USDA Hemp Germplasm Laboratory Stakeholder Meeting

USDA Hemp Germplasm Laboratory Stakeholder Meeting

September 11, 2024

Overview:

We would like to invite you to the USDA hemp germplasm stakeholder meeting in Geneva, NY on September 11th, 2024. We, Zachary Stansell and Tyler Gordon are scientists at the Plant Genetic Resources Unit in Geneva, NY, which is within the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). The NPGS holds over 600,000 unique crop accessions that are available to the plant breeders, researchers, and educators.

Our main responsibilities include acquisition, conservation, and evaluation of a genetically diverse hemp germplasm collection and to make those resources available to the scientific community. Since 2021, we’ve curated a large and diverse collection (N~600 accessions) collected from 33 different countries (video overview from 2022). We publish a hemp phenotyping handbook guiding our ongoing characterization efforts covering architectural traits, flowering time/photoperiod sensitivity, secondary metabolites, seed traits (e.g., seed fatty acid and protein content), and fiber quality. This data is publicly available via GRIN Global. Additional objectives include generating breeding and pre-breeding lines, standardization of phenotyping protocols and developing tools to accelerate research (e.g., hemp pollen collection). Read more about our project plan here.

We seek your feedback to guide our efforts and future directions. Discussion topics include germplasm conservation and distribution priorities, phenotypic and genotypic protocols, and developing mapping populations.
This event is free, open to all interested parties, and does not require registration. We will discuss prior and ongoing germplasm conservation and pre-breeding efforts, facilities and field trials, and germplasm conservation and breeding priorities. If you’re interested, please complete this form HERE (this information will not be shared). Feel free to share this invitation.

 

Schedule:

• 9:15-11:30 AM: 

           (In-person only) Field Tour @ USDA-ARS PGRU Wellington Farm  (Open Street Maps, Google Maps)

           Overview of germplasm field projects at USDA-ARS Wellington Farm. This will include a tour of USDA-ARS farm facilities and field research projects. Navigation to Wellington Farm can be somewhat difficult, so Tyler will lead a caravan to the farm at 9:00 AM from the PGRU office (21 Crabapple Dr, Geneva, NY; ~ 5 min).  Zachary Stansell, Tyler Gordon, George Stack, Justin Kaufman.

  • F₂ bi-parental mapping populations.
  • Wide-spaced genotyping/phenotyping trial for N~500 accessions.
  • Small plots evaluating key agronomic characteristics.
  • Pollen exclusion tent evaluation.

  11:30 AM – 1:00 PM:

  Lunch on your own in Geneva.

  1:00 PM – 4:30 PM:

  Location: Cornell AgriTech, Jordan Hall, 630 W North St, Geneva, NY 14456, Auditorium (Open Street Maps, Google Maps)

  Presentation of germplasm collection, conservation, distribution, phenotyping/genotyping, pre-breeding/breeding. Cornell AgriTech, Jordan Hall, 630 W North St, Geneva, NY 14456, Auditorium (Open Street Maps, Google Maps). Hybrid Meeting (Zoom Link).

  1:00 PM—1:50 PM. Session A: Project overview & approaches to phenotyping diverse germplasm part I

  • Zachary Stansell (USDA, Curator/Geneticist): Project Overview/Establishing a Collection  (10 min).
  • Wayne Swink: (USDA, Physical Science Technician): Development of Fiber Quality Standards (10 min).
  • Dániel Pap (UC-Davis, Breeding): Collaborative phenotyping of hemp genetic resources (10 min).
  • Discussion (20 min)

  1:50 PM—2:40 PM. Session B: approaches to phenotyping diverse germplasm part II & genetic resources I

  • Jocelyn Schwartz (Cornell, Pathology): Screening diverse germplasm for septoria resistance  (10 min).
  • Lu Vignale (Cornell, Pathology): Screening diverse germplasm for PM resistance (10 min).
  • Ana Gabriela Itokazu (USDA, ORISE Research Fellow): Pollen control and storage (10 min).
  • Discussion (20 min)

  2:40 PM—3:00 PM

  Coffee Break (20 min)

  3:00 PM—4:00 PM. Session C:  Developing Genetic Resources  II

  • Dongyan Zhao (Breeding Insight/USDA): Breeding Insight and its support for ongoing hemp breeding, phenotyping, and genotyping efforts (10 min).
  • George Stack (USDA, Geneticist): Development of Community Genotyping Platform for Hemp (10 min).
  • Tyler Gordon (USDA, Geneticist/Breeder): Development of Priority Hemp Genetic Resources (10 min).
  • Discussion (30 min).

  4:00 PM-4:30 PM. Wrap-up and discussion of Crop Germplasm Committee formation.

  4:30-5:15 PM:

  Optional walking tour of USDA-ARS seed storage, greenhouses, growth chambers.

   

 In addition to this event, you might be interested in attending:

• Sept 12: Cornell Hemp Grain and Fiber Field Day, Geneva, NY (REGISTRATION LINK $30)
• Sept 13: Cornell Cannabinoid Field Day, Geneva, NY (REGISTRATION LINK $35)
• Sept 14: USDA PGRU Apple and Grape Germplasm Field Day, Geneva, NY (LINK, Free, no registration required)

 

Please follow this URL to a Qualtrics questionnaire to provide feedback on the following topics:

• Phenotyping
• Genotyping
• Germplasm
• Additional research priorities
• Format of this meeting
• Interest in participating in a Hemp Crop Germplasm Committee

 

Link to Survey HERE

 

Tyler Gordon, PhD (tyler.gordon@usda.gov)

George Stack, PhD (george.stack@usda.gov)

Zachary Stansell, PhD (zachary.stansell@usda.gov)