MINUTES OF THE WHEAT CROP GERMPLASM COMMITTEE

22 February, 2004.
Kansas City, MO, USA.

Attendees: Harold Bockelman, Gina Brown-Guedira (Vice-Chair), Kim Garland Campbell (Chair), Carl Griffey, David Marshall (Secretary), Dave Matthews, Jackie Rudd, Allan Stoner, and Maarten Van Ginkel.

Chairperson Kim Campbell convened the meeting at approximately 9:15 am. The minutes of the December 2002 (for 2003) meeting in Cincinnati, OH, were accepted by voice acclamation. The minutes were published in the 2003 Annual Wheat Newsletter, Volume 49, and also distributed previously via E-mail to committee members. Members of the Wheat CGC are Kim Campbell, Carl Griffey, Gina Brown-Guedira, David Marshall, Anne McKendry, Barton Fogleman, Jackie Rudd, and Brian Steffenson; ex-officio voting members are USDA-ARS Curator of the National Small Grains Collection (Harold Bockelman), a representative from USDA-ARS-National Germplasm System Database Management Unit (Alan Stoner); a representative from GrainGenes (Dave Matthews); a USDA-ARS CIMMYT representative (Maarten Van Ginkel); and a Canadian representative (vacant). Ex-Officio member in an advisory role is the USDA-ARS National Program Leader in Grains (Kay Simmons).

A brief history of the Wheat CGC presented by Kim Campbell and Alan Stoner indicated the former name of the committee (Wheat Crop Advisory Committee) and pointed-out that the objective of the Committee was to serve in an advisory capacity to national wheat (and related species) germ plasm efforts in the collection, cataloguing, preservation, funding priorities, germ plasm enhancement, and open exchange of germ plasm. A suggestion was made to appoint Elias Elias to the Wheat CGC to represent the interests of durum wheat.

Harold Bockelman, Curator of the USDA-ARS National Small Grains Germplasm Collection distributed information concerning the PI assignments during 2003. The PI number assignments for all wheat, rye, triticale, and Aegilops accessions were disseminated. Discussion followed on the descriptors used to identify and phenotype accessions. In particular, it was recommended that grain quality descriptors such as grain hardness and NIR protein be added to the descriptor list, using grain produced in Aberdeen as the common location to minimize genotype by environment interaction for these traits.

The inclusion of synthetic wheats into the collection was discussed. H. Bockelman has designated these in the collection as X Aegilotriticum. The importance of synthetic wheats was emphasized by G. Brown-Guedira and M. Van Ginkel, particularly with regard to their disease resistance. CIMMYT presently has approximately 1,000 synthetic spring wheats and 250 synthetic winter wheats. Several groups of synthetics also exist at the Wheat Genetics Resource Center in Manhattan, KS.

It was recommended that breeding lines, particularly those with unique characteristics, from uniform nurseries be submitted to the collection. H. Bockelman and cöordinators of the regional nurseries will emphasize this to the breeding community. It was suggested that a powder mildew nursery be developed that contains differentials and new mildew-resistant sources. D. Marshall and M. Van Ginkel will cöordinate a new international mildew nursery in 2004 that will emphasize adult-plant mildew resistance. Also discussed was the importation and distribution of germ plasm having resistance to Karnal bunt. J. Rudd and G. Brown-Guedira agreed to cöordinate efforts to investigate the establishment of a field nursery in Texas for seed increase of materials from CIMMYT.

A. Stoner updated the committee on GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network). GRIN presently has 10 computer specialists working on the network. Recent activities include rewriting the public aspects of the website to include a Google-type search engine and examining the capacity to download GRIN data into a database application that will support data descriptors having multiple values and locations. Under development are search links within GRIN that would allow users to simultaneously search GRIN and other germ plasm databases worldwide.

D. Matthews presented the activities of GrainGenes for 2003. Included were new map formats and displays, routine updates, and work toward making the site more user-friendly. A liaison committee consisting of clientele and subject-matter experts was established. Some discussion focused on ways to get high-throughput genotyping data into a format that was easy for both people submitting the data, as well as people wanting to access the information from the data. Dave has been developing a format in collaboration with Ed Buckler (Maize DB) and Susan McCouch (Gramene). The suggested format includes three independent variables (name, marker, and experiment) and one dependent variable (marker-band size).

An update of activities at CIMMYT was presented by M. Van Ginkel. CIMMYT went through a strategic planning process in 2003 that resulted in changes in the organizational structure of CIMMYT. An update of the reorganization can be found at the CIMMYT website www.cimmyt.org. Germ plasm collection and development at CIMMYT will continue with emphasis and the use of wild relatives and the generation of synthetics. The Iranian landraces at CIMMYT (also just added to the NSGC) are being evaluated for drought and heat tolerance by Richard Trethowan. The international nurseries will continue to be distributed after some delays. Distribution has been split from analysis. Some name changes have occurred reflecting a more regional focus and special traits.

The report on the status and future of wheat germ plasm will be written during 2004, with writing assignments divided among WCG Committee members. Those assignments are enhancement, G. Brown-Guedira; vulnerability, D. Marshall; status of collection, H. Bockelman; collection priorities, K. Campbell; evaluation priorities, C. Griffey; and introduction and crop importance, J. Rudd.

Scott Haley (Colorado State University) discussed his proposal to accelerate germ plasm screening to the new biotype of Russian wheat aphid now found in the Great Plains. A motion was made by C. Griffey, seconded by K. Campbell, and approved by voice vote for the Wheat CGC to endorse the proposal.

The 2003 wheat wild relative collection trip to Kazakhstan was reported on by K. Campbell. A proposed collection trip to Georgia also was discussed.

The meeting concluded with an approved voice vote to distribute germ plasm obtained and screened for FHB resistance through the Scab Initiative, in a timely manner. Kim will contact the germ plasm cöordinators for the FHB initiative regarding distribution.

The meeting concluded at approximately 5:00 pm, 22 February, 2004.