Project Number: 5366-21000-021-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: May 10, 2003
End Date: Feb 05, 2008

Objective:
To develop genetic resources necessary for the improvement of cereal nutritional or other end-use quality. The current focus is grain phytic acid, phosphorus, and mineral nutritional quality improvement. To transfer newly developed genetic technology to public and private groups in order to enhance competitiveness and efficiency of agricultural production, and quality of agricultural products. Problem to be Addressed: Improving the nutritional quality of grain crops for use in human foods and animal feed represents an important goal in genetics research and crop improvement. A major example of this concerns grain phosphorus. Humans and non-ruminant animals (poultry, swine and fish) utilize only a small portion of the phosphorus in cereal grains, that which is not found as phytic acid, the major form of phosphate in seeds. This results in waste excretion of phosphates that contribute to water pollution. In the case of ruminants such as dairy and beef cattle, efficient digestion of total grain phosphate also results in excess animal waste phosphorus. Therefore the major focus of this project is developing new crop genetic resources with lower total phosphorus or phytic acid levels so as to mitigate the amount of waste phosphorus introduced into the environment and to reduce mineral deficiencies in humans. The most immediately important application of this research is to develop low-total P and low-phytate grains for ruminant (beef and dairy) and non-ruminant (poultry, swine and fish) feeds. A second problem is to identify important new targets for genetics research that will be of major value to future efforts in the improvement of grain crop nutritional quality. This research contributes to National Program 301 Plant, Microbial, and Insect Genetic Resources, Genomics and Genetic Improvement, especially Component 2: Genomic Characterization and Genetic Improvement. Objectives of Research: New funds will be used to expand two research objectives in the project plan as follows: (1) Isolate and map the chromosomal locations of low phytic acid mutations and genes, and other genes important to phytic acid accumulation, in small grains and maize. Specifically, this research objective will be expanded to identify genetic variation and genetic resources for total seed phosphorous and related mineral content. This will include identifying and chromosomal mapping of mutants and genes that control total seed phosphorous. (2) Determine the agronomic and nutritional performance of low phytate germplasm, and identify modifiers valuable for increasing yield. Specifically, screening and assessment of low phytate, low total phosphorous or high mineral content germplasm will be expanded. Priorities will be to more rapidly select germplasm with improved agronomic performance, and nutritional quality for dairy, beef, poultry, and swine production and for aquaculture.

Approach:
Loci important to end-use quality will be identified, and heritable variants will be isolated or developed using genetic means. These new quality genes will be genetically mapped, cloned, characterized, and introgressed into cultivars and lines. Downstream effects of new alleles on gene expression genome-wide will be studied. Newly developed germplasm will be evaluated for agronomic nutritional or end-use quality. Cooperation: The Seed Chemistry Genetics laboratory will continue to actively collaborate with the ARS "Barley and Oat Germplasm Evaluation and Enhancement" Project No. 5366-21000-024-00D, located at Aberdeen, Idaho. Scientists include Mike Bonman, Don Obert, An Hang, Dave Hoffman, and Phil Bregitzer. This collaboration includes providing germplasm for breeding efforts, and chemistry and genetics analytical skills for crop evaluation and improvement. Active collaboration will also continue with the ARS "The integration of nutritional, genetic and physiological approaches to improve production efficiency of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)", Project No. 5366-21310-003-00D, located at Hagerman, Idaho. Scientists include Kenneth Overturf, Frederic Barrows, and Thomas Gaylord. This collaboration consists of support in planning and conducting nutrition research involving novel grain and legume germplasm. The Seed Chemistry Genetics laboratory will also continue collaborating with University of Idaho breeders and geneticists, such as Ed Souza, wheat breeder and geneticist located at Aberdeen, and aquaculture scientists, such as Ron Hardy, Director of the University of Idaho, Hagerman Fish Culture Experiment Station. Expected Outcomes with Relevance to Problem Areas and Components within the NP Action Plan: Expanded research will promote more rapid development of new genetics resources and technologies useful in breeding barley or oat cultivars for use in human foods, aquaculture or animal feeds. Examples will include new genotypes such as "low total P" or "high mineral" types, and new technologies useful in working with these genotypes, such as the "High Inorganic P" assay for low seed total P, or genetic markers useful in breeding with new genotypes. The longer-term outcomes will be release of new barley and oat cultivars with higher nutritional value and enhanced end-use qualities. Replacing 5366-21000-019-00D(4/03). BSL-1 8/31/04. FY06 Program Increase $66,825 12/21/05 BSL-1 5/17/2007