Maize Crop Germplasm Committee
Hyatt Regency, Chicago, IL
10 December 2003 ; 1:00-5:00 p.m.

• Chair Bill Tracy called the meeting to order and introductions were made.
• Approval of 2002 minutes was by consensus.
• The agenda was accepted without revisions.
• Zea curatorial activities, Ames, IA report was prepared and distributed by Maize Curator Mark Millard:
• Highlights included the posting of a fulltime Federal IT Specialist position which closed in November, the connection of maize germplasm collection information with MaizeGDB.   Peter Bretting asked how orders were being initiated through the MaizeGDBnnection; Mark indicated that users were starting with literature search queries, getting accession lists, then linking the information to accession orders and ordering them via the shopping cart feature
• Discussion was held on increased representation of racial types and the goal of obtaining 100 ears increases in order to maintain the genetic profile.   It was agreed that the process on regenerating racial types should be adjusted with consideration given to the original sample size, the diversity and the heterogeneity of the material.   Different approaches are dictated depending on the inbreeding level and the number of alleles involved, and based on historical information of genetic bottlenecks the germplasm went through. 100 ear regenerations are not necessary to represent the genetic profile of more inbred material.   Tradeoffs should be made in the curatorial approach to ensure increased availability of topical and other materials.   Most original samples of the tropical accessions probably consisted of no more than 15 ears.  
• A large set of inbred lines was received from Dr. Major Goodman that have been used in molecular studies.   Major also deposited backups at the NCGRP.
• Additional tropical regenerations are being made in Puerto Rico using Golden Harvest’s research infrastructure.
• Marty Sachs distributed a summary of the Maize Genetics Cooperation Stock Center’s 2003 activities.   
• The NSF project has generated 38,093 stocks that have been screened for ear and kernel mutants, and many for additional trait screening.   Organized mutant hunts are proving very successful, and another is planned for summer 2004.   Results from mutant screenings can be found in the MaizeGDB RescueMu Phenotype Database.    Many other new stocks, inbred lines, and EMS materials have been received from various sources.
• A new IT Specialist was hired, and a new Apple Xserve purchased and deployed.   A robust relational database is being developed for the stock inventories and associated information, and they are cooperating with MaizeGDB in Ames to provide a direct feed of information, enhance on-line stock listings and provide a shopping-cart ordering system.
• Use of ICIA winter nurseries in Puerto Rico continue to be successful.
• The stocks center conducted allelism tests, linkage tests, extensive planting and increases of stocks including a large collection of cytological variants.
• Maize Genetics Stocks Center – Marty Sachs distributed a report describing collection status and progress. Approximately 38,000 selfed ears are in the collection.   The greenhouse project at Urbana is now out on bid; Marty estimates they will gain 50% of needed space with the 30,000 sq ft project.   Their cold storage space will double over the next two years with the addition of 1,000 square feet.
• Ed Coe presented a brief on maize genomics for the committee.   Progress was reported for tiling sequence information derived from BACS (maizemap.org/). BAC end sequencing is being used to support/deny joining.   High Information Content Fingerprinting has not proved as effective as hoped for; it serves as just another source of data).   The gene-rich sequences now available cover 99% of the maize genes.
• Maize Genome Database highlights were distributed by Mary Polacco, MaizeGDB Curator.

•  Maize GDB replaced Maize DB in October, 2003.   Missouri remains a center of curation for map and QTL data, and in data integration /curation issues in general.   Volker Brendel’s ISU team brings expertise on genome sequence, data access tools, interfaces, and deep query of the Plant GDB.  
• A CIMMYT mirror of MaizeDB is transitioning to Maize GDB; the objective is to provide curation of molecular diversity data for MaizeGDB which is linked to pedigree and performance data in CIMMYT’s IWIS.  
• MaizeGDB cooperates with and is interoperable with Gramene and the NCBI.   Effort is being made to harmonize trait descriptors and categories from Gramene with GRIN descriptors.   Development of common sets of hierarchical terms for anatomy and developmental stages of maize, rice and Arabidopsis is being supported by a Plant Ontology Consortium, funded by NSF.
• Loren Wiesner represented the NCGRP, Ft. Collins, CO, and presented a summary of the NPGS’ Zea mays holdings at Ames, Urbana, Ft. Collins, or at both the active site and the NCGRP security backup site.   Construction of improved animal and plant germplasm labs and new security systems are underway.   The processing backlog for newly received materials has been reduced to a 6-7 month waiting period from the previous two year period.   Loren shared a chart listing system distributions on a November thru October calendar year basis.
• The National Plant Germplasm System’s National Program Staff report was distributed by Peter Bretting.  
•  Dr. Bretting reported that the FY04 budget was currently awaiting Senate approval, and that the House had approved the Conference Committtee’s version.   This called for a 4% increase for ARS, with some targeted increases for germplasm; future status of budgets is uncertain due to economic pressures and mounting deficits.
• A new National Program Leader has been projected for germplasm enhancement in NP301.
• Jim Coors asked about the emphasis on biosecurity and the amount of time and resources that are required.   Peter Bretting indicated that one NPL is on a six month detail to Homeland Security, and another is on a four month detail to the CIA.   Staffing for the Office of Homeland Security within ARS is mandated by law.
• Bill Dolezal commented on the plan for plant/animal diagnostic networks, and concerns of the intelligence community over the possible creation of vulnerabilities via publications on sensitive research issues.  
• Peter Bretting stated that interactions with Homeland Security have been very positive and productive.
• Jim Coors commented that the ASA’s biosecurity committee is also looking at the issue of genetic diversity issue in the field, as this is fundamental to crop security.   A biosecurity symposium will be held at ASA in 2004.
• GEM Project’s annual report summary was presented by Michael Blanco.
• Sixteen GEM lines were recommended for release to GEM cooperators.   Some are candidates for public release pending completion of quality trait data analysis.
• Laboratory analyses of quality traits indicated germplasm with high protein and oil levels, and interesting starch thermal properties.
• Old business –

  Discussion of language of Item 1 in the proposed additions to the priority list on the Maize Vulnerability Statement. The proposed language would appear as a bullet under recommendations.   Randy Holey moved that the committee accept the language as is, using ‘cultural as ethnographic.’   Ed Coe seconded the motion, and it was approved by the committee.

  Bill Tracy moved that the 4 th sentence of the 3 rd bullet be moved as edited to the Crop Vulnerability Statement.

  Item 2 of the proposed additions to priority list was revised to read “Expand the effort to secure obsolete public and private Corn Belt Dent inbreds and information on the inbreds’ history and attributes.   The sentence “Many companies recode public inbreds and it is important these codes be made transparent” was struck from the text.

  Collection of inbreds.   Jim Coors stated that public releases are no longer going into the NPGS system.   Should Crop Science Registration regulations include an option to register germplasm without depositing?   The answer was NO.   We need to spend more effort ensuring that public releases are deposited.   Application of IPR to public releases complicates this, but can be worked with.

  Type collections to be incorporated into NPGS holdings.   The future location of the maize racial type collection (approximately 1300 accessions) under the care of Major Goodman at NCSU was discussed. Because of the planned renovation of Williams Hall in 2005, seed storage space will be at a minimum.   Dr. Goodman indicated that there are also 60-70 Mexican accessions that have not been increased that were obtained via Jesus Sanchez.    Candice Gardner moved to transfer the collections to NCRPIS and Ed Coe seconded the motion.   Margaret Smith amended the motion that the collection be transferred to the NCRPIS maize curator, Mark Millard, by April.   Randy Holley added that a proposal for regeneration handling should be prepared by the next meeting which is executable within five years, and seconded the motion.   The motion carried.    Mark Millard and Dr. Taba will work together to ensure that materials are duplicated between CIMMYT and the NPGS in the U.S.   Dr. Taba indicated that the Latin American collaborators are also interested in these materials and are willing to plant them.   Mark Millard indicated that cross-checking identity will take time.   If Major can supply him with some seed prior to transfer, it would enable Mark to make early progress.      Mark and Dr. Taba will work together to ensure that the materials are duplicated between CIMMYT and the NPGS.

  Bill Tracy asked about the future of the isozyme collection.   Dr. Goodman indicated that an isozyme survey was made of all Latin American maize races.   Identified alleles were inserted in segregating populations.   A small fraction of these are in a homozygous state. Discussion ensued on the relative merit of saving these populations.   Marlin Edwards asked how many mapping populations were made per allele (?)   Major said that no inventories exist per se, but at least two multiple marker stocks were generated to express extreme variance.   Marlin committed to regenerating the multiple marker material in a Monsanto winter nursery, than transferring the materials to Marty Sach’s genetic stocks collection in Urbana.   The information on allelic sequence diversity in these materials is of interest; these enriched regions should be preserved as bulks.   Major indicated that associated documentation and packet annotation is variable.  

• New business
• Core Collections – Wilfredo Salhuana and Suketoshi Taba discussed core collection strategies.   Wilfredo indicated that data is lacking on the collections in order to analyze and from cores from different countries.   Taba indicated that their process is normally to evaluate collections, select among them, collect passport data, and then form a core. Major Goodman indicated that application of statistics is appropriate to formation of cores; the most important data needed to evaluate a collection in proper context include latitude, longitude, altitude and geographical distribution.   Major also stated that there should be good reasons for replacing historical cores with new ones; care is needed when weighing characteristics useful in forming a core.
• Status of INIPAF and the Collegio de Postgraduados– Nineteen organizations were impacted, but INIFAP and the Collegio de Postgraduados were targeted for zero funding in President Fox’s budget.   Foilar and Rincon, president of Mexico’s plant btreeding and genetics group, asked the tri-societies to write a letter to President Fox and all of the Mexican legislators.   This has been done.   A moratorium on testing of GMO’s in Mexico has been lifted.   Jim Coors moved that the chair write a letter to the appropriate authorities in support of retention of both INIFAP and the Collegio de Postgraduados.   Taba seconded this motion, and the committee approved it.   Major commented that INIFAP holds unique collections and that some of the world’s best maize expertise is located at the Collegio.
• CIMMYT reorganization - Dr. Taba updated us on CIMMYT’s mission, its three pillars which include prebreeding, genomics, and knowledge management and six programs.   There are two global projects and four eco-regional projects.   Dr. Hoisington was interim director in 2004.   Some people from Mexico are now working in Africa.   ICRASAT has moved people from India to Africa also.
• Dr.Von Kaster, Garst Seed Company, presented the 2003 Insect Report.   Von described corn insect infestations and the supporting environmental conditions in various production regions in the U.S. as mostly typical.  

  The range of the western bean cutworm has firmly expanded into western IA and some parts of southwestern MN.   Rearing methods to enable manual infestations do not exist; difficulties exist with obtaining feral eggs from laboratory-reared adults.   The insect’s nutritionsal requirements are not well-understood.   It is anticipated that WI will be infested within five years.

• Dr. Bill Dolezal, Senior Research Fellow, DuPont/Pioneer Hi-Bred, presented the 2003 Corn Disease Report. 
• He noted regional climatic conditions which affected disease incidence and severity in North America.  
• Efforts to assemble a new Puccinia polysora host differential set to replace Alice Robert’s (USDA-ARS) set are being made by Bill Dolezal, Mark Millard, Mike Blanco, and Charles Block.
• Bill reported increasing effort for disease and insect scoring opportunities for germplasm collection, use of precision phenotyping for rust, and proposals to use a more universal scale for Southern Rust, which integrates host-parasite interaction concepts.
• CIMMYT – Dr. Suketoshi Taba reported on 2003 activities.  
• A meeting of the members of the Latin American cooperative maize germplasm regeneration project was held at CIMMYT and plans were developed for regenerations by 2006.
• CIMMYT sent 813 accessions to the NCGRP in 2003, and received new introductions from Mexico, Ecuador and Venezuela.   
• Some new funding was available for regenerations and upgrading of the genebank.   Guatemala received a $20,000 grant for collecting and increasing 200-300 new accessions of highland maize and teosinte.
• Plants are being sampled of seed received from the US to test for adventitious GMO contamination.
• Dr. Taba shared CIMMYT’s Material Transfer Agreement for non-designated research germplasm.   This was very well-received; several members indicated it could serve as a future model for development of MTA’s within their own institutions.