the role of the national germplasm system to conserve ash seed
TRANSCRIPT
The Role of the NPGS in Conservation of Ash Germplasm
Jeffrey D. CarstensUSDA-ARS North Central Regional Plant
Introduction StationAmes, Iowa
The National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS)
A network of genebanks coordinated by USDA-ARS
Including… Regional Plant Introduction Stations National Center for Genetic Resources
Preservation Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN
database)
NCRPIS Station – Ames, Iowa
NPGS Mission
• Our mission is to conserve genetically-diverse plant germplasm and associated information and provide germplasm for research, crop improvement and product development.
North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station
Approximately 1,800 AccessionsFraxinus – 23% - AshCornus – 11% - DogwoodBetula – 8% - BirchGymnocladus – 4% - Kentucky coffeetreeAronia – 4% - Aronia berryAlnus – 4% - AlderRhus – 4% - SumacSalix – 4% - WillowEuonymus – 3% - WahooOther – 35%
NCRPIS Trees and Shrubs
NPGS Activities• Acquire• Regenerate• Maintain• Characterize/Evaluate• Document• Distribute
NPGS Activities• Acquire
– Collecting– Donations– Collaboration
Ben Vandermyde, Jon Schultz, & Andy Schmitz
Abies balsamea – Balsam Fir
Betula pumila – Bog Birch
Spiraea alba - Meadowsweet
Malus ioensis – Prairie Crabapple
Betula alleghaniensis – Yellow Birch
Viburnum opulus var. americanum –American Cranberry Bush
Juglans cinerea - Butternut
Euonymus atropurpureaus –Eastern Wahoo
Phlox pilosa subsp. fulgida – Prairie Phlox
Diervilla lonicera – Bush Honeysuckle
Kentucky coffeetree – Roger Mills Co., OK – 17 March 2015
Kentucky coffeetree (potential state champion) Major Co., OK 18 March 2015 Kentucky coffeetree – Harrison Co., KY
(current state champion)4 March 2013
NC7 Kentucky coffeetree Sites
Native distribution of Gymnocladus dioicus (Little, 1999) across Level III Omernik Ecoregions (Omernik, 2005) marking the locations of current NPGS collections ( ), locations of collections obtained in 2015 ( ).
RopeBoss®
Jameson BigShot®
Pocket Chain Saw
NPGS Activities• Regenerate
– Cage– Hand– Isolation
Field Plots
NPGS Activities• Maintain
– Seeds• Storage conditions
– 4C, -18C, LN2
– Plants
NPGS Activities• Maintain
– Testing on 5 or 10 year cycles
NPGS Activities• Maintain
– Recently…..
Volk, G.M., Bonnart, R.M., Waddell, J.W., Widrlechner, M.P. 2009. Cryopreservation Of Dormant Buds From Diverse Fraxinus Species. CryoLetters. 30:262-267.
Results:- Cryopreservation is a viable option for successfully preserving Fraxinus budwood.
NPGS Activities• Characterize/Evaluate
Insect resistanceDisease resistanceCold hardinessAgronomic performance Ornamental value
NPGS Activities• Distribute to qualified scientists
– NCRPIS: 40,000 units - seed or plants/year – NPGS: 200,000 units
Why Preserve Genetic Diversity……?– Historical……
• Early 1900’s – Chestnut Blight• Mid 1900’s – Dutch Elm Disease
– Currently…..–Thousand Canker Disease–Bur oak blight and sudden oak death
–Emerald Ash Borer
Plant Genetic Resources• Provide potential resistance to…
– Biotic stresses• Disease• Insect
– Abiotic stresses• Drought/Flooding• Heat/Cold Tolerance (climate change)
Growth Response to Moisture Balance• Foliar diseases (+ moisture balance)
• Provides the moisture necessary for the “disease triangle”
• Plant performance linked to source• Moving from “+” to a “-” = good….• Moving from a “-” to a “+” = bad….
The Ash Conservation Project
A cooperative process involving USDA-ARS NPGS Forest Service Natural Resources Conservation Service Seeds of Success Canadian Forest Service Tribal governments State agencies
GOAL• Create a comprehensive collection of
North American Ash through a systematic approach• Obtain genetically diverse material• Document associated collection information• Preserve material via seed samples and/or
cryopreservation of budwood
PROGRESS (NC7)• Currently 401 accessions (~ 2,000 samples)
• 74% U.S.A. and 14% Foreign• ~ 225 accessions available
– 41% green– 31% white– 13% blue– 10% black– 2% pumpkin– msc. – spp. or western spp.
McLean Co., Illinois
Tulsa Co., Oklahoma
Blue Ash Seeds
Pureswaran, D. S., & Poland, T. M. (2009). Host selection and feeding preference of Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) on ash (Fraxinus spp.). Environmental Entomology, 38(3), 757-765.
Tanis, S. R., & McCullough, D. G. (2012). Differential persistence of blue ash and white ash following emerald ash borer invasion. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 42(8), 1542-1550.
Tanis, S. R., & Mccullough, D. G. (2015). Host resistance of five Fraxinus species to Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and effects of paclobutrazol and fertilization. Environmental entomology, 44(2), 287-299.
NC7 Blue Ash Collections
Native distribution of Fraxinus quadrangulata (Little, 1999) across Level III Omernik Ecoregions (Omernik, 2005) marking the locations of current NPGS collections.
Sampling Protocol• Based on Omernik Level III Ecoregions• Stratified sampling
• Distance• Soil types• Size/age• Disease/insect resistance• Perimeter and interior samples
Hope to sampleWestern Corn Belt Plains Ecoregion
Target Areas• Those closest to EAB infestations• Natural areas/state preserves
• High quality material - local origin• Isolated areas
• Isolated from cultivated specimens
Pinpointing Specific Sites• Herbariums• Literature search• Local contacts • Associate species
• Blue ash (Kentucky coffeetree/Paw paw)• Black ash (Skunk cabbage, Larch, Poison sumac)
Accession Assignment• Population (variable in size) = single accession
• Multiple trees sampled (10-15) = lot #• E.g. tree 1 – Ames 30001 - 12ncao01• E.g. tree 2 – Ames 30001 - 12ncao02
• Each sample – GPS coordinates and location info.
Requesting Germplasm• Material distributed to “qualified scientists”
– Crop development/improvement– Research/education
• Order – GRIN database• Indicate organization• Intended use• Select accessions
Requesting Germplasm
Benefits of Genetic Diversity• Access to a diverse list of species to
maintain and/or increase biological diversity
• Access to high-quality, adaptable plant germplasm for specific sites/areas today or in the future
Questions?Andrew P. Schmitz – Brenton Arboretum – Dallas Center, IowaJeffrey D. Carstens – NCRPIS - Ames, Iowa
Green ash – Union Co., IL 10 October 2008
Green ash – St. Croix Co., WI 5 October 2010
Fraxinus nigra – Hardin Co., Iowa
Sampling Protocol• Underlying concept
• Capture maximum genetic variation• # of samples needed - determined via documenting allelic
diversity• Marshall and Brown 1975 – population = sampling unit (50
individuals)• Lawrence-Marshall-Davies 1995 – species = sampling unit (172
individuals)• Do NOT address population structure nor indicate number
of populations to sample• Limited, replicated research to each Fraxinus spp., across multiple
geographic areas/habitats, addressing differences in species distribution/abundance as well as mating structure/pollen dispersal
• As a collector, use your knowledge and expertise to determine proper sample size at each site if no published or general data is available