Progress 04/11/13 to 02/13/18
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): 1. Efficiently and effectively conserve, back-up, regenerate, and evaluate tropical and subtropical fruit, bamboo, and cacao genetic resources and distribute them and associated information worldwide. 2. Aided by genetic marker information, strategically fill gaps in the current coverage of tropical and subtropical fruit, bamboo, and cacao germplasm collections through international exchanges. 3. In collaboration with other NPGS genebanks and research projects, develop novel genetic marker systems for tropical and subtropical fruit, bamboo, and cacao genetic resources. Apply those markers to more efficiently and effectively manage genetic resources and facilitate their use in breeding and research projects. Approach (from AD-416): Plant genetic resources will be efficiently and effectively conserved, backed-up, regenerated, evaluated, and distributed free of diseases. This will be carried out by implementing latest technologies available for field, lab, and greenhouse plant labeling, by maintaining on and off-site backups of critically important germplasm, by field evaluating for important horticultural traits and by indexing/eliminating plant diseases in stock to be distributed. All information associated with plant genetic resources including passport, characterization, and evaluation data will be incorporated into the publicly available GRIN database. The development of molecular marker tools for systematic characterization of the site's plant germplasm is a collaborative effort with other USDA-ARS laboratories. Marker tools developed in collaboration will aid in the identification of redundancies, discrepancies, and genetic gaps in the collections. In addition, the marker work will complement morphological characterization and stakeholder community input in the development of guidelines to follow for prioritization of future plant introductions. This is the final report for the project 6090-21000-051-00D which terminated in February 2018. All planned field experiments were completed prior to the start of FY 2018. This is a service-oriented project that aims at introducing, propagating, characterizing, evaluating, and distributing tropical plant germplasm resources of agricultural importance to local regional and international researchers and other stakeholders requesters. All germplasm collections have been maintained, pathogen-tested, re-propagated, backed up (some in tissue culture) and are available for distribution. Distributions during the project�s five year cycle amounted to 1504 of 3640 different accessions with about 35,000 propagules. Propagules (e.g., seed, rhizomes, cuttings, scionwood, and fruit) were made available and distributed to researchers, educators and cooperators at the local, national and international level. Important introductions of Musa spp. accessions and cacao over the project�s five year cycle have added to the diversity in the collections in addition to providing clonal stock with improved horticultural traits. All research efforts in the Musa spp. collection have focused on the phenotypic and genetic characterizations and evaluations. More specifically, a number of introduced accessions have been evaluated for their disease resistance to black Sigatoka, and other important horticultural traits. These hybrids could potentially substitute susceptible industry standards in an emerging organic market. Characterization of important phenotypic traits as well as the use of molecular markers (SSRs) have been carried out in order to validate genetic integrity and estimate genetic diversity within the Musa spp. collection. Several collaborative projects have been established with Bioversity International for: 1) field verification of its Musa spp. tissue culture collections; 2) disease evaluation of clones; 3) evaluating standardized phenotypic traits used in Musa spp. taxonomy. Cacao characterization efforts focusing on important phenotypic and agronomic traits as well as the use of molecular markers (SSRs/SNPs) for determination of genetic integrity and genetic diversity were carried out. A collection of cacao �Criollo� (ancestral cacao) consisting of 20 selected accessions was established in the field and is undergoing evaluation. Thousands of cacao budwood pieces have been distributed to local cacao farmers. In addition, the project continues to work with national/international collaborators on the characterization of cacao genetic resources and germplasm exchanges. Collaborative efforts between several USDA-ARS locations (Miami, Florida, Beltsville, Maryland, Hilo, Hawaii) were carried out to develop and utilize SNP�s markers to fingerprint tropical fruit, banana and cacao genetic resources. The effort focused on utilizing the fingerprint profiles developed as references for establishing trueness-to-type for clonally propagated germplasm, estimating genetic diversity and identification of potential gaps in the germplasm collections. All evaluation and characterization data collected, including molecular marker data and a large compilation of high-resolution digital voucher images, have been loaded into the publicly available Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN-GLOBAL) database. The current project is being replaced by project 6090-21000-057-00D.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Garcia, R.O., Rivera-Vargas, L.I., Ploetz, R., Correll, J.C., Irish, B.M. 2018. Characterization of Fusarium spp. isolates recovered from bananas (Musa spp.) affected by Fusarium wilt in Puerto Rico. European Journal of Plant Pathology.
- wumasi, Y.A., Merem, E.C., Ayala Silva, T., Osei, A., Petja, B., Alexander, K. 2017. Techniques of remote sensing and GIS as tools for visualizing impact of climate change-induced flood in the southern African region. Journal of Climate Change. 6:306-327.
- Parco, A.S., Hale, A.L., Avellaneda, M.C., Hoy, J.W., Kimbeng, C.S., Pontiff, M.J., Mccord, P.H., Ayala Silva, T., Todd, J.R., Baisakh, N. 2017. Distribution and frequency of Bru1, a major brown rust resistance gene, in the sugarcane world collection. Plant Breeding. 136:637-651.
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Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): 1. Efficiently and effectively conserve, back-up, regenerate, and evaluate tropical and subtropical fruit, bamboo, and cacao genetic resources and distribute them and associated information worldwide. 2. Aided by genetic marker information, strategically fill gaps in the current coverage of tropical and subtropical fruit, bamboo, and cacao germplasm collections through international exchanges. 3. In collaboration with other NPGS genebanks and research projects, develop novel genetic marker systems for tropical and subtropical fruit, bamboo, and cacao genetic resources. Apply those markers to more efficiently and effectively manage genetic resources and facilitate their use in breeding and research projects. Approach (from AD-416): Plant genetic resources will be efficiently and effectively conserved, backed-up, regenerated, evaluated, and distributed free of diseases. This will be carried out by implementing latest technologies available for field, lab, and greenhouse plant labeling, by maintaining on and off-site backups of critically important germplasm, by field evaluating for important horticultural traits and by indexing/eliminating plant diseases in stock to be distributed. All information associated with plant genetic resources including passport, characterization, and evaluation data will be incorporated into the publicly available GRIN database. The development of molecular marker tools for systematic characterization of the site's plant germplasm is a collaborative effort with other USDA-ARS laboratories. Marker tools developed in collaboration will aid in the identification of redundancies, discrepancies, and genetic gaps in the collections. In addition, the marker work will complement morphological characterization and stakeholder community input in the development of guidelines to follow for prioritization of future plant introductions. As a service oriented project the number of germplasm distributions for 2017 amounted to 90. Approximately 188 different accessions with 10,900 propagules were associated with 110 requesters. Tropical germplasm was distributed in the form of scionwood, cuttings, rhizomes, corms, seed and fruit, and was made available and distributed to researchers and cooperators at the local, national and international level. Nineteen new accessions of cacao have been received from the USDA-ARS, Subtropical Horticulture Research Station's (SHRS) quarantine site in Miami, Florida. These have been successfully grafted in the greenhouse and will be field established in a new cacao orchard. A new chain-link fence and drip irrigation system were installed for this new orchard that will eventually hold close to 1,200 additional cacao trees. A collection of 30 plant pathogenic fungal isolates for the causal agent of Panama wilt of bananas was assembled from symptomatic plants in the banana germplasm collection and commercial grower fields on the island. These fungal isolates were characterized by ARS scientists in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, for pathogenicity, for race structure and for genetic diversity. Characterization of these important plant pathogenic isolates are undergoing testing in greenhouse trials. All miscellaneous germplasm held on station grounds has been re- inventoried, and re-labeled. This is a routine that takes place once every few years. Taxonomic nomenclature as well as links provided on quick response (QR) codes leading to Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) database information has also been revised. A shipment of 97 tissue culture grown banana (Musa spp.) accessions was received from Bioversity International. These plants are part of a continued collaborative effort on the verification of genetic integrity of banana genetic resources held in the International Transit Center banana collection in Leuven, Belgium. Many of the plants being field verified have been tissue culture grown for more than ten years and over this time may have accumulated mutations or propagation mistakes. Plants are being acclimatized and will be field established in FY 2017 for characterization. A fourth year of data on fruit resistance/susceptibility to anthracnose, the most important postharvest disease in mango commercial production, is being collected from a segregating maternal half sibling mango population. In a collaborative effort with the USDA-ARS, Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory (SPCL) in Beltsville, Maryland, a collection of leaf samples of Garcinia spp. was collected by ARS scientists in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and is been genotyped with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) molecular markers. These efforts could lead to the species identification of Garcinia trees within the collection. This genetic background is underrepresented in the current Garcinia collection. Field verification data was completed by ARS scientists in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, for 86 accessions of Musa spp. on a collaborative project with Bioversity International and its International Musa Testing Program (IMTP). Data were collected for introduced, man-made, disease-resistant banana hybrids from a replicated field plot at the USDA-ARS, TARS research farm in Isabela, Puerto Rico. Accessions include several hybrids clones from breeding programs with improved disease resistance and productivity. Plants are being evaluated for two cycles under field conditions. A sixth year of data is being collected in the Annona spp. germplasm collection. Data collected includes number and weight of fruit, fruit size, and Brix value. Descriptor data for Annona fruit traits will be loaded into the GRIN database. ARS scientists in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, have recommended a set of 10 highly productive and high quality chocolate clonal accessions of cacao for propagation for the emergent high-end gourmet chocolate on the island of Puerto Rico. Cacao seed as well as scionwood for the propagation of over 10,000 trees was distributed as part of an independently run USDA Specialty Crops Block grant. Final data was collected by ARS scientists in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, for 86 Musa spp. plants as part of a collaborative project with Bioversity International�s Musa International Transit Center. These plants have been in tissue culture for over 10 years in the international collection and need to be field verified and characterized for important phenotypic and agronomic traits.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Ruas, M., Guignon, V., Sempere, G., Sardos, J., Hueber, Y., Duverhey, H., Andrieu, A., Chase, R., Jenny, C., Hazekamp, T., Jelali, K., Adeka, J., Ayala Silva, T., Chao, C., Daniels, J., Dowlya, B., Effa Effa, B., Gueco, L., Kempenaers, E., Herradura, L., Ibobondji, L., Irish, B.M., Kilangi, J., Muhangi, S., Ngo Xuan, P., Paofa, J., Pavis, C., Sandoval Jorge, Sutanto, A., Thiemele, D., Tossou, C., Vangu Paka, G., Ganjun, Y., Van Den Houwe, I. , Roux, N., Rouard, M. 2017. MGIS: Managing banana (Musa spp.) genetic resources information and high-throughput genotyping data. Database: The Journal of Biological Databases and Curation. doi:10.1093/database/bax046.
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Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): 1. Efficiently and effectively conserve, back-up, regenerate, and evaluate tropical and subtropical fruit, bamboo, and cacao genetic resources and distribute them and associated information worldwide. 2. Aided by genetic marker information, strategically fill gaps in the current coverage of tropical and subtropical fruit, bamboo, and cacao germplasm collections through international exchanges. 3. In collaboration with other NPGS genebanks and research projects, develop novel genetic marker systems for tropical and subtropical fruit, bamboo, and cacao genetic resources. Apply those markers to more efficiently and effectively manage genetic resources and facilitate their use in breeding and research projects. Approach (from AD-416): Plant genetic resources will be efficiently and effectively conserved, backed-up, regenerated, evaluated, and distributed free of diseases. This will be carried out by implementing latest technologies available for field, lab, and greenhouse plant labeling, by maintaining on and off-site backups of critically important germplasm, by field evaluating for important horticultural traits and by indexing/eliminating plant diseases in stock to be distributed. All information associated with plant genetic resources including passport, characterization, and evaluation data will be incorporated into the publicly available GRIN database. The development of molecular marker tools for systematic characterization of the site's plant germplasm is a collaborative effort with other USDA-ARS laboratories. Marker tools developed in collaboration will aid in the identification of redundancies, discrepancies, and genetic gaps in the collections. In addition, the marker work will complement morphological characterization and stakeholder community input in the development of guidelines to follow for prioritization of future plant introductions. As a service oriented project the number of germplasm distributions for FY 16 amounted to 178. A total of 198 different accessions with 13,904 propagules were associated with 116 collaborators. Tropical germplasm was distributed in the form of scionwood, cuttings, rhizomes, corms, seed and fruit, and was made available and distributed to researchers and cooperators at the local, national and international level. Twenty new cacao accessions have been received from the USDA-ARS, Subtropical Horticulture Research Station (SHRS) quarantine site in Miami, Florida. These have been successfully grafted in the greenhouse and will be field established in a new cacao orchard which will serve as an expansion of the current cacao germplasm collection. A new chain-link fence was installed for this new orchard that will eventually hold close to 1,200 additional cacao trees. A collection of 30 plant pathogenic fungal isolates for the causal agent of Panama wilt of bananas (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense) from symptomatic plants in the banana germplasm collection and commercial grower fields on the island have been systematically characterized. Isolates were evaluated taxonomically, morphologically and genetically as well as for their pathogenicity, for race structure and for genetic diversity. Characterization of these important plant pathogenic isolates provides valuable information on the pathogen which can be used in implementation of quarantine and disease management efforts. A group of close to 25 pacific island banana accessions was collected and in vitro propagated from private donors on the islands of Maui and Hawaii. These clonal accessions were in danger of being lost in the private collection as well as were in danger of becoming infected with banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) in situ. Corms were collected and subsequently transported to the USDA-ARS, Tropical Plant Genetic Resources and Disease unit in Hilo, Hawaii. After disease indexing for important viruses the germplasm will be permanently incorporated into the official repository in Mayaguez for characterization, evaluation and long- term preservation. All miscellaneous germplasm held on station grounds has been re- inventoried, and re-labeled. This is a routine that takes place once every few years. Taxonomic nomenclature as well as links provided on QR codes leading to Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) database information has also been revised. A second shipment of 100 tissue culture grown banana (Musa spp.) accessions was received from Bioversity International. These plants are part of a continued collaborative effort on the verification of genetic integrity of banana genetic resources held in the International Transit Center banana collection in Leuven, Belgium. Many of the plants being field verified have been grown in tissue culture for more than ten years and over this time may have accumulated mutations or propagation mistakes. Plants are being acclimatized and were field established in FY 2016 for characterization. A fourth year of data on fruit resistance/susceptibility to mango anthracnose, the most important postharvest disease in commercial production, has been collected from a segregating maternal half sibling mango population. In a collaborative effort with the USDA-ARS, Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory (SPCL) in Beltsville, Maryland, and Chocolove Inc., a collection of leaf samples from naturalized cacao trees was collected and genotyped with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) molecular markers. These efforts led to the identification of cacao trees with Criollo genetic backgrounds. This genetic background is underrepresented in the current cacao collection and to date 120 Criollo-background trees from 20 accessions have been established in a randomized block design in the field for characterization, evaluation and long-term preservation purposes. Second cycle data was collected and the evaluation completed on a collaborative project with Bioversity International�s International Musa Testing Program (IMTP). Data was collected for introduced man-made disease resistant banana hybrids in a replicated field plot on the USDA- ARS, Tropical Agriculture Research Station (TARS) farm in Isabela, Puerto Rico. Accessions include several hybrids clones from breeding programs with improved disease resistance and productivity. Data is being analyzed and will be incorporated in to a peer reviewed publication. Researchers at the USDA-ARS, Tropical Agriculture Research Station (TARS) have recommended a set of 10 highly productive and high quality chocolate clonal accessions for propagation for the emergent high-end gourmet chocolate on the islands of Puerto Rico and Hawaii. Cacao seed for rootstock plants as well as scionwood for the propagation of 10,000 trees was distributed as part of an independently run USDA Specialty Crops Block grant in Puerto Rico. A total of 1,200 flower pollinations have been completed (out of 4,200) in a bi-parental crossing and selfing scheme to try to characterize a set of ten clonal cacao tree selections for their compatibility/ incompatibility. The ten cacao clones are being recommended for propagation and planting in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and elsewhere in the tropics. Data provided to collaborators at Mars, Inc., on characterization of bamboo genetic resources was finalized. A large set (close to 250 samples) of tropical and temperate bamboo genetic resources held at USDA-ARS-TARS and USDA-ARS-Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit (PGRCU) in Griffin, Georgia, as well as at a large private collection in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, was assembled. The samples collected were screened for their total protein content and micro-nutrient and amino acid compositions. Data is being summarized for a publication and descriptor data will be loaded into the GRIN database. Final data has been collected and shared with project collaborators for 40 Musa spp. accessions received and established in 2013. This was the first of several ongoing projects/efforts with Bioversity International�s Musa International Transit Center (ITC). These plants being evaluated have been in tissue culture for over 10 years in the international collection and need to be field verified and characterized for important phenotypic and agronomic traits. This reporting year, two additional funded Agreements have been established with Bioversity International for the screening of additional germplasm accessions in the ITC collection. Two field guides/catalogs for banana (Musa spp.) genetic resources characterized and evaluated at the TARS have been published in limited print number; one is online as downloadable PDF document (http://www.ars. usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=25767) and the other will be online before the end of this fiscal year. One of the field guides was for accessions in the permanent TARS banana germplasm collection and includes phenotypic and agronomic performance as well as molecular fingerprints. The second guide is a detailed characterization of a core subset of 30 Musa spp. accessions that were evaluated with a set of 32 descriptors in the mother crop, 120 descriptors in the 1st ratoon crop and included a set of 15 descriptor voucher images in the mother crop. All data in the field guides have been shared with collaborators and has been made available with accessions information in the GRIN-Global database. Papaya plants showing good resistance to the Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV) were increased via tissue culture for further field testing at various locations in Puerto Rico and in Florida.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Zhou, L., Vega, F.E., Tan, H., Ramirez Lluch, A., Meinhardt, L.W., Fang, W. , Mischke, B.S., Irish, B.M., Zhang, D. 2016. Developing Single Nucleotide Polymorphism markers for the identification of Coffee germplasm. Tropical Plant Biology. 9:82-95.
- Meerow, A.W., Ayala Silva, T., Irish, B.M. 2015. Lagerstroemia speciosa �Big Pink�, an improved pink flowered queen�s crape myrtle. HortScience. (10):1593-1594.
- Irish, B.M., Goenaga, R.J. 2016. Register of new fruit and nut cultivars list 48. Banana, cacao, plantain. HortScience. HortScience 51:622, 628.
- Cosme-Reyes, S.M., Cuevas, H.E., Zhang, D., Oleksyk, T.K., Irish, B.M. 2016. Genetic diversity of naturalized cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) in Puerto Rico. Tree Genetics and Genomes. DOI 10.1007/s11295-016-1045-4.
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): 1. Efficiently and effectively conserve, back-up, regenerate, and evaluate tropical and subtropical fruit, bamboo, and cacao genetic resources and distribute them and associated information worldwide. 2. Aided by genetic marker information, strategically fill gaps in the current coverage of tropical and subtropical fruit, bamboo, and cacao germplasm collections through international exchanges. 3. In collaboration with other NPGS genebanks and research projects, develop novel genetic marker systems for tropical and subtropical fruit, bamboo, and cacao genetic resources. Apply those markers to more efficiently and effectively manage genetic resources and facilitate their use in breeding and research projects. Approach (from AD-416): Plant genetic resources will be efficiently and effectively conserved, backed-up, regenerated, evaluated, and distributed free of diseases. This will be carried out by implementing latest technologies available for field, lab, and greenhouse plant labeling, by maintaining on and off-site backups of critically important germplasm, by field evaluating for important horticultural traits and by indexing/eliminating plant diseases in stock to be distributed. All information associated with plant genetic resources including passport, characterization, and evaluation data will be incorporated into the publicly available GRIN database. The development of molecular marker tools for systematic characterization of the site's plant germplasm is a collaborative effort with other USDA-ARS laboratories. Marker tools developed in collaboration will aid in the identification of redundancies, discrepancies, and genetic gaps in the collections. In addition, the marker work will complement morphological characterization and stakeholder community input in the development of guidelines to follow for prioritization of future plant introductions. This is a service oriented project: the number of germplasm distributions for FY 2015 amounted to 158. A total of 249 different accessions with 17, 580 propagules were associated with 110 collaborators. Tropical germplasm was distributed in the form of scionwood, cuttings, rhizomes, corms, seed and fruit, and was made available and distributed to researchers and cooperators at the local, national and international level. Twenty new cacao accessions have been received from the USDA-ARS, Subtropical Horticulture Research Station (SHRS) quarantine site in Miami, Florida. These have been successfully grafted in the greenhouse and will be field established in a new cacao orchard. A new chain-link fence and irrigation system is being installed for this new orchard that will eventually hold close to 1,200 additional cacao trees. Sixteen Artocarpus (e.g., breadfruit and related) accessions from USDA- ARS in Hilo, Hawaii have been propagated and increased by tissue culture and established in Mayaguez as a backup collection and for evaluation experiments at two locations. Three superior genotypes of papaya exhibiting some field tolerance to the papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) in current experimentation are being increased by tissue culture for future evaluation. A collection of 30 plant pathogenic fungal isolates for the causal agent of Panama wilt of bananas has been assembled from symptomatic plants in the banana germplasm collection and commercial grower fields on the island. These fungal isolates are being characterized for pathogenicity, for race structure and for genetic diversity. Characterization of these important plant pathogenic isolates will provide background information necessary for implementation of quarantine and disease management efforts. A group of close to 25 pacific island banana accessions was collected and in vitro propagated from private donors on the islands of Maui and Hawaii. These clonal accessions were in danger of being lost in the private collection as well as were in danger of becoming infected with banana bunchy top virus (BBTV). Corms were collected and subsequently transported to the Tropical Plant Genetic Resources and Disease unit in Hilo, Hawaii. After disease indexing for important viruses the germplasm will be permanently incorporated into the official repository for characterization, evaluation and long-term preservation. All miscellaneous germplasm held on station grounds has been re- inventoried and re-labeled. This is a routine that takes place once every few years. Taxonomic nomenclature as well as links provided on quick response (QR) codes leading to Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) database information has also been revised. A shipment of 100 tissue culture grown banana (Musa spp.) accessions was received from Bioversity International. These plants are part of a continued collaborative effort on the verification of genetic integrity of banana genetic resources held in the International Transit Center banana collection in Leuven, Belgium. Many of the plants being field verified have been grown in tissue culture for more than ten years and over this time may have accumulated mutations or propagation mistakes. Plants are being acclimatized and will be field established in FY 2106 for characterization. A third year of data on fruit resistance/susceptibility to anthracnose, the most important postharvest disease in commercial mango production, has been collected from a segregating maternal half sibling population. In a collaborative effort with the USDA-ARS, Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory (SPCL) in Beltsville, MD, and Chocolove Inc., a collection of leaf samples from naturalized cacao trees was collected and genotyped with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) molecular markers. These efforts lead to the identification of cacao trees with Criollo genetic backgrounds. This genetic background is underrepresented in the current cacao collection and to date pods from 20 trees have been collected and have been established in a field orchard for characterization, evaluation and long-term preservation purposes. First cycle data completed on a collaborative project with Bioversity International�s and it�s International Musa Testing Program (IMTP). Data were collected for introduced man-made disease resistant banana hybrids in a replicated field plot on the USDA-ARS, Tropical Agriculture Research Station (TARS) research farm in Isabela, Puerto Rico. Accessions include several hybrids clones from breeding programs with improved disease resistance and productivity. Plants are being evaluated for two cycles under field conditions. A fifth year of data is being collected in the Annona spp. germplasm collection. Data collected includes number and weight of fruit, fruit size, and Brix value. Data is shared with the location�s Research Entomologist who is evaluating pheromone treatments for nitidulid attraction within the same germplasm collection. Descriptor data for Annona fruit traits is being loaded into the GRIN database. The USDA-ARS, TARS has recommended a set of 10 highly productive and high quality chocolate clonal accessions for propagation for the emergent high-end gourmet chocolate on the island of Puerto Rico. Cacao seed as well as scionwood for the propagation of 10,000 trees was distributed as part of an independently run USDA Specialty Crops Block grant. A total of 1,200 flower pollinations have been completed (out of 4,200) in a bi-parental crossing and selfing scheme to try to characterize a set of ten clonal cacao tree selections for their compatibility/ incompatibility. The ten cacao clones are being recommended for propagation and planting in Puerto Rico. Data was provided to collaborators and an agreement has finalized on a collaborative project with Mars, Inc. to carry out a detailed characterization of bamboo genetic resources. A large set (close to 250 samples) of tropical and temperate bamboo genetic resources held at USDA- ARS-TARS and USDA-ARS-Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit (PGRCU) in Griffin, Georgia as well as at a large private collection in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico was assembled. The samples collected were screened for their total protein content and micro-nutrient and amino acid compositions. Data is being summarized for a publication and descriptor data will be loaded into the GRIN database. Final data will be collected before the end of the fiscal year for 40 Musa spp. accessions as part of a collaborative project with Bioversity International�s Musa International Transit Center. These plants have been in tissue culture for over 10 years in the international collection and need to be field verified and characterized for important phenotypic and agronomic traits. A field guide is being developed and descriptor data is being loaded into the GRIN database for a core subset of 30 Musa spp. accessions that were evaluated with a set of 32 descriptors in the mother crop and 120 descriptors in the 1st ratoon crop. Additionally, a set of 15 descriptor voucher images were taken in the mother crop and will be included in the catalog and in the GRIN database.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Use, G.N., Acquaah, G., Irish, B.M., Das, A. 2014. Targeted parallel sequencing of the Musa species: searching for an alternative model system for polyploidy studies. African Journal of Biotechnology. 13(41):4052-4060.
- Irish, B.M., Cuevas, H.E., Simpson, S.A., Scheffler, B.E., Sardos, J., Ploetz, R., Goenaga, R.J. 2014. Musa spp. germplasm management: microsatellite fingerprinting of USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) collection. Crop Science. 54:2140-2151.
- Zerega, N., Wiesner-Hanks, T., Ragone, D., Irish, B.M., Scheffler, B.E., Simpson, S.A., Zee, F.T. 2015. Diversity of the breadfruit complex (Artocarpus, Moraceae): Genetic characterization of critical germplasm. Tree Genetics and Genomes. doi: 10.1007/s11295-014-0824-2.
- Arias De Ares, R.S., Castillo, J.M., Sobolev, V., Blancarte-Jasso, N.H., Simpson, S.A., Ballard, L.L., Duke, M.V., Liu, X.F., Irish, B.M., Scheffler, B.E. 2015. Development of a large set of microsatellite markers in Zapote Maney (Pouteria sapota (Jacq.) (H.E. Moore & Stearn) and their potential use in the study of the species. Molecules. 20(60):11400-11417.
- Witherup, C., Ragone, D., Wiesner-Hanks, T., Irish, B.M., Scheffler, B.E., Simpson, S.A., Zee, F.T., Zuberi, M., Zerega, N. 2013. Development of microsatellite loci in Artocarpus altilis (Moraceae) and cross- amplification in congeneric species. Applications in Plant Sciences. 1(7) :1200423. doi: org/10.3732/apps.1200423.
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): 1. Efficiently and effectively conserve, back-up, regenerate, and evaluate tropical and subtropical fruit, bamboo, and cacao genetic resources and distribute them and associated information worldwide. 2. Aided by genetic marker information, strategically fill gaps in the current coverage of tropical and subtropoical fruit, bamboo, and cacao germplasm collections through international exchanges. 3. In collaboration with other NPGS genebanks and research projects, develop novel genetic marker systems for tropical and subtropical fruit, bamboo, and cacao genetic resources. Apply those markers to more efficiently and effectively manage genetic resources and facilitate their use in breeding and research projects. Approach (from AD-416): Plant genetic resources will be efficiently and effectively conserved, backed-up, regenerated, evaluated, and distributed free of diseases. This will be carried out by implementing latest technologies available for field, lab, and greenhouse plant labeling, by maintaining on and off-site backups of critically important germplasm, by field evaluating for important horticultural traits and by indexing/eliminating plant diseases in stock to be distributed. All information associated with plant genetic resources including passport, characterization, and evaluation data will be incorporated into the publicly available GRIN database. The development of molecular marker tools for systematic characterization of the site's plant germplasm is a collaborative effort with other USDA-ARS laboratories. Marker tools developed in collaboration will aid in the identification of redundancies, discrepancies, and genetic gaps in the collections. In addition, the marker work will complement morphological characterization and stakeholder community input in the development of guidelines to follow for prioritization of future plant introductions. Progress was made on all three objectives of the project plan. This research project is service oriented. The number of germplasm distributions amounted to a total of 197 distributions of 264 different accessions with a total of 7319 propagules. Tropical germplasm was distributed in the form of budwood, cuttings, rhizomes, corms, seed and fruit, and was made available and distributed to researchers and cooperators at the local, national and international level. A second year of data on fruit resistance/susceptibility to anthracnose, the most important postharvest disease in commercial production, has been collected from a segregating maternal half sibling mango population. A revised field guide has been developed and printed (PDF) for miscellaneous germplasm accessions being held on the station grounds in Mayaguez. A detailed catalog for Musa spp. germplasm accessions has been developed and printed (PDF). Catalog includes phenotypic, genotypic and agronomic information with a large set of digital voucher images for 169 banana germplasm accessions. In a collaborative effort with the USDA-ARS Sustainable Perennial Crops Lab (SPCL) in Beltsville, Maryland, and Chocolove Inc., a collection of leaf samples from naturalized cacao trees was collected and genotyped with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) molecular markers. These efforts lead to the identification of cacao trees with Criollo genetic backgrounds. This genetic background is underrepresented in the current cacao collection. To date pods from 20 trees have been collected and are being propagated for inclusion into collection. In a collaborative effort with the USDA-ARS SPCL in Beltsville, Maryland, representative leaf samples collected from individual trees for all currently held accession has been genotyped with a standard set of SNP loci. Microsatellite profiles were generated for a collection of Pouteria sapota germplasm accessions, including all replicate trees for the 26 accessions held in at the USDA-ARS Tropical Agriculture Research Station (TARS). Fingerprint profiles will be analyzed and genetic diversity assessed in the current collection comparing reference samples provided by collaborators. This data is being combined with detailed field characterizations in a manuscript for publication. Fingerprint profiles will also be loaded and available in the Gerplasm Resources Information Network database. The germplasm project received 14 in-vitro-propagated Musa spp. accessions as part of a collaborative project with Bioversity International�s International Musa Testing Program. A replicated field plot has been established at the USDA-ARS TARS research farm in Isabela, Puerto Rico. Accessions include several hybrids clones from breeding programs with improved disease resistance and productivity. Plants are being evaluated for two cycles under field conditions. A fourth year of data is being collected in the Annona spp. germplasm collection. Data collected includes number and weight of fruit, fruit size, and Brix value. Data is shared with the location�s research entomologist who is evaluating pheromone treatments for nitidulid attraction within the same germplasm collection. A small niche market for high-end gourmet chocolate is emerging on the island of Puerto Rico. The USDA-ARS TARS has recommended a set of 10 highly productive and high quality chocolate clonal accessions for propagation. The grafting and multiplication of 10,000 trees is part of an independently run USDA Specialty Crops Block grant. The USDA-ARS TARS is providing seed for rootstocks as well as scionwood. Data is being generated for compatibility/incompatibility of cacao clonal accessions, with initial focus on ten cacao clones being recommended for propagation and planting in Puerto Rico. A collaborative project with Mars Inc. was carried out on a detailed characterization of bamboo genetic resources. A large set (close to 250 samples) of tropical and temperate bamboo genetic resources held at USDA- ARS TARS and USDA-ARS Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit in Griffin, Georgia as well as at a large private collection in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico was assembled. The samples collected were screened for their total protein content and micro-nutrient and amino acid compositions. Data is being collected on 40 Musa spp. accessions as part of a collaborative project with Bioversity International�s Musa International Transit Center. These plants have been in tissue culture for over 10 years in the international collection and need to be field verified and characterized for important phenotypic and agronomic traits. The following milestones established on the research project plan have been delayed: Milestone 3 (10% cacao accessions backed in vitro/cryo at the USDA-ARS TARS and National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation) was delayed until cryo technique is fully optimized by collaborator at Fort Collins; Milestone 9 (Establish evaluation of Musa spp. somaclonal variation trials) was delayed until next fiscal year until collaborator at Fort Collins is able to provide the tissue cultured materials. Alternatively, Bioversity International is also interested in having our location conduct similar work so we will explore that avenue also if necessary; Milestone 18 (Introduce ~10-20 new Annona spp. accessions from collaborators in Central America) was delayed until next fiscal year. The lead scientist in the project was recently able to establish communication again with the collaborator in Central America and we expect this germplasm exchange will now take place if collaborator is responsive. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations: A workshop was coordinated and hosted at the USDA-ARS Tropical Agriculture Research Station on all aspects of the cacao crop. Workshop involved both theory and practical training, with presentations as well as greenhouse and field-site visits. Attendees included over sixty extension service personnel from the University of Puerto Rico in addition to regional farmers. Accomplishments 01 Molecular genotyping of naturalized Puerto Rican cacao. Global climatic changes, diseases, insect pests and loss of habitat are causing genetic erosion in cacao germplasm. National chocolate industries rely on cacao for providing the raw material for chocolate making. The USDA-ARS Tropical Agriculture Research Station is responsible for maintaining, characterizing and distributing a genetically diverse cacao collection. Anecdotal, historical, as well as preliminary evidence showed that naturalized cacao on the island of Puerto Rico might fill an existing genetic gap in the germplasm collection. A collection of close to 200 cacao (Theobroma cacao) samples from trees on the island was genotyped with a set of 100 molecular makers. Results from this research have indentified unique Criollo cacao populations/trees on the island. Trees identified are being collected, propagated and included in the collection for evaluation. The Criollo cacao genetic background is generally regarded as having excellent organoleptic chocolate qualities.
Impacts
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Publications
- Irish, B.M., Goenaga, R.J., Reed, B.M. 2014. Amending storage vessel and media improves transfer interval of Musa spp. tissue culture plantlets. Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico. 97(1-2):1-3.
- Irish, B.M., Goenaga, R.J., Rios, C., Chavarria-Carvajal, J., Ploetz, R. 2013. Evaluation of banana hybrids for tolerance to black leaf streak (Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet) in Puerto Rico. Crop Protection Journal. 54:229-238.
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Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): 1. Efficiently and effectively conserve, back-up, regenerate, and evaluate tropical and subtropical fruit, bamboo, and cacao genetic resources and distribute them and associated information worldwide. 2. Aided by genetic marker information, strategically fill gaps in the current coverage of tropical and subtropoical fruit, bamboo, and caco germplasm collections through international exchanges. 3. In collaboration with other NPGS genebanks and research projects, develop novel genetic marker systems for tropical and subtropical fruit, bamboo, and caco genetic resources. Apply those markers to more efficiently and effectively manage genetic resources and facilitate their use in breeding and research projects. Approach (from AD-416): Plant genetic resources will be efficiently and effectively conserved, backed-up, regenerated, evaluated, and distributed free of diseases. This will be carried out by implementing latest technologies available for field, lab, and greenhouse plant labeling, by maintaining on and off-site backups of critically important germplasm, by field evaluating for important horticultural traits and by indexing/eliminating plant diseases in stock to be distributed. All information associated with plant genetic resources including passport, characterization, and evaluation data will be incorporated into the publicly available GRIN database. The development of molecular marker tools for systematic characterization of the site's plant germplasm is a collaborative effort with other USDA-ARS laboratories. Marker tools developed in collaboration will aid in the identification of redundancies, discrepancies, and genetic gaps in the collections. In addition, the marker work will complement morphological characterization and stakeholder community input in the development of guidelines to follow for prioritization of future plant introductions. This research project is service oriented. The number of germplasm distributions amounted to 222 distributions of 228 different accessions with a total of 11802 propagules. Tropical germplasm was distributed in the form of budwood, cuttings, rhizomes, corms, seed and fruit, and was made available and distributed to researchers and cooperators at the local, national and international level. Passport information has been updated and descriptors from characterizations as well as voucher images have been loaded into GRIN for the cacao, mamey sapote, Musa spp. and miscellaneous collections. Fifty Musa spp. accessions were planted in the field as part of a collaborative project with Bioversity International�s Musa International Transit Center. These plants have been in tissue culture for over 10 years in the international collection and need to be field verified and characterized for important phenotypic and agronomic traits. Also in collaboration with Bioversity International, our site is in the process of in vitro propagating and later field establishing 10 introduced Sigatoka disease-resistant Musa spp. clones for field evaluation. The Musa spp. field germplasm collection has been re-established at the USDA-ARS TARS research farm in Isabela. The field site was infested with Fusarium wilt therefore, two plants established from the tissue culture backup collection will be used as this is the only source of disease-free stock. Several new accession introduced will be incorporated in this field planting. A collection of close to 200 cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) samples from naturalized trees on the island of Puerto Rico has been assembled. DNA was extracted and genotyped with a set of 100 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) makers to assess genetic diversity and for incorporation of unique germplasm into the existing collection. The same set of SNP markers is being used to genotype the existing cacao germplasm accessions. Data generated is in the process of being analyzed and fingerprint profiles will be loaded into GRIN. Cacao germplasm continues to be introduced from the USDA-ARS Subtropical Horticulture Research Station quarantine facilities (~20 new T. cacao accessions were introduced). In addition, four new Theobroma spp. and five new Herrania spp. accessions were introduced (donated) into the collection from a local cooperator. Three new Garcinia species (G. magnifolia, G. hombroniana, G. gardneriana/G. humilis) have been added to the priority collection and were introduced (donated) from a local cooperator. A planting of F5 papaya of Line 41 was made for screening for Papaya Ringspot Virus tolerance, high brix and intermediate fruit size at the Isabela Research Farm. A third year of data is being collected in the Annona spp. germplasm collection. Data collected includes number and weight of fruit, fruit size, and Brix value. Data is shared with the location�s Research Entomologist who is evaluating pheromone treatments within the same germplasm collection. This project replaced project 6635-21000-047-00D which terminated in March 2013.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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