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





- Povilus, Rebecca
- Plant Genetic Resources, Genomics and Genetic Improvement (301)

Research Project: **Location:
                            Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU)** Project Number: 8060-21000-031-008-S
                        
                        Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement Start Date: Jun 30, 2024
                        
                        End Date: Jun 28, 2025 **Objective:**
                        
                        The objective of this cooperative agreement is to regenerate short-day Allium (onion) accessions of the onion collection maintained at the Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU) in Geneva, NY. The accessions will be regenerated because of either reduction in viability below acceptable standards and/or low seed supply due to seed distributions. These accessions need to be regenerated so that the short-day onion germplasm collection may be distributed to stakeholders. Short-day onions cannot be regenerated on-site in Geneva, NY because of photoperiod requirements to initiate bulb formation and flowering (both essential processes for producing viable seed). Short day onions require a day length of shorter than 13 hours to initiate bulbing and flowering, whereas in Geneva during the growing season the day length is longer than this due to the location (latitude) of Geneva, NY. Therefore, there is a need for regular routine regeneration of these accessions on a recurring basis at a location with the correct photoperiod conditions. The location of the Cooperator means that this location has the correct day-legnth conditions to successfully regenerate short-day onion accessions. **Approach:**
                        
                        The Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU) vegetable curator will identify the short-day onions that require regeneration. Seeds of the accessions that are in most need of regeneration each year will be packaged and sent to New Mexico State University for regeneration. At the Cooperator's institute, the accessions will be sown in seedling flats. Once plants have reached a large enough size, they will be transplanted to a field for plant growth and bulb production. Plants will be grown over the winter. Once the plants have matured the following summer, bulbs will be collected from each accession and will be stored at ambient conditions for 3-4 months. Once bulbs begin to break dormancy, they will be set in a seed production field. The following spring, a 10’ x 10’ cage covered with a mesh to control pollinator movement will be placed over the bulbs from each accession. Once the bulbs have flowered, blowflies will be introduced into each cage for flower pollination. After approximately one month, the mature seed for each accession will be harvested, dried, and cleaned. The seed produced from the regeneration will be transferred to PGRU. At PGRU, the seed will be dried, germination tests conducted, and the new inventory will be created and entered into the collection. Then seed stock inventory status will be updated in the GRIN-Global database.


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