Progress 09/01/24 to 08/31/25
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached by our efforts during this reporting period include all existing and new conventional, transitional, and organic growers, including underrepresented and underserviced minority growers racial and ethnic minorities and those who are socially, economically, or educationally disadvantaged. Also, again in 2024-2025, through the Carolina Gold Rice Foundation (CGRF), a non-profit, audiences were reached out to directly with additions to the board of directors representing these areas of society. In addition, we reached out to the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, South Carolina. We also began collaborations with growers in North Carolina and North Carolina State University faculty, staff, regualtory and NC State Crop Improvement association along with Clemson's counterparts, including plan industry. Our audience expands through extension with field days and training. We held three CGRF meetings that were grower and extension trainings and data dissemination points with guest speakers from industry. Additionally, we disseminated data at numerous scientific conferences and field daysand at the 2024International Temperate Rice Conference in New Orleans, Louisana andUSA Rice Outlook and Conference in Stuggart, Ak.. Our audience included breeders, agronomists, extension and industry stakeholders. Although our breeding work was originally meant as a proactive measure to assist growers prior to the salt intrusion problems becoming worse, more and more growers are taking note of our salt tolerant breeding work as the impacts from rising salt concerns have arrived sooner than anticipated and our growers are in desperate need of germplasm to cope with the rising salt concerns. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Our last Extension Training session for growers was held in the Spring of 2024. The Carolina Gold Rice Foundation has held three open forum meetings since then where more and more growers are looking into growing rice instead of other crops for both food grade milling and sales and for wildlife and ecosystem services. Through NC State and Clemson University Crop Improvment Associations and Plant Industry and in association with Carolina Gold Rice Foundation and USA Rice, a certified seed program isnow in place for the 1st time for 'Carolina Gold Select', 'Santee Gold' and 'Charleson Gold'. This process will engage seed companies to contract seed growers in the South East to produce weed free, disease free, true type seed which has never been accomplished to date for these varities. This opens the door for a place for the the salt tolerant germplasmgenerated through this grant tonot only have a home but a system to immediatelybe entered as commercial production once stablized at the F7 stage. Our teamwill give a guest lecture on Campus to Clemson University AgriculturalStudents on the history, importance and opportunites for commerical production of specialty rice and opportunities with research. We plan to hold a large industry supported Extension training session on Sustainable and OrganicRice production in South Carolina this fall after harvest season. This will be an all day event, open to all growers interested in rice production and cover everything form agronomy to hydrology, cultural practices, germplasm selection, economics and marketing. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We have finished both greenhouse trials and field trials. Work is ongoing with germplasm selection and development, with on-farm trial testing and demonstration. Finishing the research goals in this coming year will be growing 3 crops a year in the field and in greenhouses with heat and supplemental lighting. This final research push is to obtain F7 stable salt tolerant rice with Carolina Gold attributes that growers can use to mitigate losses while they are remediating fields or to plan fields that are only suitable for salt tolerant material moving forward. Extension based work working with growers to mitigate the salt accumulation in their fields from repeated intrusion events through altering agronomic practices by adding soil amendments in addition to planting phytoremediation covercrops to trap and remove the salt from soils is one method of Extension-based work. More Extension based work will come with planting of test plots of stable F7 Salt Tolerant Germplasm directly in salt affected lands and measuring yields, quality, milling quality, nutritional quality and effects on the agroecology. Additionally, we are poised to hold a statewide grower all day meeting/workshop in Charleston SC at CREC. This meeting will be held for all current and future rice growers, and for all landowners that manage grain crops for wildlife, specifically migratory birds. This workshop will be a training session on all aspects of rice agricultural from agronomy to postharvest marketing with guest speakers. Results from everything we have learned through this grant will be disseminated. The PhD student on this grant will finish publishing 3 manuscripts from this work, finishwriting the dissertation and graduate by the end of next summer. Lastly, working with the Carolina Gold Rice Foundation, Clemson and North Carolina Departments of Plant Industry and Crop Improvement Associations, we are developing a seed certification and seed production program, through private industry for these specialty rice varieties, making them available to the public as registered and certified seed; the first time in either states' history.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We have completed 4 out of 4 greenhouse trials for Objective 1., on salinity tolerance and weed tolerance. Addressing Objective 6., a stable cross has been made with Carolina Gold and M202 andenteredspring field trials 2025 of Objective 2. F2trials were succesful, and F3 germplasm and phenotypic datawas collected from multi-level salt exposure to inditify tolerant individuals from 30% ocean water exposure.Objective 4., has been conducted and dataanalyzed "An Economic Analysis in Relation to Aspects of Kale and Rice Agricultural Production in South Carolina and the Broader Southeastern U.S." thesis is publishedand is currently in prep for peer reviewed journal publication submittal.Year 2 of field experiments to compare and validate the salinity tolerance (0, 1.5%, 3%, 6%, and 12% seawater level) six rice genotypes (Carolina Gold,Santee Gold, Doble Carolina, M202, Jupiter and JN100) in the weed free and weed competition scenarios are now complete. Threeweek-old rice seedlings were transplanted at a spacing of 25 x 25 cm and a rate of one seedling per hill, after which they were flooded with fresh water. Weed-free plots receive hand weeding twice a week. At the late tillering stage, plants in the control plots are irrigated with fresh water, while plants receiving salinity treatment are supplied periodically (2-3 times per week) with 4 different concentrations of brackish water drawn from a nearby marsh associated with the Stono River. Using a gasoline pump, we collect brackish water from the marsh in a 4000-gallon-capacity reservoir/pool. Based on Atlantic Ocean sampling, we consider 55 dS/m to be the concentration of pure seawater. The calculated volumes are then pumped into the field plots based on each plot's fresh and seawater volumes. Every time before application, we use a conversion factor to normalize seawater concentrations based on brackish water's electrical conductivity (EC). The salinity level of treated plots is monitored by measuring the EC values. We installed flow meters in each plot to measure the volume applied to each plot. We also measure pH, TDS, Temperature, precipitation and ORP daily. All other response variables mentioned in study 1&2 will be collected. We showcased our research plot at Field Day Talk on June 5, 2024, and again June 11, 2025at Clemson Coastal Research and Education Center, Charleston, SC. The results of this study were presented at ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting in Nov 2023. We are currently repeating this study to validate last years' results. Currently we have screened our F2 breeding population of approximately 4,000 individual breeding lines, exposed to 30% ocean water, allowed to grow back in freshwater. A rubric of selection criteria was used to move approximately 300 lines forward to the next breeding phase. Ultimately, our long-term goal for this project is to use the cultivars that prove superior through these trials, giving growers the immediate ability to grow where they are not able to now. Eventually, we will use these cultivars in a conventional breeding program to incorporate these salt [1] tolerant genes into historically significant cultivars like Carolina Gold, Charleston Gold and Santee Gold. Form the orginal >4000 individual breeding lines, 300 lines that made the cut through our slection criteria, 40 of theseF3 lines had viable seed and and these 40 lines have been screened our F3l breeding lines, exposed to 30% ocean water, allowed to grow back in freshwaterand now maturing.Under Objective 3:Evaluate agronomic performance of salt-tolerant rice cultivar in salt-affected, organic farms in coastal South Carolina. Considering we do not have viable and stable salt tolerant material until F7 generation, we were able to plant both Carolina Gold lines (salt susupetible) and salt-tolerant breeding linerice varieties in saltwater intrusion farms in coastal SC and NC to see how breeding material with high salt tolerance performs along the southeastern US. We currently have rice research growout sites strategically placed along vulnerable salt intruded agricultural lands along the South Carolina Coastline utilizing the same salt-tolerant cultivars used in organic breeding plot trials as in saltwater intruded land at Coastal Research and Education Center. If the rice cultivar exhibits better salt tolerance than the weeds present at the field locations, then the weeds will not be as competitive. Salinity will likely enhance rice vigor while reducing weed pressure, diminishing the need to hand-weed the fields. Rice cultivation costs will decrease with the use of marginal quality (high salinity) water and reduced weed management. On-farm trials are currently loacted on 7locations along the coastal plain of NC and SC where saltwater intrusion is evident with reduced rice yields. North Carolina growers were brought into the Carolina Gold Rice Foundation in 2025 as they grow in similar areas threatened by salt intrusion as well. Although, indirectly affected by salt, these growers maybe one extreme tropical weather event away from having major salt intrusion threaten their crops. They are growing the three Carolina lines, including Carolina Gold, Charleston Gold and Santee Gold. One location in Coastal North Carolina did have minor salt intrusion last year and did show noticeable yield loss and a weed shift. Next year we plan to grow our breeding material in that location to ascertain the effects of salt on the breeding line. This site is used as areference location where only one small location is experiencingsalt and we are able to see the direct effects of salt on these varieties hundreds of miles north of the issues of coastal South Carolina.The following on farm breeder material on farm grow outs are currently located at the following locations: (1) Turnbridge Plantation (Marion R. Chalmers), (2) BohicketPlantation (John H. Smoak), (3) Lavington Plantation (Jimmy Hagood), (4) Kennsington Plantation (Randell Stoney Jr.), (5) Edisto Farms (Harleston Towles)and (6) Whitehouse Plantation (Donald A. Quattlebaum), with control growouts on Clemosn Coastal Research and Education Center. All farms are either certified organic, under organic transition, or have eligible land to bypass transition and enter straight into certified organic.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached by our efforts during this reporting period include all existing and new conventional, transitional, and organic growers, including underrepresented and underserviced minority growers racial and ethnic minorities and those who are socially, economically, or educationally disadvantaged. Also, again in 2023-2024, through the Carolina Gold Rice Foundation (CGRF), a non-profit, audiences were reached out to directly with additions to the board of directors representing these areas of society. In addition, we reached out to the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, South Carolina. Our audience expands through extension with field days and training. We held three CGRF meetings that were grower and extension trainings and data dissemination points with guest speakers from industry. Additionally, we disseminated data at numerous scientific conferences and at the 2024 International Temperate Rice Conference in New Orleans, Louisana. Our audience included breeders, agronomists, extension and industry stakeholders. Although our breeding work was originally meant as a proactive measure to assist growers prior to the salt intrusion problems becoming worse, more and more growers are taking note of our salt tolerant breeding work as the impacts from rising salt concerns have arrived sooner than anticipated and our growers are in desperate need of germplasm to cope with the rising salt concerns. Changes/Problems:Tropical weather and associated variable tides with variable salt concentrations and the heavy rains made it difficult to maintain the salt concentrations in the experimental fields. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?To date, eleven talks and to posters have been given at either scientific conferences or grower meetings. Two manuscripts are currently being developed. Additionally, the concern and rise of interest in coping with salt in local irrigation waters has stimulated interests across commodities and vegetable growers in the field and in CEA agriculture. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are on track with regard to our objectives plan and timeline. We plan to continue to reach and meet our objective goals within the timeline of the study. We plan to push 4 lines of salt tolerant (with varying salt tolerances and attributes)rice with the Carolina Gold culinary, historical and cultural values and importance for research on growers' farms in the spring of 2026. Full scale commercialization of salt tolerant seed will be ongoing.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We have completed 4 out of 4 greenhouse trials for Objective 1., on salinity tolerance and weed tolerance. Addressing Objective 6., a stable cross has been made with Carolina Gold and M202 and will enter the spring field trials of Objective 2. Objective 4., has been conducted and data is being analyzed. Currently, we are conducting year 2 of field experiments to compare and validate the salinity tolerance (0, 1.5%, 3%, 6%, and 12% seawater level) six rice genotypes (Carolina Gold, Santee Gold, Doble Carolina, M202, Jupiter and JN100) in the weed free and weed competition scenarios (Fig. 1). Three-week-old rice seedlings were transplanted at a spacing of 25 x 25 cm and a rate of one seedling per hill, after which they were flooded with fresh water. Weed-free plots receive hand weeding twice a week. At the late tillering stage, plants in the control plots are irrigated with fresh water, while plants receiving salinity treatment are supplied periodically (2-3 times per week) with 4 different concentrations of brackish water drawn from a nearby marsh associated with the Stono River. Using a gasoline pump, we collect brackish water from the marsh in a 4000-gallon-capacity reservoir/pool. Based on Atlantic Ocean sampling, we consider 55 dS/m to be the concentration of pure seawater. The calculated volumes are then pumped into the field plots based on each plot's fresh and seawater volumes. Every time before application, we use a conversion factor to normalize seawater concentrations based on brackish water's electrical conductivity (EC). The salinity level of treated plots is monitored by measuring the EC values. We installed flow meters in each plot to measure the volume applied to each plot. We also measure pH, TDS, Temperature, precipitation and ORP daily. All other response variables mentioned in study 1&2 will be collected. We showcased our research plot at Field Day Talk on June 5, 2024, at Clemson Coastal Research and Education Center, Charleston, SC. The results of this study were presented at ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting in Nov 2023. We are currently repeating this study to validate last years' results. Currently we have screened our F2 breeding population of approximately 4,000 individual breeding lines, exposed to 30% ocean water, allowed to grow back in freshwater. A rubric of selection criteria was used to move approximately 300 lines forward to the next breeding phase. Ultimately, our long-term goal for this project is to use the cultivars that prove superior through these trials, giving growers the immediate ability to grow where they are not able to now. Eventually, we will use these cultivars in a conventional breeding program to incorporate these salt [1] tolerant genes into historically significant cultivars like Carolina Gold, Charleston Gold and Santee Gold.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Singh G., Rohila J., Subudhi P, Vassalos M., Marshall M.W., Karthikeyan R., White S.A., Cutulle M.A. and Ward B. Exploring Salt-Tolerant Germplasm: Alleviating Saltwater Intrusion and Weed Management Issues in Rice in South Carolina in Partial Saltwater Agroecosystem. 2024 International Temperate Rice Conference. (June 6-9, 2024, at New Orleans, LA).
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Singh, G., Cutulle, M. & Ward. B. (2024). Rice Field Trials and Breeding Program Updates. Field Day Talk on June 5, 2024, at Clemson Coastal Research and Education Center, Charleston, SC.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Singh, G, Ward, B., Karthikeyan, R., Rohila, J., Vassalos, M., Cutulle, M. (2023). Field Evaluation of Salinity Tolerance and Weed Competitiveness of Lowland Rice Genotypes in Organic Production. Meeting Abstract. 2023 ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting. St. Louis, Missouri. October 29 - November 1, 2023.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Singh, G., Karthikeyan, R., Ward, B., White, S., Rohila, J., Vassalos, M., & Cutulle, M. (2023). Salt-Tolerant Rice: Time to Deliver. 2023 CAFLS Graduate Research Symposium, Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology & Forest Science Georgetown, SC. October 16-17, 2023.
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Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached by our efforts during this reporting period include all existing and newconventional, transitional, and organic growers, including underrepresented and underserviced minority growers racial and ethnic minorities and those who are socially, economically, or educationally disadvantaged. Also, through the Carolina Gold Rice Foundation (CGRF), a non-profit, audiences were reached out to directly with additions to the board of directors representing these areas of society. In addition, we reached to the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Cooridor,South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina Department of Agriculture, Clemson University Plant Industry and Clemson University Crop Improvement Association. Our audience expands through extension with field days and training. We held three CGRF meetings that were grower and extension trainings and data dissemination points with guest speakers from industry. Changes/Problems:We ran into a seeding issue on the first grow out, causing a delay, yet we were able to learn from the mistake, replicated the trial and are now current and on time with our objective goals and timeline. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two students, one masters and one doctoral presented their work at multiple venues, including a water quality symposium, and two conferences. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated to the communities of interest, through Symposia, conference proceedings, and CGRF meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are on track with regard to our objectives plan. We plan to continue to reach and meet our objective goals within the timeline of the study.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We have completed 3 out of 4 greenhouse trials for Objective 1.,on salinty tolerance and weed tolerance. Addressing Objective 6., astable cross has been made with Carolina Gold and M202 and will enter the spring field trials of Objective 2. Objective 4., is currently being worked on and surveys are scheduled to be sent out to growers this Winter. Currently, we are conducting field experiment to compare the salinity tolerance (0, 1.5%, 3%, 6%, and 12% seawater level) of six rice genotypes (Carolina Gold, Santee Gold, Doble Carolina, M202, Jupiter and JN100) in the weed free and weed competition scenarios (Fig. 1). Three-week-old rice seedlings were transplanted at a spacing of 25 x 25 cm and a rate of one seedling per hill, after which they were flooded with fresh water. Weed-free plots receive hand weeding twice a week. At the late tillering stage, plants in the control plots are irrigated with fresh water, while plants receiving salinity treatment are supplied periodically (2-3 times per week) with 4 different concentrations of brackish water drawn from a nearby marsh associated with the Stono River. Using a gasoline pump, we collect brackish water from the marsh in a 4000-gallon-capacity reservoir/pool. Based on Atlantic Ocean sampling, we consider 55 dS/m to be the concentration of pure seawater. The calculated volumes are then pumped into the field plots based on each plot's fresh and seawater volumes. Every time before application, we use a conversion factor to normalize seawater concentrations based on brackish water's electrical conductivity (EC). The salinity level of treated plots is monitored by measuring the EC values. We installed flow meters in each plot to measure the volume applied to each plot. We also measure pH, TDS, Temperature, precipitation and ORP daily. All other response variables mentioned in study 1&2 will be collected. We showcased our research plot at Field Day Talk on June 7, 2023 at Clemson Coastal Research and Education Center, Charleston, SC. The results of this study will be presented at ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting in Nov 2023. We will repeat this study next year. Ultimately, our long-term goal for this project is to use the cultivars that prove superior through these trials, giving growers the immediate ability to grow where they are not able to now. Eventually, we will use these cultivars in a conventional breeding program to incorporate these salt-tolerant genes into historically significant cultivars like Carolina Gold, Charleston Gold and Santee Gold.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
1. Singh, G., Cutulle, M. & Ward. B. (2023). Field evaluation of salinity tolerance and weed competitiveness of lowland rice genotypes in organic production. Field Day Talk on June 7, 2023 at Clemson Coastal Research and Education Center, Charleston, SC.
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Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:During our first year, our audiences that were targeted were extension agents, professors within Clemson University and other academic institutionswith rice production programs and students who had never had the opportunity to work with rice in South Carolina. We also targeted stakeholders, including landowners andgrowersdirectly impacted by salt intrusion. In addition, other state and federal agencies within South Carolina were interested as an audience in how our efforts will benefit the state from a natural resource and ecosystem serviceperspective. During two of our Carolina Gold Rice Foundation meetings in the Fall of 2021 and Spring of 2022, we had guest speakers and an audience made up of food historians, culinary educators and chefs. There has also been a huge interestin the underserved and underrepresented members of our community in the Gulla GeeChee Corridor and how through this research and the efforts of Clemson and the USDA are helping to bring rice back to the historic southeast. Changes/Problems:Only one major problem was experienced regarding germination at initiation of the study. We hadpoor germ due to operator error with regard to germination under an anerobic condition. We quickly solved the problem by pipping seed into transplant or starting seed in pots under restricted water during this phase as occurs in real-world situations. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Through cooperation with the Carolina Gold Rice Foundation, a grower field day and an annual Fall meeting is planned for October 21st at Clemson's main campus with guest speakers from USA Rice. This event is specific for training purposes as it will cover germplasm, agronomy, horticulture, pathology harvest and postharvest considerations. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through the 2 student symposiums, three presentations have been given to academia and extension. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are currently on track to accomplish our goals moving into year 2 and plan to follow our plan as written in the orginal proposal.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We made the two crosses as planned: (i) Carolina Gold x M202, and (ii) Carolina Gold x Doble Carolina. We got F1 seeds and after verifying that they are hybrids (not self) by molecular analysis we will advance to the next step i.e., advancing to F2 generation. Greenhouse experiments with 3 soil types, four cultivars and 4 salinity types are nearing completion. We see definite cultivar x salinity responses, with some cultivars exhibiting better salt tolerance than others both with vegetation and flowering. At the Clemson Coastal Research and Education Center inCharleston,SC, we conducted four greenhouse screenings with Edisto Muck (predominate soil type in the SC Coastal Plain), two focused on the interaction of weeds with rice with 5 salinty levels and four rice genotypes. Two additional studies were performed looking specifically at weed pressure and salinityeffects with and Phenospex plant phenotyping hardware and software. Additional field locations on stakeholder lands have been identified as needing salt tolerant germplasm. The economics and surveying team have enrolled a student and the design phaseof the economic analysis and survey construction is underway. Field work for on-station trials have begun by leveling a salt inundated field at CREC.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Singh, G., M. A. Cutule, S. White, B. Ward, M. Vassalos, J. S. Rohila, and R. Karthikeyan 2022b. Rediscovering gold: Carolina Gold rice in South Carolina. CAFLS Graduate Research Symposium, Clemson University, Pee Dee REC, Florance, SC, United States
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Singh, G., M. A. Cutulle, S. White, B. Ward, M. Vassalos, J. S. Rohila, and R. Karthikeyan. 2022a. Exploring Salt-tolerant Germplasm to Increase Organic Rice Production in South Carolina. Clemson University Water Research Symposium, Madren Center, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Hart, A., Kerrigan, J. and Karthikeyan R. 2022. Sustainability through symbiosis: utilizing fungal endophytes to mitigate salinity stress in Carolina Gold Rice. CAFLS Graduate Research Symposium, Clemson University, Pee Dee REC, Florance, SC, United States
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