The Role of the National Germplasm System to conserve Ash Seed

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

• DocumentNPGS Activities

http://www.ars-grin.gov/

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