2007 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) Manage seed- or clonally-propagated, genetically diverse germplasm, and insect pollinators of that germplasm. Develop efficient controlled pollination systems. Evaluate germplasm for adaptation, ornamental utility, agronomic, and high-value traits, and for host-plant resistance to disease and insect pests and to abiotic stress. Train scientists in germplasm management. Genetically enhance crops and develop "new crops." Expand the scope and volume of data and computer network management activities. Coordinate regeneration and characterization efforts with complementary efforts at other USDA-ARS sites. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Conserve and manage crop germplasm via best ex-situ management practices, ensuring its availability for utilization. Develop and utilize effective systems for germination/viability testing and for germinating "difficult" seeds. Develop and utilize procedures to identify and eradicate seedborne pathogens and ensure phytosanitary health of the collections. Use pollinator insects to regenerate appropriate species; conduct research to identify various bee and other insect species for use with specific crops. Utilize and develop molecular genetic and traditional genetic technologies to characterize collections; use these to test and enhance the effectiveness of germplasm management practices. Evaluate germplasm for adaptation, agronomic, horticultural, host-plant resistance, biochemical and other high-value traits. Utilize information technology to develop, enhance, and transfer useful information via GRIN, a public database. Conduct targeted genetic enhancement projects to provide germplasm of improved value and potential new crops to the research community. 3.Progress Report In calendar year 2006, we acquired 658 new accessions, of a variety of taxa, including Chenopodium, wild and cultivated sunflowers, aster, medicinal plants, maize, maize relatives, chicory, carrots, mints and woody ornamental plants. Nearly 1200 accessions were regenerated, over 1,350 were harvested, and 880 were backed up at the NCGRP in Ft. Collins, CO. Over 1400 were made newly available to the public, but the percent of the collection available to the public declined by 1% due to incorporation of the exotic maize racial collection received in 2004 from Major Goodman (NC State Univ.). To date in FY07, we have grown 1300 accessions for regeneration, made 924 available, and backed up 643. Use of alfalfa leaf cutter bees instead of honeybees to control-pollinate accessions increased, especially for plants with small to medium size, flat flowers. Substantial progress was made on an in-house development of a software application to manage requests for and delivery of six types of pollinator insects to control-pollinate over 1,000 regeneration cages. Over 1,500 accessions were observed, evaluated and characterized for a wide array of trait descriptor information in 2006, with over 38,580 observations transferred to the GRIN database. Five woody ornamental varieties were provided to 22 sites for long-term evaluation in 2007, and to 10 public gardens. Significant trait descriptor projects loaded included those for chicory, vegetables, maize, and medicinal plants (Hypericum). A medicinal Plant Database to categorize the current status of medicinal taxa available from the NPGS was completed. Status and purported uses from 27 different compendia was compiled and provided to the database management for taxonomic verification. It will become publicly accessible in 2008. Collaborative work to assess the genetic diversity of Hypericum is in progress. In 2007, in addition to routine evaluations, the entire Calendula collection is being evaluated for all trait descriptors, the Daucus collection for vegetative descriptors, and both are undergoing taxonomic verification. Seed orders continue to increase each year; significant 2006 distributions included large requests from EMBRAPA (Brazil) for the oilseed Brassica and flax collections, and from international requestors screening oilseed brassica for disease resistance, and Cucumis, flax and Amaranthus for other purposes. Each year, requestors are very interested in lines for which plant variety protection has expired, as they become available. Our pathologist made progress investigating methods to reliably screen wild Helianthus (sunflower) species for resistance to Sclerotinia stalk rot. About 7% of the collection holdings were tested for viability in 2006; in 2007, 5% have been tested to date. Research to improve viability testing methods for Echinochloa (a grass) and Daucus (carrot) was initiated. Use of a special thermal gradient table (for research and development of viability protocols) was implemented in 2007. A liquid nitrogen treatment was implemented to control seed-borne chalcid insect infestation in coriander seeds. 4.Accomplishments Title: Plant Genetic Resource Conservation and Information Management Problem: Conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources is fundamental to sustainable agricultural productivity and all the benefits that come to society through improved varieties, new uses, and consistent, high quality supply of food, feed and other agricultural products. Accomplishment: The Plant Introduction Research Unit, in partnership with the 12 North Central Regional States and the NC-7 Project, acquired and maintained, documented, conserved, evaluated, and distributed quality plant genetic resources and associated information. In the process, nearly 600 researchers and educators received over 9320 plant germplasm items to fulfill their objectives. Potential Impact: Plant genetic resources continue to be safely conserved and maintained. Researchers and educators utilize these materials to develop new varieties, to address production issues, and to identify new uses for significant agricultural crops. Researchers use materials of known provenance to build upon past findings, creating a continuum of improvement. This provides for a stable, safe supply of food, feed and other products, thus sustaining society. Title: Development of a Medicinal Plant Database Categorizing Medicinal Plant Holdings in the National Plant Germplasm System Problem: Researchers look to the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) as a source of plant research materials of known provenance and quality. These materials must support scientific research objectives, and be available. There are hundreds of books and articles describing the purported benefits of medicinal plants. Given finite resources, a strategy is needed to develop quality collections to support medicinal plant research objectives, to determine which species are more important to collect than others, and which collections need more management emphasis. Accomplishment: A medicinal Plant Database to categorize the current status of medicinal taxa available from the NPGS was completed. Status and purported uses from 27 different compendia from all over the world were compiled. This was cross-referenced against the holdings of the NPGS' sites. Top 10 economic medicinal crop plants were also noted. The database spreadsheet was provided to the DataBase Management Unit for taxonomic verification. It will become publicly accessible via the GRIN database in 2008. Potential Impact: This provides medicinal plant researchers with a single information source to look up a plant species' purported medicinal benefits, the source of the information, and whether the species is held in the NPGS. It gives plant germplasm collection curators a tool to understand what resources are available, and provides the needed information for researchers and curators to determine current and future goals, and what can be feasible. These accomplishments contribute to the Plant Genetic Resource objectives of NP301, Plant, Microbial and Insect Genetic Resources, Genomics and Genetic Improvement. 5.Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations The Plant Introduction Research Unit mentored four American Indian students for a program that aims to increase their representation in the sciences. 6.Technology Transfer Number of web sites managed 1 Number of non-peer reviewed presentations and proceedings 20 Number of newspaper articles and other presentations for non-science audiences 4 Review Publications Cruz, V.V., Nason, J.D., Luhman, R., Marek, L.F., Shoemaker, R.C., Brummer, E., Gardner, C.A. 2006. Analysis of bulked and redundant accessions of Brassica germplasm using assignment tests of microsatellite markers. Euphytica. 152:339-349. Cruz, V.V., Luhman, R., Rife, C.L., Shoemaker, R.C., Marek, L.F., Brummer, E., Gardner, C.A. 2007. Characterization of flowering time and SSR marker analysis of spring and winter type Brassica napus L. germplasm. Euphytica. 153:43-57. Ortiz-Perez, E., Horner, H.T., Hanlin, S.J., Palmer, R.G. 2006. Insect-mediated seed-set evaluation of 21 soybean lines segregating for male sterility at 10 different loci. Euphytica. 152:351-360. Kovach, D.A., Mcclurg, S.G., Widrlechner, M.P., Brenner, D.M., Gardner, C.A. 2006. Liquid nitrogen controls seed-borne chalcids without reducing germination in coriander seeds. Journal of Seed Science and Technology. 34:669-679. Mccoy, J.H. 2005. Medicinal plant disease list. In: Persons, W.S., Davis, J.M., editors. Growing and Marketing Ginseng, Goldenseal & Other Woodland Medicinals. Bright Mountain Books. Fairview, NC. p. 423-432. Senchina, D.S., Wu, L., Flinn, G.N., Konopka, D.N., Mccoy, J.H., Widrlechner, M.P., Kohut, M.L. 2006. Year-and-a-half old, dried Echinacea spp. roots retain cytokine-modulating capabilities in an in vitro human older adult model of influenza vaccination. Planta Medica. 72:1207-1215. Mccoy, J.H., Davis, J.M., Camper, N.D., Kahn, I., Bharathi, A. 2006. Influence of rhizome propagule size on yields and triterpene glycoside concentrations of black cohosh (Actaea Racemosa L.). HortScience. 42(1):61-64. Haidet, M., Byrne, M., Mccoy, J.H. 2007. Safeguarding the Seeds of Native Plants. Herbal Gram. 75:30-37. Lebeda, A., Widrlechner, M.P., Staub, J.E., Ezura, H., Zalapa, J., Kristkova, E. 2006. Cucurbits (Cucurbitaceae; Cucumis spp., Cucurbita spp., Citrullus spp.). In: Singh, R.J., editor. Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering, and Crop Improvement Series, Volume 3 - Vegetable Crops. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Chapter 8. p. 273-377.