Source: IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
CONSERVATION, MANAGEMENT, ENHANCEMENT AND UTILIZATION OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1014193
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
NC-_old7
Project Start Date
Oct 1, 2017
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2022
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
2229 Lincoln Way
AMES,IA 50011
Performing Department
Agronomy
Non Technical Summary
Increased diversification of crops that can be integrated into existing sustainable production systems without compromising acres devoted to food use, and that can extend the period of capture of solar energy are high priorities. Integrated cropping strategies that maximize use of targeted genetic resources will contribute to improved soil and water quality; successful innovations will enhance the economic viability of producers and provide new market alternatives, and will support national rural development and environmental quality objectives. Areas within the NCR utilize plant diversity extensively and to different degrees in their agricultural production, yet abiotic, biotic and market pressures threaten profitability and therefore the sustainability of existing crop production. New species must also be evaluated for invasive potential, and appropriate risk assessments made concerning their introduction into new geographic areas.Plant genetic resources acquired throughout the world and conserved at the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS) in Ames, IA serve a crucial role in supporting and sustaining humanity. The program specializes in heterozygous, heterogeneous, outcrossing crops and their crop wild relatives. This project is part of the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), to conserve, characterize, evaluate, enhance, and distribute germplasm and associated information to researchers, educators, and commercial producers. It addresses multiple priorities, including global food security, value-added genes in conventional breeding and molecular biology, new plant species for agricultural production, nutritional quality of plant and food products, and natural resource and ecosystem conservation and quality.The Maize Crop Germplasm Committee, a stakeholder advisory group, noted in their 2016 update to the maize crop vulnerability statement that "Maize ... is the most important crop in the United States and one of the top three cereals in world calorie production. The United States is the world's leading exporter of maize. Because of the importance of the crop to the United States' economy and the world food supply, it is essential that maize germplasm be protected, maintained, and enhanced." Similar stakeholder input on other NCRPIS crops provides strong evidence of the need for this project.Crop collections important to the North Central Region have been supported since 1947 through the partnerships with Hatch Multi-State Project NC-007, the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, the State Agricultural Experiment Stations (SAES) of the NCR, and Iowa State University. For 69 years the NCRPIS has served as a major repository within the NPGS and supported the activities of NCR and global researchers, educators, and producers to improve crop production genetics and technologies. The Multi-State Participants have used these germplasm and information resources to improve crop genetics and production technologies, and to enhance the health and nutrition of society.Since 1954, the NCRPIS has coordinated a cooperative network involving the NCR's State Agricultural Experiment Stations, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and public gardens and arboreta to conduct long-term evaluations of promising new trees and shrubs. This network collects and summarizes performance data that shed light on plant-environment interactions and provide practical advice to landscape professionals. The NCR is an especially challenging region for the cultivation of trees and shrubs, with its climatic extremes, grassland soils, and increasing urbanization. Furthermore, new biotic stresses caused by the rise of new pests and diseases, such as Emerald Ash Borer or the Asian longhorned beetle, present special challenges that can only be addressed by ensuring the ongoing availability of a diverse array of well-adapted landscape plants. Today, maize genetic resources are contributing to the search for genetic resistance to Maize Lethal Necrosis, a relatively new disease that is devastating production of many African farmers.Because of the diversity of environments and needs in the North Central Region, and the diversity of research interests and expertise available, it is only logical and fitting that a multi-disciplinary effort utilizing the talents of all interested researchers be rigorously applied to develop and test potential solutions to these many challenges.The impacts of secure and successful germplasm conservation, management, enhancement and utilization can be measured in the introduction of economically viable new crops and cultivars and new uses for existing crops based on a thorough understanding of their traits and properties, including nutritional, chemical, pharmaceutical, industrial and aesthetic applications. Genetic and phenotypic information, coupled with bioinformatics applications, will enhance our ability to understand and realize the inherent value of the plant genetic resources. Impacts will also result from development of a fundamental understanding of the nature and biology of genetic diversity, how it interacts with and is influenced by environment, and the resulting discoveries, inventions and applications which benefit society. The researchers of the NCR and curatorial staff of the NCRPIS provide training for the next generation of plant scientists and curators, providing opportunity to sustain societal needs through agricultural innovation.The stakeholders for this project include researchers, educators, and commercial producers worldwide who request and utilize the plant genetic resources and associated information. The NC-007 Regional Technical Advisory Committee (RTAC) members directly contribute to this project; these members include many of the stakeholders. The RTAC members are enriched by the exchange of information and in depth discussion of related issues offered by this forum. Many other stakeholders are involved with the eleven Crop Germplasm Committees that meet annually (or periodically) to discuss acquisition, evaluation, management, and utilization of NC-007 genetic resources. Information is provided both via the web interface to the GRIN-Global database and personally by curators to aid users in selecting optimal plant genetic resources to meet their research and education objectives. These users range from public sector research and education programs, to large multi-national and small local seed and life science companies, from organic to advanced technology high yielding production, and a wide array of basic, applied, and theoretical research.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2022410106090%
2012499108110%
Knowledge Area
202 - Plant Genetic Resources; 201 - Plant Genome, Genetics, and Genetic Mechanisms;

Subject Of Investigation
2410 - Cross-commodity research--multiple crops; 2499 - Plant research, general;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1081 - Breeding;
Goals / Objectives
Cooperate and participate as a key element in the NPGS, a coordinated national acquisition and management program of plant germplasm valued for agricultural, horticultural, environmental, medicinal and industrial uses in the NCR and throughout the U.S. and the world. Collect and maintain plant genetic resources of dedicated crops and their crop wild relatives, evaluate and enhance this germplasm. Characterize plant germplasm using a combination of molecular and traditional techniques and utilize modern plant genetic techniques to help manage plant germplasm. Conduct research, and develop an institutional infrastructure needed to attain the preceding objectives efficiently and effectively, including efficient seed and plant health testing, viability monitoring, pollinator efficacy, and advancements in software applications development and computerized management systems to improve functionality and efficiency, to store and transfer knowledge, and to enhance our understanding of the interrelationships of germplasm with changing abiotic and biotic environments. Within the NCR, throughout the U.S., and internationally, encourage the use of a broad diversity of germplasm to reduce crop genetic vulnerability. Provide viable plant genetic resources, information and expertise that foster cultivar improvement of established crops, the development of new crops, and new uses for existing crops, thus contributing to a sustainable, biobased economy. Educate students, scientists and the general public regarding plant germplasm issues.
Project Methods
The NCRPIS specializes in heterogeneous, heterozygous, outcrossing species, requiring extensive facilities for their maintenance and controlled pollination. Technical and administrative support by an additional seven Iowa State (NC-007 supported) and ten federal USDA-ARS employees, and by Iowa State University provides expertise and infrastructure for farm operations, viability testing, seed processing, greenhouse and facility management, laboratories, information management and analytical support.Five curatorial teams interact with the Program Manager, Research Plant Pathologist, Entomologist, Agronomist, and IT Specialist in multi-disciplinary teams, sharing expertise to address issues that affect multiple curatorial or support teams. Examples would include viability testing; pollinator insect efficacy and management; detection, quantification and elimination of seed borne pathogens and pests; digital imaging standards and automation; georeferencing; enhancement of the internal and external (public) aspects of the Germplasm Resource Information Network (GRIN-Global) database; development of software applications to improve quality and efficiency of data capture and genebank workflows; and a wide range of operational and equipment innovations which contribute to the quality of the germplasm accessions and associated information.Germplasm acquisition objectives are established by analyzing collection gaps for geographic and genetic representation of the crop plants curated and their wild relatives. Since 2011, more than 2400 new accessions have been acquired. Acquisition proposals are funded primarily by the USDA's Plant Exchange Office, and reflect priorities developed in consultation with Crop Germplasm Committee (CGC) members, international scientific collaborators, stakeholder priorities, and urgency to collect if continued access to genetic resources is threatened. Future access may be threatened due to rare or endangered status, human development or farming activities, climate change, or natural or man-made sources of disaster. Germplasm is acquired in collaboration with other US and international investigators, according to international, national and other regional laws and requirements. Recent ratification of the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) by the US Senate has enabled the US to be a party to the treaty; this may facilitate future germplasm exchange.The potential impact of new technologies such as genome editing on the nature and use of germplasm collections is as yet unknown; as methodologies are developed and in conjunction with more complete characterization information, it is possible that some accessions will be more or less heavily utilized, and that new genetic resources will be developed and incorporated in genebank collections.Curators utilize opportunities to address issues and unknowns in taxonomy, and by collaborating with external experts, utilize genetic and genomic technologies as well as morphological traits to resolve concerns. Currently, a taxonomic research collaboration of the NCRPIS vegetable curator and the USDA-ARS in Madison, WI is designed to resolve the taxonomy of Daucus and allied Apiaceae species. The taxonomy of the Umbelliferae presents unique challenges, and crops of this family are important for food and culinary use.Iowa State and NCRPIS personnel collaborate with researchers at the National Center for Genetic Resource Preservation (NCGRP) at Ft. Collins, CO, the NPGS site for long-term seed storage which backs up the germplasm collections and conducts research related to germplasm viability and preservation of genetic profiles. A certified seed analyst provides support for research effort to develop methods to break dormancy and to optimize conditions that support germination (example: application of the use of medical oxygen generators to break dormancy of Setaria italica seeds). Controlled pollination programs are used to maintain the genetic profile of accessions during seed increases which utilize either insect pollinators in screened cages (field and greenhouse) or manual pollination methods. Best management practices are maintained according to NCRPIS protocols. Choice of pollinator insect is determined in part by a pollinator's ability to pollinate certain flower types, floral characteristics, pollinator biology and suitability during varying environmental conditions throughout the growing season, and past results on seed production. Frequently, combinations of pollinators are more efficacious for seed production and ensuring maximum cross-fertilization of flowers.Reliable passport and provenance information, coupled with accurate taxonomic identification, are fundamental to the relevance of plant genetic resources (PGR) to specific research applications. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization and evaluation data greatly increase the value of the collections for research, allowing researchers to discriminate between elements of the collection and devote their resources to those most likely to fulfill their objectives.Large numbers of germplasm samples are distributed to US and international researchers; demand within the US varies, depending on crop-specific, regionally based efforts. Acquiring new germplasm samples from domestic and international sources has become increasingly complicated and challenging, due to international and national laws, and phytosanitary concerns and restrictions. In contrast, acquiring samples from the NPGS has become easier because of public access databases and communication, and more reliable and rapid long-distance transport. Consequently, the demand for and volume of NPGS samples distributed annually has expanded steadily for the past 15 years, free of charge or restrictions. NPGS distributions internationally will likely increase as international research programs that use plant genetic resources grow. Distributions from the NCRPIS have accounted for ca. 17% of all NPGS distributions for the past seven years, although NCRPIS holdings make up only 9.5% of the NPGS collections, reflecting their importance to agricultural research. Germplasm requests come from researchers in the private and public sectors concerned with applied and basic research applications, educators, historians, and from citizen-scientists interested in research applications for improving their quality of life and health.Curatorial staff members exchange information and technological capacities with other NPGS personnel and a wide array of scientific contacts, related to shared objectives and goals, including germplasm exploration, regeneration, phenotypic evaluation and genomic characterization. Genomic characterization is generally accomplished by research collaborators, and the information used by curators to better understand and manage their collections.Iowa State curators and other NCRPIS scientists participate with researchers to address crop development and improvement goals, invasive-species risk assessment, genetic enhancement and trait discovery, phytosanitary health issues, pollinator-biology questions, and many other objectives. A primary example is the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize Project (GEM), where Iowa State scientists, USDA and private and public sector researchers collaborate to introgress exotic maize germplasm into temperate germplasm with the objective of increasing the genetic diversity of US maize production. The NC7 Ornamental Trials, administered by NCRPIS personnel, are the longest running ornamental evaluation trials in the US, entering their 65th year in 2017. Because of the successes that germplasm introductions have brought to the horticultural industry in the U.S., a new genebank for herbaceous ornamentals, the Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center (OPGC) was established at the Ohio State University.

Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:Scientists interested in use of crop genetic resources for breeding, genetic and many other research objectives; weed scientists; botanists and ethnobotanists; organic chemists; students, and the general public who are interested in plant genetic resource issues. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Student employees gain knowledge in all aspects of plant genetic resource maintenance, distribution, management of associated information, and their utilization. The pollinator insect program used to support plant genetic resource regeneration and the seed viability and seed health testing programs add additional dimensions to their agronomic, horticultural, entomology, and plant breeding knowledge basis. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through peer-reviewed and popular press publications, and through meetings with interested parties. Prior to the pandemic, a variety of outreach programs supported training for school children, 4-H groups, and various groups with specific interests, such as the Iowa Honey Producers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Research and curatorial activities will continue to be fully supported to achieve mission objectives.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Overall impact statement: Availability and access to diverse genetic resources are necessary for sustaining agricultural productivity and society's wellbeing. The efforts of the researchers and staff associated with this project support access to and the development, conservation, maintenance, and utilization of quality plant genetic resource (PGR) collections and associated information. Via scholarly efforts, curators identify and acquire PGR, expanding diverse, available genetics for research and crop development applications, and assist researchers in identifying accessions to support objectives. Research to improve conservation methods, germination protocols, seed processing and seed storage methods, and detection/elimination of seed-borne pathogens results in improved plant and seed health and long-term viability in storage. The National Plant Germplasm System's (NPGS) GRIN-Global germplasm information system continues to evolve, supporting public access to information associated with the collections, and more efficient genebank collection management workflows. By supporting a variety of research objectives dedicated to providing solutions for agronomic challenges, nutrition, health, bioenergy and ecosystem services, PGR provide for sustainability of our agricultural systems, food security, and environmental quality. Objective 1: Cooperate and participate as a key element in the NPGS, a coordinated national acquisition and management program of plant germplasm valued for agricultural, horticultural, environmental, medicinal and industrial uses in the NCR and throughout the U.S. and the world. Federal and state personnel manage the PGR collections and increase their value through targeted efforts directed towards acquisition, characterization, evaluation, and research to understand and utilize their inherent value. The U.S. Plant Germplasm Operations Committee is comprised of genebank managers, curators, advisors, and a National Program Leader. They formulate solutions to issues that the community must understand and respond to accomplish mission, support research/educational objectives, and to advise leadership. Curators partner with faculty from Iowa State and other institutions to advance research endeavors. Objective 2: Collect and maintain plant genetic resources of dedicated crops and their crop wild relatives, evaluate and enhance this germplasm. The Ames NCRPIS collection holds 54,202 accessions of more than 1700 taxa, a reduction of about 1,200 reflecting inactivation of an inviable maize collection, made by Galinat during 1950-1960; availability increased from 76% to 79%; backup increased from 80% to 82%; 1,070 were increased in 2020, 20% less than in 2019 due to pandemic-associated constraints. Viability was tested of 6,287 accessions; 38% of the collection needs testing; germination has declined for some taxa. Winter nurseries were utilized in Mexico and St. Croix to increase tropical maize seed. A USDA-ARS location in Parlier, CA increased seed of taxa that require a Mediterranean-type environment. New accessions were acquired via exploration and/or transfer of germplasm, including crop wild relatives via the Seeds of Success program. The Germplasm Enhancement of Maize Project (GEM), a collaborative project with public and private sector entities dedicated to enhancing genetic diversity of U.S. commercial maize, released four new GEM lines. The cooperative network planted 2500 diverse hybrids for evaluation, and private sector cooperators evaluated hundreds of lines for resistance to multiple corn diseases. About 200 crosses incorporating un-adapted genetic resources were planted for evaluation for further introgression. Many yield trial plots were lost during the August derecho. Objective 3: Characterize plant germplasm using a combination of molecular and traditional techniques and utilize modern plant genetic techniques to help manage plant germplasm. Observations for 8,370 observations and 2,860 images were loaded to the GRIN-Global database. Past maize nurseries were analyzed for factors associated with their productivity, and protocols were amended accordingly. Objective 4: Conduct research, and develop an institutional infrastructure needed to attain the preceding objectives efficiently and effectively ISU's Lübberstedt lab's research on doubled haploid technology (DH) for maize focused on determining genomic regions for segregation distortion in the doubling process, indicative of spontaneous haploid genome doubling (SHGD). Male haploid fertility and seed set are key traits contributing to spontaneous doubling, and three related QTL have been identified. putative candidate genes have been identified; this has implications for simplified doubled haploid production. A funded USDA OREI program supports use of DH technology in organic maize breeding. Key for using DH technology in organic maize breeding is the ability to double haploid genomes based on a genetic mechanism rather than methods using toxic chemicals such as colchicine. The major QTL for SHGD will be incorporated in different genetic backgrounds. First results look promising: success rates for obtaining DH lines from BS39 were higher using SHGD compared to artificial colchicine treatment-based DH line development. Newly constructed vernalization rooms significantly increased capacity to regenerate germplasm requiring vernalization, germination in vitro and transplant, and were used successfully for Brassica increase. Implementation of LED lighting in greenhouses has increased. Plugged tile lines on the south side of the research station were repaired to improve drainage for impacted field areas. Our staff contributes to GRIN-Global System development, used by the U.S. and international genebanks to manage workflows and PGR-associated information. The public interface provides information access and a germplasm request portal. Our staff released multiple new Curator Tool versions and enhancements to various wizards used by genebank personnel to manage workflows and seamlessly integrate associated information in GRIN-Global, enhancing access and facilitating germplasm use. Plant pathology staff continue to conduct research on seedborne infestation of Cucumis seeds with Acidovorax avenae, responsible for Bacterial Fruit Blotch of melon. A threat to producers and to seed providers, only disease-free seeds can be distributed. Methods development focuses on understanding bacterial distribution within the seed, and how to treat seed to render the pathogen inviable. New pathogens were identified for two plant taxa. Objective 5: Within the NCR, throughout the U.S., and internationally, encourage the use of a broad diversity of germplasm to reduce crop genetic vulnerability. Distribution demand reduced by 30% due to the pandemic, from 48,254 in 2019 to 42,783 items, as domestic and international capacities to receive or to utilize the germplasm were affected. Curatorial staff received 1,076 germplasm requests and selected PGR to meet objectives. Seed health testing was done for 10% of the foreign shipments to meet phytosanitary requirements. ELISA testing of nearly 3,000 Cucurbita seedlings ensured that plants used for seed increase were free of Squash Mosaic Virus. Objective 6: Educate students, scientists and the general public regarding plant germplasm issues. Field days, tours, professional meeting presentations, and publications help educate students, scientists, educators, policy makers and the public regarding PGR access, conservation and utilization issues, and efforts that contribute to sustainable agricultural production and society's well-being. All 2020 planned field day plantings were cancelled due to the pandemic. Scientific and curatorial staff continued to participate in virtual professional meetings and outreach activities, notably the interdepartmental 'Three Sisters' project which provides practical training to growers.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Boerman, N.A.; Frei, U.K.; L�bberstedt, T. Impact of Spontaneous Haploid Genome Doubling in Maize Breeding. Plants 2020, 9, 369.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Falcon, C.M., Kaeppler, S.M., Spalding, E.P., Miller, N.D., Haase, N., Alkhalifah, N., Bohn, M., Buckler IV, E.S., Campbell, D.A., Ciampitti, I., Coffey, L., Edwards, J.W., Ertl, D., Flint Garcia, S.A., Gore, M.A., Graham, C., Hirsch, C.N., Holland, J.B., Jarquin, D., Knoll, J.E., Lauter, N.C., Lawrence-Dill, C.J., Lee, E.C., Lorenz, A., Lynch, J.P., Murray, S.C., Nelson, R., Romay, M., Rocheford, T., Schnable, P., Scully, B.T., Smith, M.C., Springer, N., Tuinstra, M., Walton, R., Weldekidan, T., Wisser, R.J., Xu, W., De Leon, N. Relative utility of agronomic, phenological, and morphological traits for assessing genotype-by-environment interaction in maize inbreds. Crop Science. 2020; 60:62-81. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20035
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Ramstein, GP, Larsson, SJ, Cook, JP, Edwards, JW, Ersoz, ES, Flint-Garcia, S, Gardner, CA, Holland, JB, Lorenz, AJ, McMullen, MD, Millard, MJ, Rocheford, TR, Tuinstra, MR, Bradbury, PJ, Buckler, ES, and Romay, MC. 2020. Dominance effects and functional enrichments improve prediction of agronomic traits in hybrid maize. Genetics (2020) 215: 1: 215-230. https://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.120.303025
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Ren, J, Boerman, NA, Liu, R, Wu, P, Trampe, B, Vanous, K, Frei, UK, Chen, S, and L�bberstedt, T. 2020. Mapping of QTL and identification of candidate genes conferring spontaneous haploid genome doubling in maize (Zea mays L.). Plant Science 293:110337. 2020. ISSN 0168-9452,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.110337.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Almeida, VC, Trentin, HU, Frei, UK, and T L�bberstedt. 2020. Genomic prediction of maternal haploid induction rate in maize. Plant Genome. 2020;13:e20014. https://doi.oprg/10.1002/tpg2.20014.


Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:Scientists interested in use of crop genetic resources for breeding, genetic and many other research objectives; weed scientists; botanists and ethnobotanists; organic chemists; students, and the general public who are interested in plant genetic resource issues. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Germplasm is supplied to graduate students and postdoctoral candidates for use in their research projects. The field research/seed production of some of these projects is done on site at the NCRPIS genebank in collaboration with faculty. Two recent PhD programs were completed (Ledesma and Pereira-Da-Silva ) utilizing these resources. More than 70 undergraduates (19 FTE) are typically hired part-time at the station and trained in various aspects of germplasm maintenance and characterization. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Information associated with plant genetic resources is disseminated primarily via the Germplasm Resource Information Network (GRIN), https://www.ars-grin.gov . Results and released germplasm from the GEM project is distributed via http://www.public.iastate.edu/~usda-gem/ . Faculty researchers' websites provide additional information on their objectives and findings, and research results are disseminated via conference presentations and scientific journal publications by participants. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Maintenance and distribution activities continue from year to year. The Germplasm Enhancement of Maize Project (GEM), a collaborative program with other public sector and private sector entities dedicated to enhancing genetic diversity of U.S. commercial maize, is collaborating with Dr. Jianming Yu on predictive phenomics associated with GEM line performance, and with Dr. Thomas Lübberstedt on double haploid line development.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? IMPACT: Availability and access to diverse genetic resources are necessary for sustaining agricultural productivity and society's wellbeing. The efforts of this project's researchers and staff supported access to and the development, conservation, maintenance, and utilization of high quality plant genetic resource collections and information. Through scholarly efforts, curatorial personnel identify and acquire plant genetic (germplasm) resources, thus expanding the availability of diverse genetics for research and crop development. Curatorial staff assist researchers in identifying those accessions that will best support their objectives. Research to improve genetic resource conservation methods such as germination protocols, optimal seed processing and seed storage technology, and detection and elimination of seed-borne pathogens results in improved plant and seed health, and increased viability in storage conditions over extended periods of time. The National Plant Germplasm System's (NPGS) GRIN-Global germplasm information system continues to evolve, post-implementation in 2015. The NPGS is better able to support public access to information associated with the collections, targeted research objectives, and more efficiently manage genebank collections and workflows. By supporting a variety of research objectives dedicated to providing solutions for agronomic challenges, nutrition, health, bioenergy and ecosystem services, plant genetic resources provide for sustainability of our agricultural systems, food security, and environmental quality. Objective 1. Cooperate and participate as a key element in the NPGS. Project participants actively participated in the U.S. Plant Germplasm Operations Committee, which is comprised of genebank manager, curators, important advisors, and the National Program Leader for Plant Genetic Resources, Genomics, and Genetic Improvement. Objective 2. Collect and maintain plant genetic resources of dedicated crops and their crop wild relatives, evaluate and enhance this germplasm. The NCRPIS collection in Ames now has 54,774 accessions of more than 1700 taxa. Of these,76% are available, 80% are backed up, and 1245 were grown for seed increase in 2019. Viability tests were conducted for 4,210 accessions; about 38% of the collection is currently in need of maintenance viability testing. Winter nurseries in Mexico and St. Crois were utilized in winter '18 to increase seed of tropically-adapted maize accessions, and a USDA-ARS location in Parlier, CA increased seed of taxa that require a Mediterranean-type environment to thrive. Approximately 293 new accessions of woody ornamentals, oilseeds, maize, vegetables, amaranth and many more taxa were acquired and incorporated into the collections as a result of exploration, exchange, and transfer of germplasm with expired Plant Variety Protection. As a part of the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize Project (GEM), our Iowa group evaluated more than 400 F1 breeding crosses, which incorporate 25% or 50% unadapted maize genetic resources, and selected subsets of these for either immediate incorporation in the breeding program or further introgression with temperate material. Objective 3. Characterize plant germplasm using a combination of molecular and traditional techniques and utilize modern plant genetic techniques to help manage plant germplasm. Project staff grew 613 accessions for various observations trials; more than 22,400 observations and nearly 4,900 images were loaded to the GRIN-Global database. The Brassica rapa collection was evaluated for winter/spring type determination using newly constructed vernalization rooms and subsequent transplanting; this facilitated regeneration management decisions. The ISU Lübberstedt lab and the Cornell University group genotyped an additional 96 GEM traditionally-derived lines using skim sequencing technology. These data will be publicly available at the Panzea website (https://www.panzea.org/data) when information processing is completed, joining GBS data for more than 2500 inbred lines held in the maize collection. These publicly available data are used by researchers, educators, and graduate students for genetic investigations including genotype-phenotype association studies and much more. Maize genetic resources were distributed to cooperators at two NCR universities, two private sector and two Mexican organizations for tar spot disease screening. Objective 4. Conduct research, and develop an institutional infrastructure needed to attain the preceding objectives efficiently and effectively Our development staff is an integral part of the development team for GRIN-Global, the system used by U.S. and eight international genebanks to manage workflows and plant germplasm-associated information. Our developer released a second enhanced Viability wizard, software used for automation of viability testing capture and transfer to the GRIN-Global database, and an enhanced Inventory Attachment wizard for automated mass-loading of accession and inventory file attachments. New versions of the Curator Tool were developed, tested, security scanned and released to US and international GRIN-Global partners. These products support access to information associated with germplasm that facilitates their use. Our plant pathology and vegetable curation staff continued to conduct research to understand seedborne infestation of Cucumis seeds with Acidovorax avenae, the pathogen responsible for Bacterial Fruit Blotch of melon. Various methods are being developed to understand how the bacteria is distributed within the seed itself, and to treat seed to render the pathogen inviable; to date, chlorine gas treatment appears promising. ELISA testing suggests that cotyledon, hypocotyl and root tissues are affected in germinating seedlings. Use of the Monnit environmental monitoring system was expanded to include campus greenhouses, all seed storage areas, and monitoring of seed drying technologies. Information on specific sensor locations and alarms are available real-time via mobile devices, and data storage enables analysis of all conditions to which seeds and plants are exposed. Objective 5. Encourage the use of a broad diversity of germplasm to reduce crop genetic vulnerability. Curatorial staff responded to more than 1,000 requests for plant genetic resources, other requests for information and guidance on selection of germplasm. Distributions of about 62,000 units of seed were sent to 1,000 requestors of 23,229 unique accessions, reflecting record high demand for these resources. Of these, about 52% were to US recipients, with Landgrant Universities receiving more than half, and 48% were distributed internationally. Seed health testing (ELISA and traditional pathology methods) was necessary for about 10% of the international shipments to meet phytosanitary requirements. Additionally, ELISA testing of all Cucurbita seedlings (2,955) provided assurance that plants used in-house for seed increase were free of Squash Mosaic Virus. Objective 6. Educate students, scientists and the general public regarding plant germplasm issues. Field days, tours, professional meeting presentations, and publications were used to educate students, scientists and the general public regarding plant genetic resource access and conservation issues, crop production challenges, and how our efforts contribute to the sustainability of agricultural production and society's well-being. Horticulture and Agronomy students, scientists, educators, policy makers, and members of the public all participated in various events during the reporting period. More than 80 researchers, graduate students, and other visitors attended the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize field day in late September.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Vanous, A., Gardner, C., Blanco, M., Martin-Schwarze, A., Wang, J., Li, X., Lipka, A.E., Flint-Garcia, S., Bohn, M., Edwards, J., L�bberstedt, T. (2019) Stability analysis of kernel quality traits in exotic-derived doubled haploid maize lines. The Plant Genome 12:170114 doi: 10.3835/plantgenome2017.12.0114
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Li X, Wang G, Fu J, Li L, Jia G, Ren L, Lubberstedt T, Wang G, Wang J and Gu R (2018) QTL Mapping in Three Connected Populations Reveals a Set of Consensus Genomic Regions for Low Temperature Germination Ability in Zea mays L. Front. Plant Sci. 9:65. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00065
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Leng, P., Ouzunova, M., Landbeck, M., Wenzel, G., Eder, J., Darnhofer, B., and Lubberstedt, T. (2018) Quantitative trait loci mapping of forage stover quality traits in six mapping populations derived from European elite maize germplasm. Plant Breeding 137(2):139-147. doi: 10.1111/pbr.12572
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Ma, J., Zhang, D., Cao, Yl., Wang, L., Li, J., Lubberstedt, T., Wang, T., Li, Y., Li, H. Heterosis-related genes under different planting densities in maize. J. Exp Botany 69(21):5077-5087. Doi:10.1093/jxb/ery282
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kim, B., Dai, X., Zhang, W., Ahuang, Z., Sanchez, D.L., Lubberstedt, T., Kang, Y., Udvardi, M.K., Beavis, W.D., Xu, S., et al. (2019) GWASPpro: a high-performance genome-wide association analysis server. Bioinformatics 35(14):2512-2514. Doi:10.1093/bioinformatics/bty989
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Cruz-C�rdenas C.I., Cort�s-Cruz M., Gardner C.A., Costich D.E. (2019) Wild Relatives of Maize. In: Greene S., Williams K., Khoury C., Kantar M., Marek L. (eds) North American Crop Wild Relatives, Volume 2. Springer, Cham
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Pal, N., Block, C.C., and Gardner, C.A.C. (2019) A real-time PCR differentiating Pantoea stewartia subsp. stewartia from P. stewartia subsp. indologenes in corn seed. Plant Disease 103(7):1474-1486. doi:10.1094/PDIS-06-18-0936-RE
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Ramstein, G.P., Larsson, S.J., Cook, J.P., Edwards, J.W., Ersoz, E.S., Flint-Garcia, S., Gardner, C.A., Holland, J., Lorenz, A.J., McMullen, M.D., Millard, M.J., Rocheford, T., Tuinstra, M.R., Bradbury, P.J., Buckler, E.W., Romay, M.C. (2019). The relevance of dominance and functional annotations to predict agronomic traits in hybrid maize. bioRxiv 745208; doi: 10.1101/745208
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Marek, L.F. (2018) Practicalities of collecting wild plants in North America: Insights from the United States. IN: north American Crop Wild Reslatives, Volume 1. Conservation Strategies SL Greene, Williams KA, Khoury CK, Kantar MB, and Marek, LF, editors. Cham Switzerland, Springer, pp 229-244.


Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Scientists interested in use of crop genetic resources for breeding, genetic and many other research objectives; weed scientists; botanists and ethnobotanists; organic chemists; students, and the general public who are interested in plant genetic resource issues. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Germplasm is supplied to graduate students for use in their research projects. The field research/seed production of some of these projects is done on site at the NCRPIS genebank in collaboration with faculty. Two recent PhD programs were completed (Sanchez and Jiao) utilizing these resources. More than 70 undergraduates (19 FTE) are typically hired part-time at the station and trained in various aspects of germplasm maintenance and characterization. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Information associated with plant genetic resources is disseminated primarily via the Germplasm Resource Information Network (GRIN), https://www.ars-grin.gov . Results and released germplasm from the GEM project is distributed via http://www.public.iastate.edu/~usda-gem/ . Faculty researchers' websites provide additional information on their objectives and findings, and research results are disseminated via conference presentations and scientific journal publications by participants. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Maintenance and distribution activities continue from year to year. The GEM Project is collaborating with Dr. Jianming Yu on predictive phenomics associated with GEM line performance, and with Dr. Thomas Lübberstedt on double haploid line development.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Overall impact statement: Availability and access to diverse genetic resources are necessary for sustaining agricultural productivity and society's wellbeing. The efforts of the personnel associated with this project support development, conservation, maintenance, and utilization of high quality plant genetic resource (PGR) collections and associated information. Through scholarly efforts, curatorial personnel identify and acquire plant genetic (germplasm) resources, expanding the availability of diverse genetics for research and crop development applications. Curators assist researchers in identifying accessions that best support their objectives. Research to improve PGR conservation methods, germination protocols, seed processing and seed storage technologies, and detection and elimination of seed-borne pathogens result in improved plant and seed health, and increased viability in storage conditions over extended periods of time. The National Plant Germplasm System's (NPGS) GRIN-Global germplasm information system continues to evolve, post 2015 implementation. The NPGS is better able to support public access to information associated with the collections and more efficiently manage genebank collections and workflows.By supporting a variety of research objectives dedicated to providing solutions for agronomic challenges, nutrition, health, bioenergy and ecosystem services, PGR provide for sustainability of our agricultural systems, food security, and environmental quality. Objective 1... Cooperate and participate as a key element in the NPGS, a coordinated national acquisition and management program of plant germplasm valued for agricultural, horticultural, environmental, medicinal and industrial uses in the NCR and throughout the U.S. and the world. Personnel manage the PGR collections and increase their value through targeted efforts directed towards acquisition, characterization, evaluation, and in research investigations to understand and utilize the inherent value of the PGR collections. Participation in the U.S. Plant Germplasm Operations Committee, comprised of genebank managers, curators, advisors, and the National Program Leader for Plant Genetic Resources, Genomics, and Genetic Improvement, helps formulate solutions to issues that the genebank community must address to accomplish mission and support stakeholder objectives, and to advise leadership.Active partnerships with faculty from Iowa State University and other educational institutions help advance specific research endeavors. Objective 2... Collect and maintain plant genetic resources of dedicated crops and their crop wild relatives, evaluate and enhance this germplasm. The NCRPIS collection in Ames now has 54,707 accessions of more than 1700 taxa. Of these,76% are available, 78% are backed up, and 1200 grown for seed increase in 2018. Viability tests were conducted for 4,060 accessions; about 40% of the collection currently needs maintenance viability testing. Tropical winter nurseries are utilized for increasing tropically-adapted maize accessions. A USDA-ARS location in Parlier, CA increases seed of taxa that require a Mediterranean environment. Approximately 362 new accessions of woody ornamentals, oilseeds, maize, vegetables, amaranth and other taxa were acquired and via exploration, exchange, and transfer of germplasm. These include ornamentals and medicinal taxa, maize temperate and tropical inbreds and populations; 35 collections of Amaranthus, Chenopodium, Setaria, and vegetable cultivars and wild relatives. The private-public collaborative Germplasm Enhancement of Maize Project (GEM) is dedicated to enhancing genetic diversity of U.S. commercial maize.The cooperative network evaluated more than 1400 hybrids of developmental material, and private sector cooperators evaluated several hundred lines for resistance to corn leaf blights, earmolds, and head smut. Ames staff evaluated several hundred breeding crosses which incorporate 25% or 50% unadapted maize genetic resources; selected subsets will be incorporated into the breeding program or further introgressed with temperate material. Objective 3... Characterize plant germplasm using a combination of molecular and traditional techniques and utilize modern plant genetic techniques to help manage plant germplasm. Ames staff grew 564 accessions for observations trials; 23,600 observations and 1,040 images were loaded to GRIN-Global. The Brassica rapa collection is being evaluated for winter/spring type determination to facilitate regeneration management decisions.In collaboration with the Crop Trust and the University of British Columbia, a collection of 360 pre-breeding annual sunflower lines with mapped introgressions from 11 different crop wild relative annual Helianthus taxa in a standard breeding line background were made available. ISU's Lübberstedt lab and the Cornell University have genotyped all GEM traditionally-derived and doubled haploid lines using genotyping by sequencing (GBS) technology.These data are publicly available. The Panzea website (https://www.panzea.org/data) provides GBS data for more than 2500 maize collection inbred lines; these publicly available data are used by researchers, educators, and graduate students for genetic investigations including genotype-phenotype association studies. Objective 4... Conduct research, and develop an institutional infrastructure needed to attain the preceding objectives efficiently and effectively Our development staff contributes to development of the U.S. GRIN-Global System, used by eight international genebanks to manage workflows and PGR-associated information. Its public interface provides access to information and a germplasm request portal. Our developer released software used for automation of viability testing capture and database transfer, and for automated mass-loading of accession and inventory file attachments. The Curator Tool was migrated to the free open source WiX installer technology. Research continues aimed at understanding the biology of seedborne infestation of Cucumis seeds with Acidovorax avenae, responsible for Bacterial Fruit Blotch of melon.This is a threat to producers and to germplasm providers, who must ensure that disease-free seeds are distributed. Various methods are being explored to understand bacterial distribution within the seed, and to treatments to render the pathogen inviable. The team constantly monitors plantings for signs of disease. Objective 5... Within the NCR, throughout the U.S., and internationally, encourage the use of a broad diversity of germplasm to reduce crop genetic vulnerability. Curatorial staff addressed 1,900 requests for PGR, others for information and guidance on germplasm selection, and on use of the public interface. Distributions of 54,700 units of seed sent to 1,587 requestors of 22,801 unique accessions reflect high demand. About 63% were to US recipients, with Landgrant Universities receiving more than half, and 37% were distributed internationally. Seed health testing was necessary for 122 international shipments to meet phytosanitary requirements.ELISA testing of all Cucurbita seedlings provided assurance that plants used inhouse for seed increase were free of Squash Mosaic Virus. Objective 6... Educate students, scientists and the general public regarding plant germplasm issues. Field days, tours, professional meeting presentations, and publications educate students, scientists and the public regarding germplasm access and conservation issues, and their contributions to the sustainability of agricultural production. Agronomy students learned to evaluation sunflower self-fertility at the station. Horticulture and Agronomy students, scientists, educators, policy makers, and citizens participated in various events. More than 80 researchers, graduate students, and other visitors attended the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize field day in late September.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Carzoli, A.K., Aboobucker, S.I., Sandall, L.L., Lübberstedt, T., Suza, W.P. (2018) Risks and opportunities of GM crops: Bt maize example. Global Food Security 19:84-91.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Do Canto, J., Studer, B., Frei, U.K., Lübberstedt, T. (2018) Fine mapping of a self-fertility gene in perennial ryegrass. Theor. Appl. Genet. 131:817-827
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Juan, M., Dengfeng, Z., Yanyong, C., Lifeng, W., Jingjing, L., Lübberstedt, T., Tianyu, W., Yu, L., Huiyong, L. (2018) Heterosis related genes under different planting densities in maize (Zea mays L.). J. Exp. Bot. 69: 5077-5087.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Ma, L., Guan, Z., Zhang, Z., Zhang, X., Zhang, Y., Zou, C., Peng, H., Pan, G., Lee, M., Chen, Y., Lübberstedt, T. (2018) Identification of QTLs for leaf-related traits in an IBM Syn10 DH maize population across three environments. Plant Breeding 137:127-138
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Sanchez, D., Liu, S., Ibrahim, R., Blanco, M., Lübberstedt, T. (2018) Association mapping of seedling root traits in exotic derived doubled haploid lines of maize. Plant Science 268:30-38.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Vanous, A., Gardner, C., Blanco, M., Martin-Schwarze, A., Flint-Garcia, S., Bohn, M., Edwards, J., Lübberstedt, T. (2018) Association mapping of flowering and plant height traits in germplasm enhancement of maize doubled haploid (GEM-DH) lines. The Plant Genome 11:170083.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Vanous, A, Gardner, C, Blanco, M, Martin-Schwarze, A, Lipka, A, Flint-Garcia, S, Bohn, M, Edwards, J, Lubberstedt,T. 2018. Association mapping of kernel composition traits in germplasm enhancement of maize doubled haploid (GEM-DH) lines. Plant Genome. 12(1). doi:10.3835/plantgenome2017.12.0114
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: De la Fuente, G., Frei, U.K., Trampe, B., Nettleton, D., Lübberstedt, T. (2018) A diallel analysis of a maize donor population response to in vivo maternal haploid induction. I: Inducibility. Crop Sci. 58:1830-1837.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Byrne, PF, Volk, GM, Gardner, CA, Gore, MA, Simon, PW, Smith, S. 2018. Sustaining the future of plant breeding: The critical role of the USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System. Crop Science 58(2)451-46. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2017.05.0303.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Korus, K, Lang, JM, Adesemoye, AO, Block, CC, Pal, N, Leach, JE, and Jackson-Ziems, TA. 2017. First Report of Xanthomonas vasicola causing Bacterial Leaf Streak on Corn in the United States. Plant Disease. 101(6):1030. doi: 10.1094/PDIS-10-16-1426-PDN
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Li, X., Wang, G., Jia, G., Li, L., Fu, J., Lübberstedt, T., Wang, G., Gu, R., Wang, J. (2018) QTL mapping in three connected populations reveals a set of consensus genomic regions for low temperature germination ability in Zea mays L. Frontiers in Plant Science 9:65.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hu, S, Sanchez, D, Wang, C, Lipka, AE, Hin, Yl, Gardner, CA, Lübberstedt, T. 2017. Brassinosteroid and Gibberellin control of seedling traits in maize (Zea mays L.). Plant Science 263:132-141.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Isbell TA, Cermak SC, Marek LF. 2017. Registration of Elizabeth Thlaspi arvense L. (Pennycress) with Improved Non-dormant Traits. Journal of Plant Registrations 11:311-314 doi:10.3198/pr2016.12.0073crg
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Mathew F, Olson T, Marek L, Gulya T, and Markell S. 2018. Identification of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) accessions resistant to Diaporthe helianthi and Diaporthe gulyae. Plant Health Progress 19(1):97-102. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-10-17-0060-RS
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Seiler GJ, Qi LL, and Marek LF. 2017. Utilization of Sunflower Crop Wild Relatives for Cultivated Sunflower Improvement. Crop Sci 57:1083-1101 doi:10.2135/cropsci2016.10.0860
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Warburton ML, Rauf S, Marek L, Hussain M, Ogunola O, and Sanchez Gonzales, JdJ. 2017. The use of crop wild relatives in maize and sunflower breeding. Crop Sci 57:1227-1240 doi:10.2135/cropsci2016.10.0855