Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Meeting Minutes: S-009 RTAC Virtual Meeting

Dr. Carlos Iglesia, S-009 RTAC Chair, called the virtual meeting to order at 9:00am ET, following with an overview of the agenda.

Melanie Harrison began the meeting by providing general PGRCU updates, highlighting brief overviews of the collections for new state reps and general attendees. The PGRCU maintains over 105,000 accessions across various species, with sorghum, pepper, and peanut being the most requested crops. Request numbers in 2024 remained stable compared to the previous 3–5 years. Personnel updates: Bob Jarrett retired. Melanie is in an acting role as the vegetable curator as the position was abolished. Tiffany Fields is assisting with germination testing following Phiffie’s retirement in 2023; the role remains unfilled due to a hiring freeze.

Ming Li Wang: Identified PI268941 as a mixed high-oleate/normal-oleate peanut accessionl After purification, genotyping, and chemical analysis, the high-oleate seeds showed improved germination and seedling vigor after long-term storage, compared to normal-oleate seeds. Identified two accession each with high oleate, high oil content, and high 100 seed weight, respectively from screening the entire sesame collection (1,232 accessions).

Shyam Tallury: 500 Arachis hypogea accessions were planted in Byron for seed increase, with the plots looking promising. Another 18 PIs are being increased in the greenhouse. There were 60 accessions from 31 species that were submitted for consideration to add into the USDA collection. Another 137 accessions representing 60 species that are being grown for seed increase in the greenhouse. Collaborations with genotyping A. hypogea accessions with Dr. Josh Clevenger, marker development to evaluate smut resistance with Kelly Chamberlin, investigation of neo allotetraploids derived from wild peanut species with by Drs. David Bertioli and Soraya Bertioli for new sources of disease resistance, and seed quality trait evaluations with Dr. Ming Li Wang are being continued. Also, 100 accessions each of cowpea and mung bean were planted in field plots for regenerations.  19 Bambara groundnut accessions were also planted in the field for seed increase. Additionally, fresh seeds harvested from 130 cowpea PIs and 103 mung bean PIs were submitted for processing into the USDA collection. Collaboration of mung bean germplasm characterization for yield, nutritional components and other physiological traits under high- temperature stress with researchers from Kansas State University and cowpea genetic diversity and genome-wide association studies with Tennessee State University were completed.

Brad Morris: There were 84 accessions (28 castor bean, 25 legumes, and 31 grasses) in total that were increased in 2024. Currently, there are 175 accessions (44 industrial crops, 79 legumes, and 52 grasses) growing in 2025 for increase. The industrial crop includes roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) continues to have interest and still working with private company Pride Road for use of roselle in various food products such as teas and jams. Increasing key roselle accessions has been successful to date. An ornamental roselle sample is in an ongoing project for its colorful purple leaves with bronzing at the terminal branch points and will produce seeds. It will change from purple to green when moved to the greenhouse and revert back to purple when moved outdoors. I am collaborating with Dr. Andrew Ogden, UGA on a project evaluating day netural roselle genotypes when grown in controlled environmental conditions.

Melanie: Regarding vegetable curation, most regenerations are occurring in Byron due to the location’s sandier soils are ideal for hill plots. Luffa’s collection is being regenerated in Florida. Drs. Steve Kresovich and Siva Sukumaran at Clemson University is regenerating and evaluating the okra collection. Eggplant is being screened by Greg Vogel at Cornell University. In terms of sorghum, working closely with the Sorghumbase team (Dr. Doreen Ware and Nick Gladman) for genotyping and seed imaging. Sorghum regenerations continue to be done in St. Croix, led by Dr. Hugo Cuevas.

Future priorities: Expand genotyping, high-throughput phenotyping (HTP), and automated data collection

Very grateful to the curators (once had eight curators and now are down to four) that still remain (Melanie Harrison, MingLi Wang, Brad Morris, and Shyam Tallury), as well as the dedicated staff (Tiffany Fields).

Q&A Session

State Reports:

AL (Charles Chen)

AR (no report)

FL (no report)

GA (Soraya Bertioli)

Guam (Mary Marutani): Sent report but could not attend.

HI (no report)

KY (Tim Phillips): 81 accessions requested in 2024, up from only 21 in 2023. Brandywine Seed Farm obtained 61 accessions of cowpea while Red Leaf Biologics received sorghum accessions for their business in anthocyanin-based products.

LA (Don LaBonte): Screening the sweet potato collection for black rot resistance with funding from a CGC grant. Also looking at guava root-knot nematode resistance. Had one sweet potato released in 2024.

MS (Marta Pudzianowska): There was a decrease in total accessions requested in 2024 compared to the prior year. Some requests in watermelon accessions by Alcorn State University.

NC (Carlos Iglesias): Total number of accessions requested was 376 in 2024, with sorghum making up 41% of requests.

OK (Shuhao Yu): A total of 31 accessions were requested by OK State University and the USDA-ARS scientists based in the state. Requests were for sorghum and turfgrasses, primarily for bermudagrass breeding. Two bermudagrass cultivars were released in 2024.

TN (Virginia Sykes): All requests in 2024 were made from scientists at Tennessee State University as part of Dr. Matt Blair’s breeding and genetics program.

TX (Shuyu Liu on behalf on Gerald Smith):

VI (no report)

VA (Bas Bargmann): Had 18 individuals contacted, with seven of them responding. There were five individuals who requested a total of 339 accessions. No publications, releases, or patents related to the recent requests.

Meeting took a 10 minute recess from 10:20-10:30am ET.

The meeting continued at 10:30 am ET to discuss the RTAC organizational structure, which continued discussions from the prior year about changing the term lengths to two years instead of only one. Shuhao Yu accepted the position to become incoming chair (2026-2027) and Kevin Kenworthy (as former Chair-Elect) would become secretary during the term (2026-2027). Kevin (not in attendance) will be contacted to confirm his acceptance of this new role. The intended meeting location for the 2026 RTAC meeting is College Station, TX, which is to be held immediately preceding or succeeding the National Association of Plant Breeders annual meeting hosted by Texas A&M University. Gerald Smith (TX rep) has agreed to help host the RTAC meeting in 2026.

Dr. Peter Bretting (on behalf of Dr. Neha Kothari): The NPGS genebanks (22 in total) are a highlight of the USDA in terms of providing a service to the plant science community. There are approximately 200,000 accessions sent out annually to requestors. There are 621,000 total accessions in the NPGS, with 476,000 accessions that are available (77%). Of the 621,000 accessions, 575,000 are seed and 44,000 are clonally propagated. The public sector (ARS and universities) are power users of the genebanks, with the private sector being more selective and strategic with requests. Priorities of the genebanks are to conserve germplasm and secondarily characterize the germplasm to provide more information on accessions to the community to support utilization of the genebanks. Issue with 30 to 90-years regeneration backlogs in certain accessions, while average seed viability begins lowering at 15 or so years. Focus on building partnerships with universities and ARS units to accelerate genotyping and characterize the accessions to help with efficient use and eliminate redundancies of accessions in the collection. Dr. Gayle Volk, who retired earlier in 2024, developed a plan to initiate NPGS Success Stories (e.g., Pawnee pecan release, black rice developed at USDA Dale Bumpers, and the peanut accession (PI203396) that had resistance to leaf spot and tomato spotted wilt virus which is in the pedigrees of key UGA cultivars such as ‘Georgia Browne,’ ‘Georgia Green’ and ‘Southern Runner’). Encourage folks to visit the genebanks.

Dr. Jeff Dean (Director of the UGA Experiment Station and Academic Advisor for the S-009 PGRCU): The SAAESD name has been changed to Ag Innovations – South, with other regions being denoted in the same manner. The RTAC member should consider providing direct feedback to the Ag Innovations – South group to help them with budget justifications of the S-009 unit. Dr. Dean highlighted that he is serving on the Multi-State Hatch committee to help evaluate ongoing individual projects and review new or renewed projects. Dr. Dean pitched the possibility of university scientists serving dual roles of leading a research program and acting as curators in some capacity of their plant species of interest.

Jessica Shade: There is a new NIFA Director, Dr. Jaye Hamby, that began his term in March 2025. Dr. Scott Hutchins was also appointed as the new USDA undersecretary. There remains much uncertainty at this time regarding budgets and timing to release funding to support ongoing research.

Melanie: Encourage all who have not sent in state reports to be added into the annual RTAC report.

RTAC Chair Dr. Carlos Iglesia adjourned the meeting at 11:25am ET.

A large and highly valuable set of plant germplasm was preserved and distributed to scientists and plant breeders. A total of 105,957 accessions of 1,575 plant species representing 263 genera were maintained in the Griffin plant genetic resources collection. Over 88% of these accessions were available for distribution to users and over 95% were backed up securely at a second location. A total of 33,260 seed and clonal accessions were distributed upon request to scientists and educators worldwide in CY2024. Sorghum, pepper, peanut and guar were the most distributed crops. So far, this fiscal year 27,155 accessions have been distributed with sorghum and okra being the most distributed crops.

Regenerations and Acquisitions:

• Successful seed regenerations and descriptor characterizations occurred (late 2024) from 84 accessions of 28 castor bean, 25 legume, and 31 grass accessions.
• Regenerations continue for 175 accessions of 44 industrial crop, 79 legume, and 52 grass accessions to field plots, pots, and hydroponic systems (utilized for seed and plant rescue).
• Between 60 and 80 seeds of each of 500 different peanut lines were planted in field plots in Byron, GA, to harvest fresh seeds to replenish seed inventories.
• Growing plants of 137 different peanut wild relatives in the greenhouses to harvest fresh seeds to replenish seed inventories
• 100 different lines each of cowpea and mung bean (total 200 lines) were planted in field plots in Griffin, GA, to harvest fresh seeds to replenish seed inventories
• Fresh pods harvested from 60 different lines of 31 peanut wild relatives were submitted to the seed storage unit for replenishment of seed inventories
• Fresh seeds harvested from 133 cowpea and 103 mung bean lines were submitted to the seed storage unit for replenishment of seed inventories.
• Regenerations of pepper, eggplant, and watermelon being conducted in the greenhouse and fields in Byron and Griffin.
• Sorghum regenerations are being conducted in collaboration with ARS researchers in Puerto Rico.

Evaluations:

• Research continues to identify ornamental characteristics specifically leaf color from a field grown selected roselle sample. This selection will ultimately be used by the ornamental nursery industry as well as farmers, growers, and in home gardens. It will add economic value.
• Research continues for identifying roselle samples which will yield quality calyces and seed under field production systems in collaboration with researchers in Lithonia, GA. This research will result in the identification of day neutral roselle samples with high quality plant, calyx, and seed production characteristics useful for edible food products such as jams, chutney, and tea. New and healthy food products are very popular and important in the U.S. markets.
• Research continues for verifying field seed production from cold tolerant, over-wintered roselle samples with ornamental calyces. This evaluation will determine high quality roselle seed production and tolerance to over-wintering and freezing temperatures. This work will help the ornamental plant industry as well as farmers of ornamental plants with high quality seed and calyx production. Over wintering and cold tolerant roselle samples would add value to the perennial plant markets.
• Research has begun on evaluating 34 roselle accessions in collaboration with a University of Georgia Controlled Environment Breeder at Griffin, Georgia for the identification of day neutral samples. Selected samples will continue in a breeding cycle for the development of high-quality calyx production which will be used by small farming operations. This research will add value to controlled environment farming systems.
• Digital images of pods and seeds of 48 different lines of peanut wild relatives were uploaded to the public database (GRIN Global)
• Seed mineral content especially, of Iron, Zinc and Phosphorous, in cowpea was conducted to determine their role in plant growth and implications for child nutrition in fermented and non-fermented cowpea-based foods. This research was done in collaboration with the University of Nevada-Reno.
• DNA analysis of different peanut lines is being carried out to identify unique lines to efficiently maintain and manage the national peanut seed collection in Griffin, GA. This research is being done in collaboration with the researchers in Tifton, GA and Huntsville, AL.
• For developing new peanut germplasm lines (high oil content and disease resistance), we made four crosses and produced 30 true F1 hybrid seeds. These F1 seeds will be planted for developing F2 population to select high oil content and disease resistance (mainly leaf spot resistance) germplasm lines.
• Measured 2931 samples for oil content, 1006 samples for fatty acid composition, and 809 samples for protein content. The materials cover peanut MAGIC (Multi-parent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross) population, wild species, cultivated peanut, allotetraploids, drought tolerance cultivars and lines plus sesame germplasm accessions and mutant lines.
• Seed image capture and data extraction and genotyping subsets for sorghum are being done in collaboration with ARS, Ithaca, NY.

Impacts

Germplasm distributed by researchers of this project resulted in numerous publications, plant variety releases, and patents as detailed in the state reports provided by the S-009 State Representatives. The state reports are provided below to document this impact.

State Reports Submitted in 2025

Alabama

Charles Chen, University of Alabama

According to records provided by S-009, a total of 2,459 germplasm accessions were requested by institutions in Alabama between 2022 and 2024 (Table 1). In 2024 alone, the requested germplasm spanned four genera: Arachis, Abelmoschus, Lespedeza, and Trifolium (Table 2). The most frequently requested crop was peanut (Arachis hypogaea), with a total of 1,668 accessions requested in 2024, primarily by the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology and Auburn University. These two institutions together accounted for 1,709 out of the 1,732 total accessions requested in 2024. The peanut germplasm has been primarily used for screening traits related to drought tolerance and aflatoxin resistance.

Table 1. Required Accessions by Recipients and Year

Table 2.  Required Accessions by Genus in 2024

Arkansas

No state report was submitted for Arkansas.

Florida

No state report was submitted for Florida.

Georgia

Soraya Leal-Bertioli, University of Georgia

Between 2021 and 2024, 3032 accessions were distributed to 59 users. The majority are Arachis (1394 accessions, including peanut and 34 wild species), Sorghum (667 accessions) and Capsicum (465 accessions). Others include Cenchrus, Eleusine Vigna, Ipomoea, Catharanthus, Solanum, Zoysia and others. All requests came from domestic institutions. Most users (41) were affiliated with U.S. state agencies and universities, eight with USDA-ARS, five with commercial companies, one with U.S. federal agency (not AID or ARS). All requests reported here are from within the U.S.A.

In order to have information about the utilization of these accessions, we emailed all 59 users asking for a short description of the work they have done with the germplasm requested. We received 13 responses. As expected, most of the work reported being conducted is in the initial stages of characterization and crosses. The examples below are from these responses, from presentations at the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (UGA) retreat and literature search. Many of the publications are likely to have been derived from germplasm requested prior to 2022.

Arachis

High oil content peanut lines are being used for crosses for the future cultivar release (UGA, Tifton).

Wild species were tested for disease resistance.

Wild species were tested weed quality trait evaluations

Wild species were requested to be used in crossing schemes to produce peanut compatible allotetraploids to broaden the peanut genetic base. Since 2021, 28 confirmed hybrids were obtained and 22 allotetraploids were produced (Wild Peanut Lab, UGA Athens). In 2024, six new allotetraploids were released and deposited at the NPGS (see Leal-Bertioli et al., 2025).

Wild Arachis species are being tested for Aspergillus spp. and aflatoxin production (UGA, Griffin).

1. pintoi seeds were requested to start experiments on forage peanuts at UGA Tifton.

Wild Arachis accessions were used in a comparative study with an unidentified collection in Tifton, using morphological and molecular methods, and for resistance evaluations against leaf spots and TSWV.

Genotyping of A. hypogaea PIs.

Cultivated accessions are being used for marker development and development of smut resistance populations.

Cenchrus americanus 

Seeds of Cenchrus americanus is being used to identify lines with better tissue culture response/transformation efficiency than the current line being used for pearl millet (UGA, Tifton).

Citrullus

Citrullus seeds requested in 2024 by UGA are being propagated to establish infection assays to determine races/aggressiveness of watermelon Fusarium wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Niveum.

Germplasm requested in previous years was used to evaluate genotypes for non-preference to whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) and resistance to whitefly transmitted viruses (Cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV), Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV) and Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV)) Several of the PI lines were selfed and F2 populations were developed using PI 494528 as a resistance source for further study and selection (UGA, Athens).

Cowpea

Cowpea accessions are being evaluated for resistance to the Cowpea Curculio (UGA, Griffin)

Curcubita

Curcubita accessions are being used to investigate Powdery mildew resistance and for crosses in a breeding program (UGA, Griffin).

Accessions that were requested in 2022 and prior were evaluated in the field for resistance to whitefly transmitted viruses: Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV), Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV), and Cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV).  This evaluation has led to 4 publications since 2022 (Luckew et al., 2025, Kavalappara et al., 2024, Adeleke et al., 2024). Yellow squash and zucchini squash are being used to map the resistance identified in the broad screen (UGA, Athens).

Eleusine

Eleusine Accessions were used to conduct a GWAS on a diverse finger millet panel (consisting of ~140 lines majorly from Ethiopia) to investigate the underlying genetics of salt tolerance. The future plan is to genotype the USDA mini-core collection (UGA, Griffin).

Sorghastrum nutans 

Accessions were used in a project to examine genetic variability in Sorghastrum nutans collections from across the Southeast. Their plan is to use the genetic information gathered in this project to make informed decisions about current and future releases of Sorghastrum nutans, including possible areas of adaptation, evaluation of genetic diversity within and across future accessions, and evaluation of practices used for long-term breeder and foundation seed maintenance of a germplasm (Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center).

Sorghum

Lines of sorghum are being tested for aphid resistance (USDA, Tifton).

48 ex-PVP sorghum lines were planted in an unreplicated nursery for initial observation (grain color, and took scores on naturally occurring grain mold, panicle-damage from insects, and leaf anthracnose) and seed increase. Selected lines will be used for crosses (USDA, Tifton).

Lines of sorghum are also being tested for aphid resistance and physiological traits at the Fort Valley State University/UGA (see Punnuri et al., 2022).

Lines of sorghum are being used for RNA seq experiments (UGA, Athens).

Zoysia

Zoysiagrass accessions were used for resistance tests and two publications were produced (Ghimire et al. 2024, Bahri et al., 2024)

Guam

Mari Marutani, University of Guam

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa)

After nine accessions of Hibiscus sabdariffa were evaluated earlier for their field performance, phytochemical and antioxidant capacities (Delfin and Marutani, 2025), PI 275414 ‘Rouge,’ a S-9 accession with fleshy-red calyces has been studied for its potential functional food crop in local production and local market in agrobusiness. In 2024, PI 275414 ‘Rouge’ was regenerated to increase its seed stock for future studies at University of Guam Horticulture Laboratory. The research results and general information of H. sabdariffa accessions were disseminated at a regional conference increasing local awareness of this new specialty crop.

Hot pepper (Capsicum spp.)

In 2023, the University of Guam Horticulture Laboratory acquired an anthracnose resistant Capsicum annuum accession (PI 508440 ‘Red Champion’) from the S9 repository with the primary objective of evaluating its disease tolerance in comparison to local Capsicum varieties under field conditions. The comparative study did not proceed as intended due to a major typhoon event in 2023, which halted all field studies.

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas)

Seven sweetpotato germplasm was requested from the S9 repository to evaluate their local adaptation to the tropical environment in Guam. In addition, two sweetpotato cultivars, ‘Beaureguard’ (deep orange-fleshed) and ‘Okinawa’ (purple-fleshed), were acquired in 2024 from two participating institutions of the National Clean Plant Network (NCPN), Louisiana State University and University of California Davis. As the University of Guam serves as an institution for distribution of sweet potato germplasm to other insular agricultural institutions in the western Pacific region, the tissue-culture laboratory focuses to maintain virus-free collections of sweetpotato planting materials with virus-indexing. A technical report summarizing the results of field trials of 8 local and 13 S9 sweetpotato accessions in past years is being prepared.

Kentucky

Timothy Phillips, University of Kentucky

In 2024 81 germplasm accessions from S-009 were shipped to Kentucky addresses, up from 21 in 2023. Hebron Smith of Brandywine Seed Farm in Guthrie, KY obtained 60 cowpea accessions. Parker Camp, affiliated with the University of Kentucky through a startup company, Red Leaf Biologics, requested 15 sorghum accessions. Red Leaf Biologics produces novel, stable anthocyanin plant dyes from mutant sorghum lines. Another sorghum accession was requested by a researcher with BiOWiSH Technologies, a company selling microbial products for use in fertilizers. Zoe Schrader, a research analyst with Dr. Samuel Revolinski, a new weed scientist in the Plant and Soil Sciences Department at the University of Kentucky obtained 2 accessions of Saccharum alopecuroides and 3 accessions of Sorghastrum nutans. 

Louisiana

Don LaBonte, Louisiana State University

Sweetpotato germplasm requests from the S-9 repository serve two purposes: 1) in search of a source of resistance to specific diseases, and 2) to evaluate resistance to diseases of germplasm in the collection to assist the curator in expanding the information in the characterization database.  The objective is to evaluate sweetpotato germplasm for resistance against the black rot causing pathogen Ceratocystis fimbriata. An S-9 core of plant introductions and an additional set of lines at the PGR Unit will be screened. Several of these are new introductions from Japan with putative resistance (Kyuushuu 100 and Kasho Nourin). Several lines are to be screened for guava root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii.

A new variety of sweetpotato ‘Avoyelles’ was released by the LSU AgCenter in 2024. This is an orange flesh, light rose skin variety with early yield characteristics. Harvest can be as early as 90 days. It also has southern root-knot nematode resistance. 

Panicum virgatum is being used for transformation experiments.

Mississippi

Marta Pudzianowska, Mississippi State University

Eight hundred eleven accessions of nine genera were requested between 2022 and 2024 from three universities, two companies and USDA-ARS. Only three out of ten requestors have not replied. One peer-reviewed publication (cowpea) and two CSA News articles (cowpea and finger millet) were published by research group of Dr. Raju Bheemanahalli from Mississippi State University in 2024 and 2025. Dr. Bheemanahalli’s group also requested the highest number of accessions (total of 721 of finger millet and cowpea accessions), followed by Texas Tested Seed Company (36 watermelon accessions, no response) and Dr. Bed Prakash Bhatta from Alcorn State University (22 watermelon accessions).

Cucurbita moschata (Cucurbita)

Vaughn, A., NHC Distributors; UIND (2022, 2023)

Mr. Vaughn grew those out the following spring and summer to test and breed for resistance to squash predators. Those accessions did not carry the traits he was looking for. They were not able to handle the pest pressure as well as produce fruit in higher temps. 

Eleusine coracana (Eleusine)

Paspalum distichum (Paspalum)

Bheemanahalli, R., Mississippi State University; STA (2023)

Dr. Bheemanalli’s group received 498 finger millet (Eleusine coracana) and two knotgrass (Paspalum distichum) in 2023. The two knotgrass did not survive in Mississippi conditions. They continue to work on Eleusine coracana germplasm.

In 2023, they evaluated the entire germplasm set (498) in marginal soil during the summer to assess their adaptability in the Mississippi environment. 71% of them flowered and produced seeds. Among them, a panel of 317 agronomically superior germplasm lines was selected and characterized (both qualitatively and quantitatively) in the greenhouse in 2024. The same panel is also grown this year to develop the mini core panel based on agronomic superiority. Additionally, data on root variability among the germplasm will be generated this year.

Ipomoea batatas var. batatas (Ipomea)

Garner, J., Alcorn State Incubator; UIND (2023)

Dr. Garner is maintaining a polycross nursery where requested lines are included among other selected lines of sweet potatoes. The lines received in 2023 are among the newest additions to the nursery.   

Citrullus amarus, Citrullus lanatus, Citrullus mucosospermus, Citrullus amarus (Citrullus)

Bhatta, B., Alcorn State University; STA (2024)

During Summer 2024, 15 watermelon genotypes were evaluated in the research field at the Alcorn Experiment Station, Lorman, Mississippi. The study was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two replications. Eleven genotypes (PI 674463, PI 635642, PI 635699, PI 635598, PI 438677, PI 601228, PI 665007, PI 388021, PI 543212, Crimson Sweet, and Watermelon Ultra Cool Hybrid) were Citrullus lanatus type. Of these, the first nine genotypes were provided by USDA-NPGS. Crimson Sweet (PI 635688) and Watermelon Ultra Cool Hybrid were purchased locally. Three C. amarus accessions (PI 255136, PI 688009, and PI 189225) and one C. mucosospermus accession (PI 560013) were also obtained from USDA-NPGS. Traits recorded in this study include germination percentage, cotyledon leaf area, male: female flower ratio, true leaf area, internode distance, main vine length, number of nodes on main vine, yield (marketable and total), fruit traits (length, width, rind thickness, flesh firmness, and degree Brix). The five high-yielding watermelon genotypes from this study were PI 601228 (Yellow Crimson), PI 388021 (Arka Jyoti), PI 543212 (Sandia), PI 635699 (Charleston Diploid 59-1), and PI 674463 (Moon & Stars). Ten genotypes (PI 438677, PI 543212, PI 601228, PI 635598, PI 635642, PI 635688, PI 635699, PI 665007, PI 674463, and commercial hybrid) had an average degree Brix of 8 or higher.

Bambusa multiplex (Bambusa)

Phyllostachys rubromarginata (Phyllostachys)

Chang, S., Mississippi State University (2024)

After the two bamboo roots arrived from Georgia last year, Dr. Chang had a slight delay in putting into the ground. One of them did not germinate, and the other did not survive the cold winter this year.

Vigna unguiculata, Vigna unguiculata group biflora, Vigna unguiculata group sesquipedalis, Vigna unguiculata group unguiculata, Vigna unguiculata (Vigna)

Poudel, S., Mississippi State University; STA, Sivarathri, B., Mississippi State University; STA (2024) (Dr. Bheemanahalli’s group)

Cowpea genotypes obtained from the NPGS were utilized for root phenotyping and evaluation of yield potential. A total of 202 genotypes were phenotyped for root traits before the flowering stage. In other studies, 15 genotypes were tested for drought tolerance at vegetative and reproductive stages. These genotypes were a mixture of seeds obtained from both NPGS and a collaborator. However, some of the genotypes did not germinate, and they didn’t use them in the study. They selected the 15 genotypes based on the maturity date around 70 days. The genotypes we used are mentioned in our peer-reviewed publication.

North Carolina

Carlos Iglesias, North Carolina State University

Over the past three years (2022 – 2024), institutions in North Carolina requested 1041 accessions (24 accessions seemed to have been order by organizations outside our State) from the PGRC unit at Griffin. Of these, 376 were requested in 2024, 221 in 2023, and 444 in 2022. We received use reports for 60% of the accessions (622 of them).  The four largest number of accessions requested by genus were: Sorghum (420); Trifolium (137); Hibiscus (118); and Solanum (80), representing 72.5% of the total number of accessions requested by institutions in North Carolina.

Oklahoma

Shuhao Yu, Oklahoma State University

Plant germplasm users in Oklahoma requested a total of 31 accessions maintained at the USDA ARS Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit at Griffin, GA in this reporting period. The Oklahoma users included scientists at Oklahoma State University and USDA ARS laboratories. The requested plant germplasm included peanuts (Arachis spp.), Cyamposis, sorghum (Sorghum spp.), and grasses (Cynodon spp). The number of requested germplasm in 2024 is much less than that in 2022 (2,374) and 2023 (342).

Puerto Rico

Carlos Flores Ortega, University of Puerto Rico

No report was received.

South Carolina

Rick Boyles, Clemson University

General overview of state germplasm requests and trends over time. The number of requests, number of genera requested, and number of total accessions requested in 2024 were all down from 2023 statistics. The number of accessions requested was the lowest for the state in the past seven years, just below the recent low of 569 requested in 2022. The total user requests of nine were the second lowest during this period, just above eight total requests made in 2020. Unfortunately, there have been key USDA positions in the state that were vacated as a result of resignations and retirements, including changes at the US Vegetable Laboratory based in Charleston. That being said, South Carolina remains a dedicated user of accessions maintained by the S-009 unit to conduct very important research to the region and broader United States.

Screening vegetable germplasm for biotic stress resistance. Multiple programs in Charleston, primarily led by Drs. Amnon Levi and Will Rutter, have been screening the USDA Citrullus amarus (Citron melon) collection for resistance to Fusarium wilt of watermelon. There are two prevalent races of Fusarium wilt in watermelon (races 1 and 2). We have screened the C. amarus for these two races and identified valuable sources of resistance. In recent years, a new and potentially more virulent race (race 3) has been emerging in the southeastern United States. We have also screened the C. amarus collection for resistance to this race and identified resistance resources. Dr. Will Rutter took a position with Kansas State University in 2024, but members of his program requested sweet potatoes, various Capsicum species, and C. amarus accessions to screen them for resistance to the two devastating root-knot nematode species Meloidogyne enterolobii and M. incognita.

Screening Citron melon for traits associated with abiotic stress tolerance. The USDA US Vegetable Laboratory has also screened the Citrullus amarus (Citron melon) collection for root traits and identified several sources (PIs) with extensive root systems. These PIs with robust root systems could be useful in the development of rootstocks for grafted watermelon. In collaboration with Clemson, the same C. amarus collection was evaluated for potential salt tolerance.

Evaluating Arachis species for quality, heat tolerance, and reduced allergenicity. In the last three years (2022 to 2024), we requested five diploid accessions, including Arachis diogoi (PI 276235 and PI 468354), Arachis duranensis (PI 475884 and PI 666084), and Arachis ipaensis (PI 468322), along with 20 cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea) genotypes. These included both released varieties from different time periods and plant introductions (Table 3). The genotypes represent three major market classes of peanut: Virginia, runner, and Spanish. These genotypes were evaluated for seed protein content and composition to study the impact of domestication and breeding processes, particularly on the levels of major allergenic proteins: Ara h1, Ara h2, Ara h3, and Ara h6. Additionally, we evaluated the genotypes for heat tolerance by exposing them to high temperatures—38°C during the day and 28°C at night—for 15 days during flowering. The effects of heat stress on pollen viability and germination were also assessed. This analysis of diploid and cultivated peanut varieties is part of a broader study aimed at understanding seed protein content and composition. We observed that grain protein content has gradually increased over the past six decades through breeding. However, neither domestication nor breeding has significantly affected the allergen content in peanuts. This finding suggests that the recent rise in peanut allergies cannot be attributed to modern breeding practices aimed at improving protein content or to the evolution and domestication of polyploids. Among the diploid accessions, only Arachis diogoi accession GK 10602 (PI 276235) exhibited reduced levels of Ara h1, Ara h3, and iso-Ara h3 compared to cultivated peanuts. The heat-stress evaluation identified two genotypes—PI 200441 and PI 493581—that showed high levels of pollen viability relative to the reference variety ‘Georgia Green.’

Examining the relationship between cereal crops and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). In the lab of Dr. Vidya Suseela at Clemson University, graduate students worked with sorghum accessions previously requested from the USDA collection to investigate root architecture and how this trait influences the uptake and transport of nutrients and water. These plant mechanisms are underlying factors in overall tolerance to environmental stress. The lab conducted a greenhouse experiment to evaluate whether the generalist AMF species Rhizophagus irregularis improved the root architecture in maize (inbred line, B73), and in two sorghum accessions (PI 297130- Sorghum caudatum and PI 562730 -Sorghum bicolor) than non-inoculated control plants when supplied with sparingly soluble iron phosphate. The results revealed that the total root length and total root surface area among different root diameter classes were higher in AMF-inoculated PI-297130 (Sorghum caudatum) and maize (inbred line, B73) than in the non-inoculated plants. These changes in root traits were also mirrored in plant biomass where AMF-inoculated PI-297130 and maize had higher shoot and root biomass than the non-inoculated control plants. We did not observe such an effect of AMF in PI 562730 (Sorghum bicolor). This study emphasizes that AMF symbiosis can modulate root traits and enhance biomass under limiting soil P, but this beneficial effect could be species/accession dependent.

Developing new genetic resources to further sorghum improvement. Dr. Rick Boyles at Clemson University developed and released and sorghum Multi-parent Advanced Generation InterCross (MAGIC) population from four founders that are known maintainers of cytoplasmic male sterility. Genomics studies have showed that the seed parent gene pool has a narrower genetic base that likely results from fewer lines that do not possess one or more fertility restoration genes. In an effort to overcome this limitation, the lab of Dr. Boyles crossed the seed parents BTx642 (PI 656029) and BTxARG-1 (PI 561072) along with maintainer lines SC605 (PI 534096) and SC630 (PI 533937) and then intercrossed subsequent F₁ progeny to make 708 recombinant lines that were advanced through single seed descent to the F₇ generation. This population is now available to the sorghum community for trait discovery and pre-breeding.

Table 3. List of Arachis hypogaea genotypes ordered from GRIN between 2022 and 2024.

Tennessee

Virginia R. Sykes, University of Tennessee

Over the past three years (2022 – 2024), 995 accessions were requested from the PGRC unit at Griffin by individuals in Tennessee. Of these, 345 were requested in 2024, 607 were requested in 2023, and 43 were requested in 2022. In 2024, all requests were from TN State University for Vigna. Two manuscripts were published but no germplasm/variety releases were reported in 2024.  

Texas

Gerald R. Smith, Texas A&M University

Sorghum germplasm was requested by the Mullet Lab (Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College station, TX) for studies involving flowering response.  The regulation of photoperiod-sensitive flowering in sorghum was evaluated using the genotypes SM100 (prr37-1) and 100M (PRR37).  The genotype SM100 was used as an early flowering photoperiod insensitive check .  Other sorghum plant introduction germplasm was used by USDA-ARS (College Station, TX) scientists to screen for resistance to anthracnose and grain mold in Burleson County, TX.  The TAMU Sorghum Breeding Program evaluated sorghum PI lines for production of aerial adventitious roots, which are associated with nitrogen fixation in biomass and forage sorghum.

Multiple PI lines of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) were evaluated and used in tissue culture at Westlaco (Texas A&M AgriLife Research) to develop clonal plant material for future intercropping experiments.

USDA GRIN (S-009) provided PI lines to UT Austin for a number of species from the Cucurbitaceae plant family, including both non-bitter and bitter forms of Cucurbita and related species.   Large numbers of these plants were grown to extract cucurbitacins and to conduct bioassays and feeding trials with corn rootworm beetles.  The plant material was also used in an undergraduate class at the University of Texas at Austin, where students were taught methods of extracting phytochemicals from plant material and bioassay methods with Diabrotica beetles.

Two hundred and forty five cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) PI lines were obtained by the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Legume Breeding and Genetics Lab for a phenotyping project to identify traits useful in our multi-use cowpea improvement program. Eleven mung bean (Vigna radiata) lines were evaluated for maturity and seed production under greenhouse conditions.

Peanut PI lines were provided to Lubbock Christian University for a variety of food quality and genetic studies.  Selected samples were sequenced for the development of genetic markers related to oil content, protein content, maturity, and fatty acid composition.  Lines were identified with higher-than-average saturated fatty acid composition. Peanut lines were phenotyped for  total oil, total protein, phytosterols and antioxidant capacity

Plant introduction lines were used for a genetic study at Prairie View A&M University on the inheritance types in sweetpotato, the results of which have been summarized in a publication last year.  The use of the germplasm from S9 unit was acknowledged in the paper. In addition, the Resisto cultivar, originally obtained from the S9 unit was used as one of the parental line for two newly selected purple sweetpotato lines (R5 and PV4 experimental lines ).

Multiple species of forage grasses were obtained by Univ. of Texas, Austin from S-9 and used for host specificity testing with classic biological control candidate insects under consideration for control of invasive Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) in the United States. The species requested from the Georgia USDA ARS Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit were included on a proposed host-specificity test plant list for potential biological control agents of Guinea grass in North America currently under review by the USDA – APHIS – Technical Advisory Group (T.A.G.). The seeds are being grown in a containment greenhouse at the University of Texas at Austin, Brackenridge Field Lab. Mature plants grown from seed will be exposed to biological control candidates, in containment, in no-choice and possibly follow-up choice tests.

Dr. Mark Hussey’s program at TAMU has requested germplasm of Bouteloua curtipendula, Cenchrus setigerus, Cenchrus flaccidus, (syn. Pennisetum flaccidum) and Cenchrus orientalis (syn. Pennisetum orientale) from Plant Genetic Resource Conservation Unit at Griffin, GA over the past 3 years.

Research with side-oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) has focused on determining the DNA content of the germplasm in the NPGS using flow cytometry and determining genetic variation within and between the requested germplasm and commercial varieties released by the USDA-NRCS using Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR’s) from Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) Columbus. All commercial varieties of side-oats grama are direct increases of individual plants or populations collected from Mexico to the Dakota’s.

Of particular interest with the Bouteloua germplasm is understanding cross compatibility and potential gene flow between accessions classified as Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx) Torr var curtipendula and those characterized as Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx) Torr var caespitosa Gould & Kapadia. All accessions in the NPGS are currently classified as Bouteloua curtipendula even though 2C DNA contents range from ca. 1.3 to > 4.75 pg and ploidy ranges from ca.  2N=40 (var. curtipendula) to ca. 2N=100 (var. caespitosa) has been observed in the accessions studied to date.

Seedlings from the Cenchrus setigerus accessions have been germinated and started in conetainers in the greenhouse. These will be evaluated to access variation in DNA content via flow cytometry and to make crosses with sexual and facultative apomictic buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) accessions this fall.

Accessions of Cenchrus flaccidus and Cenchrus orientalis will be established in the field in 2026 to evaluate them for their ornamental potential.

U.S. Virgin Islands

Thomas W. Zimmerman, University of the Virgin Islands

No report was received.

Virginia

Bas Bargmann, Virginia Tech

Several institutions in Virginia have used germplasm provided by the S-009 project over the last three years for educational purposes as well as differing lines of research, some with promising results that are expected to lead to publications in the near future. A total of 339 accessions were requested by five different users, up from 67 by seven different users last year. There were no publications reported in the last year. Of the 17 Virginia users, we had a response from ten and seven did not respond after repeated solicitation.

Alicia Anderson at Le Crush Station assessed Citrullus and Capsicum genetics for testing resiliency in a coastal landscape with salt water intrusion. Dr. Balota at Virginia Tech used Arachis hypogaea as well as previously obtained Vicia faba lines to assess winter hardiness in Virginia as part of a proposal "Enhanced Mid-Atlantic System Sustainability Through Development of High-Protein and Stress Tolerant Faba Bean for Winter Production". Patrick Bewick (in the lab of Dr. Bo Zhang) at Virginia Tech used Neonotonia wightii to see if they are adapted to Virginia growing environments. Edmund Frost at Common Wealth Seed Growers used Lagenaria siceraria, Luffa acutangular, and Luffa aegyptiaca germplasm to conduct trials, and seed increases for three of the luffa, they expect to make 1-2 of them (that stand out for earliness and productivity; for edible use, not sponges) commercially available.  Dr. Harbans Bhardwaj at Virginia State University used various germplasm and evaluated these in the field for winter hardiness and agronomic traits. Ron Catania (affiliation unknown) did not use the Solanum douglasii germplasm and has switched production interest to animal husbandry. Mr. Hardin (affiliation unknown) used Abelmoschus esculentus to grow out and observe for disease resistance and production traits they can combine with their existing hybrids. M. Kahhar used Capsicum annuum and Capsicum chacoense for varietal development and breeding. Dr. Liu (formerly in the lab of Dr. Yun Yin) at Virginia Tech used Cymbopogon citratus to study how different environmental conditions (such as lighting) affect their secondary metabolites (volatile aroma compounds) and gene expression. Dr. Timko at the University of Virginia used his Vigna subterranea germplasm to multiply seed and some first pass analysis of phenotypic differences, finding that most of the material was heavily susceptible to thrips and viral disease. Dr. Zhao at Virginia Tech evaluated the disease resistance of requested Capsicum germplasm.

Marshall, J.; Gilliam, L.; McGilton, M.; Patty, A.; Sowell, L.; Cherry, A.; Fisher, B.; Scholten, M.; Liebold, C.; Cowart, D.; Sterling, S. 2025. Total antioxidant capacity of Arachis hypogaea seed kernels and coats: an analytical and sensory investigation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 

*Adeleke, I. A., Kavalappara, S. R., Codod, C. B., Kharel, P., Luckew, A., McGregor, C., Simmons, A. M., Srinivasan, R., & Bag, S. (2024). Evaluation of Plant Introduction Lines of Yellow Squash (Cucurbita pepo) for Resistance against Single Infection of Cucurbit Chlorotic Yellows Virus and Cucurbit Leaf Crumple Virus. HortScience, 59(7), 949-956. https://www.doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17861-24

Ahmad Naseer Aziz. 2024. Perspective advancements in plant science through segregating sorghum gametophyte developmental stages. Iris Online Journal of Sciences. OJS.MS.ID.000508. Online: https://irispublishers.com/iojs/volume1-issue2.php.

Alam T, Rustgi S (2025) Peanut Genotypes with Reduced Content of Immunogenic Proteins by Breeding, Biotechnology, and Management: Prospects and Challenges. Plants 14:626.

Arikilla, S., Cevallos, F. N., Moss, J. Q., Yu, S., Fontanier, C. H., Martin, D. L., ... & Xiang, M. (2025). Responses of turf‐type hybrid bermudagrasses to drought stress. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.178.

*Ballén-Taborda C, Maharjan N, Hopkins M, Lindsey D, Guimarães L, Bertioli D, Leal-Bertioli SCM. 2024. A study of pod constriction in a peanut population with mixed wild and cultivated genetics. Crop Science. 2024:1-17.

Barnes E, Leal-Bertioli SCM, Ballén-Taborda C, Timper P, Abernathy B, Brown N, Brenneman TB, Bertioli DJ. Elite agronomic performance in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea) with strong resistance to root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) introgressed from Arachis stenosperma. Crop Science. 65(3), e70096.

*Boatwright, L., M. Thudi, M.K.R. Sangiredday, A.W. Coffin, H.K. Tadesse, S. Vutla, K. Harris-Shultz, J.E. Knoll, H. Cuevas, N. Kumar, C. Soman, J. Schnable, and S.M. Punnuri. GWAS analysis for plant height and stem diameter in sorghum using multiple phenotyping approaches. Plant Phenome.  The Plant Phenome Journal, 7, e70008. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppj2.70008

Branham SE, Ganaparthi V, Wechter W, Park Y, Wehner T, Davis A, Tetteh AY, Massey L, Hammar S, Grumet R, Kousik S, Levi A (2025) Extreme-phenotype genome-wide association study (XP-GWAS) of powdery mildew race 2 W tolerance in the USDA Citrullus germplasm collection. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 4781.

Cevallos, F., Xiang, M., Zhang, X., Wu, Y.Q., Moss, J.Q., Fontanier, C.H., Martin, D.L., & Yu, S. (2025). Gene expression profiling of African bermudagrass under cold acclimation. HortScience. 60(5):645–656.

Cevallos, F., Xiang, M., Yu, S., Moss, J.Q., Wu, Y.Q., Schwartz, B. Assessing drought resistance in bermudagrass using dual methodologies. Grass Research. doi.org/10.48130/grares-0025-0008

Pokhrel, B., Yu, S., Fontanier, C.H., Martin, D.L., Wu, Y.Q., & Xiang, M. Impact of a horticultural mineral oil on bermudagrass performance under salinity stress. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal. DOI: 10.1002/its2.70033

*Dang, P., Patel, J., Sorensen, R., Lamb, M. and Chen, C.Y., 2024. Genome-wide association analysis identified Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) underlying drought-related traits in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Genes, 15(7), p.868.

Delfin, M. M., & Marutani, M. (2025). Studies on Phytochemistry and Antioxidant Capacity of Nine Hibiscus sabdariffa Accessions. HortScience, 60(6), 832-840. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18483-25

Dilovan K. Yahya, Matthew W. Blair, Aron M. Felts, Ahmad N. Aziz. 2024. Individual Microspore Genotyping in Sorghum (S. bicolor) Cultivars Using a KASP Panel of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers. Annals of Plant Sciences.13(3): 6199-6211, ISSN 2287-688X. https://annalsofplantsciences.com/index.php/aps/article/view/1129.

*ElDoliefy, A.E.A., Anderson, J.A., Glover, K.D., Elias, E. M., Ashry, H.A., ElZahaby, I.M. & Mergoum, M. 2024. Mapping of main and hidden epistatic QTL effects in spring wheat population using medium parental FHB resistance. Discov. Plants 1, 1 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44372-024-00001-6

Ganaparthi VR, Wechter P, Katawczik M, Levi A, Branham S (2025) Genome-wide association mapping and genomic predictions for Bacterial fruit blotch resistance in the USDA Citrullus amarus collection. Plant Disease.

Ganaparthi VR, Wechter P, Levi A, Branham SE (2024) Mapping and validation of Fusarium wilt race 2 resistance QTL from Citrullus amarus line USVL246-FR2. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 137(4), 91.

*Gangurde, S.S., Thompson, E., Yaduru, S., Wang, H., Fountain, J.C., Chu, Y., Ozias-Akins, P., Isleib, T.G., Holbrook, C., Dutta, B. and Culbreath, A.K., 2024. Linkage Mapping and Genome-Wide Association Study Identified Two Peanut Late Leaf Spot Resistance Loci, PLLSR-1 and PLLSR-2, Using Nested Association Mapping. Phytopathology®, 114(6), pp.1346-1355.

Gao, M., Hua, T., Niu, G., Masabni, J. and Dewalt, W.  2024. A locus-dependent mixed inheritance in the segmental allohexaploid sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam). Frontiers in Plant Science, 15, p.1398081

*Ghimire, B., Orellana, R., Chowdhury, S. R., Vermeer, C. B., Patel, P., Raymer, P., Milla-Lewis, S., Buck, J. W., Martinez-Espinoza, A. D., and Bahri, B. A. 2024. Assessing biofungicides and host resistance against Rhizoctonia large patch in zoysiagrass. Pathogens. 13:864. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13100864

Gonzales M, Abernathy B, Kemerait R Jr, Bertioli DJ, Brewer M and Leal-Bertioli SCM. 2024. Chromosome-level genome sequence resource of Nothopassalora personata (syn. Cercosporidium personatum), a devastating fungal pathogen of peanut. Phytofrontiers. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-10-23-0135-A.

*Happs, R.M., Hanes, R.J., Bartling, A.W., Field, J.L., Harman-Ware, A.E., Clark, R.J., Pendergast IV, T.H., Devos, K.M., Webb, E.G., Missaoui, A. and Xu, Y., 2024. Economic and sustainability impacts of yield and composition variation in bioenergy crops: switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 12(5), pp.1897-1910.

Ingole HP, Saripalli G, Jones ZT, Parthiban M, Toyinbo J, Narayanan S, Mir RR, Rustgi S (2025) Genome-wide association analysis for pollen viability under heat stress in peanut. Plant Stress 15, 100760.

*Jha, U.C., Shafi, S., Tallury, S., Nayyar, H., Udgata, A.R., Ciampitti, I.A., Siddique, K.H. and Prasad, P.V., 2025. Dynamic changes in seed nutritional components of mung bean [(Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek)] under heat stress. Scientific Reports, 15(1), p.12586.

Katuuramu DN, Levi A, Wechter WP (2024). Mapping the genetic architecture of low-temperature stress tolerance in citron watermelon. The Plant Genome, 17(2), e20443.

* Kavalappara, Saritha Raman, Sudeep Bag, Alexander Luckew, Cecilia E. McGregor, Albert K. Culbreath, and Alvin M. Simmons. 2024. "Evaluation of Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) Genotypes for Resistance to Cucurbit Chlorotic Yellows Virus" Horticulturae 10, no. 3: 264. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10030264

Khanal C, Rutter W, Alam MS, Alarcon-Mendoza I (2025) Meloidogyne floridensis has a unique virulence profile against root-knot nematode resistant and susceptible pepper (Capsicum annuum) lines. Journal of Nematology 57(1), 20250007.

*Knoll, J., Uchimiya, M.;, Hayes, C., Punnuri, S., Harris-Shultz, K., and Smith, J. 2023. Registration of three sweet sorghum lines with resistance to sorghum aphid (Melanaphis sorghi). Journal of Plant Registrations 17:551-560.

Kumar N, Boatwright JL, Brenton ZW, Cox A, McCalla KE, Kresovich S, Boyles RE (2025) Registration of the sorghum multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) B-line population ‘MBL’: A source of seed parent genetic diversity. Journal of Plant Registrations, 19(2), e70013.

*Leal-Bertioli SCM, Hopkins M, Leverett J, Gonzales M, Tsai Y-C, Matusinec D, Tonnis B, Araujo ACG and Bertioli DJ. Registration of six disease resistant, high protein, induced allotetraploids derived from Arachis duranensis and A. ipaënsis, the genome progenitors of peanut. Journal of Plant Registrations. In press

*Luckew, A., Sari, N., Pandey, S., McAvoy, T., Simmons, A. M., Meru, G., & McGregor, C. (2025). Watermelon Germplasm with Resistance to Whitefly-transmitted Viruses. HortScience, 60(2), 245-253. doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18262-24.

*Massa, Alicia N., Victor S. Sobolev, Paola C. Faustinelli, Shyamalrau P. Tallury, H. Thomas Stalker, Marshall C. Lamb, and Renee S. Arias. "Genetic diversity, disease resistance, and environmental adaptation of Arachis duranensis L.: New insights from landscape genomics." Plos one 19, no. 4 (2024): e0299992.

*Mazarei, Mitra, Anne E. Harman-Ware, Thomas H. Pendergast, Vivek Shrestha, Yaping Xu, Cristiano Piasecki, Reginald J. Millwood, Katrien M. Devos, and C. Neal Stewart. Variation in Biomass Yield and Cell Wall Composition in Switchgrass Natural Variants Under Two Nitrogen Regimes. BioEnergy Research 18, no. 1 (2025): 1-14.

*McBreen, J., Babar, M.A., Jarquin, D., Khan, N., Harrison, S., DeWitt, N., Mergoum, M., Lopez, B., Boyles, R., Lyerly, J. and Murphy, J.P., 2025. Enhancing prediction accuracy of grain yield in wheat lines adapted to the southeastern United States through multivariate and multi‐environment genomic prediction models incorporating spectral and thermal information. The Plant Genome, 18(1), p.e20532.

Mohammed, S.B.; Ongom, P.O.; Togola, A.; Boukar, O. 2024. Enhancing Cowpea Tolerance to Elevated Temperature: Achievements, Challenges and Future Directions. Agronomy 2024, 14, 513. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030513

Phat Dang, Jinesh Patel, Ron Sorensen, Marshall Lamb, and Charles Y. Chen. 2024. Genome-Wide Association Analysis Identified Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) Underlying Drought-Related Traits in Cultivated Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Genes 2024, 15(7), 868; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15070868

Poudel, S., Valsala Sankarapillai, L., Sivarathri, B. S., Hosahalli, V., Harkess, R. L., & Bheemanahalli, R. (2025). Characterization of cowpea genotypes for traits related to early season drought tolerance. Agriculture, 15(10), 1075. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15101075

*Punnuri SM, Ayele AG, Harris-Shultz KR, Knoll JE, Coffin AW, Tadesse HK, Armstrong JS, Wiggins TK, Li H, Sattler S, Wallace JG. Genome-wide association mapping of resistance to the sorghum aphid in Sorghum bicolor. Genomics. 2022 Jul;114(4):110408. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110408. Epub 2022 Jun 15. PMID: 35716823.

Rutter W, Culbreath J, Khanal C, Wadl PA, Kai SL, Mueller, J (2024) Using a community-level sampling approach for detecting Meloidogyne enterolobii and other pathogens in sweetpotato storage roots. Journal of Nematology 56(1), 126–126.

Sasia S, Bridges W, Boyles RE (2025) Exploring the influence of environmental and crop management factors on sorghum nutrient composition and amino acid digestibility in broilers. Agriculture, 15(3), 232.

Singh S, Cutulle MA, Rutter W, Wadl PA, Ward BK, Khanal C (2025) Anaerobic soil disinfestation as a tool for nematode and weed management in organic sweetpotato. Agronomy 15(3), 548.

Singh S, Rutter W, Wadl PA, Campbell H, Khanal C, Cutulle MA (2024) Effectiveness of anaerobic soil disinfestation for weed and nematode management in organic sweetpotato production. Agronomy 14(9), 1935.

Singh, S., Yu, S., Xiang, M., Fontanier, C.H., Wu, Y.Q., Martin, D.L., & Kajla, A. (2024). Genetic variability of traffic tolerance and surface playability of bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) under fall simulated traffic stress. HortScience, 59, 73-83. doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17488-23

Souza, R., Buckley, B., Mian, M.R. and Li, Z., 2024. Mining exotic germplasm for genetic improvement of protein quantity and quality in soybean (Glycine max). Plant Breeding, 143(3), pp.292-304.

*Suppa, Robert W., Ryan J. Andres, Jeffrey C. Dunne, Ramsey F. Arram, Thomas B. Morgan, and Hsuan Chen. "Autotetraploid Induction of Three A-Genome Wild Peanut Species, Arachis cardenasii, A. correntina, and A. diogoi." Genes 15, no. 3 (2024): 303.

*Thompson, Ethan, Hui Wang, Walid Korani, Jake C. Fountain, Albert K. Culbreath, C. Corley Holbrook, Josh P. Clevenger, and Baozhu Guo. "Genetic and genomic characterization of a multiparent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)." Crop Science 65, no. 1 (2025): e21402.

Tripathi, K., Ramya, K.R., Basavaraj, P.S., Manu, B., Kumar, K., Jha, S.K., Dikshit, H.K., Pratap, A. and Mishra, G.P., Allele Mining in Mung Bean (Vigna radiata [L.] Walczak). In Allele Mining for Genomic Designing of Grain Legume Crops (pp. 153-172). CRC Press.

*Tsai YC, Brenneman T, Gao D, Chu Y, Lamon S, Bertioli D. Leal-Bertioli SCM. 2024. The identification of the peanut wild relative Arachis stenosperma as a source of resistance to stem rot and analyses of genomic regions conferring disease resistance through QTL Mapping. Agronomy 2024, 14, 1442. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071442.

Wang ML, Tonnis B, J. Bradley Morris, David Pinnow, Nick Stigura, Ryan Benke, Xianran Li. 2025. Mining seed quality traits in the USDA sesame germplasm collection identifies useful accessions for improving nutritional breeding. AOCS. https://doi.org/10.1002/aocs.12933

Wang ML, Tonnis B, Tishchenko V, Tallury S. 2025. High oleic acid significantly extends the viability of long-term stored peanut seeds. Plant Genetic Resources: Characterization and Utilization. Published online 2025:1-5. doi:10.1017/S1479262125000097

Wei J, Guo T, Mu Q, Alladass, ME, Mural RV, Boyles RE, Hoffmann L, Hayes CM, Sigmon B, Thompson AM, Salas-Fernandez MG, Rooney WL, Kresovich S, Schnable JC, Li X, Yu J (2025) Genetic and environmental patterns underlying phenotypic plasticity in flowering time and plant height in sorghum. Plant, Cell & Environment, 48(4), 2727-2738.

Wright, H. and Devos, K.M., 2024. Finger millet: a hero in the making to combat food insecurity. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 137(6), p.139.

*Wu, X., Michael, V.N., López-Hernández, F., Cortés, A.J., Morris, J.B., Wang, M., Tallury, S., Miller II, M.C. and Blair, M.W., 2024. Genetic diversity and genome-wide association in cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp). Agronomy, 14(5), p.961.

Xu, G., Liu, Y., Yu, S., Kong, D., Tang, K., Dai, Z., ... & Zhang, X. (2024). CsMIKC1 regulates inflorescence development and grain production in Cannabis sativa plants. Horticulture Research, uhae161. https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae161

Yu, S., Fontanier, C. H., Yan, L., Martin, D. L., Moss, J. Q., & Wu, Y. (2024). Genetic variability and QTL mapping of morphological traits and inflorescence prolificacy in African bermudagrass. Crop Science, DOI: 10.1002/csc2.21227

Yu, S., Fontanier, C.H., Singh, L., Fishbein, M., Singh, M., Martin, D.L., & Xiang M. (2025). Genetic diversity and variations among Oklahoma and Texas sedge germplasm. Crop Science. Crop Science, 65(2), e70045.

Yu, S., Wu, Y.Q., Fang, T., Xiang, M., Fontanier, C.H., Moss, J.Q., Martin, D.L. (2025). Detection of QTL associated with morphological, adaptive, and reproductive traits in common bermudagrass. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal. DOI: 10.1002/its2.70007

Abstracts:

Bahri, B. A., Ghimire, B., Orellana, R., Chowdhury, S. R., Pradhan, S., Vermeer, C. B., Khanal, S., Schwartz, B. M., Milla-Lewis, S., Devos, K. M., Raymer, P. L., Buck, J. W., and Martinez-Espinoza, A., Rhizoctonia large patch management in turfgrass. Turfgrass Research Field Day Program Book. Aug. 7, 2024. UGA Griffin Campus. pg. 22-25

Barnes, E.C., Brenneman, T., Leal-Bertioli, S.C.M., Brown, N., & Bertioli, D. (2024). Wild Species Arachis stenosperma Provides a Novel Source of Root-Knot Nematode Resistance in High- Yielding Backcross Lines of Cultivated Peanut. In 56th annual meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Bertioli, D.J. (2024). Widening the Genetic Base of Peanut Using Wild Species – Success Stories. In 56th annual meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Bista, M. K., & Bheemanahalli, R. (2024). Finger Millet: A Climate‐Resilient and Multi‐Nutrient Crop for the Uncertain Future. CSA News, 69(10), 52-56.

Boettcher, A., Rijal, S. & C.E. McGregor (2024) Screening an interspecific F2 Watermelon population for gummy stem blight (Stagonosporopsis citrulli) resistance. IPBGG Retreat, University of Georgia, Hiawassee, GA.

Boettcher, A., Rijal, S., Gimode, W. & C.E. McGregor (2025) Field evaluation of watermelon backcross lines for resistance to gummy stem blight. IPBGG Retreat, University of Georgia, Macon, GA.

Botton, S., Korani, W., Clevenger, J., Schumacher, L., Timper, P., Chu, Y., Holbrook, C.C., & Ozias-Akins, P. (2024). Exploring Peanut Root-Knot Nematode Resistance in Arachis cardenasii Introgressed Cultivated Peanut Lines. In 56th annual meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Boyles RE, "Recent genetic discoveries and advances to develop safer and more resilient cereal grains," ASPB Mid-Atlantic Section Annual Meeting, American Society of Plant Biologists, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States (May 29, 2024).

Boyles RE, Kumar N, Kresovich S, Sorghum Crop Germplasm Committee Virtual Meeting, "Sorghum Multi-parent Advanced Generation Intercross (MAGIC) B-line Population as a Community Resource," USDA-ARS, Virtual. (April 9, 2025).

Boyles RE, Thomas ML "Measuring the impacts of sorghum on farm profitability and soil health when incorporated into a dryland cropping rotation," Clemson University, Pee Dee Research and Education Center, Florence, SC, United States (August 29, 2024).

Brown, N., & Branch, W.D. (2024). Reassessing Yield Drag Associated with Peanut Root Knot Nematode Resistance Introgressed from TxAG-6 Near-Isogenic Lines. In 56th annual meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Chamberlin, K.D., Bennett, R.S., Clevenger, J.P., & Korani, W. (2024). Validation of Two QTL Associated with Sclerotinia Blight Resistance in Peanut. In 56th annual meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Chu, Y., Ozias-Akins, P., Botton, S., Isleib, T.G., Scheffler, B., Youngblood, C., Clevenger, J., Korani, W., Myers, Z., Griffin, L., & Sanmartin, P. (2024). Genomics Resources Supporting the USDA Arachis Germplasm Collection. In 56th annual meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Conti MA, Justice-Alucho C, Thomas ML, Boyles RE, "Dissecting antimicrobial properties in the sorghum grain for improved poultry health," Clemson University CAFLS Graduate Student Symposium, Madren Center, Clemson, SC, United States (August 19, 2024).

Costello, K., Stelly, D., Cason, J., Simpson, C., Verchot, J., & Burow, M.D. (2024). Evaluating Wild Peanut Species Introgression for Drought Tolerance and High Oil Content into Cultivated Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). In 56th annual meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Dang, P.M., Sorensen, R.B., Bucior, E.R., Lamb, M.C., & Chen, C.Y. (2024). Evaluation of Seed Quality Traits among 13 Peanut Genotypes Challenged to a Naturally Occurring Late- Season Drought. In 56th annual meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Desamito, C. (2024, April 11). Local hot pepper and eggplant cultivars for commercial production in Guam [Conference presentation]. 2024 Conference on Island Sustainability, Tumon, GU, United States.

Delfin, M. and M. Marutani. (2023, April 13). Flavonoids, Total Phenolic Content, and Antioxidant Activity in Leaves and Calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa Accessions and H. rosa-sinensis. [Conference presentation]. 2023 Conference on Island Sustainability, Tumon, GU, United States.

Dong, A.K., Hopkins, M.S., Bertioli, D.J., & Leal-Bertioli, S.C.M. (2024). Peanuts vs. Leaf Spot: Growing Our Defenses with Wild Species. In 56th annual meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Foote, E., Dunne, J., Gorny, A., Jordan, D., & Reisig, D. (2024). Expression of Resistance of the Peanut Line GP-NC WS 6 to Meloidogyne hapla. In 56th annual meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Ganaparthi V, William PW, Levi A, Branham SE (2024) Citrullus amarus as source of disease resistance and an attempt to transfer Fusarium wilt resistance into cultivated watermelon. Plant and Animal Genome Conference (January 12-17, 2024).

Gomis, J., Kane, A., Sambou, A., Tossim, H.A., Seye, M., Djiboune, R., Bertioli, D., Bertioli, S., Nguepjop, J.R., Rami, J.F., & Fonceka, D. (2024). Conversion of Early Maturing Spanish-Type Peanut Variety to Resistance to Early Leaf Spot Using an Arachis cardenasii Derivative Line as Donor. In 56th annual meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Goyal M, Sultana S, Suseela V (2024) Variation in Root Traits in Sorghum and Maize Induced By Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Under Limited P Availability. ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX.

Greene, A. (2024, April 10). Studying the genetic diversity of Guam’s local hot peppers using MIG-seq, a novel genetic technique [Poster presentation]. 2024 Conference on Island Sustainability, Tumon, GU, United States.

Hanneman M, Chen D, Spivey WW, Jordan K, Charles JR, Tovignan TK, Sapkota S, Pressoir G, Hershberger J, Boyles RE, Rife T, Gore MA, "Low-Cost Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for Sorghum Grain Quality Traits," ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, United States (November 11, 2024).

Holbrook, C.C., Brenneman, T.B., Ozias-Akins, P., Culbreath, A., & Chu, Y. (2024). A New Peanut Cultivar with Resistance to White Mold. In 56th annual meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Ingole H, Jones Z, Saripalli G, Rustgi S (2024) Reduced Immunogenicity Peanuts through Applied Innovations (Genome Editing and Breeding). CAFLS Graduate Student Research Symposium, Pee Dee Research and Education Center, Florence, SC (August 19-20, 2024).

Jones ZT, Ingole H, Gaganjeet, Kashyap S, Saripalli G, Rustgi S (2024) Genetic Underpinning of the Accumulation of Immunogenic Seed Proteins in Peanut and Wheat. CAFLS Graduate Student Research Symposium, Pee Dee Research and Education Center, Florence, SC (August 19-20, 2024).

Josiah, S., & McGregor, C. (2024). Ovary and Fruit Shape Variation Associated with Novel ClSUN25-26-27a Alleles in Watermelon. HosrtScience, S528.

Lamon, S., Tonnis, B.D., Holton, R., Leal-Bertioli, S.C.M., & Bertioli, D.J. (2024). Seeds of Trust: A Study of the Purity of Harvested Peanut Grain. In 56th annual meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Leal-Bertioli, S.C.M. (2024). The Migrations of Arachis stenosperma – from the Brazilian Far West to Multi-resistant Peanuts in Three Continents. In 56th annual meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Litunya, J., Luckew, A., and McGregor, C.E. (2025) Phenotypic evaluation of whitefly-transmitted virus symptoms in two watermelon F2 interspecific mapping populations. IPBGG Retreat, University of Georgia, Macon, GA.

Litunya, J., Luckew, A., Pandey, S., Sari, N., McAvoy, T. & C.E. McGregor (2024) Phenotyping and virus quantification of Criniviruses in an interspecific F2 population of watermelon. Plant Center Retreat, UGA, Callaway Gardens GA.

Marshall, J., McGilton, M., Gilliam, L. Phytosterol Analysis of Selected Peanut Genotypes from the USDA-ARS Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). 2025 American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES 2025), Richmond, VA.

Massa, A.N., Arias, R.S., Sobolev, V.S., Faustinelli, P.C., & Lamb, M.C. (2024). Incorporating Genotype-Environment Association Methods and Disease Resistance into Peanut Prebreeding. In 56th annual meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

McGregor, C. (2024). Crop Germplasm Committees: An Opportunity for Value-added Research. ASHS Annual Meeting 2024, Honolulu, HI.

McGregor, C., Luckew, A., Sari, N., McAvoy, T., Pandey, S., Simmons, A., & Meru, G. (2024). Resistance to whitefly transmitted viruses in watermelon. In Southern Region ASHS.

McGregor, C., Rijal, S., Boettcher, A., & Reyes, J. (2024). Introgressing QTL from a Wild Relative to Improve Gummy Stem Blight Resistance in Watermelon. ASHS Annual Meeting 2024, Honolulu, HI.

McGregor, C., Rijal, S., Boettcher, A., & Reyes, J. (2024). Introgressing QTL from a Wild Relative to Improve Gummy Stem Blight Resistance in Watermelon. HortScience, S491

Narayanan S, Spivey WW, Zoong Lwe ZS, Rustgi S, Welti R, Burow M (2024) Lipid remodeling contributing to heat stress adaptation in peanut. APRES 56th Annual Meeting, Oklahoma City, OK.

Pabunan, J. (2024, April 11). Hot pepper (Capsicum spp.) evaluation for Guam’s farmers [Conference presentation]. 2024 Conference on Island Sustainability, Tumon, GU, United States.

Poudel, S., Sankarapillai, L.V., & Bheemanahalli, R. (2025). Cowpea: A nutrient-rich pulse for extreme environments. CSA News, 70(5). https://www.sciencesocieties.org/publications/csa-news/2025/may/cowpea-a-nutrient-rich-pulse-for-extreme-environments

Rathore, P., Sari,N., & C.E. McGregor (2025) Optimizing in vitro cotyledon regeneration and determining antibiotics sensitivity level in watermelon. IPBGG Retreat, University of Georgia, Macon, GA.

Rustgi S (2024) “Innovative Plant Breeding and Management Strategies to Achieve Crops with Reduced Immunogenicity,” Guest lecture in the PES 3350, “Agricultural Biotechnology,” Clemson University, Clemson SC (October 17, 2024).

Rustgi S (2024) “Innovative Plant Breeding and Management Strategies to Achieve Crops with Reduced Immunogenicity,” ACS Graduate Student Webinar Series, online (October 8, 2024).

Rustgi S (2024) Healthier, Safer Peanuts Through Breeding for Reduced Allergen Content and Development of Non-reversible Atoxigenic Aspergillus Strains. Edisto Research & Education Center Field Day, Blackville SC (September 5, 2024).

Rustgi S (2024) Consistent peanut and soybean production under challenging conditions by breeding for Heat Tolerance. Plant & Animal Genome Conference (PAG31), San Diego, CA (January 12-17, 2024).

Rustgi S (2025) “Screening Wheat and Peanut Genotypes with Reduced Immunogenicity Using Protein Profiling,” 6th International Plant Proteomics Organization Conference, Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, AB, Canada (May 15 to 18, 2025). Keynote talk.

Rustgi S (2025) “Innovative Plant Breeding and Management Strategies for Developing Crops with Reduced Immunogenicity,” PAG Asia, Delhi, India (March 18-20, 2025).

Rustgi S (2025) “Breeding peanuts for heat tolerance and reduced immunogenicity,” Advances in Arachis through Genomics and Biotechnology (AAGB-2025), Goa, India (23-25 March 2025).

Rustgi S (2025) Transforming Wheat and Peanuts: Leveraging Conventional and Novel Approaches with CRISPR/Cas12a to Minimize Immunogenicity. Plant & Animal Genome Conference (PAG32), San Diego, CA (January 10-15, 2025).

Samuel M.J., Vines, D. & C.E. McGregor (2024) Ovary and fruit shape variation associated with novel ClSUN25-26-27a alleles in watermelon. ASHS Annual Meeting 2024, Honolulu, HI.

Thompson, E., Culbreath, A.K., Korani, W., Clevenger, J.P., Tonnis, B., Wang, M.L., Holbrook, C.C., & Guo, B. (2024). MAGIC Peanut and Pangenome Identify a Third FAD2 Gene Associated with High Oleic Acid Content in Peanut. In 56th annual meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

University of Guam Western Pacific Tropical Research Center. (2023). Hibiscus sabdariffa: A potential new crop to boost health, food security in Guam. In 2023 Impact Report (pp. 30-31). https://www.uog.edu/_resources/files/wptrc/2023-wptrc-impact-report-web.pdf

Yu, S., Fontanier, C.H., Martin, D.L., Moss, J.Q., Goad, C.L., Wu, Y.Q. (2024). Will drought stress affect overwinter ability in turf-type bermudagrass? Golf Course Management. https://gcmonline.com/research/news/drought-stress-overwinter-ability-bermudagrass

Yu, S., Fontanier, C.H., Yan, L., Martin, D.L., Moss, J.Q., & Wu, Y.Q. (2024). What controls African bermudagrass leaf blade and stem morphology? Golf Course Management. https://gcmonline.com/course/environment/news/what-controls-african-bermudagrass-leaf-blade-and-stem-morphology

Yu, S., Fontanier, C.H., Martin, D.L., Moss, J.Q., Goad, C.L., Wu, Y.Q. (2024). Will drought stress affect overwinter ability in turf-type bermudagrass? Golf Course Management. https://gcmonline.com/research/news/drought-stress-overwinter-ability-bermudagrass

Yu, S., Fontanier, C.H., Yan, L., Martin, D.L., Moss, J.Q., & Wu, Y.Q. (2024). What controls African bermudagrass leaf blade and stem morphology? Golf Course Management. https://gcmonline.com/course/environment/news/what-controls-african-bermudagrass-leaf-blade-and-stem-morphology

New Releases:

Branch, W. D., and T. B. 2024. "Registration of ‘Georgia‐23RKN’peanut." Journal of Plant Registrations 18.2: 285-289.

Branch, W.D., Brown, N. and Brenneman, T.B., 2025. Registration of ‘Georgia‐24NHO’peanut. Journal of Plant Registrations, 19(1), p.e20421.

LaBonte, D.R., I. Power, T. Watson, T.P. Smith, A.Q Villordon, J.C. Gregorie, and L. Harvey. 2024. ‘Avoyelles’ Sweetpotato. HortScience 59:796-798.

Two interspecific hybrid bermudagrass cultivars OSU2081 and OSU2082 were released with improved drought resistance and high turfgrass quality.

Edmund Frost at Common Wealth Seed Growers reported that South Wind Slicer and Common Wealth Pickler, two original cucumber varieties they bred, are partially derived from S-009’s PI 432885 (those initial crosses were made in 2015). These varieties are being sold by several seed companies, including Common Wealth Seed Growers, Fedco Seeds, Sow True Seeds, and Nature and Nurture Seeds.

Table 1. Cultivar and Germplasm Releases from UGA Breeding Programs in 2023-2024 of crops curated in the Griffin, GA collection.