2006 Annual Report
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NCRPIS Annual Report - 2006 Table of Contents I. PROJECT TITLE .........................................................................................................................................1 II. COOPERATING AGENCIES AND PRINCIPAL LEADERS ...................................................................1 III. PROGRESS OF WORK AND PRINCIPAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS........................................................1 IV. PROGRESS IN GERMPLASM AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT................................................3 V. IMPACTS OF GERMPLASM USE BY NORTH CENTRAL REGIONAL RESEARCHERS..................7 VI. SUPPORT TEAM REPORTS A. Farm............................................................................................................................................8 B. Information Technology and Telecommunications ................................................................10 C. Seed Research and Computer Application Development .....................................................11 D. Information Management-Germplasm Collections................................................................14 E. Order Processing ......................................................................................................................15 F. Seed Storage.............................................................................................................................15 VII. CURATORIAL AND SCIENTIFIC TEAM REPORTS A. Controlled Insect Pollination Service Program ......................................................................17 B. Controlled Pollinator Insect Research Program.....................................................................20 C. Plant Host-Insect Resistance and Control of Seed Infestation Research............................26 D. Plant Pathology ........................................................................................................................27 E. Amaranth..................................................................................................................................29 F. Horticulture .............................................................................................................................33 G. Maize Curation.........................................................................................................................40 H. Medicinal Plants ......................................................................................................................44 I. Oilseed Crops ............................................................................................................................47 J. Vegetables.................................................................................................................................52 K. Research Leader Activities ......................................................................................................56 Appendix: Table 1 NCRPIS Accessions Acquired, Available .............................................................................................58 Table 2 NCRPIS Accessions Germinated, Regenerated, Made Available, Backed-up ...................................59 Table 3A External NCRPIS Distributions ..........................................................................................................60 Table 3B Internal NCRPIS Distributions ...........................................................................................................61 Table 4 NCRPIS Accession Observations In GRIN and Images In GRIN ......................................................62 Table 5 Five-Year Summaries of NCRPIS Accession Orders by Crop.............................................................63 Table 6 NC7 CSREES Region Order History....................................................................................................67 Table 7 Germplasm Distributions, All NPGS, 2000-2006 ................................................................................68 Table 8 National Germplasm Distributions, Non-Genetic Stocks 2000-2006.................................................69 Figure 1 North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station Staff Organizational Chart .............................70 i NORTH CENTRAL REGIONAL PLANT INTRODUCTION STATION NC-7 ANNUAL REPORT, JANUARY 1 - DECEMBER 31, 2006 I. PROJECT TITLE: NC-7 "Plant Germplasm and Information Management and Utilization." II. COOPERATING AGENCIES AND PRINCIPAL LEADERS (current): A. Administrative Advisor *W. Wintersteen, Iowa B. Regional Coordinator *C. Gardner, ARS, Iowa C. State Experiment Stations Representatives 1. Illinois *T. Hymowitz 7. Missouri *P. Beuselinck 2. Indiana *J. Janick 8. Nebraska *D. Baltensperger 3. Iowa *C. Brummer 9. N. Dakota *B. Johnson 4. Kansas *M. Stamm 10. Ohio *D. Francis 5. Michigan *A. Iezzoni 11. S. Dakota *K. Glover 6. Minnesota *S. Hokanson 12. Wisconsin *W. Tracy *Voting members D. U. S. Department of Agriculture 1. ARS National Program Staff, Plant Germplasm *P. Bretting 2. ARS Plant Exchange Office *E. Garvey 3. ARS Area Director, Midwest Area S. Shafer 4. Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service A. Thro 5. Natural Resources Conservation Service *Vacant 6. National Center for Agric. Util. Research *T. Isbell 7. National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation *H. Shands E. North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, Ames, Iowa See organizational chart, Figure 1 in the Appendix. III. PROGRESS OF WORK AND PRINCIPAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Our mission continues to focus on acquisition, documentation, regeneration, characterization, evaluation, and distribution of germplasm and associated information. The world’s biological diversity and plant genetic resources (PGR) continue to be threatened by climatic, social, political and environmental pressures. Demand for genetic diversity and development of supporting technologies to increase the availability of well-documented PGR continues to increase. The quality of the collections, associated information, and service provided to the research and educational communities continues to build upon the work of generations of plant scientists, 1 implementing new technologies and new learning. Quality information delivery systems are critical to successful use of plant genetic resources and realizing the potential they offer. Available resources (approximately $2.2 M from ARS and $0.53 M from NC7 funds) were devoted to this mission, in order to secure and maintain our plant genetic resources, staff, support equipment, laboratory and field activities, and research designed to provide information to improve the quality, value and utility of the collections. The revision of the NC-7 Project was completed and submitted in December, 2006. Following its review, the NC-7 project was approved and has been extended for the period September 1, 2007 – August 31, 2012. The NCRPIS Operations Manual has become a dynamic document, providing guidance and documentation on SOPs and best practices. Changes reflects improved practices while providing relevant reference materials used to guide and train our staff on all aspects of curatorial operations and procedures, ensuring high standards and quality of operations. NCRPIS Staff contributed to the revision of the Acquisition and Distribution Policies for the NPGS, to the Active Site section of the revised NPGS Operations Manual, and to the development of geo-referencing standards for documentation of accession origins. Personnel changes - June, 2006 – May, 2007: Departures: Mr. Philip Biggs, USDA-ARS Student Computer Intern, December, 2006. New Hires: Ms. Rachael Beyer, USDA-ARS Germplasm Program Assistant, November, 2006. Mr. Jesse Perret, Term half-time USDA-ARS Computer Assistant, May, 2007. Promotions: Kathy Reitsma, to ISU Curator III, March, 2007. Management of Federal STEP (Student Temporary Employees): Approximately 41 ISU students were hired to fill 20 FTE positions which supported curatorial projects, viability testing, IT support and development, and farm and facilities operation. Students were interviewed and selected by ISU Program Manager Larry Lockhart or ARS IT Specialist Peter Cyr. Marci Bushman and Rachael Beyer managed the administrative aspects of all STEP hires, with support and guidance by Ames ARS HR Specialist Lynnette Richey. Construction and Facilities: Highlights included construction of additional climate-controlled dry storage for harvested material prior to processing, addition of digital temperature and RH monitoring of cold seed storage rooms, installation of a new underground fiber optic cable to the newest machine shed, and repair of deteriorating posts in Greenhouse #3. The neighboring Organic Student Farm was relocated and its land made available by the ISU Agricultural Experiment Station for NCRPIS use. Station staff expended considerable effort preparing the land for NCRPIS use, including squaring field borders and installing permanent benchmarks in the former organic farm and swine farm areas. Availability of Agricultural Experiment Station land on the north side of Mortensen Road for NCRPIS use may not be permanent. Headquarters building restroom areas were remodeled, and new informational displays prepared for the 2006 national germplasm meetings that were hosted by the NCRPIS. 2 Equipment: Farm staff designed and constructed a new cage furrow opener that is more durable than the former model. They also constructed two flatbed racks used for organizing and moving plants and cages. New equipment acquisitions