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ARS Home Northeast Area Geneva, New York Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU) Research





- Stansell, Zachary
- Zhong, Gan-Yuan
- Gordon, Tyler
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
- Plant Genetic Resources, Genomics and Genetic Improvement (301)

Research Project: Conservation and Utilization of Hemp Genetic Resources and Associated Information **Location:
                            Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU)** 2022 Annual Report **Objectives**
                                

Objective 1: Efficiently and effectively acquire and maintain the safety, genetic integrity, health, and viability of priority hemp genetic resources, and distribute them and associated information worldwide. [NP301, C2, PS 2A]

Objective 2: Develop effective and regulatory compliant genetic resource maintenance, evaluation, testing, and characterization methods and apply them to priority hemp genetic resources. Record and disseminate hemp evaluation and characterization data via GRIN-Global and other data sources. [NP301, C2, PS 2A] 

Objective 3: With other National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) genebanks and Crop Germplasm Committees, develop, update, document, and implement best management practices and a Crop Vulnerability Statement for priority hemp genetic resources and information management. [NP301, C2, PS 2A] 

Objective 4: Develop and apply research tools, knowledge of hemp genetics, the genetic control of priority traits, and genetic resources for hemp research, breeding, and crop improvement.  [NP301, C1, PS 1A; PS 1B] **Approach**
                                

Hemp germplasm resources will be acquired via germplasm exchange from public and private sector collaborators and collection if Plant Exploration grants are awarded. This work will follow all federal, state, and ARS best management practices (BMPs) for hemp research activities. Diverse feral populations, landraces, breeding stock, synthetic lines, and other hemp germplasm types will be maintained in sufficient population sizes to retain genetic diversity and increased in compliant growth chamber and greenhouse conditions and distributed with associated information. Any accession that drops below minimum requirements for seed quantity (2,000) or viability (70%) will be regenerated. We will ensure the long-term safety of collections by systematically completing backups of accessions at PAGRP, Fort Collins, CO. Data from GRIN-Global will be used to analyze backup status of all accessions. Backup samples will be produced either from currently stored seed or from accession regeneration. Whenever seed is requested for an accession with low seed supply, it will be given priority for regeneration. We will cooperate with scientists from ARS and other public and private sectors to define and characterize priority traits in the hemp collection. This project will characterize and evaluate key morphological, horticultural quality, genetic, and biochemical attributes of hemp accessions during regenerations and via stakeholder collaborations. Characterization and evaluation data will be collected using an electronic tablet for distribution via GRIN-Global and other databases. The knowledge, expertise, and experience of CGC members, and staff at other NPGS and international germplasm repositories will be leveraged to develop a Crop Vulnerability Statement for priority hemp genetic resources and information management while strengthening and improving germplasm conservation through BMP. Curators and other scientists will meet on a regular basis online, at scientific conferences, CGC meetings, Regional Technical Advisory Committee meetings, and Plant Germplasm Operations Committee meetings, providing many opportunities for consultation, information exchange, and idea formulation. All components of Hemp Genetic Resources Unit operations will be reviewed and documented as BMP with sufficient detail to reduce risk of any lapse in operations. Various pre-breeding approaches will be applied to newly acquired hemp genetic resources: materials will be screened for individuals segregating for critical priority traits and isolated as specific inventories. These materials will be used to develop populations used to map priority traits to genomic regions and identify causal genes regulating these traits. Additionally, select inventories will be targeted as inputs into partnering hemp research, breeding, and crop improvement programs to develop elite inbred lines or commercial hybrid cultivars. **Progress Report**
                                

This is a new project which is under NP301 OSQR review. This project will address NP301 Action Plan Component 2 “Plant and microbial genetic resource and information management”, Objective 1. Conduct research to develop regulatory compliant genetic resource maintenance, evaluation, testing, and characterization methods and, in alignment with the overall NPGS Plan, apply them to priority hemp genetic resources. Record and disseminate hemp evaluation and characterization data via the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)-Global and other data sources. (NP301, C2, PS2A), Objective 2. Acquire and maintain the safety, genetic integrity, health, and viability of priority hemp genetic resources, and distribute them and associated descriptive information worldwide. (NP301, C2, PS2A), Objective 3. With other National Plant Germplasm System genebanks and Crop Germplasm Committees, formulate, update, document, and implement best management practices and a Crop Vulnerability Statement for priority hemp genetic resources and information management. (NP301, C2, PS2A), and Objective 4. Devise and apply research tools, knowledge of hemp genetics and of the genetic control of priority hemp traits to create genetically-enhanced hemp germplasm that broadens the diversity available for hemp production. (NP301, C1, PS1B).
This project is responsible for acquiring, conserving, distributing, and characterizing diverse hemp genetic resources while developing novel hemp genetic resources to meet the needs of a changing world. The existing reservoir of hemp genetic diversity is likely vast, although it has not been accurately measured or conserved. Hemp contributes to food, fiber, medicinal, and industrial processes and could provide many viable alternative products in the decades to come. Vulnerable hemp genetic resources, including landraces, will be preserved as critical allelic reservoirs for research and crop improvement. Genotypic and phenotypic evaluation will direct acquisition, distribution, and resource management. Hemp cultivars developed from conserved germplasm will increase crop genetic diversity, broaden resource inputs, and provide environmental benefits to current paradigms. Progress in genetics, genomics, and production projects in NP 301 and other National Programs will be accelerated by the information and resources furnished by this project. Information associated with collections will be publicly available through the (GRIN-Global) and other relevant databases such as National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). 
The Plant Genetics Resources Unit (PGRU) formally initiated the USDA-ARS hemp germplasm collection by securing all state and federal regulatory and security compliance protocols. During the second half of 2021, collection of hemp germplasm resources began. PGRU has gathered samples of 180 accessions for storage, regeneration, evaluation, and distribution. PGRU developed and applied high-throughput hemp seed increase protocols and pollen collection, storage, and distribution protocols (Objective 1). PGRU expects an estimated 1,000 hemp accessions to be added to the collection during the next five-year project plan cycle. (Objective 1). PGRU researchers initiated the first USDA hemp evaluation trial. This multi-site replicated trial will gather approximately 50,000 data points to enable future germplasm conservation and breeding efforts.
Collection gaps must be identified and filled with preserving allelic variants that have accumulated over thousands of years. Seed stocks will be systematically regenerated, tested, and backed up to ensure their long-term availability. Regeneration protocols must be refined to overcome regeneration challenges and dynamic biotic and abiotic pressures. Accurate phenotyping data will enable targeted requests and efficient utilization of seed stocks. Community-wide expertise in best management practices (BMPs) will be leveraged to improve the efficiency of operations (Fig. 1). Crop Vulnerability Statements (CVS) will be updated in collaboration with the New Crops Crop Germplasm Committee (NCCGC), ensuring the protection of diverse hemp industries.
ARS researchers prepared a National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) Hemp Germplasm Characterization and Descriptor Handbook based on a thorough review of 368 peer-reviewed publications, trade journals, plus a stakeholder survey. This handbook was approved for phenotypic characterization of hemp by the New Crops Crop Germplasm Committee. The goal of this handbook is to assist breeders and other researchers in identifying accessions with specific traits, to facilitate the selection of germplasm in crop improvement programs, to designate and maintain a core collection of diverse materials, to identify duplicate accessions and reduce costs of hemp genetic resource conservation, to identify gaps in the existing collections and help formulate strategies for future collection and conservation efforts, and to increase stakeholder utility and accessibility of hemp germplasm resources (Objective 2). Currently, approximately 10 hemp breeding, collection, and evaluation programs are implementing the handbook to standardize efforts. Data collected from these projects will be entered into GRIN-Global. 
Managing a diverse collection of hemp genetic resources at the Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU) presents many formidable challenges, including acquiring and regenerating thousands of accessions that require a highly controlled pollination schema and variable daylength-sensitivities. This Project Plan will develop and apply new curatorial techniques and approaches to increase genebank operational efficiency and effectiveness for hemp genetic resources. These genetic resources will be backed-up, regenerated, monitored, and maintained with up to date BMPs so that vigorous, phytosanitary acceptable genetic resources can be distributed internationally to researchers, breeders, and educators. Vulnerable or threatened resources will be safeguarded and made widely available. 
Genebank accessions will be characterized with genetic markers, maintained true-to-type, and enhanced for breeding and research utility. Systematic evaluation of priority traits will be applied to the emerging hemp collection via modern approaches. Data from curation, characterizations, and horticultural evaluations will be made accessible worldwide via GRIN-Global and other data sources. Domestic and international research partnerships will be strengthened through exchange of information, research tools, and genetic resources. **Accomplishments**


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