Source: NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV submitted to NRP
APPLIED CORN (ZEA MAYS L.) BREEDING FOR EARLY MATURITY
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0215146
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Oct 1, 2008
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2013
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV
1310 BOLLEY DR
FARGO,ND 58105-5750
Performing Department
Plant Sciences
Non Technical Summary
Genetic improvement is the main reason ND crop agriculture generates more than $4 billion in cash receipts (ND corn at a similar level of wheat in 2007!). Genetic improvements in corn were worth $828,100,000 in ND for 2007. This project targets to add value to corn by screening for grain quality. $3 billion were invested in corn breeding research at Universities from 1865 to 1996 and that the return on investment due to corn breeding research was an impressive $260 billion. The public sector created the idea of hybrid corn and the most famous cultivar of all times, B73, which contributed billions of dollars to the seed industry. The impact of public corn breeding continues to be very large even though confidentiality in the private breeding sector does not allow the impact to be fully understood. The NDSU corn breeding program is the most northern public breeding program in North America and it has been in existence for 76 years. As a consequence, commercial hybrids have become earlier and ethanol plants have first established in areas (e.g. western ND) where only NDSU research locations are present. The main economic benefit of this project has been and will continue to be the availability of productive and diverse early-maturing lines with high levels of starch under abiotic stresses. The NDSU corn program also leads the first long-term program to increase the genetic diversity of hybrids on farms in the U.S. North Central Region with tropical and temperate adapted corn. Corn acreage has grown 460% in the past 10 years. ND had the third largest growth in corn acreage for the U.S. in 2007. Even though the ethanol industry is expanding corn is still limited in its extension to the west due to environmental challenges, mainly drought. Current ethanol plants can only utilize ND corn hybrids if they are early maturing with above average drought tolerance and grain quality. The NDSU project serves as a good complement to industry efforts since it is one of the few programs breeding actually within the state. The development of new and diverse inbred lines for early-maturing hybrids is a unique opportunity. This project will conduct research that is relevant to the state's needs and will work toward identifying useful corn germplasm. It will also enhance the profitability of corn producers through sustainable corn production, educate producers on hybrid selection, and reduce the environmental risks affecting corn production. In addition, the NDSU project will help develop alternative profitable uses for the value-added market and will increase the opportunities of young scientists by training the next generation of applied plant breeders. The NDSU corn breeding program is one of the few public programs that can still offer a strong emphasis on germplasm improvement, inbred line development, and training of applied plant breeders. Making the right corn hybrid selection is very profitable. The NDSU corn breeding program will conduct state hybrid corn performance trials regionally within ND, a potential value of $289,380,000. Therefore, choosing the best and most adapted early maturing hybrid for a farm will give the most profitable product.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2011510108110%
2021510108150%
2031510108120%
2041510108120%
Knowledge Area
204 - Plant Product Quality and Utility (Preharvest); 203 - Plant Biological Efficiency and Abiotic Stresses Affecting Plants; 202 - Plant Genetic Resources; 201 - Plant Genome, Genetics, and Genetic Mechanisms;

Subject Of Investigation
1510 - Corn;

Field Of Science
1081 - Breeding;
Goals / Objectives
Objectives: 1. Identification of elite corn exotic germplasm with early maturity potential 2. Maximize genetic improvement of early maturing corn germplasm 3. Development of improved early maturing corn germplasm for the northern U.S. 4. Educate the next generation of plant breeders. We expect a high level of scientific productivity with extensive peer-reviewed original publications (manuscripts, books, and product registrations), extension/outreach, press releases, cooperation, and funding from state partners such as the ND Corn Council Utilization, ND Corn Growers Association, and the ND Corn Ethanol Producers Association as well as industry. The NDSU corn breeding program is expected to conduct over 60 experiments annually with public and private cooperation including over 20,000 plots with thousands of hybrids, lines, and populations across 20 ND locations. Summer breeding nurseries will have over 10,000 rows while we expect to have winter nursery activities with over 4,000 rows of nursery and trials focused on drought tolerance, fast dry down, and seed production for hybrid testing. In 2007 we have generated a corn website for dissemination of information and results (http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/plantsci/breeding/corn/) as soon as harvest is done to industry and corn producers. We have initiated partnerships with seed companies in order to continue our conventional approaches to drought tolerance and to increase the screening of our germplasm for value added traits (e.g. grain quality, ethanol utilization), and to better understand the quantitative genetics behind the expression of test weight and dry down. This specific research complements the support toward training the next generation of breeders. As a consequence, we expect to develop new products (early maturing populations and lines) and mentoring graduate students.
Project Methods
We will use early x late elite crosses, stratified mass selection, and modifications of the backcross technique for germplasm adaptation. Stratified mass selection will be used for improving traits with relatively high heritability and for adapting tropical and late temperate germplasm to U.S. temperate environments In order to maximize genetic improvement of early maturing corn germplasm intra and inter-population recurrent selection methods will be utilized. Several mating systems for progeny seed production will be used. These will be evaluated across environments based on partially balanced lattice designs or augmented designs. Selected progenies will be recombined twice for the next cycle of selection, using the cost-effective bulk-entry method. The best progenies will be included in our pedigree selection program for inbred line development and hybrid testing. Molecular and double-haploid technology will be used as a complement for genome based selection of specific traits having medium to high heritability that are relatively difficult to measure. Cooperation with industry will be initiated since the latest and most efficient technology will be available in their labs and to avoid public expenses on technology that may become obsolete very quickly. In all cases, either a rank-summation index or a heritability index including all desired traits will be utilized for the selection of those progenies to be recombined in the next cycle of selection. We will develop early maturing corn germplasm for the northern U.S. and the use of winter nurseries, to advance three generations per year and extensive testing of thousands of genotypes across years as well as student exposure to the inbred line development process, will be a priority for the NDSU corn breeding program. Approximately 80% of pedigree selection will utilize elite x elite crosses from same heterotic groups. About 5% of the selection will be across heterotic groups, while 15% will come from germplasm improvement products derived from recurrent selection improved cycles. Winter nurseries will be essential for drought screening and seed production. After years of extensive early and late generation testing in hybrid combinations as well as intensive selection during the inbreeding process, elite lines will be proposed for release. We will educate the next generation of plant breeders by targeting three year programs in which students will be exposed to germplasm adaptation and improvement the first year, and inbred line development and hybrid testing on their second and third years. We expect students to be prepared to manage breeding programs by making relatively quick and accurate decisions before and after winter nurseries, and being strong in their statistical and quantitative genetics training. The priority will be on field oriented training, emphasizing interaction with industry for technology principles. We will follow the career of graduates from the NDSU corn breeding program.

Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Farmers & Ranchers in high and low market areas, Breeders & Geneticists, Policy Makers, Educators, Instructors, Graduate and undergraduate Students, Seed and Processing Industry Leaders, Economists, and a large number of national and international visitors among others. Regional and National Level: North Dakota Corn Utilization Council, Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council, North Dakota Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, North Dakota State Board of Agriculture Research, North Dakota Ethanol Producers Association, National Corn Growers Association, Land-Grant Institutions and their Plant Breeding Centers of Excellence, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and USDA-GEM Project, United Tribes Council and North Dakota/Minnesota Indigenous Reservations, Monsanto and non-GMO oriented industry, Advanced Corn Technologies, BASF/Thurston Genetics, SGI Genetics, AgReliant Genetics, DuPont/Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Syngenta, Laboulet Semences, Ag Solutions, Dow/Mycogen, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Maize Registration Committee, American Seed Trade Association, ASTA Crop Germplasm Committee, North Central Corn Breeding Research Committee and its Early maturity subcommittee (NCCC-167), the Illinois Corn Breeders School, the Southern Coordinating Committee (SCC-33), and the Multi-state Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee (SCC-80). International Level: United Nations (UN) World Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) and its Plant Protection Division including Global Plant Breeding Initiative and the International Plant breeding Capacity Building program, Biodiversity International & the Gates Foundation, USAID, the European Association of Plant Breeding (EUCARPIA), the Novi Sad Crops Institute (Serbia), Coimbra and top Universities and Research Institutes in Portugal, the Brazilian Association for Plant Breeding and its Societies of Plant Breeders as well as top Universities across Brazilian states (Parana, Sao Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro), Maisadour (France), Limagrain (France), Argentinian National Council of Agronomists, Baicheng Academy of Sciences (China), University of Buenos Aires (UBA, Argentina), University of Rosario (Argentina), INTA Pergamino, CIMMYT (Mexico), Editorial and Editorial Boards of Springer, International J of Plant Breeding (Euphytica), J Maize and Allied Species (Maydica), Crop Breeding and Biotechnology, Agriscientia, and Frontiers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? National and international plant breeding institutions have sent thousands of visitors to our summer nursery and I have provided formal instruction to several institutions overseas. I have also served as instructor to an average 15 graduate students in two classes at even years: Crop Breeding Techniques and Quantitative Genetics. Five Ph.D. students have been trained by the ND corn breeding program during the past 5 years. Dissertations focused on breeding and genetics of rate of dry down and test weight, adaptation of exotic tropical germplasm to the northern U.S. market, assessing the usefulness of ex-PVP proprietary inbred lines, developing the next generation of healthier products through the adaptation and development of unique short-season Quality Protein Maize (QPM), and providing new short-season corn populations for the ethanol market. Research conducted by students has resulted in several refereed journal articles, reports, oral and poster presentations, plenary lectures, books, and book chapters. Two of them graduated during this period and ended up as Monsanto Corn Breeding Lead and as corn breeder in a public center. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? In addition to the current teaching and research responsibilities a significant amount of corn extension activities were performed without an official extension appointment. As the NDSU corn breeder I continuously had an exceptional high level of extension efforts and activities across the state and nationwide. I continually answered extension calls, participated in conference calls and meetings, made invited plenary talks, hosted representatives from industry, producers, editorials, and from several state, regional, national, and international government and non-government organizations. I have participated in numerous interviews, press releases, meetings with TV, magazines, radio, newspapers, crop adjustors, insurance agents, etc. I have specifically cooperated with tribal colleges, leading a state-wide joint effort with all state and regional Native American reservations. Our unit has employed diverse students for training and education promoting equal opportunity. We have also housed interns from diverse cultural backgrounds. I served have as Senior and Technical Editor of Springer, Frontiers, AgriScientia, Crop Breeding and Biotechnology, as Technical Editor of the International Journal of Plant Breeding (Euphytica), as Editor in the Editorial Board of the International Journal for Maize and Allied Species (MAYDICA), as well as U.S. representative at the European Association for Research on Plant Breeding (EUCARPIA). I have been instrumental in cooperative and bi-lateral agreements with other Universities and have provided corn germplasm (lines and populations) to numerous scientists nationwide and abroad. NDSU research has been significantly exposed and used. The book ‘Quantitative Genetics in Maize Breeding’ by Hallauer, Carena, and Miranda Fo. (2010) has been cited 1,670 times and downloaded over 3,000 times in 2011. In the same period the maize breeding chapter from ‘Cereals’ edited by Carena (2009) was the most utilized with over 250% citations and downloads from any other book chapter. Our unit has pursued interdisciplinary project ideas with the physiologists, geneticists, engineers, etc. from NDSU and several institutions. The ND corn breeding program has gained unique support from private companies, trade organizations, and the farmer producers which were reflected in the response to corn production in ND. The sum of all these activities provided strong evidence of the positive impact on NDSU and the economy of northern U.S. states. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The need for hybrids adapted to very short seasons with green snap and lodging resistance, cold and drought tolerance, fast dry down, stay green, and high quality justified the need for this research project. Genetic improvement has been the best investment for increasing corn yields under challenging environmental conditions. Our program was the most northern corn breeding program in North America. New corn products were developed in 4 vs. 15 years moving corn north to cooler seasons and west to dry areas fast. The program has developed new and unique products, invented new methods, and trained breeders that are now leaders within the industry. Our breeding program acted as a unique genetic provider to foundation seed companies, retailer seed companies, processing industry, and breeders nationally and internationally. With the support of the corn industry and the Minnesota and North Dakota corn grower organizations, the program annually screened > 1 million genotypes in breeding nurseries and hybrid experiments across >50 NDSU and industry locations. The ND State Board for Agricultural Research, the ND Department of Commerce through its APUC program, the USDA-GEM program also supported our research and development program. The program had a large network of cooperators without the need of investing in costly academic labs. This has saved the program >1 million annually. NDSU research influenced the corn industry to invest in our state. We have developed and distributed 54 new elite and diverse corn products to industry in the past five years, generating fees and royalties in a very confidential and competitive market. Over 1,000 corn product industry requests have generated an average of $50,000/year in fees. Corn breeding for short-season environments was essential to move from a minor crop to the most profitable state crop. Corn has contributed $9.73 billion to ND economy during the period of the report. Specific evaluation, data collection, and statistical methods followed Carena et al. (2009a) and other publications listed above. The objectives of our research were: 1. Identification of elite corn exotic germplasm with early maturity potential Several major pre-breeding sub-programs were the focus of this objective: a) The use of stratified mass selection to screen 500,000 genotypes for earliness b) The use of a modified backcross program including elite short-season lines and exotic breeding crosses from the GEM program to feed our local NDSU EarlyGEM program. c) The use of a modified backcross program including elite short-season lines and exotic quality protein maize (QPM) for value added ethanol byproducts d) The use of mating designs (intra and inter-diallel, partial diallel, North Carolina II) including ex-PVP, NDSU, and industry genetically narrow-based lines and the creation and improvement of genetically broad-based populations Results so far have shown that germplasm carrying unique genes can break environmental margins for corn production. NDSU tropical adapted products expressed unique genes for cold and drought tolerance and grain quality for new uses and markets. NDSU is the only genetic provider of these new products carrying unique genes and will be essential in the development of the next generation of healthier cultivars tolerant to climate changes. These genetic materials have unique genes not identified in the recently sequenced corn genome. In brief, the ND corn breeding program has: 1) Led the national EarlyGEM program to increase the genetic diversity of northern U.S. hybrids. The adaptation of unique tropical genes to short-season environments has implications to producers/industry in the long run. 2) Moved corn north at $500 per corn variety. After a cost/effective selection strategy, results have shown that corn is 2 weeks earlier than original counterparts during this period. These are new sources of unique early lines and hybrids. NDSU will help industry move corn relative maturities north faster with genetically broad genetics. 3) Searched for the ideal corn hybrid for ND farmers. We evaluated the usefulness of ex-PVP industry lines to identify unique heterotic groups and hybrid combinations not tested before. 4) Provided added value to U.S. northern farmers and ranchers by initiating the development of NDSU corn hybrids for not only ethanol utilization but also for high quality protein products. A whole systems approach was essential for breeding. The ND corn program has created and improved new versions of Stiff Stalk and non-Stiff Stalk genetically broad-based varieties adapted to ND very short-season conditions which are unique sources of the next generation of short-season lines and hybrids and 18 new exotic populations were adapted and released ranging from 0% to 100% tropical germplasm in their genetic background. 2. Maximize genetic improvement of early maturing corn germplasm Based on the information generated on mating designs, the genetic structure of adapted populations has been uncovered. The knowledge generated served to design >20 intra- and inter-population recurrent selection programs to increase the frequency of favorable alleles and maintain genetic variability in population programs. Top progenies were incorporated in the genetically broad-based inbred line development process to integrate pre-breeding with cultivar development. Heritability indices were utilized for selecting several traits. Seven improved populations were released and three of them were directly utilized in high starch hybrid cultivars for commercial production in central ND. Royalties were collected by the NDSU Research Foundation. 3. Development of improved early maturing corn germplasm for the northern U.S. The ND corn program has released 26 short-season unique inbred lines (9 exclusively), influencing industry to extensively invest across the state. We have managed controlled winter nursery conditions (no rain and extreme cold when wanted and needed during ND winters), to screen thousands of corn lines for drought and cold tolerance. Extensive trials of selected lines in combination with industry and NDSU testers were conducted in target ND environments. Advanced NDSU lines have shown higher yield under drought stress and high cold tolerance in hybrid combinations when comparing with commercial checks. Billions of dollars still are being lost to drying drought and cold susceptible corn, and to processing low quality grain in the most northern U.S. market. Basic NDSU corn breeding research on fast dry down has generated a significant change in knowledge through the invention of a new breeding methodology (AUDDC-area under the dry down curve), which is already saving $ billions in artificial drying to farmers and screening costs to industry. Inbred lines were developed from a broad number of breeding methods and genetic backgrounds. Data were collected in inbred trials per se and in hybrid combinations with NDSU and industry testers across several northern U.S. environments. Winter nurseries allowing more than two seasons per year have helped us speed up the development of unique short-season lines and hybrids in 4 vs. 15 years. New hybrids have been developed in less than 4 years (the time of this report) with the aid of winter nurseries for selection and production.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2013 Citation: Dong, N., and M.J. Carena. 2013. NDSU EarlyQPM and NDSU Early QPMF programs: Developing the next generation of corn nutritional products (under review). Laude, T.P. and M.J. Carena. 2013. Genetic diversity and heterotic grouping of tropical and temperate maize populations adapted to the northern U.S. Corn Belt (under review). Bari, A., and M. J. Carena. 2013. Can expired proprietary maize industry lines be useful for short-season maize breeding programs? I. Agronomic traits (under review). Bari, A., and M. J. Carena. 2013. Identification of heterotic groups and patterns between short-season expired proprietary maize industry lines, NDSU lines, and current industry lines (under review). Bari, A., and M. J. Carena. 2013. Can expired proprietary maize industry lines be useful for short-season maize breeding programs? II. Grain quality and nutritional traits (under review).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2012 Citation: Carena, M.J. 2012. Development of the next generation of healthier maize products, Brazilian Plant Breeding and Genetics Meeting, Brazilian Association of Plant Breeders. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 20-22 November 2012. Carena, M.J. 2012. Development of the next generation of healthier maize products, Baicheng Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Baicheng, China. 22-24 October 2012. Carena, M.J. 2012. Potencial del mejoramiento gen�tico del ma�z para alternativa productiva en climas patag�nicos. In INTA & Argentinian Association of Agronomists (Plenary Lecture), Rio Negro, Argentina, 13-14 July 2012. Carena, M.J. 2012. Increasing genetic diversity with exotic germplasm. In Illinois Corn Breeders School, Champaign, IL, 5-8 March 2012. Carena, M.J. 2012. Reporting data: NDSU efforts for hybrid corn performance trials. In National Crop Variety Testing Group (SCC-33, Invited Lecture), New Orleans, LO, 8-10 February 2012. Carena, M.J. 2012. Applied corn breeding for unique early maturing products. In North Dakota Corn Growers Association Annual Meeting, 1 February 2012.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Laude, T. 2013. Quantitative genetic analysis of 16 U.S. northern adapted maize populations.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2012 Citation: Carena, M. J. 2013. Moving corn north: Developing cold tolerant corn for central and northern Minnesota (MN). MN Ag. Expo, Mankato, MN. Laude, T., and Carena, M.J. 2012. Grain quality enhancement of North Dakota corn using 16 adapted and genetically diverse populations In: Agronomy Abstracts [CD-ROM computer file]. ASA, Madison, WI. Carena, M.J. 2012. Potencial del Mejoramiento Gen�tico del Ma�z para Alternativa Productiva en Climas Patag�nicos. In INTA & Argentinian Association of Agronomists, Rio Negro, Argentina. Dong, N., Laude, T., and Carena, M.J. 2012. The Early-QPM Program: the Next Generation of Healthier Short-season Products. In 2012 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference, Indianapolis, IN. Bari, A., and Carena, M.J. 2012. Utilization of Industry Lines in U. S. Northern Corn Breeding Programs. In 2012 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference, Indianapolis, IN. Sharma, S., and Carena, M.J. 2012. NDSU EarlyGEM Program: Adding Value to Short-Season Corn Hybrids with Unique Tropical and Temperate Genes. In 2012 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference, Indianapolis, IN. Laude, T., and Carena, M.J. 2012. Improving North Dakota corn adapted maize populations by exploring useful genes from diverse germplasm. In 2012 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference, Indianapolis, IN. Carena, M.J. 2012. Increasing genetic diversity with exotic germplasm. In Illinois Corn Breeders School (ICBS), Champaign, IL, 5-8 March, 2012. Laude, T., and Carena, M.J. 2012. Variety diallel of North Dakota adapted maize populations for agronomic and grain quality traits. In North Central Corn Breeding Research Conference (NCCC167), Portland, OR, 14-15 March, 2012.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2013 Citation: Laude, T.P., and M.J. Carena. 2013. Diallel analysis among 16 maize populations adapted to the U.S. northern Corn Belt (in press).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Hallauer, A.R. and M.J. Carena. 2013. Adaptation of tropical maize germplasm to temperate environments (published Euphytica online). Carena, M.J. 2013. Challenges and opportunities for developing maize cultivars in the public sector. Euphytica 191:165-171. Carena, M.J. 2013. Developing cold and drought tolerant short-season maize products for fuel and feed utilization. Crop Breed. & Appl. Biotech. 13:1-8. Carena, M.J. 2013. Developing the next generation of diverse and healthier maize cultivars tolerant to climate changes. Euphytica 190:471-479. Hallauer, A.R., and M.J. Carena. 2013. Recurrent selection in maize. Maydica 57:266-283.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: 54 short-season corn products have been developed and distributed to public and private institutions, PVP Disclosure Forms have been filled out, fees and royalties were received. No PVP protection has been done at NDSU for these products.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Sharma, S., and M.J. Carena. 2012. NDSU EarlyGEM: Increasing the genetic diversity of northern U.S. hybrids through the development of unique exotic elite lines. Maydica 57:34-42.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Carena, M.J. 2012. Applied Maize Breeding. In: R. Pratt (Ed.). Blackwell-Wiley, New Jersey, NJ
  • Type: Books Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Prohens, J., Nuez, F., and Carena, M.J. 2012. Handbook of Plant Breeding: Fruit breeding. In: M.L. Badenes, and D.H. Byrne (Eds.). Springer, New York, NY.


Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The ND corn breeding program planted and harvested 38 and 36 corn hybrid experiments across greater than 20 state locations in 2011 and 2012, respectively. The studies were conducted across a variety of locations with several winter and summer breeding nurseries with greater than 400,000 progenies evaluated to develop the next generation of short-season corn products. Controlled winter nursery conditions have provided excellent screening for drought and cold tolerance. Selected products have successfully responded to the 2012 environmental challenges. The program has developed corn hybrids that, when tested under dry land and irrigated condition in western ND, have shown greater than 190% more yield and a 100% more starch under stress than top industry checks. One of our winter nurseries was planted very early (September 9, 2012) for screening thousands of corn lines under severe cold and drought stress during the 2012-2013 growing season. During the period of this report, 6 new corn inbred lines, 10 new corn populations, and 2 new hybrids were developed and distributed to northern U.S. farmers and industry through research and commercialization agreements. Two thirds of these products were derived from our NDSU EarlyGEM Program created to increase the genetic diversity of northern U.S. hybrids (5 products were adapted to North Dakota from Argentina, 2 from Chile, and 1 each from southern USA, Cuba, Mexico, St. Croix, and Brazil). They carry unique genes not present in sequenced genomes and have shown to break environmental margins. Released lines have shown not only significantly high yield and fast dry down (up to 156% earlier and faster driers than top market hybrids), but also excellent cold and drought tolerance, green snap and lodging resistance, as well as above average test weight and grain quality when compared to industry products in public and private hybrid trials. From thousands of lines tested in hybrid combinations, greater than 60 new potential NDSU inbred releases were identified. We expect at least six new releases available to our exclusive industry partner and growers adding to the 38 unique short-season corn products released and developed in the past 10 years. We have received 858 requests for earliness, yield, drought and cold tolerance, green snap and lodging resistance, fast dry down, unique genetic diversity, and high test weight and grain quality present in our corn lines and hybrids in the past 5 years. The latest single request for 22 short-season products (Nov 2012) yielded $11,000. Both systems (non-exclusive and exclusive) have been essential to expose NDSU corn products to the market. Student rating of instruction for my advanced Quantitative Genetics class were substantially above the department, college, and university averages. I served as major advisor of four Ph.D. students. Their dissertations, focused on adaptation, drought tolerance, genetic diversity, intellectual property, and the next generation of healthier products. These are fully integrated to the breeding program and directly related to the development of new breeding products and/or methods. PARTICIPANTS: PI: Marcelo J. Carena; Technician: Duane Wanner; Seasonal employees; Ph.D. Graduate students: Santosh Sharma, Tonette Laude, Abdullah Bari, and Naiyuan Dong; Major partner organizations: Iowa State University, USDA-GEM, DuPont/Pioneer Hi-Bred, Monsanto, Ag. Reliant Genetics, Dow Agro Sciences, SGI, BASF/Thurston Genetics, Syngenta, Hyland Seeds, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO, Rome, Italy), and others; Training: I have provided training to professor/scientists, visitors, and students (4 Ph.D. graduates as major advisor, 12 as instructor of an advanced class in one semester, >450 as co-instructor during national and international visits, >30 undergraduates, and several institutions as consultant). TARGET AUDIENCES: Farmers, industry, scientists, students, policy makers; U.S. North Central Corn Breeding Coordinating Committee (NCCC167); U.S. Corn Variety Testing (SCC33), U.S.D.A. - Germplasm Enhancement Maize (GEM) Program and its public/private network; U.S. American Seed Trade Association (ASTA); U.S. Crop Science Society of America (CSSA); American Society of Agronomy (ASA); European Association of Plant Breeders (EUCARPIA); North Dakota Corn Growers Association; North Dakota Corn Council Utilization; North Dakota Ethanol Producers Association; North Dakota State Board of Agricultural Research; North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization; National Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council, Tribal Organizations, Processor and Seed Industry, etc. We have provided under fees and licenses hundreds of germplasm and cultivars requests nationally and internationally. The PI has acted as invited and elected Editor of the scientific peer-reviewed journals Euphytica, Maydica, and Frontiers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
The ND corn program became the largest public breeding program in the region. It is known as the most northern public breeding program in North America moving corn north to cooler areas and west to drier regions at a very efficient rate (three seasons per year). The program is strategically located to develop corn products faster, using extreme environmental conditions for screening. It covers all ND and surrounding state regions and maturities serving all farmers equally independent from their location and industry investment. Actual genetic gains of northern improved NDSU corn hybrids gave a 20x average return on investment for the breeding program in 2011-2012 (more gains were achieved in western and northern ND and MN). In addition, the information generated on industry hybrids was worth millions for hybrid selection by farmers, based on the genetic differences found among hybrids. The actual differences of the same hybrids across locations, especially for lodging and yield, were very powerful for farmers in order to identify strengths and weaknesses of stable and unstable hybrids in 2012. NDSU is the sole genetic provider of tropical derived short-season corn products nationwide. NDSU has, in addition to male and female inbred and hybrid programs, a fourth breeding program for corn germplasm adaptation and improvement. Within the latter, NDSU was the first to move elite tropical germplasm northward and to offer unique products not available in industry. This has already impacted the sustainability and stability of northern corn production and profitability. Public and private institutions (three major seed companies during this period) have already taken advantage of the AUDDC corn phenotyping screening method developed by our program for fast dry down. This has already reduced billions of dollars of farmer and industry production cost to artificial drying and fossil fuels. This practical method also has, for the first time, saved time and expenses to industry breeders measuring and screening a genetically complex trait. The ND corn program has helped national and international corn breeding programs. I have been invited as keynote speaker to share achievements in product and methodology developments. In 2012, the program was recognized by the Illinois Corn Breeders School, Brazilian Association of Plant Breeders, Baicheng Academy of Agricultural Sciences (China), National Council of Agronomists and National Institute of Agriculture Technology (Argentina), and Maisadour (France). The 'Quantitative Genetics in Maize Breeding' by Hallauer, Carena, and Miranda Fo. (2010) book has been downloaded 4,335 times, 253 hard copies were purchased. The North Dakota Corn Utilization Council quoted 'we applaud your vision to move tropical and temperate unique corn. We support the NDSU EarlyGEM Program to increase the genetic diversity and future of our corn hybrids'. The Minnesota Corn Growers Association also quoted 'supporting the NDSU corn breeding program is a way to help corn producers in central and northern Minnesota share in the success that corn growers have enjoyed in the southern tier for decades now'.

Publications

  • Carena, M.J. 2012. Intellectual property challenges and opportunities for developing maize cultivars in the public sector. Euphytica (in press).
  • Carena, M.J. 2012. Development of cold and drought tolerant short-season maize products for fuel and feed utilization. Crop Breed. & Appl. Biotech. (in press).
  • Carena, M.J. 2012.Developing the next generation of diverse and healthier maize cultivars tolerant to climate changes. Euphytica (in press).
  • Hallauer, A.R., and Carena, M.J. 2012. Recurrent selection in maize. Maydica (in press).
  • Bari, A., and Carena, M.J. 2012. Utilization of industry lines in U. S. northern corn breeding programs. In 2012 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
  • Sharma, S., and Carena, M.J. 2012. NDSU EarlyGEM Program: Adding value to short-season corn hybrids with unique tropical and temperate genes. In 2012 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
  • Laude, T., and Carena, M.J. 2012. Improving North Dakota corn adapted maize populations by exploring useful genes from diverse germplasm. In 2012 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
  • Laude, T., and Carena, M.J. 2012. Variety diallel of North Dakota adapted maize populations for agronomic and grain quality traits. In North Central Corn Breeding Research Conference (NCCC167), Portland, OR, 14-15 March, 2012.
  • Carena, M.J. 2012. Potencial del mejoramiento genetico del maiz para alternativa productiva en climas patagonicos. In INTA & Argentinian Association of Agronomists (Plenary Lecture), Rio Negro, Argentina, 13-14 July 2012.
  • Carena, M.J. 2012. Increasing genetic diversity with exotic germplasm. In Illinois Corn Breeders School (ICBS Plenary Lecture), Champaign, IL, 5-8 March 2012.
  • Carena, M.J. 2012. Reporting data: NDSU efforts for hybrid corn performance trials. In National Crop Variety Testing Group (SCC-33, Invited Lecture), New Orleans, LO, 8-10 February 2012.
  • Carena, M.J. 2012. Applied corn breeding for unique early maturing products. In North Dakota Corn Growers Association Annual Meeting (Invited Lecture), 1 February 2012.
  • Carena, M.J. 2012. Corn breeding and genetics program: Breeding short-season cold tolerant corn for central and northern Minnesota (MN)(Invited Presentation), 22-24 January 2012.
  • Laude, T., and Carena, M.J. 2012. Grain quality enhancement of North Dakota corn using 16 adapted and genetically diverse populations In: Agronomy Abstracts [CD-ROM computer file]. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Dong, N., Laude, T., and Carena, M.J. 2012. The NDSU EarlyQPM Program: the next generation of healthier short-season products. In 2012 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference, Indianapolis, IN.


Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the period of this report, 9 new corn inbred lines, 4 genetically broad-based germplasm resources,and 2 new population hybrids were developed and distributed to northern U.S. farmers and industry. These products had improved drought and cold tolerance, yield, fast dry down, test weight, and grain quality (for ethanol and livestock). In 2011 NDSU products were heavily demanded: six NDSU products were provided for short-season hybrid production in the US and Mexico as well as several products to private and public institutions in Africa, South America, and Eastern and Western Europe. Seven lines were submitted to an industry partner and recoded for confidential purposes. These were evaluated and advanced further for crossing and trait integration. These lines did not exhibit green snap in an area that was hit hard with two major windstorms in early and late July (commercial products did show very significant green snap). Industry stated that NDSU new products had "strong early good vigor, were tall and very productive inbreds with no green snap, nice long ears, and were the earliest flowering lines." Two more agreements have been developed with the additional significant benefit of accessing breeding rights. Over 150,000 individuals and progenies were grown in the 2011 Fargo, Casselton, and Prosper summer breeding nurseries. The most advanced of those early generation lines were tested in hybrid combinations in 38 experiments arranged in incomplete block lattice designs across 24 northern ND locations in 2011. The most vigorous and outstanding progenies were harvested in late September and immediately planted in our short-season cold tolerance winter nursery during early October. A member of the National Academy of Sciences stated "The NDSU corn breeding program has gained unique support from private companies, trade organizations, and the farmer producers which were reflected in the response to corn production in North Dakota. The sum of all these activities certainly provided strong evidence of the positive impact on NDSU Department, College, and the economy of northern U.S. states. NDSU has one of the more productive corn breeding programs in the U.S. public sector which was accomplished during your tenure at NDSU." One MS thesis was successfully defended and the research produced unique NDSU EarlyGEM lines and populations currently being utilized by industry. PARTICIPANTS: PI: Marcelo J. Carena; Technician: Duane Wanner; Seasonal employees: Van Mitchell, Luke Anderson; Ph.D. Graduate students: Santosh Sharma, Tonette Laude, Abdullah Bari, and Naiyuan Dong; Major partner organizations: Iowa State University, USDA-GEM, DuPont/Pioneer Hi-Bred, Monsanto, Ag. Reliant Genetics, Laboulet Semences, SGI, BASF & Thurston Genetics, Syngenta, Hyland Seeds, and others; Collaborators: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO, Rome, Italy), Novi Sad Institute (Serbia); Training: I have provided training to over 100 graduate students (4 as major advisor, 13 as instructor, and 83 as co-instructor during national and international visits), over 25 undergraduates during pollination time; Tribal organizations, national and international visitors and delegations, etc. TARGET AUDIENCES: Farmers, industry, scientists, students, policy makers; U.S. Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee (SCC80); U.S. North Central Corn Breeding Coordinating Committee (NCCC167); U.S. Corn Testing Network, University Corn Alliance (UCTA), SCC33, U.S.D.A. - Germplasm Enhancement Maize (GEM) Program and its cooperators; U.S. American Seed Trade Association; U.S. Crop Science Society of America; European Association of Plant Breeders (EUCARPIA); North Dakota Corn Growers Association; North Dakota Corn Council Utilization; North Dakota Ethanol Producers Association; North Dakota State Board of Agricultural Research; North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization; National Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council, Tribal Organizations, Processors. We have provided germplasm and cultivars as requested nationally and internationally. The PI has acted as invited and elected Editor of the scientific peer-reviewed journals Euphytica, Maydica, and Frontier. I served as Senior Editor at Springer. Mentored Ph.D. graduate students and instructed 'Crop Breeding Techniques'; Graduate Student Years: 4.0. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
The NDSU corn-breeding program is one of the few public programs that can still offer a strong emphasis on germplasm adaptation and improvement, line and hybrid development, and training of applied plant breeders. NDSU is known for having the most northern corn breeding program in the continent moving corn north to coolers seasons and west to drier areas at a rate of three seasons per year making cultivar development very efficient and three times faster. The program has increased the genetic diversity of northern U.S. hybrids by developing the next generation of unique healthier and safer products for ND farmers. The NDSU EarlyGEM program has finalized the adaptation of elite tropical and temperate unique germplasm northward and will offer, for the first time, unique short-season tropical derived competitive finished products in 2012. NDSU is the sole genetic provider of these products to industry. The NDSU corn breeding program has developed a network of industry cooperators without the need of investing in costly academic labs, intellectual property, trait integration, and equipment. This has saved the program an estimated $900,000 in 2011. Applied corn breeding for unique early maturing products was worth $6 million in North Dakota during 2011 based on actual genetic gains, approximately a 10x average return on investment. The breeding program acted as a genetic provider to seed and retailer companies, processing industry, and breeders nationally and internationally. The MN Corn Growers Association has joined forces with the ND Corn Growers Association for the first time to support NDSU corn breeding efforts for cold tolerance and grain quality. Too many production failures have been reported by farmers in northern MN and ND. NDSU proved to provide similar opportunities to both southern and northern corn farmers through breeding corn locally under the challenging environmental conditions of the north. NDSU served all farmers in both desirable and marginal state corn production regions independent from industry investment. NDSU has been recognized for developing a scientific and practical method toward helping save billions of dollars to drying corn through the development of short-season faster drier corn lines and hybrids. NDSU validated its discovery (AUDDC-area under the dry down curve) on screening corn inbred lines and hybrids for fast dry down reducing $billions of farmer's production cost related to artificial grain drying. Public and private institutions have already taken advantage of this method developed at NDSU for breeding purposes to identify hybrids with statistically significant fast dry down. NDSU research has been significantly exposed and utilized academically and scientifically. The book 'Quantitative Genetics in Maize Breeding' by Hallauer, Carena, and Miranda Fo. (2010) has been cited 1,670 times and has been downloaded over 3,000 times during the time of the report. In the same period the maize breeding chapter from 'Cereals' edited by Carena (2009) was the most utilized with over 2,000 downloads.

Publications

  • Carena, M.J. 2011. Applied maize breeding. In: R. Pratt (Ed.). Blackwell-Wiley, New Jersey, NJ (in press).
  • Sharma, S., and M.J. Carena. 2011. NDSU EarlyGEM: Increasing the Genetic Diversity of Northern U.S. Hybrids Through the Development of Unique Exotic Elite Lines. Crop Sci. (in press).
  • Carena, M.J. 2011. Germplasm Enhancement for Adaptation to Climate Changes. Crop Breed. & Appl. Biotech.S1:56-65.
  • Bari, A., and Carena, M.J. 2011. Usefulness of expired proprietary germplasm (ex-PVP) for U.S. northern corn breeding programs. In North Central Corn Breeding Research Conference (NCCC167), Chicago, IL, 16-17 March, 2011.
  • Laude, T.P., and Carena, M.J. 2011. NDSU breeding efforts toward high protein quality short-season maize germplasm. In North Central Corn Breeding Research Conference (NCCC167), Chicago, IL, 16-17 March, 2011.
  • Sharma, S., and Carena, M.J. 2011. Exploiting unique germplasm and environments for cultivar development. In North Central Corn Breeding Research Conference (NCCC167), Chicago, IL, 16-17 March, 2011.
  • Carena, M.J. 2011. Adaptation to climate changes: The case for short-season corn, 6th Brazilian Plant Breeding Congress, Brazilian Academy of Sciences (Plenary Lecture). Buzios, Brazil. 3 August 2011.


Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The NDSU corn breeding program develops unique early maturing products for ND. During the period of this report, NDSU provided eight new experimental corn lines to foundation seed companies. Compared to top industry checks NDSU hybrids had over 190% better drought and cold tolerance (through traditional breeding approaches and unique testing and breeding locations in ND and foreign abiotic stress managed winter nurseries), over 150% improvement in reduced grain moisture at harvest and fast dry down, over 110% increase in test weight, lodging resistance, extractable and fermentable starch, grain oil, grain protein, and over 105% for grain yield under dry land and irrigated conditions. Top NDSU lines have been advanced for more multi-location, multi-trait, and multi-stage evaluation. We have increased cooperation with seed companies in order to continue our conventional and modern approaches to drought tolerance, fast dry down, and grain quality genetic improvement. Stakeholders have recognized us with research awards and fellowships. Public and private institutions have either cooperated with the program on research of mutual interest or have utilized its products. State corn growers have confirmed the NDSU corn breeding program is their top research priority. In kind cooperation from industry and western public centers has allowed us to increase our testing and breeding network to 24 locations (>25,000 plots), and 20,000 winter and summer nursery rows. Winter nurseries have reduced by a third the timeframe for corn genetic improvement due to the short-season nature of our program. Industry partnerships have allowed us to access expensive technology (doubled-haploid production, SNP markers, drought-controlled environments, NIR calibrations, and equipment) and access to breeding rights, checks, testers, trait events, and research locations that have saved NDSU significant research monies, labor, and especially time annually. The NDSU EarlyGEM program has moved elite tropical and temperate unique germplasm northward. It has yielded thousands of unique new experimental short-season high quality lines in 2009-2010 and NDSU has been a unique source of these to the ND industry. This has positively impacted the sustainability of ND corn production and profitability. During the period of this report I have participated nationally in high quality student recruitment programs and advised one MS and four Ph.D. graduate students. Dissertations focused on breeding and genetics of rate of dry down and test weight, adaptation of exotic germplasm, usefulness of ex-PVP proprietary inbred lines, short-season Quality Protein Maize (QPM) product development, and increasing the protein quality of short-season corn populations for a healthier corn diet. Research conducted has resulted in my being an author or co-author on several refereed journal articles. In addition, the unit produced books and several invited presentations at professional meetings. I have finished my second three-year term as Chair of the national maize registration committee and served as editor and senior editor for various scientific journals and books. PARTICIPANTS: PI: Marcelo J. Carena; Technicians: Duane Wanner and Gregory Lammers; Seasonal employees: Van Mitchell, Luke Anderson, and Arnold Hoff; Graduate students: Junyun Yang, Santosh Sharma, Tonette Laude, Abdullah Bari, and Naiyuan Dong; Major partner organizations: Iowa State University, USDA-GEM, DuPont/Pioneer Hi-Bred, Monsanto, Ag. Reliant Genetics, Laboulet Semences, SGI, Thurston Genetics, Syngenta, Hyland Seeds, and others; Collaborators: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO, Rome, Italy), Novi Sad Institute (Serbia); Training: I have provided training to 69 graduate students (5 as major advisor, 12 as instructor, and 52 as co-instructor), over 20 undergraduates during pollination time; Tribal organizations, national and international visitors and delegations, etc. TARGET AUDIENCES: Farmers, industry, scientists, students, policy makers; U.S. Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee (SCC80); U.S. North Central Corn Breeding Coordinating Committee (NCCC167); U.S. corn Testing Network, University Corn Testing Alliance (UCTA), SCC33, U.S.D.A. - Germplasm Enhancement Maize (GEM) Program and its cooperators; U.S. American Seed Trade Association; U.S. Crop Science Society of America; European Association of Plant Breeders (EUCARPIA); North Dakota Corn Growers Association; North Dakota Corn Council Utilization; North Dakota Ethanol Producers Association; North Dakota State Board of Agricultural Research; North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization; National Corn Growers Association, Organic Groups; Tribal Organizations, etc. We have provided germplasm and cultivars as requested nationally and internationally. The PI has acted as Editor of the scientific peer-reviewed journals Euphytica, Maydica, and has retired from the Journal of Plant Registrations as Chair of the Maize Registration Committee of CSSA. I served as Senior Editor of Springer books. Mentored graduate students and instructed 'Quantitative Genetics'; Graduate Student Years: 5.0. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None.

Impacts
NDSU has 80 years of continuous corn breeding research (and testing since 1892). Our breeding program is the most northern public corn breeding program in North America. It moves corn north to cooler seasons and west to dry areas. It increases the genetic diversity of northern U.S, hybrids by developing the next generation of healthier and safer products for ND producers and the northern U.S. The program conducts research that integrates pre-breeding with cultivar development, which is unique not only for product development but also for training the next generation of breeders. The program acted as a genetic provider to foundation seed companies, retailer seed companies, processing industry, and public breeders nationally and internationally. - NDSU has been recognized for development of methods toward helping save billions of dollars to drying corn. NDSU validated its discovery (AUDDC-area under the dry down curve) on screening corn inbred lines and hybrids for fast dry down. This can reduce grower's production cost related to artificial grain drying (Annually, the upper Midwest consumes more than $1.4 billion of fossil fuels to dry $19.7 billion of corn grain). - The cool growing season of 2009 showed very promising data in yield, dry down, and test weight in our northern region. Northern plant breeding remains a funding priority in the future as genetic improvement in ND was worth over $5 million annually. - NDSU addressed lack of genetic diversity and earliness, short-season cold and drought tolerance, fast dry down, test weight, and grain quality at a rate of three seasons per year making cultivar development three times faster. - NDSU has improved grain quality and yield under both drought stress and ideal conditions. The use of reliable locations where stress intensity can be managed annually for thousands of lines and hybrids has made, in combination to multi-stage and multi-location testing, significant improvements for drought tolerance (~200% better yield than commercial checks). Our breeding approaches have demonstrated no limit to genetic improvement when most tolerance genes are targeted. Progeny-based recurrent selection programs have provided cold-tolerant products at a rate of 1 selection cycle/year and inbred lines derived from these germplasm improvement programs were highly demanded by industry. - NDSU has initiated the development of the next generation of healthier corn products with QPM short-season genotypes. - NDSU has produced earlier corn by an average rate of 2 to 4 days per year, utilizing sample sizes of 25,000 plants per population/year combination at minimum cost ($750/population). These populations had also a yield improvement of 20-40 bu/A, a grain moisture improvement of -8 to -12%, a test weight improvement of 2 to 3.5 lb/bu and plant and ear height reductions of up to 28 and 11 cm respectively. - Without exceptions all tropical and temperate corn with unique alleles (not present in the B73 and NAM genomes) has successfully been adapted to ND conditions and has increased the genetic diversity of U.S. northern corn hybrids.

Publications

  • Yang, J., Carena, M.J., and Uphaus, J. 2010. AUDDC: A method to evaluate rate of dry down in maize. Crop Sci. 50:2347-2354.
  • Carena, M.J., Wanner, D.W., and Yang, J. 2010. Linking pre-breeding for local germplasm improvement with cultivar development in maize breeding for short-season (85-95 RM) hybrids. J. Plant Reg. 4:86-92.
  • Hallauer, A.R., Carena, M.J., and Miranda Fo, J.B. 2010. Quantitative genetics in maize breeding. 3rd Ed., Springer, New York, NY. Carena, M.J. 2009. Handbook of plant breeding: Cereals. Springer, New York, NY.
  • Prohens, J., Nuez, F., and Carena, M.J. 2010. Fruit breeding. In: M.L. Badenes, and D.H. Byrne (Eds.). Springer, New York, NY.
  • Prohens, J., Nuez, F., and Carena, M.J. 2010. Roots and tuber crops. In: J.E. Bradshaw (Ed.). Springer, New York, NY.
  • Prohens, J., Nuez, F., and Carena, M.J. 2010. Fodder crops and amenity grasses. In: B. Boller, U. Posselt, and F. Veronesi (Eds.). Springer, New York, NY. Prohens, J., Nuez, F., and Carena, M.J. 2010. Oil crops. In: J. Vollmann, and I. Rajcan (Eds.). Springer, New York, NY.
  • Carena, M.J. 2010. Exploiting exotic germplasm in the development of early-maturing drought tolerant maize cultivars: Public breeding efforts for the MonDak region (western ND and eastern MT). In: Agronomy Abstracts [CD-ROM computer file]. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Sharma, S., and Carena, M.J. 2010. Adding value to the US northern Corn Belt hybrids with temperate and tropical exotic germplasms. In: Agronomy Abstracts [CD-ROM computer file]. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Carena, M.J. 2010. Integrating pre-breeding with cultivar development in maize. 52nd Annual Maize Genetics Conference 148:P211. Sharma, S., and Carena, M.J. 2009. Increasing the genetic diversity of US northern Corn Belt hybrids with tropical and temperate exotic germplasms. In: Agronomy Abstracts [CD-ROM computer file]. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Carena, M.J. 2009. NDSU corn breeding and genetics program: Integrating pre-breeding with cultivar development in early maturing maize. National Plant Breeding Workshop, Madison, WI.
  • Carena, M.J., Lammers, G., and Wanner, D.W. 2010. Eastern North Dakota hybrid corn performance results for 2009. North Dakota Agric. Exp. Stn., Fargo, ND.
  • Carena, M.J., and Smith, M. 2009. Report of the sub-committee on uniform tests in the 100-300 maturity series. North Central Corn Breeding Research Committee (NCR167) Meetings. Monticello, IL.
  • Carena, M.J. 2010. NDSU applied corn breeding: Unique national research program moving corn north and west. Corn Utilization and Technology Conference, National Corn Growers Association. Atlanta, Georgia. 6-9 June 2010.
  • Carena, M.J. 2010. NDSU efforts for development of unique early-maturing products, West Central Inc., Fargo, ND, 5 March 2010.
  • Carena, M.J. 2010. Variety testing in North Dakota. In: 2010 SCC-33 / UCTA Crop Variety Testing Meeting, Tampa, FL, 26-29 Jan., 2010.
  • Yang, J., and Carena, M.J. 2010. Working toward an easier way to measure rate of dry down in corn inbreds and hybrids. In: North Central Corn Breeding Research Conference (NCCC167), Chicago, IL, 5-7 April, 2010. Sharma, S., and Carena, M.J. 2010. NDSU EarlyGEM program: Moving GEM germplasm northward and westward. In North Central Corn Breeding Research Conference (NCCC167), Chicago, IL, 5-7 April, 2010.


Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Unique research integrated pre-breeding with cultivar development in the northern USA where corn hybrids are challenged by short seasons and drought. Over 100 experiments (mostly based on incomplete block designs) each ranging from 50-256 genotypes in over 50,000 plots were conducted across 42 environments in 2008 and 2009. Experiments included adaptation of exotic elite germplasm, intra- and inter-population recurrent selection (RS) trials for genetic improvement, early and late generation hybrid trials with industry testers, and state hybrid performance trials. The breeding program has maximized genetic improvement of adapted elite germplasm through 20 pre-breeding intra- and inter-population RS programs and over 5,000 exotic EarlyGEM lines. At least 2,000 top progenies have been evaluated in RS multi-trait and multi-location trials and the top 200-400 have been integrated in our pedigree selection program. Over 35,000 total nursery rows were managed with 16 acres of summer pollinating nursery in 2009 with 100,000 pollinations produced compared to 30,000 managed by the Monsanto local program. S0 populations for inbred line development included top backcross progenies of the NDSU EarlyGEM program (35%), elite x elite within (40%) and across (5%) heterotic groups, top progenies of RS trials (10%), early NDSU x late off patent lines (5%), and progenies from stratified mass selection (5%). NDSU has continued the only program developing early maturing drought-tolerant products as the market is not large enough for industry investment. The extent of this breeding program has facilitated the instruction of graduate classes, statistics and quantitative genetics counseling, and mentoring PhD and MS students. Dissertations focused on breeding for dry down and grain quality and the use of exotic germplasm with drought/N tolerance. Cold tolerance efforts have allowed us to make progeny selection progress at a rate of 1 season/year identifying RS progenies with high levels of cold tolerance. Basic research on fast dry down has identified elite hybrids for doubled-haploid induction and inbred lines for potential release. A PhD student expressed "I have learned that research dissertations can be directly linked to breeding programs with direct impact, that expensive and latest technology (e.g. molecular markers, doubled-haploids) can be accessed in close cooperation with industry without the need for investing in academic labs and time (e.g., industry labs take a week vs months/years in academic labs for the same work), that our study gave us the opportunity to link both classical and modern technology for the benefit of breeding." Products released (9 inbred lines and populations) were registered, published and shared through direct requests and agreements with the NDSU Research Foundation. Our efforts have reached numerous audiences through invited plenary lectures, conferences, industry visits, and grower recognition events. Dissemination of information was through county and breeding nursery field days, national and international visits from grower group representatives, industry and public scientists, websites, press releases, and interviews. PARTICIPANTS: PI: Marcelo J. Carena; Technicians: Duane Wanner and Gregory Lammers; Seasonal employees: Van Mitchel and Arnold Hoff; Graduate students: Junyun Yang, Santosh Sharma, Tonette Laude, and Abdullah Bari; Major partner organizations: Iowa State University, USDA-GEM, DuPont/Pioneer Hi-Bred, Monsanto, Ag. Reliant Genetics, Laboulet Semences, SGI, Thurstons Genetics, Syngenta, Hyland Seeds, and others; Collaborators: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO, Rome, Italy), Novi Sad Institute (Serbia); Training: We have provided training to 21 graduate students (4 as major advisor, 10 as instructor, and 7 as co-instructor), over 20 undergraduates during pollination time; Tribal organizations, national and international visitors (e.g. Brown Seed Genetics and several industry members, U. of Hohenheim, Germany, etc). TARGET AUDIENCES: Farmers; U.S. Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee (SCC80); U.S. North Central Corn Breeding Coordinating Committee (NCCC167); U.S.D.A. - Germplasm Enhancement Maize (GEM) Program and its cooperators; U.S. American Seed Trade Association; U.S. Crop Science Society of America; European Association of Plant Breeders (EUCARPIA); North Dakota Corn Growers Association; North Dakota Corn Council Utilization; North Dakota Ethanol Producers Association; North Dakota State Board of Agricultural Research; North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization; Organic Groups; Tribal Organizations: We have participated in a USDA-SARE project awarded to increase and maintained indigenous corn varieties near extinction. We have provided technical expertise on the correct methodologies to utilize; Industry: We have provided germplasm and cultivars as requested (over 100 requests); Scientists: We have provided at least 50 copies of our manuscripts in 2009; Journals: The PI has acted as Editor of the scientific peer-reviewed journals Euphytica, Maydica, and the Journal of Plant Registrations as Chair of the Maize Registration Committee of CSSA; Editorials: Served as Senior Editor of three books for Springer; Students: Mentoring graduate students and instructing 'Crop Breeding Techniques' and 'Quantitative Genetics'; Graduate Student Years: 4.0. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Most northern U.S. industry hybrids are not locally bred; thus, they are often late-maturing products with below average grain quality, drought and cold tolerance, and rate of dry down. The NDSU corn breeding program has developed new and genetically diverse early maturing products not available in industry. As a consequence, state growers associations have put our program as their top priority. The lack of early maturing testers has encouraged industry partners to provide us with breeding rights, a first for NDSU. Others have provided fellowships, equipment, winter nurseries, latest technology (SNP markers, doubled haploids), and thousands of plots which has been a savings of $500,000 to our program in 2009. We have moved elite tropical and late temperate corn northward with minimal investment. Unlike expensive genomic efforts on isolating early-maturing genes and QTL, we have made significant genetic progress at a rate of 2 to 3 days earlier per year by screening 200,000 plants across populations with a very simple approach at less than one penny ($0.01) of screening cost per plant. Also, we have worked with unique tropical and early maturing alleles to increase the genetic diversity of U.S. northern corn hybrids, not present in the B73 genome just sequenced. Winter nurseries allowing more than two seasons per year have helped speed up the development of unique exotic <90RM NDSU EarlyGEM lines. These have shown not only to be 12 to 20 days earlier than original versions, but also greater grain yield (10.4 vs. 9.2 t ha-1), test weight (72.5 vs. 70.1 kg hL-1), extractable starch (67.8 vs. 64.2 %), fermentable starch (16.6 vs. 16.4 %), grain oil (4.3 vs. 3.5 %), grain protein (10.5 vs. 9.4 %), and up to 194% greater yield under intense drought conditions when compared to top hybrids at similar grain moisture at harvest. This has generated increased cooperation with the USDA-GEM project and with industry partners requesting NDSU germplasm and lines. Basic research on fast dry down has generated a significant change in knowledge through a new methodology (AUDDC-area under the dry down curve) to measure this complex trait, which can save almost $20 billion in artificial drying. New and diverse lines derived from RS programs for genetic improvement of germplasm have demonstrated excellent combining ability across industry testers. Pre-breeding efforts linked to inbred line development have produced an increased in funding support from state grower organizations as well as a willingness to increase their exposure in the market. We have increased the number of locations within regions for breeding and state hybrid performance trials identifying reliable drought- and cold-screening locations. Based on our efforts, industry, farmers, and insurance companies have responded to the needs of early-maturing, fast dry down, and drought-tolerant hybrids. The demand and interest of students to be trained in applied corn breeding at NDSU has significantly increased. As a consequence, private and public institutions have provided financial support. Still, we have not been able to cover the increased demand.

Publications

  • Yang, J., and Carena, M.J. 2009. Breeding and Genetics of Field Dry Down and Test Weight in Short-Season Elite Maize Hybrids. In Agronomy Abstracts [CD-ROM computer file]. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Hammond, J.J., and Carena, M.J. 2008. A Breeding Plan for Molecular Markers. In Agronomy Abstracts [CD-ROM computer file]. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Carena, M.J. 2008. How Many Commercial Heterotic Patterns are Available in Maize In Agronomy Abstracts [CD-ROM computer file]. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Carena, M.J. and Ransom, J. 2009. North Dakota Hybrid Corn Performance Results 2008. (68th Ed.). Circular A-793 (Revised). North Dakota Agric. Exp. Station and Ext. Service.
  • Carena, M.J. 2008. Increasing the Genetic Diversity of Northern U.S. Maize Hybrids: Integrating Pre-breeding with Cultivar Development. In Conventional and Molecular Breeding of Field and Vegetable Crops. Novi Sad, Serbia. (Selected Full Peer-Refereed Manuscript after Plenary Lecture Invitation)
  • Carena, M.J. 2008. Development of New and Diverse Lines for Early-Maturing Hybrids: Traditional and Modern Maize Breeding. In Modern Variety Breeding for Present and Future Needs. J. Prohens and M.L. Badenes (Eds.). European Association of Plant Breeders (EUCARPIA), Valencia, Spain. (Selected Full Peer-Refereed Manuscript after Plenary Lecture Invitation)
  • Hallauer, A.R., and Carena, M.J. 2009. Maize breeding. Chapter 1. In: M.J. Carena (ed.). Handbook of Plant Breeding: Cereals. Springer, NY, p. 3-98.
  • Prohens, J., Nuez, F., and Carena, M.J. 2009 (Editors in Chief). Handbook of Plant Breeding: Cereals, Springer, NY.
  • Prohens, J., Nuez, F., and Carena, M.J. 2008 (Editors in Chief). Handbook of Plant Breeding: Vegetables II, Springer, NY.
  • Prohens, J., Nuez, F., and Carena, M.J. 2009 (Editors in Chief). Handbook of Plant Breeding: Vegetables I, Springer, NY.
  • Carena, M.J., Bergman, J., Riveland, N., Eriksmoen, E, and Halvorson, M. (2009). Breeding Maize for Higher Yield and Quality under Drought Stress. Maydica (in press).
  • Carena, M.J., Pollak, L., Salhuana, W., and Denuc, M. (2009). Development of Unique Lines for Early-Maturing Hybrids: Moving GEM Germplasm Northward and Westward. Euphytica 170: 87-97.
  • Carena, M.J., Yang, J., Caffarel, J.C., Mergoum, M., and Hallauer, A.R. (2009). Do different Production Environments Justify Separate Maize Breeding Programs Euphytica 169: 141-150.
  • Sezegen, B., and Carena, M.J. (2009). Divergent Recurrent Selection for Cold Tolerance in Two Improved Maize Populations. Euphytica 167: 237-244.
  • Carena, M.J., and Wanner, D.W. (2009). Development of Genetically Broad-Based Inbred Lines of Maize for Early Maturing (70-80RM) Hybrids. J. Plant Reg. 3: 107-111.
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