Carlos Iglesias

Both parties are actively engaged in independent research projects which to relate wheat genotypes and phenotypes. The parties agree that meeting the objectives of this project will strengthen and enhance ongoing research within the scope of this agreement. The Objectives of this project are: (1) Applying genomic analysis to multi-environment yield trials to determine role of major genes for phenology on genomic; (2) Identifying genes controlling epicuticular wax synthesis in regional wheat germplasm and developing molecular markers; and (3) Analysis of exome capture of US wheat to support breeding programs.

This project has the objective to study the adaptation and potential of Bambara nuts (Vigna subterranea), as an alternative high value product for the plant-based protein market to be used in low input marginal land. Bambara nuts is a grain legume originated in West Africa rich in carbohydrates (63%), proteins (20%) and oils (18%). It ripens its pods underground, much like the peanut and can be eaten fresh or boiled after drying. The seeds can vary in color from black, dark brown, red, white, cream or a combination of these colors. They have a nutty, earthy flavor not unlike a cross between a chickpea and a pinto bean. A core collection of 290 accessions obtained from USDA (30) and IITA (260) will be tested and evaluated for environmental adaptability during springs/summers of 2023/24. Vigna subterranea is a species not well explored in the US and an initial screening of a germplasm collection is necessary to evaluate adaptability and quality traits in order to be considered as a viable crop for the Southeastern region. Alternative crops like Bambara nuts could be used to establish a niche market for plant proteins and enhance farm profitability and sustainability indicators.

Genotype-Environment interactions are differences in relative performance of varieties across environments. Such interactions can hinder genetic gains, or they can be exploited for environment-specific variety development. To capitalize on genotype-environment interactions, however, we need to understand how to integrate information on past performance of varieties across diverse environments with genotyping information and environmental weather and soil data. We are participating in the Genomes to Fields Project, which has collected data on thousands of corn hybrids across more than 100 environments to date and has weather and genotype data available. This funding will support data analysis and development of new analytical methods to integrate this information to allow better prediction of corn hybrid performance in specific environments. In addition, experiments will be conducted to test if prediction models based on transcriptomics (gene expression) can be used to more efficiently select corn inbreds that produce optimal hybrids.

The objectives of this project are to better understand the environmental factors, including weather, soil characteristics, and management practices, that contribute to ear rots and aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination in maize. This work aims to lay the groundwork for development of models to predict mycotoxin contamination based on environmental factors, more accurate prediction models incorporating environmental information for genomic selection and advancement of resistant genotypes.

1) Adequate cuttings for replicated (4 replications), multi-location (2 locations) commercialization trials of the variety releases PepsiCo exercised its right to evaluate (NC-1101 ������������������ NC-1134) will be made for trials in 2021. - In order to generate adequate cuttings for 2021 trialing, activities were required in Q2 & Q3 of 2020, and are ongoing in Q4 2020, which required significant labor and materials in 2020. 2) Varieties (NC-1101 ������������������ NC-1134) will be assessed for productivity traits (total yield, leaf-to-stem ratio, plant height, lodging) and rebaudioside profile stability using replicated, multi-location, yield-trials with small plot (cycle 2) or large plot (cycle 1) size in 2021

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reported that less than 25% of the American population is of ����������������normal weight or underweight��������������� (https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/Pages/overweight-obesity-statistics.aspx) leaving our society with a costly and tremendous health issue. Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) is an herbaceous perennial grown for the extraction of sweet-tasting, non-caloric steviol glycosides produced in the leaves. These compounds can be up to 300 times sweeter than sugar and have been increasingly adopted by the beverage industry in recent years as natural non-caloric sweeteners. Stevia produces at least 20 different steviol glycosides. Current utilization of steviol glycosides is primarily limited to a single glycoside, rebaudioside A (Reb A), but Reb A has undesirable bitter aftertaste that may limit its wider adoption and profitability. New stevia varieties that produce higher concentrations of glycosides with a more desirable taste profile, including Reb D and Reb M will be investigated. It is probable that combinations of glycosides would have high market potential as natural sweeteners. Most stevia is currently produced in China, though the stevia production area is increasing rapidly in the U.S. The combination of a favorable climate and existing infrastructure necessary for stevia production in the southeastern U.S. make this an ideal region for production of high quality stevia needed to meet the growing demand for steviol glycosides. However, stevia growers in the U.S. confront multiple challenges, including a lack of varieties developed for domestic production conditions, a paucity of information on optimizing production practices, such as planting density, fertilization, weed and disease control, as well as a lack of information on costs of production, consumer preferences, and potential profitability. Completing the objectives of this proposed project will contribute substantially to filling these knowledge gaps, fostering development of new varieties to meet industry demand for ����������������next-generation��������������� steviol glycoside sweeteners, understanding costs of production, determining consumer-desired steviol glycoside formulations, and understanding the market potential for stevia-containing products in the U.S. Potential economic benefits of the proposed project in the near-term include improving the profitability of stevia production for growers by: identifying and selecting the best current varieties to maximize stevia biomass and glycoside yield under southeastern U.S. conditions; developing best management practices for production of organic and conventional stevia crops; and optimizing strategies and options for control of weeds, diseases and insects (including those that may become a problem in the future). The development of best agricultural practices for stevia production also has great potential to benefit the environment through the minimization of unnecessary production inputs. Other potential near-term economic benefits will come through understanding of consumer demand potential and preferences, quantifying the market potential for stevia-containing products and from determination of product taste profiles that are most desired by consumers, allowing end-users to adapt product recipes to meet these taste profiles. Over the long-term, understanding the plant traits that are most important to processors, end-users and consumers, and making advances in stevia genetics (e.g. new varieties and genomic resources) to facilitate genomics-assisted breeding to improve these traits will benefit these market sectors by increasing the supply of desired glycosides that will help to increase the market potential for steviol glycoside-containing food and beverage products to meet a rapidly expanding consumer demand with a more desirable product. Investing in the development of a domestic industry at such a crucial time in its development while simultaneously addressing a major health issue would both promote economic growth in rural America while pot

Plant regeneration is highly species- and genotype-dependent, and specialty crop producers have been forced to rely on traditional breeding methods which take 8-10+ years to deliver improved specialty crops. The overall goal of this project is to develop a novel genotype-independent regeneration method to significantly accelerate breeding methods for sweetpotato. Our goal is to dramatically reduce the time required to introduce a new trait or traits into existing cultivars. Shorter breeding times and improved varieties will have a significant impact on a wide range of stakeholders along agricultural supply chain from biotechnology and seed companies to growers to consumers. We anticipate that success in the proposed research will contribute greatly to crop improvement, food security, and agricultural sustainability by providing more resilient, diverse, and profitable crops.

verticilliodes, threaten North Carolina corn production. Grain elevators can reject corn with more than 15 ppm (parts per million) of the mycotoxin fumonisin. Fumonisin is known to be toxic to swine and horses. The recommended allowable limit is 5 ppm for horses and 20 ppm fumonisin for swine. Fumonisin also has been shown to be a promoter of cancer in rats, and epidemiological evidence has shown a correlation between incomplete neural tube closure of infants and the consumption of fumonisin contaminated corn by their mothers. Concentrations of fumonisin in corn ears sampled from a field in Carteret County in 1998 ranged from 8 to 270 ppm. Experimental plots in Beaufort County in 2000 contained corn that exceeded 100 ppm fumonisin. The most desirable control strategy for Fusarium ear rot and fumonisin contamination is the use of resistant corn genotypes. Results from projects previously funded by the Corn Growers of NC showed that genotypes differ in their resistance, but that none has sufficient resistance to control the disease, and that heritability of resistance is high enough for breeding to be effective. A previously funded proposal screened demonstrated the potential use of genomic selection for the improvement of ear rot and fumonisin resistance in corn. In this current proposal, we propose to build on previous results by developing a protocol to obtain high throughput genotyping data in a rapid and relatively inexpensive way. Once this protocol is established, we can implement genomic selection two seasons per year instead of one season every two years, as we currently do with phenotypic selection. Although one cycle of genomic selection is not better than one cycle of selection based on field evaluations, four cycles of genomic selection are expected to be better than the one cycle of phenotypic selection that can be conducted in the same time frame. Also, if we can develop a sufficiently inexpensive genotyping protocol, we can reduce costs, allowing more lines to be evaluated using genomic selection.

The PIs will review the curriculum and course syllabi for three of UNSA������������������s academic programs: Food Science and Technology, Nutrition, and Agronomy. The PIs will provide a complete report that describes the process and final evaluation for each program. Selected NC State Faculty will conduct workshops related to teaching and evaluation good practices.