GGF GEM Going forward Walter Trevisan Retired Maize Breeder GEM TSG Chair (MaizeBreeder@Gmail.com)

Outline GEM Mission GEM Yield targets GEM Development Team WEMA Confidential Outline GEM Mission GEM Yield targets GEM Development Team GEM GOING FORWARD Conclusion

GEM Mission The mission of the GEM (Germplasm Enhancement of Maize) Project is to effectively increase the diversity of U.S. maize germplasm utilized by producers, global end-users and consumers.   The mission is achieved through collaborative efforts of USDA-ARS, public, and private research scientists by utilizing exotic, public, and proprietary maize germplasm. The resulting germplasm and associated knowledge, derived via the identification and incorporation of favorable alleles for prioritized traits from exotic sources, are shared and utilized in private and public breeding programs and ultimately contributes to increased genetic diversity of maize grown by producers and improved product performance. In addition, the GEM Project provides opportunities for training plant scientists in the enhancement and utilization of un-adapted germplasm. This contributes to the global sustainability of agricultural production, economic stability and the nutrition and well being of society.

Racial Background of 270 GEM Releases GEM: 301 temperate adapted inbreds developed from 35+ different EXOTIC races/germplasm

Some examples of Accomplishments GEMS-0002 and GEMS-0003 identified for Fusarium Ear Rot and Reduced Fumonisin KO679Y, GEMS-0030, GEMN-0130 identified for reduced aflatoxin levels Antigua03:N1242 identified as potential source for Fall Armyworm resistance Multiple insect resistance identified in GEMN-0130, GEMN-0133, and CUBA117:S15 GEMS-0015, GEMS27 and an uncoded inbred FS8A(T).N1804-006-001 were identified as resistant to Late Wilt in Egypt Several GEM inbreds were have shown resistance to MCMV in a preliminary study done by CIMMYT in Mexico

New approaches at gem to tackle more diversity 2010- GEM initiated an Allelic Diversity Project Allows exploitation of larger number of races Produce GEM germplasm that can be utilized for modern haplotype discovery Germplasm not ‘filtered’ for agronomic performance March 2014- 200 untested DH inbreds developed from 75% Adapted Corn Belt /25% Exotic were released jointly with the ISU Doubled Haploid Facility Contribution of over 50 races This single release almost doubled the number of races exploited by GEM “conventional” in 20+ years New batches will be released every other year

GEM Mission- What is missing? One of the main objectives of the project since its start is to release diverse germplasm that are not less than 90% of the yield level of the present commercials After 23+ years of the GEM Project, the cooperators agree that GEM has provided a considerable amount of diversity germplasm that are available to US and out of US seed companies But….. that 90% yield target proved to be very difficult to achieve The gap has becoming greater as the seed industry changed to fewer large seed companies with enormous resources Seeking higher genetic gains, some large seed companies have reduced considerably the genetic diversity utilized for commercial purposes in the US The TSG decided a year ago to have a small team to develop a plan to study options to make GEM more agile and try to meet the goal of 90% yield of the commercial products.  

The GEM TSG Development Team Members: Candice Gardner- USDA-ARS-Ames Matt Krakowsky- USDA/GEM-Raleigh Martin Bohn- University of Illinois David Butruille- Monsanto Iowa Goran Srnic- Pioneer-Iowa David Uhr- Dow Agrisciences-Indiana Freeman Whitehead- AgReliant Walter Trevisan- Team Lead- TSG Chair

Exotic germplasm introgression Germplasm Bank Improved Exotic (Private; Public) Opportunities to Improve Company A cross to an adapted proprietary Inbred GEM Raleigh (NC) Company B cross the F1 to an adapted proprietary Inbred GEM Ames (Iowa) GEM Inbred Released (S3) GEM x GEM (Recycling)

GEM GOING FORWARD EXOTIC GERMPLASM to INTROGRESS Germplasm Bank Accessions This is the most important part of GEM and will continue It should follow the suggestions of the LAMP project for most valuable germplasm to introgress Improved Exotic Germplasm (Besides the sources been used to date from Asia, Africa and Latin America):- US Cooperators have an option now to choose donating temperate or tropical germplasm Larger Seed Companies like Monsanto, Dow and possibly AgReliant will be donating elite tropical germplasm to be introgressed into GEM Elite germplasm.

GEM GOING FORWARD TEMPERATE GERMPLASM to ADAPT EXOTICS Cooperators have been /will be asked to use temperate lines not older than 10-12 years from PVP application Some large cooperators have already agreed on this. When not possible, GEM could use Ex-PVP inbreds to use as donors for adaptation Known Background allows better choice of testers The last “Backcross” are the most important 50% of the final pedigree

GEM GOING FORWARD Better Testers for GEM segregating materials Historically Holden’s inbreds have been used Now they are old and not competitive anymore Recently Ames have moved to use MBS (Mike Brighton Seeds) testers, with good success The development team agrees that this a good strategy for the GEM Ames Project and shall continue Raleigh-NC Holden’s or Mike Brighton’s testers don’t adapt very well Single crosses have been used as testers In some years some seed companies have provided ICB Constantly changed and sometimes, not heteroticaly aligned Options:- Convince cooperators to donate more ICB rows for GEM Use GEM elite inbreds or North Carolina elite inbreds as testers As the GEM Elite x GEM Elite starts to yield better finished DH inbreds we foresee these inbreds becoming the GEM predominant testers

GEM GOING FORWARD Decrease of Cycle Time (Summary) The methodologies used at Ames and Raleigh were discussed in depth and new modified routines were established (pls review the attachments sent) The Ames “Traditional GEM” methodology will be decreased from 8 years to 6 years The Ames recycling (Elite GEM X Elite GEM) will decrease cycle time to 5 years using DH Monsanto will donate to GEM the induction, doubling and first year testing of 4-6 populations a year AgReliant will be inducing and doubling one population a year We will be constantly seeking more contribution in this area Raleigh “Traditional GEM” would decrease from 14 years to 9 Raleigh recycling (Elite GEM x Elite GEM) will decrease cycle time to 5 years, with Monsanto DH cooperation If GEM could have resources for a more aggressive winter nursery usage, 1-2 years could be saved in each routine

GEM GOING FORWARD Other suggestions:- Finish Allelic Diversity projects already started; evaluate utilization of the inbreds B4 start new projects Disease evaluation network Increase number of diseases evaluated to cover new potential disease:- MLN; MCMV; Late Wilt; new races of present important diseases, etc Increase number of locations Specialty Traits Continue to access the grain quality of GEM releases Quality traits identified has been identified as one of the most important contribution of GEM germplasm

GEM GOING FORWARD How much efforts in each activity? (Suggested):- Cooperator’s Tropical Elite x GEM Elite…....20% Conv GEM Elite x GEM Elite…......................15% DH GEM Elite x GEM Elite….........................25% Traditional GEM (Germplasm Bank)….........25% Alleclic Diversity............................................15% Summary Traditional GEM:- 45% (25% Germ bank + 20% Coop) Recycling of GEM Elite:- 40% (15% Con + 25% DH) Allelic Diversity:- 15%

We do have a chance with projects like GEM that can:- CONCLUSION We do have a chance with projects like GEM that can:- Use of Better Exotics Use of Better Temperates to adapt Exotics Decrease Cycle Time Use Improved methodologies Use DH for recycling If possible, more resources dedicated to:- winter nurseries a larger testing network So… we can acchive the GEM yield targets and release inbreds that would be more attractive to the seed industry! PLANT BREEDING DILEMMA The more effective plant breeders become at selecting for desired characteristics and the higher the market demand for results, the greater the risk of rapid genetic diversity decline. What effects will increased intensity of selection have on our ability to make ongoing genetic gains for the next 10, 20, 50, 100 years? How do plant breeders go beyond single gene introgression of useful alleles from exotic sources to tackling a greater quantitative, massive recombination challenge of utilizing unadapted, yet highly diverse germplasm? Dave Bubeck, 2013- DuPont Pioneer-USA