SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report
Sections
Status: Approved
Basic Information
- Project No. and Title: W6 : Maximizing Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources and their Information
- Period Covered: 10/01/2024 to 09/30/2025
- Date of Report: 08/19/2025
- Annual Meeting Dates: 06/17/2025 to 06/18/2025
Participants
Amjad Ahmad, University of Hawaii, alobady@hawaii.edu; Steven Lee, USDA-NCRS, steven.lee2@usda.gov; Jessica Shade, USDA-NIFA, Jessica.Shade@usda.gov; Neha Kothari, USDA-ARS National Program 301 Leader, Neha.Kothari@usda.gov; Scot Hulbert, Washington State University, scot_hulbert@wsu.edu; Tarah McHugh, USDA-ARS Pacific Northwest Area Director, tara.mchugh@usda.gov; Joe Kuhl, University of Idaho, jkuhl@uidaho.edu; Lisa Taylor, USDA-ARS Pullman WA, lisa.taylor@usda.gov; Glenn Wright, University of Arizona, gwright@ag.arizona.edu; Melinda Yerka, University of Nebraska, myerka@unr.edu; Naveen Puppala, New Mexico State University, npuppala@nmsu.edu; Charles Brummer, UC Davis, ecbrummer@ucdavis.edu; Paul Johnson, Utah State University, paul.johnson@usu.edu; Per McCord, Washington State University, phmccord@wsu.edu; Jakir Hasan, University of Alaska, mjhasan@alaska.edu; Donna Harris, University of Wyoming, donna.harris@uwyo.edu; Guarab Bhattarai, Oregon State University, gaurab.bhattarai@oregonstate.edu; Harold Bockelman, NSGC Aberdeen, ID, harold.bockelman@usda.gov; Carolyn Scagel USDA-ARS Corvallis OR, carolyn.scagel@usda.gov; Claire Heinitz USDA-ARS Parlier CA, claire.heinitz@usda.gov; Hannah Tetrault USDA-ARS Ft. Collins CO, hannah.tetreault@usda.gov; Ryan Domingo USDA-ARS Hilo HI, ryan.domingo@usda.gov; Robert Krueger USDA-ARS Riverside CA, robert.krueger@usda.gov; Gary Kinard USDA-ARS Beltsville MD, gary.kinard@usda.gov; David Gang, Washington State University, gangd@wsu.edu; Michael Neff, Washington State University, mmneff@wsu.edu; Marilyn Warburton, USDA ARS Pullman WA, marilyn.warburton@usda.gov; Alex Cornwall, USDA-ARS Pullman WA, alex.cornwall@usda.gov; Sarah Dohle, USDA-ARS Pullman WA, sarah.dohle@usda.gov; Brian Irish, USDA-ARS Prosser WA, brian.irish@usda.gov
The 2025 meeting was a hybrid meeting held at Pullman WA and via Zoom. On Day 1 (17 June), reports were given by the state representatives for 10 Western states (AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, and WY), as well as activity summaries from research leaders from 9 ARS sites (Aberdeen ID; Corvallis OR; Davis CA; Parlier CA; Riverside CA; Ft. Collins CO; Hilo HI; Beltsville MD; Pullman WA).
Day 2 (18 June) included research presentations on popping beans and grasses by Drs. David Gang and Michael Neff from Washington State University. This was followed by a discussion on the status of W-6. The W-6 gene bank system faces a critical funding threat due to the president's budget proposal to eliminate the Hatch Fund, risking significant loss of germplasm resources. Participants, including executive members and technical advisors, discussed the importance of coordinated advocacy efforts targeting Congress, experiment station directors, and commodity groups to maintain funding. They highlighted the need to compile and disseminate success stories demonstrating the economic and environmental benefits of the gene bank, emphasizing the value of data linking germplasm traits to agricultural improvements and cost savings. Challenges such as spending restrictions and limited administrative resources are acknowledged. Strategies include leveraging stakeholder support, engaging popular press and science communication specialists to increase public and policymaker awareness, and using presentations and reports to reinforce the gene bank's importance. The group plans to assign members to gather impactful stories, seek guidance on outreach permissions, and continue discussions in future meetings to develop concrete action plans.
Due to uncertainties regarding funding and travel restrictions, the 2026 meeting will likely be held virtually. Hybrid meetings suffer from technical challenges, with reduced interaction vs. fully virtual or in-person meetings. Future meetings will focus more on curator reports and germplasm system challenges, reducing the emphasis on state reports.
In addition, the RTAC is considering writing a collective letter to the Secretary of Agriculture to seek reinstatement or support for the National Genetic Resources Advisory Council (NGRAC).
Accomplishments
Short-term Outcomes:
o WRPIS acquired 101 ex-PVP (Plant Variety Protection) cultivars, including 3 beans, 88 grasses, 4 lettuce, 4 peas, and 2 safflowers. We also acquired 4 Distichlis spicata grass accessions, and an additional 356 native plant accessions collected by the Seeds of Success (SOS) project.
o W6 distributed a total of 24,010 packets of seed samples and/or clonal propagules in 886 orders to requestors, a decrease of almost 1/3 from last year (39,212). These included shipments to 38 foreign countries (representing 60% of the distributions) and 48 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. 6,209 of these items went to 12 of the 13 western states (none to Alaska). There was a larger decrease in number of items shipped within the U.S. than internationally.
o W6 uploaded 4,691 observation data points for 405 accessions and 1,302 images for 1,219 accessions into the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)-Global database.
o W6 entered 3,582 seed viability records into GRIN-Global during the reporting period. The National Laboratory for Genetic Resource Preservation (NLGRP) in Fort Collins, CO tested 2,946 accessions and 636 were tested by our germination lab.
o In addition to the activities maintaining and regenerating seed-producing and clonal germplasm accessions, the Horticultural Crops and Beta program collected new and unique germplasm to add to the collections, including 10 varieties of rhubarb and populations of native Lactuca species and other medicinal and ornamental herbs.
· Outputs:
o We created 2-page fact sheets for all programs and one for the Unit. The documents are easy to digest with infographics summarizing programs objectives and accomplishments.
o With the Agricultural Genetic Resources Preservation Research in Fort Collins, CO we created five videos explaining the WRPIS and our activities, including one featuring the 5 curatorial programs; an additional one for the Phaseolus program; seed cleaning; seed distribution and storage; and seed viability testing. Please click on the links to view each video.
o A total of 31 publications from WRPIS researchers and requestors of WRPIS and other NPGS germplasm (see Publication list)
· Activities:
o We began operations at the new Tukey research farm field space to replace space lost to the Pullman-Moscow Airport expansions a few years ago. The site is already being used for regenerations of accessions in the horticultural and agronomy programs in 2025.
o In 2024 the TFL/Alfalfa Genetics programs hosted the North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference, Trifolium and Grass Breeders meeting in the Columbia River Basin. Over three days the organizing committee hosted pre- and post- conference meetings and visitors. During the field day, attendees had an opportunity to visit the WRPIS Prosser-based program field research sites.
· Milestones:
o Identified DNA barcodes (unique sequences) from exome sequencing that can be used for Lactuca (lettuce) species identification
o Completed phenotyping of drought tolerant alfalfa germplasm, as well as genotyping the population with 3,000 markers (prior to association analysis)
o Published association mapping study on pea seed protein and fat concentration
Impacts
- The Phaseolus program won an ARSX $100,000 prize to collaboratively, with SeedLinked and other genebank locations, run a community science project with ~1,000 volunteer growers characterizing germplasm across the US. They also collected wild germplasm in southwestern US to fill a geographic gap in the germplasm collection. Wild beans collected during this trip include P. acutifolius (18), P. angustissimus (1), P. filiformis (1), P. grayanus (2), P. maculatus (3), and P. monatanus (3), which will be added to the permanent collections as they are regenerated.
- W6 shipped 1,974 seed inventories to the National Laboratory for Genetic Resource Preservation (NLGRP), Fort Collins, CO.
- Development of optimized regeneration protocols for Astragalus
- As of April 22, 2025: 77% of the W6 Germplasm collection is available to distribute and 80% of the W6 germplasm collection has a back-up inventory.
- The W6 project continues to supply high-quality plant germplasm to both public and private researchers in Western states, the U.S. in general, and abroad.
- The W6 project continues to expand both the number of germplasm accessions it maintains, and the information (phenotypic and genetic) about those accessions.
- Based on state reports, feedback from germplasm requestors is generally very positive and supportive, indicating the W6 project is successful in its mission.
Publications
Begna, S., Putnam, D., Wang, D., Bali, K., and Yu, L. 2024. Yield and Nutritive Values of Semi-and Non-Fall Dormant Alfalfa Cultivars under Late-Cutting Schedule in California’s Central Valley. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 15(10), 858-876.
Chen, J.L., Wheeler, J.J., Marshall, J.M., Chen, X.M., Windes, S., Wilson, C., Su, M., Yimer, B., Schroeder, K., and Jackson, C. 2024. Release of ‘UI Gold’ hard white spring wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations. 18:104-112.
Copp, C. R., DeShields, J. B., Kar, S., Clark, R. W., Hallwachs, B., Bondada, B., and Levin, A. D. 2025. Foliar Starch Accumulation Precedes the Cascade of Grapevine Red Blotch Disease Symptoms. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 76(1).
Coyne, C.J., Warburton, M. and Volk, G. 2024. Landrace accession PI 180693 launches multiple disease resistance breeding in pea. Eds. G. Volk, K. Chen and P. Byrne. https://colostate.pressbooks.pub/pgrsuccessstories/
Dash, R. 2024. Food planet future: the art of turning food and climate perils into possibilities. Papadakis, 2024.
Hallwachs, B., Martin, E., Hellier, B. and Irish, B. 2025. Optimizing regeneration protocols for USDA ARS National Plant Germplasm System native Seeds of Success-collected Astragalus spp. genetic resources. Native Plants Journal. 25: 179-191. https://doi:10.3368/npj.25.3.179
Hellier, B., Cornwall A. and Warburton, M.L. 2024. Verticillium Wilt Race 1 resistance found in lettuce plant introductions. Eds. G. Volk, K. Chen and P. Byrne. https://colostate.pressbooks.pub/pgrsuccessstories/
Hogg, A. C., Hale, C. O., Tillett, B. J., Huang, L., Carr, P. M., Eberly, J., Chen, C., Kowatch-Carlson, C., Crutcher, F., Lamb, P., Haney, E., Smith, V., Dykes, L., Chen, X., Islam, M. M., Liu, Z., and Giroux, M. J. 2025. Registration of ‘MT Blackbeard’ and ‘MT Raska’ durum wheat. Journal of Plant Registrations, 19, e20425. https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20425
Johnson, J. P., Piche, L., Worral, H., Atanda, S. A., Coyne, C. J., McGee, R. J., ... and Bandillo, N. 2024. Effective population size in field pea. BMC genomics, 25(1), 695.
Kachapulula, J S., Kuwabo, K., Hamabwe, S. M., Nkandela, M., Mukuma, C., Soler-Garzón, A., Miklas, P. N., and Kamfwa, K. 2025. Quantitative trait loci analysis for anthracnose resistance in apopulation derived from Andean varieties Bukoba and Kijivu of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Plant Breeding, 0:1-8,https://doi.org/10.1111/pbr.13264
Khan, A. W., Garg, V., Sun, S., Gupta, S., Dudchenko, O., Roorkiwal, M., ... and Varshney, R. K. 2024. Cicer super-pangenome provides insights into species evolution and agronomic trait loci for crop improvement in chickpea. Nature genetics, 56(6), 1225-1234.
Lim, S., Park, S., Baek, I., Botkin, J., Jang, J.H., Hong, S.M., Irish, B.M., Kim, S.M., Meinhardt, L.W., Curtin, S.J., and Ahn, E.. 2025. Integrative analysis of seed morphology, geographic origin, and genetic structure in Medicago with implications for breeding and conservation. BMC Plant Biol 25, 274. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06304-4
McDonough, K.N., Gavin, D.G., Rosencrance, R.L., Davis, L.G., Kuehn, S.C., Smith, M.F., Snitker, G., Saban, C.V., and Szymanski, R. 2024. Multi-proxy paleoenvironmental data from Paulina Marsh inform human-environmental dynamics in the Northern Great Basin USA. Quaternary Science Advances. 2024 Jun 1;14:100184.
Medina, C.A. Lin, M., Zhao, D., Sapkota, M., Sandercock, A.M., Beil, C.T., Sheehan, M.J. Irish, B.M., Yu, L-X, Poudel, H., Claessens, A., Moore, V., Crawford, J., Hansen, J., Viands, D., Smith, K.P., Peel, M., Tilhou, N. Riday, R., Brummer, C.E. and Zhanyou, X. 2025. Pre-breeding in alfalfa germplasm develops highly differentiated populations, as revealed by genome-wide microhaplotype markers. Scientific Reports https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84262-x
Nemchinov, L., Irish, B.M., Uschapovsky, I.V., Grinstead, S., Shao, J., and Postnikova, O.A. 2024. First report of Medicago trirhavirus 1 infecting alfalfa in Washington State, USA. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-24-1132-PDN.
Oiestad, A.J., Blake, N.K., Tillett, B.J., O'Sullivan, S.T., Cook, J.P., and Giroux, M.J. 2025. Plant Productivity and Leaf Starch During Grain Fill Is Linked to QTL Containing Flowering Locus T1 (FT1) in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Plants (Basel). 2025 Feb 7;14(4):512. https://doi:10.3390/plants14040512
Reinhold, L., Platt, McK., Peetz, A., Donahue, K., and Zasada, I. 2024. Assessment of the distribution and Occurrence of Dagger Nematodes and Associated Nematode Transmitted Viruses in the Pacific Northwest Small Fruit Crops. Plant Health Progress 25:4, 363-371
Rhode, D., Neudorf, C.M., Rachal, D., Davis, L.G., Madsen, D.B., and Dello-Russo, R. 2024. Unresolved: Persistent Problems with the White Sands Locality 2 Geochronology. PaleoAmerica. 2024 Jan 2;10(1):10-27.
Rosencrance, R.L., McDonough, K.N., Smith, G.M., Jazwa, C.S., Duke, D.G., Jenkins, D.L., Clements. J., Stueber, D.O., and Henrikson, S.L. 2024. Bayesian Analysis of Haskett Projectile Point Radiocarbon Dates in the Intermountain West Demonstrates Contemporaneity with Clovis and Folsom Points. PaleoAmerica. 2024 Jul 2;10(2-3):132-55.
Sadohara, R., Cichy, K., Fourie, D., Msolla, S.N., Song, Q., Miklas, P. N., and Porch, T. 2024. Andean common bean bulk breeding lines selected on multiple continents exhibit broad genetic diversity and stress adaptation. Crop Science 64: 2801-2822. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21309
Sahin, Y., Nazarov, T., Ünlü, E. S., Smertenko, A. and Zencrici, N. 2024. GABA promotes peroxisome proliferation in Triticum monococcum leaves. Plant Direct 8: e70007, doi:10.1002/pld3.70007.
Sari, H., Ma, Y., Mangat, P.K., Uhdre, R., Salia, O.I., Riaz, F., McGee, R.J., Warburton, M.L., and Coyne, C.J. 2024. Impacts of germplasm characterization and candidate gene discovery, In: J. Kumar, D.S. Gupta, S. Kumar, eds. “The Lentil Genome”, Chapter 10, p. 247-265. Academic Press, U.K. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-19409-2.00011-9.
Sari, H., Uhdre, R., Wallace, L., Coyne, C. J., Bourland, B., Zhang, Z., ... and Warburton, M. L. 2024. Genome-wide association study in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) for yield and nutritional components. Euphytica, 220(6), 84.
Shriver, L.C., Tull, J.C., and Leger, E.A. 2024. Nontarget effects of herbicides on annual forbs and seeded grass in the Great Basin, United States, are partially offset by planting depth and application rate. Restoration Ecology. 2024 Sep;32(7):e14218.
Smith, G.M., Rosencrance, R.L., Saper, S.G., McDonough, K.N., Felling, D.C., and Layton, T.N. 2024. The Western Stemmed Tradition Components of Last Supper Cave, Nevada. PaleoAmerica. 2024 Jul 2;10(2-3):226-45.
Soler-Garzón, A., Mulube, M., Kamfwa, K., Lungu, D. M., Hamabwe, S., Roy, J., Salegua, V., Fourie, D., Porch, T. G., McClean, P. E., and Miklas, P. N. 2024. GWAS of resistance to three bacterial diseases in the Andean common bean diversity panel. Frontiers in Plant Sci. 15: 1469381. doi:10.3389/fpls.2024.1469381
Uhdre, R., Coyne, C. J., Bourland, B., Piaskowski, J., Zheng, P., Ganjyal, G. M., ... and Warburton, M. L. 2025. Association study of crude seed protein and fat concentration in a USDA pea diversity panel. The Plant Genome, 18(1), e20485.
Woolfolk, S.W., Jeffers, D., Hawkins, L.K., Uhdre, R., Ni, X., and Warburton, M.L. 2025. Integrated approaches to maximizing maize resistance to fall armyworm. CABI Reviews, 20(1), p.0013.
Yu, L. X., Lin, S., Medina, C., Patel, S., Xu, Z., Zanton, G., and Llewellyn, D. Identification of Genetic Loci Associated with Protein and Fiber Digestibility in Alfalfa. Available at SSRN 4863740.
Zhao, D., Sapkota, M., Lin, M., Beil, C., Sheehan, M., Greene, S., and Irish, B. M. 2024. Genetic diversity, population structure, and taxonomic confirmation in annual medic (Medicago spp.) collections from Crimea, Ukraine. Frontiers in Plant Science, 15, 1339298.
Zienkiewicz, M. 2025. Is Our Modern Food System Forgetting the Meaning of a Meal?https://www.seedworld.com/canada/2025/05/22/is-our-modern-food-systemforgetting-the-meaning-of-a-meal/.