1. National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation
Fort Collins, CO
David Dierig, RL

2. Research at NCGRP

3. Non-invasive assays of Seed Longevity and Seed Aging
Christina Walters and Dani Ballesteros
Problem: We cannot tell how long a seed will survive during storage, nor how much it has aged, until we germinate it.
25oC
Germination assays
consume seed
are costly
only describe health at the moment
-18oC
have no predictive power
Maize inbred (Pioneer) #1, stored 20 yrs
give categorical (not quantitative) information
Non-invasive assays are quantitative and predictive
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis
Differential Scanning Calorimetry
Volatile Analysis using Gas Chromatography
6 mm
Structural stability correlates with longevity
Lipid crystallization decreases with aging
Volatiles production correlates with longevity

4. Citrus Cryopreservation
Gayle Volk
Concern: Loss of key collection materials due to Huanglongbing disease
Response: Develop strategy to cryopreserve vegetative propagules
of Citrus accessions
Receive non-dormant bud material from Riverside
Excise 1 mm shoot tips
Cryopreserve using vitrification
Recovery by micrografting onto seedling rootstock in tissue culture
Grafted, cryopreserved Citrus shoot
tips 13 days after micrografting
Customer response: Invitations by Citrus Research Board to present
at meetings and to submit proposal for industry funding

5. How do we efficiently capture genetic diversity in wild populations?
Chris Richards
N. American Hops
With NCGR Corvallis, OR
Germplasm from wild populations is difficult to preserve because it is heterogeneous, not adapted to storage, and difficult to regenerate.
Representative collections, without duplication, require targeting the diversity “hot spots” or genetic lineages.
We developed analytical methods to estimating adaptive differentiation by integrating
Population genetic variation (SNP, SSR)
Ecological data
Spatial niche modeling analysis
Little Sunflower
With NCRPIS Ames, IA

6. How do traits like seed dormancy or after-ripening affect genetic diversity? Von Mark Cruz and David Dierig
Traits like after-ripening serve plant populations well in times of extreme environmental conditions to ensure survival but gene flow between plant classes may limit preservation of desired diversity.
Sympatric population of two Lesquerella species in NM
Collections with Gabriella Romano – Parlier, CA
Two plants of the same species at different growth and reproductive maturity stages due to dormancy.
Methods:
Phenotypic field measurements and seed collections
Germination time for plant classes and temperature plus water stress response
Molecular markers to measure diversity
Characterization of genes related to seed dormancy

7. Re-cryoprocessed potato PVP accessions prior to 2004 Maria Jenderek
Objective: Improve quality of potato accessions in cryopreservation
Problem: Previous protocols lead to low viability after storage in cryo.
A new protocol was adapted, and 54 accessions are being reprocessed, thus improving the viability to>50%
Impact:
After PVP expires, the potato cultivars will be integrated into the public domain (NPGS)
The NCGRP is to be reimbursed $2,400/accession for this service
The value of the U.S. potato industry is >$3 billion

8. Personnel Issues
Retired tech position filled in FY10 for micrografting, tissue culture with Gayle Volk New Position is planned to coincide with retirement of Judy Grotenhuis to start in August (Renee White) New part-time molecular genetics tech Position is being planned with Chris Richards Post doc started in March with Dave Dierig New HQ post doc to start in Aug with Gayle Volk

9. Funded SCAs and CRADAs
CSU, CO Seed Lab, $20,000 – Evaluation of seed Longevity of Germplasm Placed in Long Term Storage. Exp (plans to renew if possible)
CIMMYT, $38, Aid in the Conservation and Regeneration of Maize and Maize Relatives in Mexico. Exp (will not fund if no budget increase)

10. Other Extramural Funds
New SCA with CSU being developed to collaborate on the Citrus/ Avocado project using HQ funds.

11. Facility Issues
We have worked with NREL, ClimateWise, and Lawrence Berkeley Labs on energy audits to reduce utility costs for the facility.
Roof leaks and age indicate a new roof is needed. We hope to do phase 1 in FY11.
-18 vault has ice build up issues we’re looking into solutions.
Phones work on good days.