Location: Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research
2022 Annual Report
Objectives
Objective 1: Efficiently and effectively acquire maize genetic stocks; maintain their safety, genetic integrity, health and viability; and distribute them and associated information worldwide.
Objective 2: Develop more effective genetic resources maintenance, evaluation, and characterization methods and apply them to priority maize genetic stocks. Record and disseminate evaluation and characterization data via GRIN-Global and other data sources.
Objective 3: With other NPGS genebanks and Crop Germplasm Committees, develop, update, document, and implement best management practices and Crop Vulnerability Statements for maize genetic stock and information management.
Approach
We will cooperate with members of the maize genetics research community who are involved in genomics research; especially those with projects that will generate new mutants, reverse genetics resources and mapping populations. These projects will provide both seed and information about their donated stocks. We are working with projects whose aim is to discover new genes in maize by tagging genes with transposable elements or by chemical mutagenesis and combining phenotypic and sequence analyses. We also are involved in cooperative efforts with other researchers who are generating new mutants that will be deposited in our collection. Along with screening these stocks for kernel, ear, and seedling mutants, we will continue to organize adult plant grow-outs and invite visitors to help us search for novel mature plant traits. Selected mutants felt to be unique and have continued importance will be incorporated into our core collection and maintained. We will phenotype maize genetic stocks to ensure their identity and trueness-to-type. These processes will be customized to address the challenges that emerge. We plan to conduct allelism tests with mutants in our collection that exhibit similar phenotypes. Those that turn out to be due to novel genes will be mapped to chromosomal location and characterized further. Some will be the focus of further genetic studies. We will continue computerizing the information concerning existing maize genetics stocks and have that information readily available to cooperators. During the last funding period, information about our newly available stocks was computerized and made accessible. We will continue to enter all existing data on our maize genetic stocks and about the stocks we will soon receive. Information about all stocks that are available upon request will be updated, as needed, in the Maize Genome Database. We will work with the Maize Crop Germplasm Committee to ensure that our best management practices are up-to-date. We will also work with the Maize Crop Germplasm Committee to ensure that the maize vulnerability statement is up-to-date.
Progress Report
Three thousand four hundred and sixty eight (3,468) seed samples have been supplied in response to 274 requests. Approximately 4.0 acres of nursery were grown this summer at the Crop Sciences Research & Education Center located at the University of Illinois. Cool wet, spring weather caused us to delay planting at both of our crossing nurseries. However, warm dry weather with timely rain during the remainder of the growing season allowed for good germination in our crossing nurseries, as well as a normal pollination season. No supplemental irrigation was needed. There were sufficient stands for a good increase in almost all instances. Harvest was slightly later than normal. Plantings were made of donated stocks from these institutions: University of Oregon, University of Missouri, and University of Florida. We accepted stock donations from the University of Florida (216 defective kernel mutants) and University of Wisconsin (maize x teosinte nearly isogenic recombinant inbred lines, and alleles of teosinte branched1, teosinte glume architecture1, and neighbor of tga1).
Accomplishments
1. Facilitated public, industry, domestic and international research with the USDA Maize Genetic Stock Collection. ARS researchers in Urbana, Illinois, distributed 3,468 seed packets through 274 requests. Seed requestors are diverse in research goals and include applied plant breeding and screening for disease and pest resistance as well as basic research including genome sequencing, genetic mapping, and taxonomy studies. They rely on the availability of seed and information, which ARS researchers in Urbana, Illinois, diligently maintain and develop. These genetic stocks constitute valuable research tools for discovering and elucidating the function of maize genes – fundamental knowledge that could accelerate the progress of maize genetic improvement.
