Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR 2004: Germplasm acquisition, maintenance, distribution, characterization, evaluation, and enhancement continued at the NCRPIS according to programmatic refinements suggested by the 2001 and 1993 NCRPIS Program Review Teams. The NC-7 Project revisions and request for renewal must be considered in 2002. We continue to strive to be the best management site for seed-propagated germplasm in the world. Extant programs in molecular-marker and digital image-management technologies will continue to be refined and amplified. Substantial resources will continue to be devoted to managing and enhancing the quality of information associated with the germplasm accessions.

PROGRESS OF WORK AND PRINCIPAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: A. Objective 1 - Cooperate and participate as a key element in the NPGS, a coordinated national acquisition and management program for plant germplasm valuable for agricultural, horticultural, environmental, medical, and industrial uses in the North Central Region and the U.S. In this role, promote cooperation among elements of the NPGS, and the SAESs of the North Central Region.

1. The North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS) now maintains more than 47,500 germplasm accessions, more than 450 of which were newly acquired during 2003.
2. About 1,530 germplasm accessions were cultivated for regeneration in Ames, IA, Salinas, CA, Fargo, ND, Parlier, CA, Ponce, PR, Kauai, HI, and St. Croix, Virgin Islands to make this germplasm available to the scientific community. Over 1,500 accessions were regenerated, many using insect pollinators in cages.

B. Objective 2 - Conserve seed or vegetative stock of more than 1800 plant species.

1. The seed viability of more than 3,900 accessions (8% of our collections) was tested. 2003 marks the first time that the maize collections 5-year viability testing schedule was fully achieved.
2. More than 760 accessions were "backed-up" in long-term storage at the National Center for Germplasm Preservation in Ft. Collins, CO (formerly known as the National Seed Storage Laboratory). About 76% of all NCRPISs accessions are now backed up.
3. The NCRPIS's germplasm regeneration program received valuable assistance from seed companies. Sakata Seeds helped regenerate spinach accessions, and Pioneer Hi-Bred assisted with maize regenerations. Golden Harvest provided contracted nursery facilities in Ponce, PR.

C. Objective 3 - Within the North Central Region, throughout the U. S., and internationally, encourage the use of a broad diversity of germplasm by evaluating germplasm for specific desirable traits and disseminating this information through the GRIN database.

1. The NCRPIS staff evaluated approximately 3,260 accessions during 2003, recording over 5,100 observations.
2. Maize and sunflower accessions were evaluated for host-plant resistance to insects and diseases. The third year of a three-year program to screen the maize collection for disease resistance by public and private collaborators was completed. These data provide information on sources of resistance to multiple foliar diseases.
3. Maize, millets, sunflowers, Brassica, amaranth, potential ornamentals, and Cuphea were evaluated for general agronomic or horticultural value.
4. Molecular marker data and biochemical data were collected on the Coriandrum collection.
5. The maize curator collaborated with DOE researchers to evaluate stover from maize germplasm for energy production, in conjunction with biofuels and bioenergy research projects.
6. Twelve accessions of new landscape plants were placed in long-term evaluation at 26 sites in the North Central Region, with additional plants provided to arboreta and botanic gardens.
7. An additional 7,000 digital images of plants, flowers and seeds were recorded for use in characterizing accessions; these are made available in the GRIN database.
8. An internal team has developed a database of nutriceutical and medicinal plant species references for use in assisting development of key collections within the NPGS.

D. Objective 4 - Develop infrastructure and conduct research that enhances project effectiveness.

1. Following an in-house data information process review in 2000, new Oracle forms and reports were developed to address new pathogen data entry, monitoring of taxonomic nomenclature changes related to NC-7 accessions, annual statistics for station reporting requirements, and other miscellaneous items.
2. A planting of 20 accessions of mixed Helianthus and Compositae species maintained by NCRPIS was used to assess floral visitation by native insect pollinators. This is one component of a project to develop alternative pollinator insect species for use in seed regeneration.
3. Research to understand chalcid insect infestation and provide a protocol, ie storage in liquid nitrogen) to eliminate this pest from stored samples of infested seed was initiated on coriander seed lots produced in Ames in 2002.
4. Research continued comparing use of honeybees, two species of alfalfa leaf cutter bees and flies with pollination of wild Cucumis regenerations in cages in greenhouse environments completed.
5. Analysis of the geographic distribution of wild Helianthus collections and their resistance reactions to downy mildew was completed.
6. Important infrastructure projects included initiation of a $320,000 access security system to protect NCRPIS infrastructure, staff, and the germplasm collections.

E. Objective 5 - By attaining the preceding objectives, and by educating scientists and the general public regarding plant germplasm issues and utilization, to reduce crop genetic vulnerability and foster the development of new crops and improved cultivars of established crops.

1. More than 17,000 seed packets of over 11,600 accessions were distributed to researchers in the U.S. (ca. 76% of the total) and abroad (ca. 24% of the total) for use in breeding, evaluation, and characterization programs.
2. The decision was made to transfer the oilseed Cuphea collection internally to M. Brothers, who currently curates the sunflower and flax collections. This consolidates the non-Brassica oilseed crops under one curator.
3. Transfer of the GEM Project from the USDA Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Unit to the NCRPIS unit was made for fiscal year 2002. Our goal is to achieve synergy between the maize germplasm curation project, the GEM Project, and other maize researchers on the ISU campus.

PUBLICATIONS ISSUED OR MANUSCRIPTS APPROVED DURING THE YEAR:

NCRPIS Staff: Correll, J.C., Irish, B.M., Koike, S.T., Schafer, J., and Morelock, T.E. 2003. Update on downy mildew and white rust on spinach in the United States. Proc. Of the Eucarpia Mtg on Leafy Veg. Genetics and Breeding. Noordwijkerhourt, The Netherlands. Eucarpia p 49-54.

Jane, J., Yoo, S., Wong, K., Duvick, S.A., Gardner, C.A. 2003. Structures of amylopectin and starch granules-how are they synthesized? Applied Glycoscience. V. 50. pp. 167-172.

Millard, M., Burke, L.A., Widrlechner, M.P. 2003. The North Central Regional Plant Introduction Stations Southwestern Maize Collection  An historical perspective. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. CD-Rom. Madison, WI.

Seiler, G.J., Brothers, M.E. 2003. Exploration for wild Helianthus Anomalus and H. Deserticola in the desert Southwest USA. http://www.sunflowernsa.com/research_statistics/research_workshop/documents/90.pdf Proceedings Sunflower Research Workshop.

Towill, L.E., Widrlechner, M.P. 2003. Cryopreservation of willow species using winter vegetative buds. American Society for Horticultural Science. 38#5. 735-736.

Weldekidan, T., Hawk, J.A. 2003. Inbred line development and evaluation in GEM breeding populations. Proc. 58th NE Corn Improvement Conference (NEC29), Ottawa, Canada.

Widrlechner, M.P., Burke, L.A.. 2003. Analysis of germplasm distribution patterns for collections held at the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, Ames, Iowa, USA. Genetic Resources & Crop Evolution. V. 50. P. 329-337.

Widrlechner, M.P., McKeown, K.A. 2002. Assembling and characterizing a comprehensive Echinacea germplasm collection. Janick, J., Whipkey, A. Editors. ASHS Press, Alexdandria, VA. Trends in New Crops and New Uses. National Symposium  New Crops. P. 506-508.

Yukhnovskiy, V.Y., Sviatetskiy, V.V., Widrlechner, M.P., Schutzki, R.E. 2003. Biodiversity of the forest component of the forest-agricultural landscape. Fenix. V 4(1-2). Pp. 70-75.

Xu, W., Blanco, M.H. 2003. Mining Genes from tropical maize germplasm to improve drought tolerance and corn earworm resistance. Meeting abstract. P. 74-75.


NC-7 Project Research Publications:

Illinois: Hymowitz,T., Hsieh, J.S. Fall 2002. The use of Glycine tomentella Hayata on the islet of Kinmen (Quemoy). Econ. Bot.. Bronx, N.Y. New York Botanical Garden. v. 56 (3) p. 287-289.

Bodner,C.C. and T.Hymowitz.2002. Ethnobotany of Pueraria species.In Pueraria: The genus Pueraria .pp 29- 58.W.M.Keung (ed.). Taylor and Francis,London.

Zou,J.J.,R.J.Singh,J.Lee,P.B.Cregan,and T.Hymowitz.2003.Assignment of molecular linkage groups to the soybean chromosomes by primary trisomics.Theor.Appl.Genet.107:745-750.

Indiana: Janick, Jules, Whipkey, Anna. 2002. National Symposium NEW CROPS and NEW USES: Strength in Diversity (5th edit.) Atlanta, Ga. American Society for Horticultural Science. ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA. Trends in new crops and new uses. 599 p.

Iowa: Casler, M.D., Barker, R.E., Brummer, E.C., Papadopolous, Y.A., Hoffman, L.D. 2003. Selection for orchardgrass seed yield in target vs. nontarget environments. Crop Sci. 43 (2). P. 532-538.

Casler, M.D., Peterson, P.R., Hoffman, L.D., Ehlke, N.J., Brummer, E.C., Hansen, J.L., Mlynarek, M.J., Sulc, M.R., Henning, J.C., Undersander, D.J., Pitts, P.G. 2002. Natural selection for survival improves freezing tolerance, forage yield, and persistence of Festulolium. Crop Sci. 42 (5) P. 1421-1426.

Brummer, E.C., Moore, K.J., Bjork, N.C. 2002. Agronomic consequences of dormant-nondormant alfalfa mixtures. Agron J. 94 (4) P. 782-785.

Cox, T.S., Bender, M., Picone, C., Van-Tassel, D.L., Holland, J.B., Brummer, E.C., Zoeller, B.E., Paterson, A.H., Jackson, W. 2002. Breeding perennial grain crops. Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 21 (2) p. 59-91.

Kansas: Rife, C.L., Zeinali, H. 2003. Cold tolerance in oilseed rape over varying acclimation durations. Crop Sci. 43 (1) P. 96-100.

Rife, Charlie. 2002. 2001 national winter canola variety trial. Kansas State University, Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service. 40 p.

Michigan: Adams, G.C., Surve-Iyer, R.S., Iezzoni, A.F. 2002. Ribosomal DNA sequence divergence and group I introns within the Leucostoma species L. cinctum, L. persoonii, and L. parapersoonii sp. nov., Ascomycetes that cause Cytospora canker of fruit trees. Mycologia 94 (6) p. 947-967.

Owens, C.L., Thomashow, M.F., Hancock, J.F., Iezzoni, A.F. 2002. CBF1 orthologs in sour cherry and strawberry and the heterologous expression of CBF1 in strawberry. J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 127 (4) p. 489-494.

Burnham, K.D., Dorrance, A.E., Francis, D.M., Fioritto, R.J., St-Martin, S.K. 2003. Rps8, a new locus in soybean for resistance to Phytophthora sojae. Crop Sci. 43 (1) p. 101-105.

Minnesota: Forsline, P.L., Aldwinckle, H.S., Dickson, E.E., Luby, J.J., Hokanson, S.C. 2003. Collection, maintenance, characterization, and utilization of wild apples of Central Asia. Hortic. Rev. 29 p.1-61.

Black, B.L., Enns, J.M., Hokanson, S.C. 2002. A comparison of temperate-climate strawberry production systems using eastern genotypes. Hort. Technology. 12 (4) p. 670-675.

Maas, J.L., Couin, C.C., Hokanson, S.C., Hartung, J.S. 2002. Strawberry parent clones US 4808 and US 4809 resistant to bacterial angular leafspot disease caused by Xanthomonas fragariae. Hort. Science. 37 (4) p. 716-717.

Missouri: Anand, S.C., Shannon, J.G., Wrather, J.A., Arelli, P.R., Sleper, D.A., Young, L.D. 2002. Registration of S96-2692 soybean germplasm line resistant to three soybean nematodes. Crop Sci. 42 (5) p. 1753-1754.

Roberts, C.A., Spiers, D.E., Karr, A.L., Benedict, H.R., Sleper, D.A., Eichen, P.A., West, C.P., Piper, E.L., Rottinghaus, G.E. 2002. Use of a rat model to evaluate tall fescue seed infected with introduced strains of Neotyphodium coenophialum. J. Agric. Food Chem. 50 (20) p. 5742-5745.

Nebraska: Baenziger, P.S., Moreno-Sevilla, B., Graybosch, R.A., Krall, J.M., Shipman, M.J., Elmore, R.W., Klein, R.N., Baltensperger, D.D., Nelson, L.A., McVey, D.V. 2002. Registration of 'Wahoo' wheat. Crop Sci. 42 (5) p. 1752-1753

Guillen-Portal, F.R., Baltensperger, D.D., Nelson, L.A., Frickel, G. 2002. Assessment of hard red winter wheat F2 and F3 hybrids for the Nebraska Panhandle. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 33 (5/6) p. 963-972.

North Dakota: Johnson, B.L., Henderson, T.L. 2002. Water use patterns of grain amaranth in the northern Great Plains. Agron. J. 94 (6) p. 1437-1443.

South Dakota: Boe, A. 2003. Genetic and environmental effects on seed weight and seed yield in switchgrass. Crop Sci. 43 (1) p. 63-67.

Wisconsin: Dickert, T.E., Tracy, W.F. 2002. Heterosis for flowering time and agronomic traits among early open-pollinated sweet corn cultivars. J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 127 (5) p. 793-797.

Revilla, P., Malvar, R.A., Butron, A., Tracy, W.F., Abedon, B.G., Ordas, A. 2002. Response to selection for the timing of vegetative phase transition in a maize population. Crop Sci. 42 (5) p. 1471-1474.