The Importance of “Genomes to Fields” Rod Williamson Director of Research and Development March 21, 2018

1997 goal - Sequence Corn Genome ICGA and NCGA worked with Congress for research appropriation for the “National Corn Genome Initiative” (1995-1997) Successful in getting funding for the “National Plant Genome Initiative” in October 1997 (20 years ago!) $1.5 billion in Plant Genome Initiative $29 million for the maize sequence

After Maize was Sequenced… Maize genome sequenced in 2009 In 2010 Iowa Corn Growers Association asked “Now what?” How can this sequence information be applied to their farms? NCGA/ICGA held Functionality of Maize Genome Workshop in Chicago in 2010 with academia and industry Concluded that obtaining phenotype data on maize was next priority

Genomes to Fields Photo credit – www.cyverse.org Goal: Catalyze and coordinate research linking genomics and predictive phenomics to expand our understanding of the interacting roles of crop genomes and crop environments (weather and management practices) to improve prediction ability To leverage the corn genome investment Photo credit – www.cyverse.org

Multiple Phenotypes (traits) Genotype Gene Expression Different Environments Multiple Phenotypes (traits) Genotype The objective of Genomes To Fields is to conduct research that will improve understanding of the relationships between crop genotypes and phenotypes in complex and changing environments. This will result in a coordinated approach to crop phenotyping and development of tools that will accelerate plant breeding and improve management decisions optimizing sustainable crop production.

Genomes to Fields - Phenotyping Goal is to understand the function (phenotyping) of each gene under different environments [GxE] 1,500 hybrids; 77 unique environments. Establish the underlying genetic association with specific stress conditions

Modeling and analytical tools Computer scientist Engineers Mathematicians Plant Scientists GENOMES TO FIELDS (G2F) www.genomes2fields.org Biologists Statisticians Bioinformaticians Crop Modelers Modeling and analytical tools HT phenotyping tools - Create an interdisciplinary framework for understanding and managing crop performance - Create a living infrastructure of researchers from multiple disciplines and a network of field phenotyping sites - Enable discovery of plant processes affecting productivity and to develop novel tools, methodologies and analytical resources for high-throughput phenotyping - Broaden participation of contributing disciplines to plant breeding efforts - An important component of this Initiative is to train the next generation of multi-disciplinary plant scientists Student Training Database development G X E Project Soil Scientists Environtypers Slide from N de Leon

Genomes to Fields Trials 2017 21 States and Ontario 38 locations 32 scientists 43 experiments 21,186 plots 4 years of data – began 2014 The 2014 data are available through this link: https://doi.org/10.7946/P2V888 The 2015 data are available through this link: https://doi.org/10.7946/P24S31 The 2016 data are just became available in early 2018 Maize phenotype database has been created at CyVerse, funded by National Science Foundation

Genotype, Weather/Environment, Phenotypic Data collected Evaluation across all environments included: Additional traits measured at specific locations Days to anthesis Days to silk Ear height Plant height Plot weight Test weight Moisture Grain yield Stand count Root Lodging Stalk Lodging

Novel Phenotyping Tools IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Insight and Understanding “........suggests that by intensively breeding for yield, corn breeders have limited the pool of possibilities for future North American corn hybrids, thus creating a smaller universe of available hybrids adaptable in responding to stresses like drought or pests...... For more details, read the Iowa Corn Growers Association News”

Iowa Corn Promotion Board $2. 6 million Other Corn Checkoff $1 Iowa Corn Promotion Board $2.6 million Other Corn Checkoff $1.2 million Genomes To Fields was born March, 2013 at the Corn Breeding Research meeting in St Charles, Illinois 2014 - Iowa Corn Promotion Board farmers began funding G2F - $2.6 million as of Jan 2018 Numerous other state corn boards and NCGA have also provided funds - $1.2 million as of Jan 2018 Farmers asked for this research and are putting their money where their mouths are In kind support has also been provided by universities and USDA-ARS

Why Do This? Society Efficient use of resources to feed and fuel growing population Business Prediction tool for genetic combinations - CRISPR Sensors to measure results for research trials Analytical tools Future employees – trained students Farmers Improved and more resilient hybrids for future corn production Better predictability for optimum placement of hybrids on farm Sensors to monitor growing crops

Congressional Appropriation In 2017, were successful in getting language approved and signed: FY17 Senate Appropriations- Genomes to Fields. The Committee encourages ARS to expand the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize [GEM] project and has provided $1,250,000 to complement the existing USDA maize germplasm programs and support the emerging large-scale public sector effort to investigate the interaction of maize genome variation and environments, known as the Genomes to Fields project.

Federal Appropriation Effort G2F Government Relations coalition formed Iowa State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Minnesota, Cornell, ICGA & NCGA NCGA working with other commodity groups to build a coalition for phenotyping funding at federal level Making plans for lobbying for Farm Bill and 2019 federal budget Total ask will be $30 million per year