds were planted in four-row plots at AEA Farm in Boone, IA, during the summer of 2024. Additionally, some lines were cultivated in greenhouses to serve as a seed source. Information from germplasm screening trials is a part of an M.S. thesis that includes a comprehensive study on the characterization and yield of finger millet. The findings from this research will be published, and detailed information about the individual lines will be made available through open-access sources.

Kansas (Stamm):

Diverse germplasm allows for development of canola, soybean, and wheat varieties adaptable to Great Plains environmental conditions. Plant genetic resources and varieties of new crops such as winter canola are made possible through the conservation of and access to NPGS collections.

Clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae) is a serious, soil-borne disease of canola; however, it is currently not identified in the Great Plains region. To preemptively safeguard against its appearance, resistance to the disease is being introgressed into elite parent lines of winter canola using the Brassica napus accession PI 443015 as the donor parent. The first backcross was made in 2024 and backcrossing will continue to the BC4 stage. Afterward, introgression lines will be tested for clubroot resistance in the greenhouse and field studies by project collaborators investigating the disease’s impacts.

Four Raphanus sativus accessions (PI174936, PI458914, PI458915, PI666198) were identified as potential genetic diversity as winter tillage radish sources. Interest exists in developing tillage radish types that overwinter, to maintain ground cover longer for added soil protection. These winter accessions were seeded in the field near Manhattan, KS in fall 2023; however, no plants survived the winter due in part to poor and late emergence. Accessions were grown in the winter 2024 greenhouse for seed increase, and the accessions were intercrossed to produce additional progeny for increase and testing. Attempts at seed increase will be made until enough seed exists for field testing and overwintering potential.

For the past two growing seasons, the Kansas State University soybean breeding program, along with Texas Tech University, the University of Missouri, and the University of Tennessee, have been characterizing flower production and pod set in a diverse panel of maturity group IV soybean accessions. The team is working to develop an image-based phenotyping system to document floral abortion and pod set in soybean. Visual flower and pod counts are used to validate the automated counts.

Michigan (Thompson):

Michigan State University continued its activities in characterizing and utilizing germplasm from the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). Our focus remains on genetic and phenotypic analysis to identify key traits and improve the utility of germplasm collections in plant breeding programs. Genetic analyses, including DNA sequencing, have been critical in identifying diversity within the collections and mapping important traits to chromosomes, allowing us to pinpoint candidate genes that can be utilized in breeding efforts. Phenotypic analyses continue to help us find novel sources of resistance to diseases and environmental stresses, improved nutritional qualities, and beneficial growth characteristics to enhance yield.

This year, several new projects highlight our expanded use of NPGS germplasm. We have initiated studies evaluating maize accessions for their accumulation of maysin, a flavonoid compound associated with corn earworm resistance, and we continue genetic studies on phenolic compound accumulation and virus resistance in maize, which will enhance efforts to breed resilient maize varieties. In addition, investigations into Camelina gene regulatory networks, environmental impacts on seed development, and gene-environment interactions are also a focal point, providing insight into the adaptability and productivity of this important biofuel crop.

MSU is also contributing to advancing knowledge in the areas of photosynthesis and drought tolerance, particularly in weedy species and crop relatives, by evaluating traits related to photorespiration and the physiological responses to water stress. This year, NPGS materials were also integrated into class instruction for plant systematics, utilizing germplasm to provide students hands-on experience with diverse plant taxa and their evolutionary relationships. Our research efforts also extend to analyzing the genetic diversity of cucumber, common beans, and potatoes. We have characterized cucumber fruit development, explored common bean diversity for nutritional qualities, and examined factors for self-compatibility in potato breeding, particularly in diploid germplasm.

Additional work includes genetic studies on drought responses in maize, sorghum, and resurrection grasses; genomic analysis of sour cherry; diversity studies for apple bloom time; and the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for Phytophthora resistance in cucumber and rust resistance in wheat. We have also made strides in characterizing maize genetic diversity and understanding its interaction with the environment for yield prediction. Through our research, we continue to unlock the potential of NPGS germplasm, facilitating its use in breeding programs to develop new cultivars that address agricultural challenges.

Minnesota (Lorenz):

Minnesota researchers continue to benefit from the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS). Since 2019, the NCRPIS has shipped seeds of 181 distinct accessions to 79 unique researchers. Sixty-six of the accessions were sent to the University of Minnesota.

The accessions sent to the University of Minnesota represent 31 difference species with a wide diversity, ranging from flax to maize to oak to sunflower, and many more. These accessions provided by NCRPIS staff and scientists were critical to research advancements and cultivar development at the University of Minnesota. Within the space available, it is not possible to describe the research and development outcomes of each set of accessions provided. With space limitations in mind, below are some examples:

Portulaca

The genus Portulaca, a member of the Caryophyllales family, contains over 100 species. Alex Crum, a graduate student in the lab of Dr. Ya Yang at UMN, was interested in metabolism response to high light stress using untargeted metabolomics. The researchers are looking for different responses to methyl jasmonate and high light treatments based on lineage. There are no publications to report yet as data collection and analysis is ongoing.

Wild flax

The NCRPIS collection contains 182 accessions of wild flax, which have been instrumental to the lab of Dr. Neil Anderson. The Anderson lab is striving to improve perennial flax as an ornamental crop. The successful adoption of perennial flax would provide ecosystem services such as winter cover for reduced soil erosion, and pollinator food supply. The Anderson Lab has received seed of accessions of wild flax that have been useful for breeding and trait evaluation towards these goals.

Sunflower

The McCaghey Lab at the University of Minnesota studies host plant resistance to S. sclerotiorum, a devesting pest causing wilts and molds in many important crops, including sunflower.

The McCaghey Lab ordered accessions of sunflower for a study on host plant resistance, including resistant and susceptible checks. Having these checks in their lab tremendously helps with assay development and screening of S. sclerotiorum isolates to eventually better understand the virulence diversity in this pathogen. Below are the results from their study highlighting the range in variation of virulence they observed on the ordered susceptible check variety. 

FIGURE COULD NOT BE INSERTED

Figure 1. StAUDPC on Helianthus annus from 0 to 7 DPI. Means followed by the same letter(s) are not significantly different at α = 0.05 by Scheffe's method. Red, Orange, and Blue bars represent conserved highly, moderately, and non- aggressive isolates respectively. Purple bars represent reference isolate 1980. Results are from two experimental runs with four biological and three technical replicates.

Maize

From the Pablo Olivera Firpo Lab: These four genotypes of maize were used in studies to assess the virulence and ecology of the Goss's Wilt pathogen Clavibacter nebraskensis. We used the susceptible maize line Inbred 34-1141 to perform virulence phenotyping on a collection of 40 Cn strains. From these initial studies, we chose a set of 13 Cn strains with diverse virulence types for an ecological experiment (termed "select & resequence") where we inoculated 2 susceptible (Inbred 34-1141 and Oh7B) and 2 resistant (Mo17 and NC344) maize inbred lines with a pooled community of these 13 strains and resequenced the community at 7 days post inoculation. From these results, we looked at the effects of host genotype selection (resistant vs. susceptible) on the community, and assessed which genomic variants in the pathogen community showed signs of positive selection and therefore might be involved in pathogenicity. We currently have a manuscript out for submission.

Missouri (Flint-Garcia):

USDA-ARS, Columbia, MO

The Flint-Garcia lab (USDA-ARS in Columbia, MO) continues to investigate teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis) and landraces (AKA heirloom varieties) as a source of novel and useful alleles to improve maize.  Our lab’s most recent focus is to explore human food quality traits in maize by evaluating flavor, aroma, texture, and key target metabolites in seeds of and in food products from heirloom corn varieties. As part of our USDA-NIFA-AFRI “Maize Heirloom Varieties of the United States,” we grew replicated field trials in 2024 in Missouri (PD Flint-Garcia, USDA-ARS in Columbia MO) and North Carolina (co-PD Jim Holland, USDA-ARS in Raleigh, NC). Each location was a partially replicated (0.25X) trial containing 990 entries (heirloom accessions), of which ~950 entries originated from NPGS-NC7. Numerous manual phenotypes were collected which reflect adaptation and plant morphology (flowering dates, plant/ear height, leaf length/width, tassel architecture, lodging, ear disease) and can be used to target germplasm to specific growing regions.  Weekly UAV-based phenotypes were coordinated by co-PDs Jacob Washburn (USDA-ARS in Columbia MO) and Joe Gage (NCSU) to derive traits correlated with crop productivity.  Harvested sib-pollinated ears will be phenotyped by an image-based platform to extract ear and kernel data aligned with prior characterization of other landrace collections. Grain will be analyzed by NIR to estimate starch and protein content in the grain. A second year of the trial will be conducted in 2025.

The CERCA (Circular Economy that Reimagines Corn Agriculture) project is a large multi-institutional project aimed at transforming US grain farmland into a net-negative component of a circular bio-economy and reducing global greenhouse gases, by converting maize to an earlier season annual with reduced environmental impacts through increased uptake and recycling of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus fertilizer.  There are numerous aspects of the CERCA Project, but only those related to maize work by USDA-ARS in Columbia, MO will be mentioned here.  The Flint-Garcia lab is working to reduce the N content of the grain by reducing protein from ~8% to ~4%, which will reduce the amount of N fertilizer applied and reduce the N content in animal waste.  We are taking numerous targeted approaches to reduce protein by examining N transporters in the plant, N sink in the grain, and protein synthesis machinery in the grain. We are also taking several untargeted approaches to reducing grain N by screening natural variation (maize germplasm from NC7) and conducting selection for low grain N in numerous breeding populations.  The Washburn lab is working to develop corn that can survive and thrive in early season plantings by conducting experiments in the field, growth chamber, greenhouse and lab to determine how different corn genotypes (e.g. highland maize landraces) and corn wild relatives perform photosynthesis under cold conditions and identify genes, pathways, and mechanisms for breeding, engineering, and testing in elite maize cultivars.  For all aspects of the CERCA project, germplasm from NCRPIS/NPGS will be screened for desirable traits and used as parents in mapping populations and breeding populations.

University of Missouri

The University of Missouri soybean breeding program lead by Andrew Scaboo focuses on numerous traits including Soybean Cyst Nematode, in addition to releasing varieties. They screen germplasm from NC7 in greenhouse trials to identify sources of SCN resistance. Recently, they used USDA germplasm genomic data for phylogenetic comparison to soybean cultivars in Africa for a USAID Feed the Future Soybean Innovation Lab. This resulted in a recent Crop Science manuscript (De Meyer, et al. 2024)

Danforth Center

The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis conducts research on many plant species and uses germplasm from NC7 for numerous projects.  These projects include evaluating sunflower and sorghum GWAS panels for multiple traits (former Mockler lab), studying the Andropogoneae grass family (Kellogg lab, elucidating the genetics of maize inflorescence architecture (Eveland lab), smallRNAs (Meyers lab), and for improving various aspects of plant transformation (Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation Facility).

Recently colleagues at the Danforth Center began a project to assessing the sunflower germplasm collection for natural rubber production. Natural rubber is a plant-based strategic raw material, essentially all of which is imported into the US.  Sunflower is one of many plant species that can produce some quantity of natural rubber but may be the only one that is cultivated at scale in this country today.  Researchers at the Danforth Plant Science Center have phenotyped the rubber content of over 700 different varieties of sunflower from the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) sunflower collection.  The resulting information is being used to guide breeding of sunflower lines to achieve higher rubber production in the plant's leaves, providing a new source of revenue for farmers using a crop that can perform well in marginal soils and growing conditions.

Nebraska (Santra)

Most of the USDA germplasm that Nebraska requests from NCRPIS, Ames, IA are corn, sorghum, sunflower, and proso millet. These germplasms were used primarily for research but also for teaching and demonstration purposes. In 2023, there were several publications on corn, sorghum, and proso millet (see publication list for details). These publications are based on the research of the last few years using the germplasm received from NCRPIS.

Corn germplasm was used for research on genomics, phenomics, and nitrogen use efficiency. Many requested corn lines are used by the University of Nebraska's Hybrid Maize Breeding Project (under leadership of Blaine Johnson) solely for educational purposes.  Primary use is for teaching methods of hybrid maize breeding to plant breeding students, both undergraduate and graduate students, in both a classroom and nursery setting.  The nursery resulting from use of these seeds is used for field days and other tours by students and interested parties.  There has been no development or release of progeny originating from these materials, nor have there been any formal publications resulting from data on the materials.

In 2023, 71 Proso millet accessions and replicated yield trial using 20 varieties were planted for the first time at Lincoln for adoptability in the eastern Nebraska environment. The germplasm grew well at Lincoln and most of genotypes produced mature seed. Many genotypes had foliar diseases of both fungal and bacterial. There was also severe lodging of most of the genotypes, which possibly could be because of more vegetative growth from excellent soil moisture compared to western Nebraska. The seed was harvested on August 24, 2023. The average seed yield of the 20 varieties at Lincoln was 990 lbs/acre, which is about half of average yield in western Nebraska. This showed that proso millet was adopted in eastern Nebraska. However, foliar diseases and lodging could be a potential constraint for commercial production of millet.

Two hundred four genotypes were planted at Scottsbluff in 2023 for seed increase to be used in replicated field trials in subsequent years. The accessions grown in Scottsbluff grew well and mature seed was harvested. The seeds were cleaned and kept for replicated field trial in 2024

North Dakota (Johnson):

New crop evaluations continue with industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), open-pollinated white grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), and ‘Kernza’ intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium). Planting date, harvest date, variety, and intercropping studies are ongoing with industrial hemp for grain production since this is the current primary market. Processing and product development are expanding for fiber usage of industrial hemp as the secondary product after grain production. Open-pollinated white sorghum genotypes continue investigation for small community farm plots for food, feed, and fuel (sweet sorghum) with encouraging results, whereas Kernza is undergoing university testing and limited commercial production.

Seed stocks for crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst.) varieties are in the third year of increase (2022, 2023, and 2024) due to declining seed inventories and decreasing seed quality related to aged seed and storage conditions. Crambe variety trial results for the 2023 growing season ranged from 1960 to 2500 kg/ha among four varieties grown at the Prosper field research location with an early June planting. Renewed interest in crambe as a cover crop component and for intercropping were initiated in 2022, continued in 2023, and are ongoing in 2024. Crambe and other Brassica oilseeds canola (Brassica napus L.) and camelina (Camelina sativa L.) were grown in two-crop intercrop combinations in mixed- and alternating-row arrangements at several seeding rates at the Prosper location to determine land equivalent ratio (LER) and the possibility of overyielding. Preliminary results indicate that canola/camelina intercropping increases grain value $25/acre as compared to sole crop canola.

Variety releases from the North Dakota Expt. Station for 2023/2024 include ‘ND Thresher’, ND Nighthawk’, and ‘ND Stampede’ hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), ‘ND Treasure’ barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), ‘ND Spilde’, ‘ND Carson’, and ND 161367 oat (Avena sativa L.), ‘ND L141002’ (zero tannin) lentil (Lens culinaris L.), dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) ‘ND Rodeo’ (pinto), ‘ND Redbarn’ (dark red kidney), and ‘ND Rosalind’ (pink), and ‘LimeDak’ littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata).

Germplasm requests to the NCRPIS included amaranth (Amaranthus spp.), canola (Brassica napus L.) and flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) for variety performance and gene sourcing for disease resistance.

Ohio (Ma):

A diverse research group at The Ohio State University continues to utilize the genetic resources from the North Central Regional Plant Introduction State. Dr. Kristin Mercer uses the germplasm to study maize aerial root traits and apparent benefits from nitrogen fixation, as well as performance and growth. Dr. Shujun Ou investigates the role of maize transposable elements and the underlying mechanism plants employ when facing unfavorable conditions. Dr. Andrea Gschwend focuses on pennycress genetic resources to examine genes involved in abiotic stress, particularly waterlogging. Dr. David Mackey’s research delves into the transcription factor Lrp of Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartia and identified Lrp regulates functions important for P. stewartii colonization and growth in maize. 

In addition to the use of germplasm from NC7, researchers at the Ohio State University also continually utilize the genetic resources from the National Plant Germplasm System. These efforts focus on the development of genetic and genomics resource as well as characterization and improvement of crops, eg. tomato, wheat, barley, soybean, chili pepper, apple, almond, dandelion, begonia, etc.

South Dakota (Caffe):

Several accessions of yellow-flowered alfalfa derived from root segments that had resprouted in a greenhouse were evaluated in the field for multiple traits including survival rate, flower and seed pod production, flower color, crown area, growth habit, canopy volume, and biomass. All populations produced flowers and seeds. Two populations, PI 502441 and PI 538984, produced the highest dry biomass (240 g/m², equivalent to 2.64 tons/ha), with larger crown areas and canopy volumes. These results suggest that plants generated from roots can self-sustain under field conditions. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of field testing to identify additional populations within the NPGCC that contribute persistent forage to the landscape by maintaining and regenerating stands with strong root sprouting capacity. This information is valuable for farmers, ranchers, and land managers. Winter oat accessions were evaluated in the field in Brookings, SD during the 2024 growing season. Winter survival rate ranged from 0 to 100% with an average of 30%.

Wisconsin (Tracy): No report submitted

11 orders were sent to University of WI researchers in the past year, 35 orders sent to other universities, seed companies, other researchers in Illinois; 1508 items all orders.

Illinois

No list submitted

Indiana

Colley, M., Dawson, J., Zystro, J., Hoagland, L., Liou, M., Myers, J., Silva, E., Simon, P., (in review). Influence of organic and conventional management systems on carrot performance and implications for organic plant breeding. Submitted to Crop Science

Jamjshidi, S., Murgia, T., Morales-Ona, A.G., Cerioli, T., Famoso, A.N., Cammarano, D., Wang, D.R. 2023. Modeling interactions of planting data end phenology in Louisiana rice under current and future climate scenarios. Crop Science 

Jung, J., Fei, S., Tuinstra, T., Yang, Y., Wang, DR., Song, S., Gillan, J., Bhandari, M., Ibrahim, A., Zhao, L.,  

Luis, M., Jaiswal, A., Mengiste, T., Myers, J., Hoagland, L., (in review). Identification of mechanisms mediating induced systemic resistant in wild vs. domesticated tomato using RNA-seq. Submitted to Phytopathology

Maynard, E., Guan, W., Langenhoven, P., Hoagland, L., 2024. Vegetable seedling performance in commercial organic growing media. HortTechnology.

Swetnam, T., Barker, B., Jung, M., Hancock, B., 2024. Data to science: an open-source on-line platform for managing, visualizing and published UAS data. Proceedings of the Autonmous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping                                                                                          

Wang, D, Jamshidi, S., Han, R., McCouth, S.R., 2024. Positive effects of public breeding on U.S. rice yields under future climate scenarios. PNAS  DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2309969121 

Pathak, H., Warren, CJ., Buckmaster, DR, Wang, DR, 2024. Advancing adaptive agricultural strategies: unraveling impacts of climate change and soils on corn productivity using APSIM. Proceedings of the 16^th International Conference on Precision Agriculture

Powlen, J., Bigelow, C., Vidanza, A., Hoagland, L. 2024. Turf-type tall fescue brown path resistance as influenced by morphological characteristics. Plant Health Progress https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-10-23-0082-RS

Vargas-Rojas, L., Ting, T., Rainey, K., Reynolds, M., Wang, DR., 2024. AgTC and AgETL: open-source tools to enhance data collection and management for plant science. Frontiers in Plant Science https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1265073

Zhang, L., Hoagland, L., Yang, Y., Becchi, P., Sobolev, A., Scioli, G., La Nasa, J., Modugno, F. Lucini, L., (in review). The combination of hyperspectral imaging, untargeted metabolomics and lipidomis highlights a coordinated stress-related biochemical reprogramming triggered by polyethylene nanoparticles in lettuce. Submitted to Science of the Total Environment 

Other publications from Purdue:

Arora, A., Das, AK, Dixit, Y, Singh, SB, Sekhar, JC, Ravikesavan, R., Tuinstra, MR., 2024. Genetic diversity analysis and heterotic grouping of Indiana white maize inbred lines using combining ability and SNP markers. Crop Science  https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21201 

Aviles, C., Toledo, M, Crawford, MM, Tuinstra, MR. 2024. Integrating multi-modal remote sensing, deep learning, and attention mechanisms for yield prediction in plant breeding experiments. Frontiers in Plant Science 15, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1408047 

Escamilla DM, Dietz N, Bilyeu K, Hudson K, Rainey KM. Genome-wide association study reveals GmFulb as candidate gene for maturity time and reproductive length in soybeans (Glycine max). PLoS One. 2024 Jan 19;19(1):e0294123. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294123. 

Nepal, N., Condori-Apfata, J.A., Gaire, R., Anco, M.E., Scofield, S. Zhang, C., Mohammadi, M., 2023. Phenotypic and genotypic resources for the USDA quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) genebank accessions. Crop Science DOI: 10.1002/csc2.21037

Iowa

Foster, T., Kloiber-Maitz, M., Gilles, L., Frei, U.K., Pfeffer, S., Chen, Y.-R., Dutta, S., Arun, Hufford, M., Lübberstedt T. (2024) Fine-mapping of a major QTL for spontaneous haploid genome doubling (qshgd1) in maize. Theor. Appl. Genet. 137:117 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-024-04615-y 

Foster, T.L., Frei, U.K., Fakude, M., Krause, M.D., Dutta, S., Tracy, W.F., Resende Jr., M.F.R., Lübberstedt^, T. (2025) Genome-wide association study of haploid male fertility in sweet corn. Theor Appl. Genet. (submitted) 

Millet

Online Oral presentations:

Di Salvo, J.I; Singh, A.K. “Millet Characterization for Iowa growing conditions”. Webinar presentation. North American Millet Alliance (NAMA), April 19th, 2023.

Field Days:

Di Salvo, J.I; Panthulugiri, S.; Singh, A.K. Iowa Organic Association, Overview of small millet breeding efforts in Iowa. June, 21st 2024

Di Salvo, J.I; Panthulugiri, S., Singh, A.K. AGRON279, Undergraduate class at Iowa State University, Overview of small millet breeding efforts in Iowa. August, 15th 2024

Di Salvo, J.I; Panthulugiri, S.; Scott, B.W.  R.F. Baker Center Field tour. August 22nd, 2024.

Extension and outreach: 

Panthulugiri, S.; Di Salvo, J.I. Plant the Moon Challenge, Tuesday, May 21st, 2024

Poster presentations:

Di Salvo, J.I;  Scott, B; Hicks, J; Brenner, D; Singh, A.K. “Finger millet Characterization in Iowa”. Poster. Annual Meeting, ASA-CSSA-SSSA, November 1st, 2023. St Louis, Missouri

Di Salvo, J.I; Scott, B; Dunn, B; Hicks, J; Brenner, D; Singh, A.K. Finger millets (Eleusine Coracana) in Iowa. Poster. X R.F Baker Plant Breeding Symposium. March 24th, 2023. Ames, Iowa.

Kansas

Correndo, Y.S., A.J.P. Carcedo, M.A. Secchi, M.J. Stamm, P.V.V. Prasad, S. Lira, C.D. Messina, and I.A. Ciampitti. 2024. Identifying environments for canola oil production under diverse seasonal crop water stress levels. Agric. Water Management. 302:108996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2024.108996.

Menke, E.,  C. Steketee, Q. Song, W. Schapaugh, T. Carter, B. Fallen, and Z. Li. 2024. Genetic mapping reveals the complex genetic architecture controlling slow canopy wilting in soybean. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 137:107. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-024-04609-w.

Peirce, E. B. Evers, Z. Winn, W. Raupp, M. Guttieri, A. Fritz, J. Poland, E. Akhunov, S. Haley, E. Mason, Esten, and P. Nachappa. 2024. Identifying novel sources of resistance to wheat stem sawfly in five wild wheat species. Pest Management Science. 80. 10.1002/ps.8008.

Zhang, G., A. Fritz, Y. Li, R. Bowden, M. Chen, J. Rupp, and Y. Jin. 2024. Registration of ‘KS Big Bow’ hard white winter wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations. 18. 10.1002/plr2.20354.

Michigan

NC7 Participants

Shrote R and Thompson AM. 2024. PyBrOpS: a Python package for breeding program simulation and optimization for multi-objective breeding. G3. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.02.10.528043

Torres-Rodriguez JV, Li Delin, Turkus J, Newton L, Davis J, Lopez-Corona L, Ali W, Sun G, Mural RV, Grzybowski MW, Thompson AM, Schnable JC. 2024. Population level gene expression can repeatedly link genes to functions in maize. The Plant Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.16801

Jin H, Tross MC, Tan R, Newton L, Mural RV, Yang J, Thompson AM, Schnable JC. 2024. Imitating the ‘breeder’s eye”: predicting grain yield from measurements of non-yield traits. The Plant Phenome Journal. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.11.29.568906

Ying S, Webster B, Gomez-Cano L, Shivaiah K, Wang Q, Newton L, Grotewold E, Thompson AM, Lundquist PK. 2023. Multiscale Physiological Responses of Maize Hybrids to Nitrogen Supplementation. Plant Physiology195(1):879-899 899 https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiad583

Lopez-Cruz M, Aguate FM, Washburn JD, de Leon Gatti N, Kaeppler SM, Lima D, Tan R, Thompson AM, De La Bretonne LW, de los Campos G. 2023. Leveraging Data from the Genomes to Fields Initiative to Investigate GxE in Maize in North America. Nature Communications 14(1), 6904 10.1038/s41467-023-42687-4

Lin YC, Mansfeld BN, Tang X, Colle M, Chen F, Weng Y, Fei Z, Grumet R. 2023. Identification of QTL associated with resistance to Phytophthora fruit rot in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Frontiers in Plant Science 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1281755

Goeckeritz CZ, Grabb C, Grumet R, Iezzoni AF, Hollender CA. 2024. Genetic factors acting prior to dormancy in sour cherry influence bloom time the following spring. Journal of Experimental Botany, 75(14), 4428–4452.

Rett-Cadman S, Weng Y, Fei Z, Thompson AM, Grumet R. 2024. Genome-Wide Association Study of Cuticle and Lipid Droplet Properties of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Fruit. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 25(17), 9306.

Other Researchers

Kuwabo K, Hamabwe SM, Kachapulula P, Cichy K, Parker T, Mukuma C, et al. (2023) Genome-wide association analysis of anthracnose resistance in the Yellow Bean Collection of Common Bean. PLoS ONE 18(11): e0293291. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293291

Porch, T. G., Rosas, J. C., Cichy, K., Lutz, G. G., Rodriguez, I., Colbert, R. W., Demosthene, G., Hernández, J. C., Winham, D. M., & Beaver, J. S. (2024). Release of tepary bean cultivar ‘USDA Fortuna’ with improved disease and insect resistance, seed size, and culinary quality. Journal of Plant Registrations, 18, 42–51.

Wang, W., & Cichy, K. A. (2024). Genetic variability for susceptibility to seed coat mechanical damage and relationship to end-use quality in kidney beans. Crop Science, 64, 200–210.

Miklas, P. N., Soler-Garzón, A., Pastor-Corrales, M., & Cichy, K. A. (2024). Registration of ‘USDA Diamondback’ slow-darkening pinto bean. Journal of Plant Registrations, 18, 52–60.

Awale, H. E., Wiersma, A. T., Wright, E. M., Buell, C. R., Kelly, J. D., Cichy, K. A., & Haus, M. J. (2024). Anthracnose and bean common mosaic necrosis virus resistance in wild and landrace Phaseolus vulgaris (L.) genetic stocks. Crop Science, 64, 2116–2125.

Sadohara, R., Cichy, K., Fourie, D., Msolla, S. N., Song, Q., Miklas, P., & Porch, T. (2024). Andean common bean bulk breeding lines selected on multiple continents exhibit broad genetic diversity and stress adaptation. Crop Science, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21309

Izquierdo P, Sadohara R, Wiesinger J, Glahn R, Urrea C, Cichy K. 2024. Genome-wide association and genomic prediction for iron and zinc concentration and iron bioavailability in a collection of yellow dry beans. Front. Genet. Vol 15. DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1330361

Hauri, K.C., Schilmiller, A.L., Darling, E. et al. 2024. Constitutive Level of Specialized Secondary Metabolites Affects Plant Phytohormone Response to Above- and Belowground Herbivores. J Chem Ecol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-024-01538-2

Anglin Noelle L. , Chavez Oswaldo , Soto - Torres Julian , Gomez Rene , Panta Ana , Vollmer Rainer , Durand Marisol , Meza Charo , Azevedo Vania , Manrique - Carpintero Norma C. , Kauth Philip , Coombs Joesph J. , Douches David S. , Ellis David. 2024. Promiscuous potato: elucidating genetic identity and the complex genetic relationships of a cultivated potato germplasm collection. Front. Plant Sci. 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1341788

Ames, M., Hamernik, A., Behling, W., Douches, D. S., Halterman, D. A., & Bethke, P. C. (2024). A survey of the Sli gene in wild and cultivated potato. Plant Direct, 8(5), e589. doi: 10.1002/pld3.589

Xiaobiao Zhu, Airu Chen, Nathaniel M Butler, Zixian Zeng, Haoyang Xin, Lixia Wang, Zhaoyan Lv, Dani Eshel, David S Douches, Jiming Jiang. 2024.Molecular dissection of an intronic enhancer governing cold-induced expression of the vacuolar invertase gene in potato, The Plant Cell, 36(5): 1985–1999.

Behling, W., Coombs, J., Collins, P., Douches, D. 2024. An Analysis of Inter-Endosperm Balance Number Crosses with the Wild Potato Solanum verrucosum. Am. J. Potato Res. 101, 34–44.

Fang C, Hamilton JP, Vaillancourt B, Wang Y-W, Wood JC, Deans NC, Scroggs T, Carlton L, Mailloux K, Douches DS, Nadakuduti SS, Jiang J and Buell CR (2023) Cold stress induces differential gene expression of retained homeologs in Camelina sativa cv Suneson. Front. Plant Sci. 14:1271625.

MacKenzie Jacobs, Samantha Thompson, Adrian E Platts, Melanie J A Body, Alexys Kelsey, Amanda Saad, Patrick Abeli, Scott J Teresi, Anthony Schilmiller, Randolph Beaudry, Mitchell J Feldmann, Steven J Knapp, Guo-qing Song, Timothy Miles, Patrick P Edger. 2023. Uncovering genetic and metabolite markers associated with resistance against anthracnose fruit rot in northern highbush blueberry. Horticulture Research, Volume 10, Issue 10. https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhad169

Makenzie E Mabry, R Shawn Abrahams, Ihsan A Al-Shehbaz, William J Baker, Simon Barak, Michael S Barker, Russell L Barrett, Aleksandra Beric, Samik Bhattacharya, Sarah B Carey, Gavin C Conant, John G Conran, Maheshi Dassanayake, Patrick P Edger, Jocelyn C Hall, Yue Hao, Kasper P Hendriks, Julian M Hibberd, Graham J King, Daniel J Kliebenstein, Marcus A Koch, Ilia J Leitch, Frederic Lens, Martin A Lysak, Alex C McAlvay, Michael T W McKibben, Francesco Mercati, Richard C Moore, Klaus Mummenhoff, Daniel J Murphy, Lachezar A Nikolov, Michael Pisias, Eric H Roalson, M Eric Schranz, Shawn K Thomas, Qingyi Yu, Alan Yocca, J Chris Pires, Alex E Harkess. 2024. Complementing model species with model clades. The Plant Cell, Volume 36, Issue 5. Pages 1205–1226.

Brose, J., Hamilton, J. P., Schlecht, N., Zhao, D., Mejía-Ponce, P. M., Cruz-Pérez, A., Vaillancourt, B., Wood, J. C., Edger, P. P., Montes-Hernandez, S., de Rosas, G. O., Hamberger, B., Cibrian-Jaramillo, A., & Buell, C. R. 2024. Chromosome-scale Salvia hispanica L. (Chia) genome assembly reveals rampant Salvia interspecies introgression. The Plant Genome, 17, e20494

Jordan R Brock, Kevin A Bird, Adrian E Platts, Fabio Gomez-Cano, Suresh Kumar Gupta, Kyle Palos, Caylyn E Railey, Scott J Teresi, Yun Sun Lee, Maria Magallanes-Lundback, Emily G Pawlowski, Andrew D L Nelson, Erich Grotewold, Patrick P Edger. 2024. Exploring genetic diversity, population structure, and subgenome differences in the allopolyploid Camelina sativa: implications for future breeding and research studies, Horticulture Research. uhae247 https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae247

Todd, O. E., Patterson, E. L., Westra, E. P., Nissen, S. J., Araujo, A. L. S., Kramer, W. B., Dayan, F. E., & Gaines, T. A. 2024. Enhanced metabolic detoxification is associated with fluroxypyr resistance in Bassia scoparia. Plant Direct, 8(1), e560. DOI: 10.1002/pld3.560 

Borgato, E.A., Ohadi, S., Brunharo, C.A.C.G., Patterson, E.L. & Matzrafi, M. 2024. Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson reproduction system: Implications for distribution and management strategies. Weed Research, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/wre.12626

Serim AT and Patterson EL. 2024. Response of conventional sunflower cultivars to drift rates of synthetic auxin herbicides. Peer J 12:e16729. doi: 10.7717/peerj.16729

Montgomery, J., Morran, S., MacGregor, D.R. et al. 2024. Current status of community resources and priorities for weed genomics research. Genome Biol 25, 139.

Yi-Hsuan Chu, Yun Sun Lee, Fabio Gomez-Cano, Lina Gomez-Cano, Peng Zhou, Andrea I Doseff, Nathan Springer, Erich Grotewold. 2024. Molecular mechanisms underlying gene regulatory variation of maize metabolic traits, The Plant Cell, Volume 36, Issue 9. Pages 3709–3728.

Sang Y, Zhao H, Liu X, Yuan C et al. 2023. Genome-wide association study of powdery mildew resistance in cultivated soybean from Northeast China. Front. Plant Sci. 14.

Sang Y, Liu X, Yuan C, Yao T, Li Y, Wang D, Zhao H, Wang Y. 2023. Genome-wide association study on resistance of cultivated soybean to Fusarium oxysporum root rot in Northeast China. BMC Plant Biology 23(1): 625.

Liu, Z., Li, H., Wang, X., Zhang, Y., Gou, Z., Zhao, X., … Qiu, L. (2022). QTL for yield per plant under water deficit and well-watered conditions and drought susceptibility index in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 37(1), 92–103.

Lin, F., Salman, M., Zhang, Z. et al. 2024. Identification and molecular mapping of a major gene conferring resistance to Phytophthora sansomeana in soybean ‘Colfax’. Theor Appl Genet 137, 55.

Bahmani, K., Akbari, A., Izadi Darbandi, A. et al. 2023. Development of high-yielding fennel synthetic cultivars based on polycross progeny performance. Agric Res 12, 357–363.

Minnesota

Tork, David G., Neil O. Anderson, Donald L. Wyse, and Kevin J. Betts. 2022a. Controlled Freezing Studies as a Corollary Selection Method for Winterhardiness in Perennial Flax. Crop Science 62 (5): 1734–57.

Tork, David G., Neil O. Anderson, Donald L. Wyse, and Kevin J. Betts. 2022b. Ideotype Selection of Perennial Flax (Linum Spp.) for Herbaceous Plant Habit Traits. Agronomy (Basel, Switzerland) 12 (12): 3127.

Tork, D. G., Neil O. Anderson, Donald L. Wyse, and K. J. Betts. 2023. “Selection of Perennial Flax (Linum Spp.) for Yield and Reproductive Traits for the Oilseed Ideotype.” Agronomy (Basel, Switzerland) 14 (1): 99.

Missouri

Ali, A, C Wan, M Lin, S Flint-Garcia, B Vardhanabhuti, P Somavat. 2024. Microencapsulation of phenolic compounds extracted from purple corn (Zea mays L.) pericarp by spray-drying using different encapsulating materials. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.  272:132938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132938 

Kumar, R, J Agliata, C Wan, S Flint-Garcia, MN Salazar-Vidal, A Mustapha, J Cheng, P Somavat. 2024. Evaluation of dry milling characteristics and polyphenolic contents of fourteen conventionally bred colored corn varieties for value-added coproducts recovery.  Industrial Crops & Products. 215:118600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.118600 

Lima, DC, A Castro Aviles, RT Alpers, A Perkins, DL Schoemaker, M Costa, KJ Michel, S Kaeppler, D Ertl, MC Romay, JL Gage, J Holland, T Beissinger, M Bohn, E Buckler, J Edwards, S Flint-Garcia, MA Gore, CN Hirsch, JE Knoll, J McKay, R Minyo, SC Murray, J Schnable, RS Sekhon, MP Singh, EE Sparks, P Thomison, A Thompson, M Tuinstra, J Wallace, JD Washburn, T Weldekidan, W Xu, N de Leon.  2023.   2020-2021 field seasons of Maize GxE project within the Genomes to Fields Initiative. BMC Res Notes. 16: 219. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-023-06430-y

Lopez-Cruz, M, FM Aguate, JD Washburn, N De Leon Gatti, SM Kaeppler, D Lima, R Tan, A Thompson, LW De La Bretonne, G De Los Campos. 2023. Leveraging data from the genomes-to-fields initiative to investigate genotype-by- environment interactions in maize in North America. Nature Communications. 14. Article 6904. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42687-4 

Oliver, S, A Yobi, S Flint-Garcia, R Angelovici. 2024. Reducing acrylamide formation potential by targeting free asparagine accumulation in seeds. J. Agric. Food Chem. 72:6089–6095. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.3c09547 

Sheoran, SS, B Vardhanabhuti, K Bilyeu, S Flint-Garcia, C Wan, P Somavat. 2024. Development of a novel, small scale cold screw press protocol for rapid soybean processing and coproduct evaluation. Food and Bioproducts Processing.  Food and Bioproducts Processing 146:89–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbp.2024.05.004

Washburn, JD, HF LaFond, MC Lapadatescu, AE Pereira, M Erb, BE Hibbard. 2023. GWAS analysis of maize host plant resistance to western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) reveals candidate small effect loci for resistance breeding. Journal of Economic Entomology. 116(6):2184–2192. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad181

Woore, MS, S Flint-Garcia, JB Holland. 2024. Phenotypic characterization of southeastern United States open-pollinated maize landraces. Crop Science. 64:772-787. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21198

De Meyer, E, E Prenger, A Mahmood, M da Fonseca Santos, G Chigeza, Q Song, L Mwadzingeni, R Mukaro, M Chibanda, G Mabuyaye, D Diers, A Scaboo. 2024. Evaluating genetic diversity and seed composition stability within Pan-African Soybean Variety Trials. Crop Science. Accepted. 

Usovsky, M, VA Gamage, CG Meinhardt, N Dietz, M Triller, P Basnet, JD Gillman, KD Bilyeu, Q Song, B Dhital, A Nguyen, MG Mitchum, AM Scaboo. 2023.  Loss-of-function of an α-SNAP gene confers resistance to soybean cyst nematode. Nature Communications. 14:7629 

Kwon, KM, JPG Viana, KKO Walden, M Usovsky, AM Scaboo, ME Hudson, MG Mitchum.  2024. Genome scans for selection signatures identify candidate virulence genes for adaptation of the soybean cyst nematode to host resistance.  Molecular Ecology. 33:e17490. 

Arifuzzaman, M, S Mamidi, A Sanz-Saez, H Zakeri, A Scaboo, FB Fritschi.  2023.  Identification of loci associated with water use efficiency and symbiotic nitrogen fixation in soybean. Frontiers in Plant Science. 14: 1271849

Nebraska

Sun G, Yu H, Wang P, Lopez-Guerrero MG, Mural RV, Mizero ON, Grzybowski M, Song B, van Dijk K, Schachtman DP, Zhang C, Schnable JC (2023) A role for heritable transcriptomic variation in maize adaptation to temperate environments. Genome Biology doi: 10.1186/s13059-023-02891-3 bioRxiv doi: 10.1101/2022.01.28.478212

Grzybowski M, Mural RV, Xu G, Turkus, J, Yang Jinliang, Schnable JC (2023) A common resequencing-based genetic marker dataset for global maize diversity. The Plant Journal doi: 10.1111/tpj.16123 Cover Article, March 2023 Research Highlight in The Plant Journal doi: 10.1111/tpj.16123

Wijewardane NK, Zhang H, Yang J, Schnable JC, Schachtman DP, Ge Y (2023) A leaf-level spectral library to support high throughput plant phenotyping: Predictive accuracy and model transfer. Journal of Experimental Botany doi: 10.1093/jxb/erad129

Sahay S, Grzybowski M, Schnable JC, Glowacka K (2023) Genetic control of photoprotection and photosystem II operating efficiency in plants. New Phytologist doi: 10.1111/nph.18980

Yang, T. Zhao, H. Cheng, and J. Yang (2023). Microbiome-enabled genomic selection improves prediction accuracy for nitrogen-related traits in maize, G3, 2023.

Palali Delen, G. Xu, J. Velazquez-Perfecto, J. Yang (2023). Estimating the genetic parameters of yield-related traits under different nitrogen conditions in maize, Genetics, 2023.

Palali Delen, J. Lee, J. Yang (2023). Improving the metal composition of plants for reduced Cd and increased Zn content: molecular mechanisms and genetic regulations, Cereal Research Communications, 2023.

Joshi, D.C., S. Sood, H. Kudapa, M. Zhou, and D. K. Santra (2023). Editorial: Trait mining and genetic enhancement of millets and potential crops: modern prospects for ancient grains. Front. Plant Sci., 14: p.1-3. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1291893

Magris, G., Foria S., Ciani S., Santra, D. K., Polenghi O. Cerne V., Morgante M., and  Gaspero G. D. (2023). Targeted sequencing of the Panicum miliaceum gene space and genotyping of variant sites from population genetics studies, combined in a single assay, as a tool for broomcorn millet assisted breeding. Euphytica 219 (10), 102. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-023-03228-8

Ray, M.K., Santra D.K., Mishra, P.K., Das, S. (2023). Indigenous Lafadong turmeric of Meghalaya and its future prospects. J App Biol.  Biotech. 11516-1. http://doi.org/10.7324/JABB.2023.11516-1

Xue Y., Ding Y., Wang Y., Wang X., Cao X., Santra D. K., Chen L., Qiao Z., and Wang R. (2023). Construction of DNA Molecular Identity Card of Core Germplasm of Broomcorn Millet in China Based on Fluorescence SSR. Scientia Agricultura Sinica. 56(12):2249-2261. doi: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2023.12.002.

Khound, R., Mathivanan, R.K., Santra, D.K. (2023). Proso Millet Neuroeconomics for Human Health and Nutritional Security. In: Kole, C. (eds) Compendium of Crop Genome Designing for Nutraceuticals. Springer, Singapore (Book chapter). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-3627-2_10-1

Linders KM, Santra D, Schnable JC, Sigmon B (2024) Variation in leaf chlorophyll concentration in response to nitrogen application across maize hybrids in contrasting environments. microPublication Biology doi: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001115

Jin H, Tross MC, Tan R, Newton L, Mural RV, Yang J, Thompson AM, Schnable JC (2024) Imitating the “breeder’s eye”: predicting grain yield from measurements of non-yield traits. The Plant Phenome Journal doi: 10.1002/ppj2.20102 bioRxiv doi: 10.1101/2023.11.29.568906

Tross MC, Grzybowski M, Jubery TZ, Grove RJ, Nishimwe AV, Torres-Rodriguez JV, Sun G, Ganapathysubramanian B, Ge Y, Schnable JC (2024) Data driven discovery and quantification of hyperspectral leaf reflectance phenotypes across a maize diversity panel. The Plant Phenome Journal doi: 10.1002/ppj2.20106 bioRxiv doi:10.1101/2023.12.15.571950

Torres-Rodriguez JV, Li D, Turkus J, Newton L, Davis J, Lopez-Corona L, Ali W, Sun G, Mural RV, Grzybowski M, Zamft B, Thompson AM, Schnable JC (2024) Population level gene expression can repeatedly link genes to functions in maize. The Plant Journal 10.1111/tpj.16801 bioRxiv doi: 10.1101/2023.10.31.565032

Sahay S, Grzybowski M, Schnable JC, Glowacka K (2024) Genotype-specific nonphotochemical quenching responses to nitrogen deficit are linked to chlorophyll a to b ratios. Journal of Plant Physiology doi: 10.1016/j.jplph.2024.154261

Sahay S, Shrestha N, Moura Dias H, Mural RV, Grzybowski M, Schnable JC, Glowacka K Comparative GWAS identifies a role for Mendel’s green pea gene in the nonphotochemical quenching kinetics of sorghum, maize, and arabidopsis. The Plant Journal (Accepted) bioRxiv doi: 10.1101/2023.08.29.555201

North Dakota

Ajit Williams, Zachary Brym, Jason Griffin, Kurt Thelen, Chengci Chen, Jamie Crawford, Burton Johnson, Alyssa Collins, Karla Gage, Mitchell Richmond, John Fike, Heather Darby, David Gang, Haleigh Ortmeier-Clarke, Rodrigo Werle, Shelby Ellison, and Bob Pearce. 2023. Comparing Agronomic Performance of Industrial Hemp Varieties for Suitable Production in The United States. Agron. J.

Almeida LFA, Correndo A, Ross J, Licht M, Casteel S, Singh M, Naeve S, Vann R, Bais J, Kandel H, Lindsey L, Conley S, Kleinjan J, Kovacs P, Berning D, Hefley T, Reiter M, Hoshouser D, Ciampitti IA. 2023. Soybean yield response to nitrogen and sulfur fertilization in the United States: contribution of soil N and N fixation processes. European Journal of Agronomy 145:126791. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2023.126791

Brooke, M.J., Svyantek, A.W., Stenger, J., Collin, A., & Hatterman-Valenti H. (2023). Influence of 'Atlantic' and 'Dakota Pearl' mother plants exposed to sublethal glyphosate and dicamba on daughter plants. American Journal of Potato Research, 100(4), 314-323. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-023-09921-7

Chao, W.S., J.V. Anderson, X. Li, R.W. Gesch, M.T. Berti, and D.P. Horvath. 2023. Overwintering camelina and canola/rapeseed show promise for improving integrated weed management approaches in the upper Midwestern U.S. Plants 12, 1329. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12061329 

Ganaparthi, V.R., Adhikari, S., Marais, F., Neupane, B., Bisek, B. (2023). The use of PI 277012-derived Fusarium head blight resistance QTL in winter wheat breeding. Heliyon 9(4): e15103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15103

Green, Andrew J. et al. Registration of ‘ND Frohberg’ hard red spring wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations (2023). https://doi:10.1002/plr2.20291

Peters Haugrud, A. R., Sharma, J. S., Zhang, Q., Green, A. J., Xu, S. S., & Faris, J. D. (2023). Identification of robust yield quantitative trait loci derived from cultivated emmer for durum wheat improvement. The Plant Genome, https://doi.org/10.1002/tpg2.202398

Roy, J., Soler‐Garzón, A., Miklas, P. N., Lee, R., Clevenger, J., Myers, Z., Korani, W., McClean, P. E. (2023). Integrating de novo QTL‐seq and linkage mapping to identify quantitative trait loci conditioning physiological resistance and avoidance to white mold disease in dry bean. The Plant Genome, 16(4), e20380.

Runhao Wang, Jason Axtman, Yueqiang Leng, Evan Salsman, Justin Hegstad, Jason D Fiedler, Steven Xu, Shaobin Zhong, Elias Elias, Xuehui Li. 2023. Recurrent selection for Fusarium head blight resistance in a durum wheat population. 30 December 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21179

Qian Y., M. Jiang, B. Zou, and D. Li. 2023. Core germplasm construction based on genetic and phenotypic diversity of Buffalograss (Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) Columbus) from the Great Plains of America. Agronomy13, 1382. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051382

Zhang, W, Dai, W. 2023. In vitro plant regeneration of ‘Prelude’ red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.). In Vitro Cell.Dev.Biol.-Plant 59, 461–466 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11627-023-10355-3

Ohio

Rachel Combs-Giroir, Manesh Shah, Hari Chhetri, Mallory Morgan, Erica Teixeira Prates, Alice Townsend, Mary E Phippen, Winthrop B Phippen, Daniel A Jacobson, Andrea R Gschwend. Morpho-physiological and transcriptomic responses of field pennycress to waterlogging. BioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.08.15.608142

Rachel Combs-Giroir, John Lagergren, Daniel A Jacobson, Andrea R Gschwend. Natural variation in physical responses to waterlogging across climate-diverse pennycress accessions. BioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.08.20.608872

Ligeyo, D.O., Saina, E., Awalla, B.J., Sneller, C., Chivasa, W., Musundire, L., Makumbi, D., Mulanya, M., Milic, D., Mutiga, S. and Lagat, A., 2024. Genetic trends in the Kenya Highland Maize Breeding Program between 1999 and 2020. Frontiers in Plant Science, 15, p.1416538. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1416538

Mukaro, R., Chaingeni, D., Sneller, C., Cairns, J.E., Musundire, L., Prasanna, B.M., Mavankeni, B.O., Das, B., Mulanya, M., Chivasa, W. and Mhike, X., 2024. Genetic trends in the Zimbabwe’s national maize breeding program over two decades. Frontiers in Plant Science, 15, p.1391926. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1391926

Rolling, W.R., Lake, R., Dorrance, A.E. and McHale, L.K., 2024. The Effects of Genetic Distance and Genetic Diversity on Genomic Prediction Accuracy for Soybean Quantitative Disease Resistance to Phytophthora sojae. PhytoFrontiers™, pp.PHYTOFR-07. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-07-23-0093-SC

D’Amico-Willman, K.M., Niederhuth, C.E., Sovic, M.G., Anderson, E.S., Gradziel, T.M. and Fresnedo-Ramírez, J., 2024. Hypermethylation and small RNA expression are associated with increased age in almond (Prunus dulcis [Mill.] DA Webb) accessions. Plant Science, 338, p.111918. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111918

Ariyaratne, M., King-Smith, N., Fresnedo-Ramirez, J., Barker, D.J. and Cornish, K., 2023. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Targeted Mutagenesis of Inulin Biosynthesis in Rubber Dandelion. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, 148(6), pp.266-275. https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS05311-23

Subode, S., Cho, J. and Francis, D.M., 2024. Quantitative Trait Mapping for Zebra-stem in Tomato Confirms a Genetic Cause Involving the Interaction of Unlinked Loci. HortScience, 59(7), pp.999-1006. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17766-24

South Dakota

Alomair, AM^PHD, Boe, A, and Xu L. 2023.  Field-based evaluation of root segment resprouted yellow-flowered alfalfa stand: Persistence and biomass. Proceedings of South Dakota Academy of Sciences. Vol. 102: 96. (Abstract)

Alomair, AM^PHD, Boe, A, and Xu L.  2024. Genetic Resources for Enhanced Alfalfa Persistence: Utilizing Crown and Root Sprouting Traits in Germplasm Evaluation. Proceedings of South Dakota Academy of Sciences.  Vol. 103: XX (Accepted)

Dhakal, R., Maimaitijiang, M., Chang, J., Caffe, M. 2023. Utilizing spectral, structural and Textural Features for Estimating Oat Above-Ground Biomass Using UAV-based Multispectral Data and Machine Learning. Sensors 2023, 23(24), 9708; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23249708

Ghimire, K., McIntyre, I., Caffe, M. 2024. Evaluation of Morpho-Physiological Traits of Oat (Avena sativa L.) under Drought Stress. Agriculture 2024, 14, 109. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14010109

Ghimire, K., Peta, V., Bucking, H., Caffe, M. 2023. Effect of Non-Native Endophytic Bacteria on Oat (Avena sativa L.) Growth. Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(3), 827-844. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14030062

Guidini, R., Jahani, M., Huang, K., Rieseberg, L., and Mathew, F. M. 2023. Genome-wide association mapping in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) reveals common loci and putative candidate genes for resistance to Diaporthe gulyae and D. helianthi causing Phomopsis stem canker. Plant Dis. 107(3):667-674. doi: 10.1094/PDIS-05-22-1209-RE

Okello, P., Solanki, S., Rafi, N., and Mathew, F. 2023. Sources of resistance, effect of maturity groups, and marker-trait associations associated with Fusarium graminearum causing root rot of soybean (Glycine max). Plant Health Prog. doi.org/10.1094/PHP-01-23-0011-RS

Rafi, N., Dominguez, M., Okello, P. N., and Mathew, F. M. 2024. No common candidate genes for resistance to Fusarium graminearum, F. proliferatum, F. sporotrichioides, and F. subglutanins in soybean (Glycine max L.) accessions from Maturity Groups 0 and I: Findings from Genome-Wide Association Mapping. Plant Dis. Online doi: 10.1094/PDIS-02-24-0477-RE.

Wisconsin

No list submitted