Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:Sweetpotato farmers in Arkansas and Guyana Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have trained six scientists (for a month) from Guyana in sweetpotato virus-indexing and other molecular techniques. Scientists received training in techniques in meristem culture to develop virus testing laboratories at the University of Guyana (UG) and the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI). These scientists observed UAPB's Foundation Seed Program and breeding program. A total of 21 undergraduate students were involved in this project. Three graduate students were supported from this project. Seven students completed study abroad program in Guyana. The students were accompanied by mentors. Contacts with faculty and scientists in Guyana were strengthened and new contacts were made by the UAPB faculty as they implemented the project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results were shared with the Arkansas Sweetpotato growers. Presentations were made at the Association of 1890 Research Directors Symposium, UAPB SAFHS field-day, and at the Annual Meeting of the East Arkansas Enterprise Community. Contacts were made with sweetpotato producers in Guyana. Presentations were also made at the Plant & Animal Genome meeting. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Sweetpotato breeding program was initiated in Guyana with the goal to select insect resistant lines. Virus-indexing and Polycross Laboratory has been established at the University of Guyana. Laboratory equipment were acquired. Two Poly-cross nurseries were established, and the seeds were obtained from selected genotypes. Twenty-five advanced breeding lines was evaluated. Sweetpotato seedling production and evaluation was done at two locations in Guyana. Three advanced field trials were conducted at the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) with selections from seedlings produced in the NAREI poly-cross nursery. The University of Guyana also conducted an advanced trial at the NAREI location in MonRepos. The evaluations have resulted in the selection of five advanced lines that were evaluated at three select locations in Guyana. In addition, two lines were selected for entry into the poly-cross nursery. UAPB's scientist assisted both UG and NAREI with evaluations and the selection of advanced lines for insect resistance. At UAPB, a set of 139 heirloom accessions from 37 different countries were obtained from USDA. The slips were multiplied in the greenhouse. The multiplied slips were then planted in the field with three replications using randomized complete block design. Eighteen morphological and eleven storage root traits were evaluated. Transcriptome sequencing was carried out and SNPs were identified.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:Sweetpotato Producers in Arkansas. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Nine University of Guyana (UG) students were selected for support of their senior projects and all nine students completed their projects. These students also assisted the UG collaborators with laboratory, shade-house and field sweet potato projects. This was the third cohort of UG students that participated in the project. Two scientist form Guyana came to the University of Arkansas for training in biotechnology and to observe UAPB's Foundation Seed Program and breeding program. This was a four-week visit supported by the project. Two students from Guyana completed their M.S. in Agriculture Regulations at UAPB How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results were shared with the Arkansas Sweetpotato growers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?1. Complete equipment acquisition for the University of Guyana 2. Genotyping of insect-resist lines developed in Guyana
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Sweet potato seedling production and evaluation continued at the two locations in Guyana. Three advanced field trials were conducted at the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) with selections from seedlings produced in the NAREI poly-cross nursery. The University of Guyana also conducted an advanced trial at the NAREI location in Mon Repos. The evaluations have resulted in the selection of five advanced lines that will be evaluated at three select location in Guyana. In addition, two lines were selected for entry into the poly-cross nursery. UAPB's scientist assisted both UG and NAREI with evaluations and the selection of advanced lines.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Sweetpotato Farmers Changes/Problems:Changes/Problems: None What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?2. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Four scientists from Guyana have come to the biotechnology laboratory and received training in techniques in meristem culture to develop virus testing laboratories at the University of Guyana (UG) and the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI). One University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) faulty member traveled to Guyana to supervise UAPB undergrad students completing international study as part of this project. This was this faculty member's first international experience. Contacts with faculty and scientists in Guyana were strengthened and new contacts were made by the UAPB faculty as they implemented the project. Five UAPB students completed study-aboard programs in Guyana. One of the graduate students from Guyana presented an oral paper at the Association of 1890 Research Directors Symposium and was awarded third place in the graduate student competition in Plant Science. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?3. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? One oral presentation was given at the Association of 1890 Research Directors Symposium. Presentations were given at the SAFHS field-day and at the Annual Meeting of the East Arkansas Enterprise Community. Contacts were made with sweetpotato producers in Guyana where the project was discussed and farmers were recruited to take part in future advanced trials when selected sweetpotato lines are ready for testing. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?4. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We will continue to collect seed from the Poly-cross Nursery. Seedling evaluation will continue in an effort to develop new cultivars. We will evaluate our screening method in an attempt to strengthen the detection of insect resistant lines. The equipment for biotech laboratory at UG will be installed and brought into full operation. Additional students will be selected for senior project support at UG and student recruitment for UAPB will continue. Additional undergraduate students will be selected to participate in the study-aboard program. Association mapping of EST-SSRs and SNPs in sweet potato will be completed. We will report project developments as appropriate for research and Outreach findings.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. What Major accomplished under these goals? Renovation of the biotechnology infrastructure renovation was completed and is now ready for instillation of equipment. Two Poly-cross nurseries were established and are now producing seed form the selected genotypes installed in the nurseries. Screening of breeding lines was initiated and we now have approximately twenty-five advanced lines that are being evaluated. Nine University of Guyana (UG) students were supported with research grants to support senior projects. Three students from UG have been admitted to the Agricultural Regulation graduate program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Two of these students are supported by this project. Transcriptome sequencing was carried out and SNPs identified.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Sweetpotato farmers in Arkansas and Guyana Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have trained two scientists (for amonth) from Guyana in sweetpotato virus-indexing and other molecular techniques. Two students from UAPB traveled to Guyana in summer to learn about sweetpotato production practices. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Presented results to sweetpotato farmers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Complete SNP analysis and equipment accquisition for virus-indexing laboratory for the production of virus-free slips. Advance breeding program in Guyana to produce insect-resistant sweetpotatoes and provide training for students and scientists in sweetpotato indexing and production.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Graduate students are being trained in genome wide association studies. A set of 139 heirloom accessions from 37 different countries were obtained from USDA. The slips were multiplied in the greenhouse. The multiplied slips were then planted in the field with three replications using randomized complete block design. Eighteen morphological and eleven storage root traits were evaluated. Also, SNP marker analysis is in progress. We are also in the process establishing a polycross laboratory in Guyana. Laboratory renovation was completed and accquiring of equipment for the lab is in progress. Further, sweetpotato breeding program was initiated in Guyana with the goal to select insect resistant sweetpotato.
Publications
|
|