Source: CORNELL UNIVERSITY submitted to
BREEDING AND GENETICS OF FORAGE CROPS TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY, QUALITY, AND INDUSTRIAL USES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0229763
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
NYC-149849
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
NE-1010
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Oct 1, 2012
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2017
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Viands, DO.
Recipient Organization
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
ITHACA,NY 14853
Performing Department
Plant Breeding
Non Technical Summary
Dairy industry is the most important agricultural enterprise in the Northeast. Forages are an important source of fiber, energy, protein, and other nutrients essential for dairy cattle and other livestock. Increasing the productivity of perennial forages by breeding for higher forage yield, quality, pest resistances, and tolerance to abiotic conditions would reduce inputs through less frequent planting and chemical use and would increase economic benefits though increased productivity. Breeding for higher energy content, such as pectin, in alfalfa might reduce dependence on grain concentrates and increase milk production in cows while decreasing monetary input. As power plants using biomass are emerging, research and extension efforts will make production of feedstocks for biofuel more economical, thus reducing our dependence on non-renewable energy resources. The overall purpose of this project is to develop forage cultivars for use as livestock feed or biofuels by breeding for higher forage yield and quality, plant longevity, and resistance or tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Various plant characteristics will be evaluated for improvement of these plant species, and breeding methods will be compared for most efficient breeding strategies. Ultimately, cultivars will be bred for use by growers in the Northeast and beyond, thus improving the economic viabilty of dairy and other livestock production and of biofuel production. Forage yield data will be collected and provided to stakeholders for making decisions on cultivar use.
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
2021640108010%
2031620108110%
2031621108110%
2031640108110%
2031641108110%
2031642108110%
2041640108120%
2111640108110%
2121640108110%
Knowledge Area
212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants; 204 - Plant Product Quality and Utility (Preharvest); 211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 203 - Plant Biological Efficiency and Abiotic Stresses Affecting Plants; 202 - Plant Genetic Resources;

Subject Of Investigation
1620 - Warm season perennial grasses; 1640 - Alfalfa; 1621 - Cool season perennial grasses; 1642 - Red clover; 1641 - Trefoil;

Field Of Science
1081 - Breeding; 1080 - Genetics;
Goals / Objectives
1. Evaluate new plant characters and develop germplasm and cultivars with these characters to improve perennial forage species as livestock feed and biofuel uses to enhance rural vitality and promote more secure energy sources. 2. Build on previous research to evaluate additional breeding methods for improving yield and persistence of alfalfa, red clover, orchardgrass, and other forage species to make production agriculture more economical and sustainable. 3. Evaluate new experimental populations and cultivars of perennial forage species for characteristics necessary for breeders, seed companies, seed and forage producers, and crop consultants to make decisions on commercial use over large regions. Expected Outputs: Research on breeding methods will provide forage breeders with information needed for creating breeding strategies to improve forage yield. Improved forage cultivars with high yield, longevity, and quality should make milk production on dairy farms more economical. One NY State sheep producer, who is a Cornell trustee, frequently communicates with me about his delight with using our cultivar Regen. He is now eager to grow our newest cultivar N-R-GEE to feed to his sheep. Pesticide application on forages is much less than on grain crops, thus protecting the environment. The perennial nature of these forage species, combined with fibrous roots on many of them, minimizes soil and water erosion. Breeding forages, such as switchgrass, for higher yield and quality for bioenergy use will make this emerging industry more economical, possibly contributing to the creation of more jobs in NY State and beyond. It also will provide more diversity of crop use in agricultural operations.
Project Methods
1. Progress has been made in breeding alfalfa with multiple mechanisms of resistance to potato leafhopper, but more progress is needed by selecting plants with least leafhopper burn under natural field infestations. Potential cultivars with resistance to alfalfa snout beetle (ASB) will be evaluated for forage yield at several locations across North America. Intensive evaluation under natural ASB infestations will be done in northern NY. Further selection will be done under controlled conditions after infesting the soil medium with ASB eggs. We are cooperating to breed alfalfa with tolerance to acid soils in the field at multiple locations in the USA and Canada, and to determine heritability. We will continue breeding alfalfa for improved forage yield and quality, the latter through selection for a combination of pectin and neutral detergent fiber concentrations in plants from spaced-plant nurseries. We have made significant progress on selecting birdsfoot trefoil with rhizomes to enhance longevity. We are backcrossing this germplasm to higher yielding trefoil, followed by recurrent selection for rhizomes and forage yield. From 2-year old spaced-plant nurseries, switchgrass and other warm season grasses will be selected for higher biomass yield and seed germination using recurrent phenotypic selection or half-sib progeny test. 2. We are leading the cooperative effort to compare replicated clonal evaluation with phenotypic selection to improve alfalfa forage yield. Two cycles of selection have been completed at four locations in North America. Seed will be produced, followed by four years of yield evaluations in replicated, small plot trials at multiple locations in USA and Canada. Research will continue for determining the success of selecting red clover for broad adaptation. 3. Several forage legume and grass trials are established annually in replicated small plot trials and evaluated for forage yield and plant stand for up to four years to provide data to breeders, extension educators, growers, and seed companies. Output evaluation: Interest from the seed industry in acquiring our new cultivars is the most immediate indicator of use, followed by the more direct measure of the quantity of seed actually sold to (and used by) producers. These data are obtained from the seed companies annually. Testimonials from seed company representatives, extension educators, and growers provide qualitative information about the success of our cultivars.

Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Forage producers for improved cultivars; Seed industry who produce and market seed of improved cultivars; Biofuels industry; Extension educators for field tours and extension talks; Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Annual training of extension educators during the fall In-Service Extension Training Workshop. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A field tour of forage breeding research is offered annually in July in Ithaca, NY. Extension educators, seed producers, and seed company personnel attend. A session on forage breeding occurs annually at the in-service extension educator training in November. We meet at least once annually with seed companies interested in new forage cultivars from our program. This meeting is a presentation of research results and feedback from the seed companies regarding needs for future research. Yield data of forage cultivars are available on the web for extension educators, farmers, and others to compare cultivar performances. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? New York cooperated with forage scientists in North America to compare breeding methods, develop improved germplasm and cultivars with new traits, and evaluate experimental populations and cultivars of perennial forage species for yield. During this NE1010 project period, research was completed for comparing mass, S1, and S2 selection methods to improve alfalfa forage yield potential. None of these methods consistently improved yield across locations, and genotype x environment interactions were significant. Consequently, NY led cooperative research to determine if replicated clonal evaluations across locations would improve yield. In 2013 and 2014 replicated plot trials were established at five locations in northern USA and Canada to determine progress from selection for forage yield in an alfalfa population after two cycles of selection in replicated clonal nurseries across several locations. Yield data from the most recent year are being analyzed. Data from previous years show that the mean yield of the three parent populations that constituted the original base population before selection, was lower than the base population yield at all locations. These data suggest that the base population displayed hybrid vigor for yield. The Cycle 2 population selected based on only NY data yielded more than did the base population at three locations. The Cycle 2 population selected across locations averaged lower yield than did the base population in four trials. Genotype by environment interactions were evident. This year the 15th cycle of recurrent phenotypic selection was completed on several alfalfa populations to increase the level of resistance to alfalfa snout beetle (ASB) under controlled greenhouse conditions. Also, new alfalfa populations were developed from plants dug from trials on alfalfa snout beetle infested fields in the fall 2014, and population crosses were made between the most advanced populations and Guardsman II since this cultivar has been the highest yielding in the field trials with ASB. A new field trial on farm land with ASB was established in 2017. Other trials are being harvested for additional data. Drought conditions during 2016 were associated with plants succumbing to ASB, resulting in death of plants, even in resistant cultivars and with the nematode that normally controls ASB. Across the 15 years of this multistate project, several experiments have been conducted in fields naturally infested with ASB. Data have indicated that alfalfa bred for resistance to ASB in the greenhouse produced more forage and had less root feeding injury from ASB in these fields. Therefore, SW9558SBR was released in 2012 with moderate resistance to ASB. With additional data, we anticipate releasing another cultivar with higher level of resistance than SW9558SBR in the next year or two. Recurrent phenotypic selection will be continued to further increase resistance levels in these populations. Maximum control of this insect is anticipated by using resistant cultivars in combination with applying to the land nematodes that kill the ASB. The resistant cultivar is being used by farmers in areas where ASB is a problem to provide a reliable source of alfalfa as feed for the dairy industry. The new alfalfa cultivar SW315LH will protect alfalfa from potato leafhopper (PLH), the most devastating insect on this crop in much of the USA. Seed was available for growers for planting in spring 2016. We anticipate releasing another improved cultivar with high level of resistance to PLH within the next two to three years. The third cycle of selection was completed for increasing resistance to PLH in a population developed from 2x and 4x Medicago germplasm. Selected for resistance at multiple locations in the USA, this population combines three sources of resistance, resulting in germplasm with broader resistance mechanisms than currently available in alfalfa cultivars. The new alfalfa cultivar SW215CR with the creeping root trait may extend longevity of this crop, thus providing more high-protein forage in pasture mixtures. Therefore, economic vitality of livestock enterprises would be improved where pastures are used. Seed was available for growers to plant in spring 2016. Breeding alfalfa for higher forage quality has been accomplished by selecting for various components of quality. The latest effort was selection for higher levels of Neutral Detergent Soluble Fiber (pectin in alfalfa), which is associated with increased milk production in dairy cows. The result was release of the alfalfa cultivar N-R-Gee. According to a Cornell computer model, this cultivar was predicted to produce 25 pounds more milk per dry ton of forage and 1,759 pounds more milk per acre than WL 322 HQ, the high-quality check cultivar in standard quality trials. A sheep feeding trial resulted in higher weight gain (correlated with milk production in dairy cows) and feed efficiency with N-R-Gee compared to a cultivar with lower concentration of pectin and other quality components. Since this multistate project began, we have released seven alfalfa cultivars. In addition to the four above, we released Guardsman II, Regen, and Ezra. These cultivars have multiple disease resistance as well as high forage yield and quality. All of these improved alfalfa cultivars will allow farmers to produce forage more economically for dairy and other livestock industries, thus enhancing farm economic viability. Cooperative research led by Ag Canada resulted in alfalfa germplasm bred for tolerance to acid soils. Research also was completed for breeding red clover for adaptation at several locations in northern USA and Canada. We have been selecting birdsfoot trefoil for rhizomes and plant vigor in germplasm developed by USDA-ARS in MO by crossing rhizomatous germplasm with a precursor of 'Pardee' trefoil, a cultivar bred at Cornell. We completed the fourth cycle of selection in 2010, but the vigor of this population was still low; therefore, we backcrossed the Cycle 4 plants to advanced germplasm derived from Pardee, followed by randomly intercrossing the progenies before continuing recurrent phenotypic selection for plant vigor and rhizome production. Plants from these progenies will be selected for vigor and rhizome production in 2018 to produce trefoil that might improve longevity of this crop. Research began in 2014 for developing resistance to Bipolaris seed rot and leafspot in switchgrass. This disease inhibits maximum production of switchgrass for biofuel and livestock use. Research so far is showing progress from selection for resistance to seed rot when seeds are inoculated with the disease organism, but selection for resistance to leafspot after inoculating leaves of seedlings has not resulted in higher levels of resistance. Selection also has been done for switchgrass seed germination under cold temperatures and for biomass production. Forage yield evaluations were continued for new cultivars and experimental populations of forage legumes and cool season grasses developed by forage breeders. Yield data of new forage cultivars are made available on the web to producers, extension educators, forage breeders, seed companies, etc.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Crawford, R., P. Salon, J. Crawford, J. Hansen, L. Hoffman, S. Bonos, M. Hall, and D. Viands. 2017. Fiber and mineral composition of selected switchgrass half-sibs on high clay and reclaimed mine land sites. Poster session presented at: Switchgrass IV: Prairie & Native Grass International Conference. 7  10 August 2017. Lincoln, NE.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Crawford, R., P. Salon, J. Crawford, J. Hansen, L. Hoffman, S. Bonos, M. Hall, and D. Viands. 2017. Overview of NEWBio switchgrass breeding group accomplishments, 2013-2017. Poster session presented at: Mid-Atlantic Biomass Energy Conference & Expo. 12  14 September 2017. University Park, PA.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2018 Citation: Lee, DoKyoung; Aberle, Ezra; Anderson, Eric; Anderson, William; Baldwin, Brian; Baltensperger, David; Barrett, Michael; Bonos, Stacy; Bouton, Joe; Brummer, Charlie; Burks, Payne; Chen, Chengci; Daly, christopher; Egenolf, Josh; Farris, Rodney; Fike, John; Gaussoin, Roch; Gill, John; Gravois, Kenneth; Halbleib, Michael; Hale , Anna; Hanna, Wayne; Harmoney, Keith; Heaton, Emily; Heiniger, Ron; Hoffman, Lindsey; Hong, Chang; Kakani, Vijaya Gopal; Kallenbach, Robert; Macoon, Bisoodat; Medly, James; Missaoui, Ali; Mitchell, Robert; Moore, Ken; Morrison, Jesse; Odvody, Gary; Ogoshi, Richard; Parrish, Jimmy; Quinn, Lauren; Richard, Ed; Rooney , Bill; Rushing, Brett; Schnell, Ronnie; Sousek, Matt; Staggenborg, Scott; Tew, Thomas; Uehara, Goro; Viands, Donald; Voigt, Thomas; Williams, David; Williams, Linda; Wilson, Lloyd; Wycislo, Andrew; Yang, Yubin; Owens, Vance. 2017. Biomass Production of Herbaceous Energy Crops in the United States: Field Trial Results and Yield Potential Maps from the Multiyear Regional Feedstock Partnership. GCB Bioenergy. Accepted for publication.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Songsomboon, K., J. Crawford, J. Cummings, G. Bergstrom, and D. Viands. 2017. Resistance to Bipolaris diseases in the northern switchgrass association panel across locations. Poster session presented at: Mid-Atlantic Biomass Energy Conference & Expo; 12  14 September 2017. University Park, PA.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Songsomboon, K., J. Crawford, J. Cummings, G. Bergstrom, and D. Viands. 2017. Response to recurrent phenotypic selection and correlation of resistance to Bipolaris diseases in switchgrass. Poster session presented at: Switchgrass IV: Prairie & Native Grass International Conference. 7  10 August 2017. Lincoln, NE.
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hansen, J.L., D.R. Viands, J.L. Crawford, E.J. Shields, and A. Testa. 2017. Breeding alfalfa cultivars with resistance to alfalfa snout beetle. Northern New York Agric. Devel. Program Report. http://www.nnyagdev.org/index.php/field-crops/research-projects/
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hansen, J.L., D.R. Viands, R. Deubler, J. Crawford, J. Schiller, and R. Crawford. 2017. New York forage legume and grass variety yield trials summary for 2017 - season totals http://plbrgen.cals.cornell.edu/research-extension/forage-project/ny-forage-yield-results


Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Forage producers for improved cultivars; Seed industry who produce and market seed of improved cultivars; Biofuels industry; Extension educators for field tours and extension talks. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A field tour of forage breeding research is offered annually in July in Ithaca, NY. Extension educators, seed producers, and seed company personnel attend. A session on forage breeding occurs annually at the in-service extension educator training in November. We meet at least once annually with seed companies interested in new forage cultivars from our program. This meeting is a presentation of research results and feedback from the seed companies regarding needs for future research. Yield data of forage cultivars are available on the web for extension educators, farmers, and others to compare cultivar performances. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? New York cooperates with forage scientists in North America to compare breeding methods, develop improved germplasm and cultivars with new traits, and evaluate experimental populations and cultivars of perennial forage species for yield. In 2013 replicated plot trials were established at five locations in northern USA and Canada to determine progress from selection for forage yield in an alfalfa population after two cycles of selection for yield in replicated clonal nurseries. A second yield trial was planted in NY in 2014. Yield data collected in 2016 are being analyzed. In the previous two years, the mean yield of the three parent populations that constituted the original base population before selection, was lower than the base population yield at all locations. This suggests that the base population displayed hybrid vigor for yield. The Cycle 2 population selected based on only NY data yielded more than the base population at three locations. The Cycle 2 population selected across locations averaged lower yield than did the base population in four trials. The 14th cycle of selection in alfalfa for resistance to alfalfa snout beetle (ASB) was completed under controlled greenhouse conditions. Also, new alfalfa populations were developed from plants dug from trials on alfalfa snout beetle infested fields in the fall 2014. Specifically, one population was developed from a cross of Seedway 9558 Asb-Cycle 12 and Potato Leafhopper Resistant Population Asb-Cycle 12. A second population was developed from a cross of Guardsman II and Seedway 9558 Asb-Cycle 9. More than four pounds of seed in each of these two populations were produced in Idaho. These two populations were planted in yield trials in spring 2016 on fields that were not infested with alfalfa snout beetle. Two more population crosses were completed in 2015, and seed was sent to Idaho for caged seed increases in 2016. The crosses were MIII Asb-Cycle 13 crossed to Guardsman II-Asb Cycle 2, and Seedway 9558 Asb-Cycle 13 crossed to Guardsman II-Asb cycle 2. Guardsman II was used in the crosses because it has been the highest yielding cultivar on ASB-infested land, although it has never been bred for resistance to this insect. New trials on alfalfa snout beetle infested fields are in the planning stage for spring 2017. In a field trial with natural infestations of ASB, populations developed from nine cycles of selection for resistance to ASB had higher forage yield than did the base populations in five of seven comparisons in the first production year. In another field trial, half of the trial was inoculated with nematodes that control ASB to compare forage yield and root damage of resistant alfalfa populations with and without nematodes. Because of the very high population of ASB in this field, the plants were overwhelmed by these insects; most of the plants were dead by the end of the the 2016 season (second production year), even with resistant alfalfa and nematode treatments. The new alfalfa cultivar Seedway 9558-SBR, with moderate resistance to ASB, was planted by growers on ASB-infested land in northern NY in spring 2016. The new alfalfa cultivar SW315LH will protect alfalfa from potato leafhopper, the most devastating insect on this crop in much of the USA. Seed was available for growers for planting in spring 2016. The third cycle of selection as completed for increasing resistance to potato leafhopper (PLH) in a population developed from 2x and 4x Medicago germplasm. This population combines three sources of resistance, resulting in germplasm with broader resistance mechanisms than currently available in alfalfa cultivars. The new alfalfa cultivar SW215CR with the creeping root trait will provide more high-protein forage in pasture mixtures, thus improving economic vitality of livestock enterprises where pastures are used. Seed was available for growers to plant in spring 2016. All three of these improved alfalfa cultivars will allow farmers to produce forage for dairy and other livestock industries more economically, thus enhancing farm viability. After backcrossing rhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil onto more adapted germplasm, plants were established in a field nursery in 2013. Plants will be dug and selected for rhizomes and plant vigor in 2017 to increase persistence and forage yield. Research began in 2014 for developing resistance to Bipolaris seed rot and leafspot in switchgrass. This disease inhibits maximum production of switchgrass for biofuel and livestock use. A preliminary experiment is showing progress from selection for resistance to seed rot when seeds are inoculated with the disease organism, but inoculating leaves of seedlings has not resulted in higher levels of resistance to leafspot. Selection also is continuing for switchgrass seed germination under cold temperatures and for biomass production. Forage yield evaluations were continued for new cultivars and experimental populations of forage legumes and cool season grasses developed by forage breeders. Yield data of new forage cultivars are made available on the web to producers, extension educators, forage breeders, seed companies, etc. In addition, field tours are conducted annually to inform seed companies, extension educators, and producers about new research results. Data are reported to extension educators during their in-service training.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Crawford, R., J. Crawford, J. Hansen, and D. Viands. 2015. Development of gall midge susceptible and resistant Cave-in-Rock switchgrass populations. Poster presented at: Switchgrass III Prairie & Native Grass International Conference. Knoxville, TN 30 September  2 October 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hansen, J., J. Crawford, C. Brummer, R. Michaud, A. Claessens, S. Acharya, Y. Papadopoulos, J. Lamb, C. Sheaffer, and D. Viands. 2016. Replicated clonal selection for improving forage yield of alfalfa  Preliminary Report. North Amer. Alfalfa Improv. Conf. 12-14 July 2016. Madison, WI. https://www.naaic.org/
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hansen, J.L, D.R. Viands, R. Deubler, J. Crawford, J. Schiller, and R. Crawford. 2016. New York forage legume and grass variety yield trials summary for 2016 - season totals http://plbrgen.cals.cornell.edu/research-extension/forage-project/ny-forage-yield-results
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Songsomboon K., J. Crawford, J. Cummings, G. Bergstrom, and D. Viands. 2016. Heritability and genetic gain of resistances to diseases caused by Bipolaris oryzae in switchgrass. Poster session presented at: 5th International Conference on Quantitative Genetics. 13  17 June 2016; Madison, WI.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Songsomboon K., J. Crawford, J. Cummings, G. Bergstrom, and D. Viands. 2016. Heritability and genetic gain from selection for resistance to Bipolaris leaf spot in switchgrass. Poster session presented at: Switchgrass III: Prairie & Native Grass International Conference. 30 September 2 Oct 2015; Knoxville, TN.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Songsomboon K., J. Crawford, J. Cummings, G. Bergstrom, and D. Viands. 2016. Techniques for screening switchgrass for resistance to diseases caused byBipolaris oryzae. Poster session presented at: 2015 Northeast Woody/Warm-season Biomass Consortium Annual Meeting. 3-5 August 2015; Morgantown, WV.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Viands, D.R., J. Hansen, J. Crawford, E.J. Shields, and A. Testa. 2015. Breeding alfalfa cultivars with resistance to alfalfa snout beetle. Northern NY Agric. Devel. Program Report. http://www.nnyagdev.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/NNYADP15ViandsASBReportWeb.pdf


Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Forage producers for improved cultivars; Seed industry who produce and market seed of improved cultivars; Biofuels industry; Extension educators for field tours and extension talks. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This research has been discussed with NY extension educators during their annual in-service training and at field tours and extension meetings with seedsmen, extension educators, and growers throughout NY State. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?This research and the new alfalfa cultivars have been discussed with seed companies who are producing and marketing seed. The research results were reported in the Northern NY Agricultural Development Program annual report and orally to the Board of Directors and growers associated with this program. The new cultivars and the research results have also been described at field tours and extension meetings.Yield data are available on the web. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Cooperative breeding efforts will continue for improving alfalfa germplasm and cultivars with various traits (forage quality, potato leafhopper resistance, alfalfa snout beetle resistance, multiple disease resistances, etc.). Selection for plant vigor and the rhizomatous trait will continue in birdsfoot trefoil. Switchgrass populations will be selected in 2016 for biomass yield and traits associated with stand establishment. The selected plants will be established in field nurseries in 2016 to produce seed. Experiments to determine heritability and selection progress for Bipolaris seed rot and seedling leafspot disease will continue on switchgrass. Forage willbe harvested three times in 2016 from a field experiment to determine progress from selection for yield based on replicated clonal evaluations. Yield will continue to be evaluated for new cultivars and experimental populations of various forage legume and cool season grass species. Yield of warm season grasses for bioenergy use will be determined in field experiments.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? New York cooperates with forage scientists in North America to compare breeding methods, develop improved germplasm and cultivars with new traits, and evaluate experimental populations and cultivars of perennial forage species for yield. In 2013 replicated plot trials were established at five locations in northern USA and Canada to determine progress from selection for forage yield in an alfalfa population after two cycles of selection for yield in replicated clonal nurseries. A second yield trial was planted in NY in 2014. Yield data collected in 2014 and 2015 are being analyzed. The 13th cycle of selection in alfalfa for resistance to alfalfa snout beetle (ASB) was completed under controlled greenhouse conditions. In a naturally infested field, total yields of our first alfalfa cultivar, Seedway 9558 SBR, with moderate level of resistance, yielded a total of 1 T/A more than the original population across three production years. In combination with the nematodes that control ASB, this cultivar should help growers to produce alfalfa beyond a single production year where ASB is a problem, thus increasing the economics of producing forage in northern NY. Although we have not selected Guardsman II alfalfa for resistance to ASB, it has consistently yielded the highest in all of our trials on ASB-infested land. Therefore, we have begun selection for resistance in this population. The new alfalfa cultivar SW315LH will protect alfalfa from potato leafhopper, the most devastating insect on this crop in much of the USA. Seed should be available for growers for planting in spring 2016. The fourth cycle of selection is underway to increase resistance to potato leafhopper (PLH) in a population developed from 2x and 4x Medicago germplasm. This population combines three sources of resistance, resulting in germplasm with broader resistance mechanisms than currently available in alfalfa cultivars. The new alfalfa cultivar SW215CR with the creeping root trait will provide more high-protein forage in pasture mixtures, thus improving economic vitality of livestock enterprises where pastures are used. Seed should be available for growers to plant in spring 2016. A plot trial was established in 2012 to determine progress from selection for alfalfa tolerance to acid soils across multiple locations. Third production year yield and plant stand data were collected in 2015, and data are being analyzed. After backcrossing rhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil onto more adapted germplasm, plants were established in a field nursery in 2013. Plants will be selected for rhizomes and plant vigor in 2016 to increase persistence and forage yield. Research began in 2014 for developing resistance to Bipolaris seed rot and leafspot in switchgrass. This disease inhibits maximum production of switchgrass for biofuel and livestock use. Selection also is continuing for switchgrass seed germination under cold temperatures and for biomass production. Forage yield evaluations were continued for new cultivars and experimental populations of forage legumes and cool season grasses developed by forage breeders. Yield data of new forage cultivars are made available on the web to producers, extension educators, forage breeders, seed companies, etc. In addition, field tours are conducted annually to inform seed companies, extension educators, and producers about new research results. Data also are reported to extension educators during their in-service training.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Hansen, J. D. Viands, and J. Crawford. 2015. Testing alfalfa varieties and germplasm for winter survival in northern New York. Northern NY Agric. Devel. Program Report. P. 83-86.
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Hansen, J.L., D. Viands, R. Deubler, J. Crawford, J. Schiller, and R. Crawford. 2015. New York forage legume and grass variety yield trials summary for 2015. http://www.naaic.org/Resources/yields.html
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Xuehui, L., Y. Wei, A. Acharya, J.L. Hansen, J.L. Crawford, D.R. Viands, R. Michaud, A. Classens, and E.C. Brummer. 2015. Genomic prediction of biomass in two selection cycles of a tetraploid alfalfa breeding population. The Plant Genome. Accepted for publication.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Viands, D.R., J. Hansen, J. Crawford, E.J. Shields, and A. Testa. 2015. Breeding alfalfa cultivars with resistance to alfalfa snout beetle. Northern NY Agric. Devel. Program Report. P. 39-47.


Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Forage producers for improved cultivars; Seed industry who produce and market seed of improved cultivars; Biofuels industry; Extension educators for field tours and extension talks; Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? This research has been discussed with NY extension educators during their annual in-service training and at field tours and extension meetings with seedsmen, extension educators, and growers through NY State. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? This research and the new alfalfa cultivars have been discussed with seed companies who are producing and marketing seed. The research results were reported in the Northern NY Agricultural Development Program annual report and orally to the Board of Directors and growers associated with this program. The new cultivars and the research results have also been described at field tours and extension meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Cooperative breeding efforts will continue for improving alfalfa germplasm and cultivars with various traits (forage quality, potato leafhopper resistance, alfalfa snout beetle resistance, multiple disease resistances, etc.). Selection for plant vigor and the rhizomatous trait will continue in birdsfoot trefoil. Switchgrass populations will be observed in the field to continue selection for biomass yield and traits associated with stand establishment. Experiments to determine heritability and selection progress for Bipolaris seed rot and seedling leafspot disease will continue on switchgrass. Forage will be harvested three times in 2015 from a field experiment to determine progress from selection for yield based on replicated clonal evaluations. Yield will continue to be evaluated for new cultivars and experimental populations of various forage legume and cool season grass species. Yield of warm season grasses for bioenergy use will be determined in field experiments.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? New York cooperates with forage scientists in North America to compare breeding methods, develop improved germplasm and cultivars with new traits, and evaluate experimental populations and cultivars of perennial forage species for yield. We completed selection for higher concentrations of pectin (neutral detergent soluble fiber) and lower neutral detergent fiber in forage of five alfalfa populations. In 2013 field experiments were planted at five locations in the USA and Canada to determine progress from two cycles of selection for forage yield based on multi-location, replicated clonal evaluations. First production year yield data are being analyzed. The 12th cycle of selection in alfalfa for resistance to alfalfa snout beetle (ASB) was completed under controlled greenhouse conditions. In a naturally infested field, total yields in one alfalfa population across two production years were 7.05 dry T/A for Cycle 0 and 7.63 for Cycle 7. Root damage scores (1 [no larval feeding damage] to 5) at the end of the 2013 season showed a progression of decreased damage with selection: mean score was 3.7 for Cycle 0 and 3.2 for Cycle 7. The percent resistant plants (scores 1 and 2) were 13% for Cycle 0 and 26 % for Cycle 7. The first alfalfa cultivar, Seedway 9558 SBR, with a moderate level of resistance to ASB was planted by growers in their ASB-infested fields this year. In combination with the nematodes that control ASB, this cultivar should help growers to produce alfalfa beyond a single production year where ASB is a problem, thus increasing the economics of producing forage in northern NY. The new alfalfa cultivar SW315LH will protect alfalfa from potato leafhopper, the most devastating insect on this crop in much of the USA. The fourth cycle of selection is underway to increase resistance to potato leafhopper (PLH) in a population developed from 2x and 4x Medicago germplasm. This population combines three sources of resistance, resulting in germplasm with broader resistance mechanisms than currently available in alfalfa cultivars. The new alfalfa cultivar SW215CR with the creeping root trait will provide more high-protein forage in pasture mixtures, thus improving economic vitality of livestock enterprises where pastures are used. After backcrossing rhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil onto more adapted germplasm, plants were selected for this trait to increase persistence and forage yield. Field experiments were harvested to compare various warm and cool season grass species for biomass production for biofuels. Starting in 2007, our project began establishing warm and cool season perennial grass trials (~ 95 acres) in small and large plot experiments in diverse regions of NY. Through these on-going trials we have been able to collect data on grass yield in monoculture and polyculture systems, nutrient use efficiency, occurrence and severity of pests and pathogens, and chemical compositional characteristics related to energy conversion. Identification of particular cultivars of switchgrass as having the highest biomass potential among warm-season grasses in NY will enable growers to maximize economic potential for producing feedstocks for the emerging biofuel production in the area. This research and breeding program for bioenergy feedstock will make significant progress toward securing a more stable and environmentally friendly energy supply for the future. Research began this year on developing resistance to Bipolaris seed rot and leafspot in switchgrass. This disease inhibits maximum production of switchgrass for biofuel and livestock use. Forage yield evaluations were continued for new cultivars and experimental populations of forage legumes and cool season grasses developed by forage breeders. Yield data of new forage cultivars are made available on the web to producers, extension educators, forage breeders, seed companies, etc. In addition, field tours are conducted annually to inform seed companies, extension educators, and producers about new research results. Data also are reported to extension educators during their in-service training.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Crawford, J., Hansen, J., Shields, E., Testa, A., and Viands, D. 2014. Breeding for resistance to alfalfa snout beetle. North Amer. Alfalfa Improv. 7-11 July 2014. Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. http://www.naaic.org/
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2104 Citation: Crawford, R., Hansen, J., Taylor, A., Bergstrom, G., Salon, P., Crawford, J., and Viands, D. 2014. Using seed technologies to improve establishment in switchgrass. North Amer. Alfalfa Improv. 7-11 July 2014. Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. http://www.naaic.org/
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Hansen, J.L., Viands, D., Deubler, R., Crawford, J., Schiller, J., and Crawford, R. 2013. Alfalfa variety comparisons. University of Wisconsin Agriculture & Natural Resources. Editors Undersander, D., and K. Silveira. http://www.uwex.edu/ces/ag/alfalfa/index.cfm
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Hansen, J.L, Viands, D.R., Deubler, R., Crawford, J, Schiller, J., and Crawford, R. 2013. New York forage legume and grass variety yield trials summary for 2013 - season totals http://plbrgen.cals.cornell.edu/cals/pbg/programs/departmental/forage/foragetest.cfm and http://www.nnyagdev.org/index.php/2012/12/21/forage-variety-trial-data-now-online/
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Hansen, J.L., Viands, D., Deubler, R., Crawford, J., Schiller, J., and Crawford, R. 2013. New York forage legume and grass variety yield trials summary for 2013. http://www.naaic.org/Resources/yields.html
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hong, C.O., Owens, V.N., Bransby, D., Farris, R., Fike, J., Heaton, E., Kim, S., Mayton, H., Mitchell, R., and Viands, D. 2014. Switchgrass response to nitrogen fertilizer across diverse environments in the USA: a regional feedstock partnership report. Bioenerg. Res. http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/868/art%253A10.1007%252Fs12155-014-9484-y.pdf?auth66=1402591306_3434535c598d85d19883d0e46394a21e&ext=.pdf. 12 pg.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Richards, B. K., Cherney, J., Geohring, L., Hansen, J., Mayton, H., Ruestow, G., Smart, L., Stoof, C., Woodbury, P. Second generation bioenergy production on marginal lands of NY & the Northeast. Northeast Biomass Heating Expo. April 10, 2014. Portland, Maine.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Stoof, C.R., Karim, I., Mason, C., Tadipatri, D., Cary, I., Crawford, R., Hansen, J., Crawford, J., Mayton, H., Steenhuis, T., and Richards, B. 2014. Effect of fertilization on N2O emissions from a marginal soil used for perennial grass bioenergy production. European Geosciences Union Meeting. Vienna, Austria. 15 July 2014.


Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Forage producers for improved cultivars; Seed industry for improved cultivars; Biofuels industry; Extension educators for field tours and extension talks; Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Research results and updates have been discussed with extension educators in New York State during the annual in-service training in the fall, and at field tours and extension meetings with extension educators, growers, and seed sales representatives. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Research results have been disseminated in a scientific publication; websites; a poster presentationat a professional meeting; andoral presentations and discussionsat field tours, extension meetings, and a meeting with seed company representatives. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Breeding efforts will continue for various traits (forage quality, potato leafhopper resistance, alfalfa snout beetle resistance, multiple disease resistances, etc.)in alfalfa. Selection for plant vigor and the rhizomatous trait will continue in birdsfoot trefoil. Switchgrass populations will be established in a field nursery to continue selection for biomass yield and traits associated with seed establishment. Forage will be harvested three times in 2014 from the field trial to determine progress from selection for yield based on replicated clonal evaluations. Yield will continue to be evaluated for new cultivars and experimental populations of various forage legumes and grasses. Yield of warm season grasses for energy use also will be determined in field experiments.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? New York cooperates with forage scientists in North America to compare breeding methods, develop improved germplasm and cultivars with new traits, and evaluate experimental populations and cultivars of perennial forage species for yield. We completed selection for higher concentrations of pectin (neutral detergent soluble fiber) and lower neutral detergent fiber in forage of three alfalfa populations to improve forage quality. Hay of N-R-Gee, the first alfalfa cultivar bred for higher pectin concentration, had higher true digestibility and resulted in higher feed efficiency (weight gain/hay consumed) in sheep than that of Vernal alfalfa, the low quality check cultivar in standard tests. Weight gain of sheep is correlated with milk production in dairy cows. During this funding period, we also released the cultivars Ezra with high forage yield and multiple disease resistances; Seedway 9558 SBR, the first alfalfa cultivar with some resistance to alfalfa snout beetle; and a cultivar (not yet named) with the creeping rooted trait for pasture forage production. This past year a new cultivar (not yet named) was released to provide very high level of resistance to potato leafhopper, one of the most devastating insects on alfalfa in NY and other areas of the eastern half of the USA. Five switchgrass populations were developed by selection for biomassand traits associated with seed establishment. Field experiments were planted in two states in the USA and three provinces in Canada in 2013 to determine progress from two cycles of selection for forage yield using data from replicated clonal evaluations across several locations. The results will provide information for forage breeders regarding selection for improved yield. Breeding alfalfa for resistance to alfalfa snout beetle was continued under controlled greenhouse conditions. Two experiments now show 7% and 5% yield advantages of the more resistant plant populations in a naturally infested field. Higher yields are associated with less root damage from ASB larval feeding. A greenhouse experiment where ASB eggs were applied to the soil indicated that the selected alfalfa populations had less root damage and higher root and stem mass than the original, unselected populations. The fourth cycle of selection was established in a field nursery to increase resistance to potato leafhopper (PLH) in a population developed from 2x and 4x Medicago germplasm. This population combines three sources of resistance to PLH, resulting in germplasm with broader resistance mechanisms than currently available in alfalfa cultivars. Plants from half-sib progeny rows were selected from a nursery that was used to determine heritability of tolerance to acid soils in alfalfa at multiple locations in North America. After backcrossing rhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil onto more adapted germplasm, intercrossed seed was transplanted to a field to further select for this trait to increase persistence and forage yield. Field experiments were harvested to compare various warm and cool season grass species for biomass production for biofuels. Forage yield evaluations were continued for new cultivars and experimental populations of alfalfa, red clover, birdsfoot trefoil, and cool season grasses developed by forage breeders. Yield data of new forage cultivars are made available on the web to producers, extension educators, forage breeders, seed companies, etc. In addition, field tours are conducted annually to inform seed companies, extension educators, and producers about new research results. Data also are reported to extension educators during their in-service training. Perennial forage species are among the most environmentally compatible crops by reducing soil erosion, improving soil tilth, and eliminating N fertilizer applications (for legumes). Improvements in forage yield, quality, and multiple pest resistances make livestock production more economical and sustainable. For example, the most recent alfalfa cultivars from this project combine improved forage yield, persistence, and quality that will contribute to dairy farm economic viability. Milk production per acre of these alfalfa cultivars is estimated to be at least 3,000 pounds per acre per year more than the low quality check cultivar. Increases in pectin and lower fiber concentrations should increase carbohydrates available to rumen microbes, which should increase utilization of forage protein available to cows for milk production. The new alfalfa N-R-Gee is the first cultivar bred for higher neutral detergent soluble fiber (pectin) concentration. Seed was sold initially in 2012, and even more seed was planted in 2013. We anticipate that this cultivar will further contribute toward higher economic viability of milk production. The first alfalfa cultivar, Seedway 9558 SBR, with a moderate level of resistance to alfalfa snout beetle (ASB) was planted in a few growers’ fields this year to provide some control to this insect that devastates alfalfa stands in northern NY. Much more seed will be available for the 2014 planting season. In combination with the nematodes that control ASB, this cultivar should help growers to produce alfalfa beyond a single production year where ASB is a problem. Breeding alfalfa for productivity and persistence in acid soils should broaden adaptation of this crop to more soils in the USA and Canada. Starting in 2007, our project began establishing warm and cool season perennial grass trials (~ 95 acres) in small and large plot experiments in diverse regions of NY. Through these on-going trials we have been able to collect data on grass yield in monoculture and polyculture systems, nutrient use efficiency, occurrence and severity of pests and pathogens, and chemical compositional characteristics related to energy conversion. Among species switchgrass has averaged the highest biomass in NY; and Cave-In-Rock, Shawnee, and Blackwell are among the highest yielding switchgrass cultivars. This research and breeding program for bioenergy feedstock will make significant progress toward securing a more stable and environmentally friendly energy supply for the future.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Owens, V.N., Viands, D.R., Mayton, H.S., Fike, J.H., Farris, R., Heaton, E., Bransby, D.I., and Hong, C.O. 2013. Nitrogen use in switchgrass grown for bioenergy across the USA. Biomass and Bioenergy 58:286-293.
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Hansen, J.L, Viands, D.R., Deubler, R., Crawford, J., Schiller, J, and Crawford, R. 2013. New York forage legume and grass variety yield trials summary for 2013 - season totals http://plbrgen.cals.cornell.edu/cals/pbg/programs/departmental/forage/foragetest.cfm http://www.nnyagdev.org/index.php/2013/12/23/ny-forage-trial-data-includes-nny/
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Hansen, J.L, Viands, D.R., Deubler, R., Crawford, J., Schiller, J, and Crawford, R. 2013. New York forage legume and grass variety yield trials summary for 2013. http://www.naaic.org/Resources/yields.html
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Hansen, J.L, Viands, D.R., Deubler, R., Crawford, J., Schiller, J, and Crawford, R. 2013. New York forage legume and grass variety yield trials summary for 2013. Cornell Cooperative Extension Field Crops Guide. http://www.fieldcrops.org/VarietyTrials/Pages/default.aspx
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Hansen, J.L, Viands, D.R., Deubler, R., Crawford, J., Schiller, J., and Crawford, R. 2013. Alfalfa Variety Comparisons. http://www.uwex.edu/ces/ag/alfalfa/
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Crawford, J., Taylor, A.G., Hansen, J.L., Crawford, R., and Viands, D.R. 2013. Using Seed Treatment and Priming to Extend the Switchgrass Planting Season. Dept.of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Dept. of Horticulture, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. http://dfrc.wisc.edu/switchgrass/abstracts/SW-II_Abstracts_2013.pdf
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Hansen, J.L, Viands, D.R., Deubler, R., Crawford, J., Schiller, J., and Crawford, R. 2012. Alfalfa Variety Comparisons. http://www.uwex.edu/ces/ag/alfalfa/