Germplasm Enhancement for Adaptation to Climate Changes

Marcelo J. Carena, Professor & Corn BreederNDSU Corn Breeding and Genetics

North Dakota State University Aug 3 2011 Brasil

Maize Early Generation Hybrid Lattice Trials Ready for Harveston NDSU Fargo Campus (S of 19th Ave N) in North Dakota

Maize Early Generation Hybrid Lattice Trials Ready for HarvestIn Northern North Dakota

Value and Cost of Public Maize Genetic Improvement (Crosbie and Lamkey, 1999)(Crosbie and Lamkey, 1999)

Pre-biotech Retrospective Look at Pre-biotech Retrospective Look at Corn Improvement (1865-1996)Corn Improvement (1865-1996)

Assuming 2/3 of Actual Gains Due to Assuming 2/3 of Actual Gains Due to Genetic ImprovementGenetic Improvement

Macro Analysis of Maize Breeding Macro Analysis of Maize Breeding Costs and Benefits for USA (1994 Costs and Benefits for USA (1994 Dollars Dollars and All Public Programs) and All Public Programs)

Value and Cost of Public Maize Genetic Improvement (Crosbie and Lamkey, 1999) (Crosbie and Lamkey, 1999)

$ 3 Billion Were Invested in 130 Years. $ 3 Billion Were Invested in 130 Years. How Much After 1996?How Much After 1996?

$ 260 Billion Were the Result From $ 260 Billion Were the Result From Research on Applied Maize BreedingResearch on Applied Maize Breeding

Plant Breeding Is Harder Than It Plant Breeding Is Harder Than It Looks. Need for Unique Training. Looks. Need for Unique Training.

But, How Many Applied Breeding Programs Left???? Meaning Integrating Pre-Breeding with CV Development??

Training the Next Breeder Generation with CV Development?

Cold Spring Harbor Lab, Long IslandCold Spring Harbor Lab, Long Island

(1904-1916)(1904-1916)

CONNECTICUT, NEW HAVEN AESCONNECTICUT, NEW HAVEN AES

(1905 - 1920)(1905 - 1920)

CREATORS OF THE HYBRID MAIZE IDEA

MN & ND

Public Creativity + Industry Vision = BusinessWe Have Worked with the Same Method for > 100 Yeas BUTBreeding Programs often do not Take Advantage of Marginal Environmental Conditions

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Productivity of North Dakota Maize

Production Challenges/Opportunities in ‘the North’

Period Between Killing Frosts Period Between Killing Frosts Effective Heat Supply Effective Heat Supply Rainfall? Rainfall?

NORTH DAKOTA FARMERSNORTH DAKOTA FARMERS

Production Challenges/Opportunities in ‘the North’

Period Between Killing Frosts Period Between Killing Frosts Effective Heat Supply Effective Heat Supply Rainfall Rainfall

YIELD IS AS IMPORTANT AS OTHER TRAITS.

BREEDERS VS. PRODUCER/EXTENSION MIND SETWhile Weather can be a Disadvantage for Production (e.g., 2009),It can be a Breeding Advantage to Screen and Discard Unstable, Weak Maize Varieties in LOCALLY Run Breeding Programs.

Breeding for Adaptation is Best Done under Target Challenging butUniform Environmental Challenges where Strengths/Weaknesses are Quickly Identified and Most Stable Genotypes Succeed.

US Northern Maize Production/Breeding Concerns

Billions of Dollars are being Lost to Drying Grain, Drought and Cold Susceptible Maize, and to Processing Low Quality Grain in the Northern U.S. Market.

Adaptation is Everything. Still Most Northern U.S. Hybrids are not Locally Bred. Lines/Hybrids are Provided by Retailer Companies Licensing Products from Foundation Seed Companies Centered in Southern Minnesota (MN).

Hybrids are Often Late Maturing Products with Below Average Grain Quality, Drought and Cold Tolerance, and Rate of Dry Down.

Hybrids are neither Reliable nor Stable for the Northern USA. Too Many Production Failures since there are no Breeding Programs Locally Developing Products (Industry not actively Present).

US Northern Maize Production/Breeding Concerns

Hybrids Offered by Retailer Companies have Similar Genetics.Few Hybrids, More Traits, Makes Maize Vulnerable

Small Seed Company Quote: “only three lines were viable in industry for northern corn production in 2009”

Northern Corn Farmer Quotes: “A 79RM (major company) hybrid failed me in 2008 and 2009, two years in a row (poor moisture and dry down), and this is their earliest hybrid, while the seed price keeps increasing with their trait integration business.” “I want to grow a 72RM corn hybrid. I have been searching for this product in the past 3 years and the earliest product I find is a 79RM hybrid”

The Confidential Nature of the Maize Business Limits Breeding Rights to Develop BETTER VERSIONS of Industry Inbred Lines.It Reduces the Breeding Efficiency to Identify the Most Outstanding Hybrid for Farmers.

NDSU Maize Breeding Program

80 Years of Continuous Maize Breeding Research, Northern Program in North America Moving Maize North and West. STRATEGICALLY Located to Develop Products under Extreme Environmental Conditions.

Large Active U.S. Applied Maize Breeding Program Integrating Pre-Breeding with Cultivar Development (Goals)

Several Locations for Maize Breeding Research Serving All Farmers in Both Desirable (High Industry Investment) and Marginal (Low Industry Investment) Environments.

Cooperation with >10 Industry Partners for Technology Access. Breeding Access to Checks and Testers, Locations, Equipment, Plots, etc.

NDSU has Released 17 Maize Lines, 8 Populations, and 6 Hybrids in the Past 12 Years. Hundreds of Requests for Earliness, Stress Tolerance, Unique Genetic Diversity, Dry Down, and Grain Quality. Unique Alleles not Present in the B73 and/or NAM Genomes Recently Sequenced.

TESTING LOCATIONS OF NDSU MAIZE BREEDING RESEARCH

How Diverse are Maize Hybrids within and across Companies? How Many Companies Breed Hybrids under these Conditions?

NDSU Maize Breeding Program Addresses:

Lack of Genetic Diversity and Earliness

Early Corn Limitation – Short-Season Cold Tolerance

Fast Dry Down, Test Weight, Grain Quality

West Corn Limitation – Short-Season Drought Tolerance

NDSU is the Only Program in the West,

Winter Cold & Drought Managed Environments

Fast Applied Breeding (Two Winter Generations + One Summer per Yr., 3 Times More Efficient than Without Winter Nurseries as Before 1999)

Training Breeders for Industry and Public (20/20%)

NDSU PROVIDES UNIQUE AND DIVERSE MAIZE PRODUCTS NOT PRESENT IN INDUSTRY

History – NDSU x NDSU (Low Industry Use, some ND203, ND246)

1999-2007 – NDSU x Industry Lines, System Open to All Provided ‘Cheap’ $500/request. (>140 Requests in 2007, 100% Full Funds to Research). Three types of Agreements (MTA, Inbred Research, Commercialization). Releases were Quick.

On-Going Additional Efforts – NDSU x NDSU and NDSU x Industry Lines. NDSU Provides Experimental Lines to Foundation Seed Companies, Re-Coding, Protection, Market, and Sell to Retailer Companies in the Northern Market.

Releases are Delayed to Give Advantage.

ND2000

Reg. No. PL-306, PI 631394Reg. No. PL-306, PI 631394Released after 4 Years ofReleased after 4 Years ofHybrid Tests and RS Hybrid Tests and RS

For Breeding Programs Developing For Breeding Programs Developing Early-Maturing High Quality HybridsEarly-Maturing High Quality Hybrids

Distribution to more than 100 institutionsDistribution to more than 100 institutionsNDSU Research Foundation is the OwnerNDSU Research Foundation is the OwnerDistribution was not Exclusive (Equal Distribution was not Exclusive (Equal

Access to All)Access to All)No PVP ProtectionNo PVP Protection“Work Horse” Line for Seed Production “Work Horse” Line for Seed Production Use as Recurrent Parent for EarlyGEM Use as Recurrent Parent for EarlyGEM

Recurrent Selection & Pedigree SelectionRecurrent Selection & Pedigree Selection

Iowa Stiff Stalk Synthetic

19391939 BSSS BSSS

19531953 B14B14

19581958 B37B37

19721972 BS13(H)C5BS13(H)C5 B73

19841984 BS13(H)C7BS13(H)C7 B84B84

19971997 BS13(S)C5BS13(S)C5 B104B104

RECURRENT SELECTION AND LINE DEVELOPMENT

RECURRENT SELECTIONRECURRENT SELECTION ELITE X ELITE (2 Types)ELITE X ELITE (2 Types)

FAMILY STRUCTUREFAMILY STRUCTURE INBRED LINE DEVELOPMENTINBRED LINE DEVELOPMENT

EVALUATION TC and SC TRIALS

RECOMBINATIONRECOMBINATION RELEASE OF LINESRELEASE OF LINES

NEXT CYCLE OFNEXT CYCLE OFSELECTIONSELECTION IMPROVED POPULATIONS IMPROVED POPULATIONS

PEDIGREE SELECTION BreedingBreeding Stress/Disease Stress/Disease TC Prod. Trials TC Prod. Trials

07’07’ S S0 0

07-08’07-08’ S S1/21/2 (3-5,000) S1TC 2T 2T

09’09’ S S33 (3 locs)(3 locs) S S33 TC test TC test

09-10’09-10’ S S4/54/5 S S44TC 4T TC 4T

10’10’ S S66 TC test TC test

S6-8 SC Early and Late Maturity Trials with 8T in 2011

ND2015

No Reg. No. PL-, No PI No Reg. No. PL-, No PI Released after 5 Years ofReleased after 5 Years ofHybrid Tests: Hybrid Tests:

For Breeding Programs Developing For Breeding Programs Developing Early-Maturing Unique HybridsEarly-Maturing Unique Hybrids

Distribution to 1 Institution!Distribution to 1 Institution!NDSU Research Foundation is the OwnerNDSU Research Foundation is the OwnerDistribution was Exclusive (Not Equal Distribution was Exclusive (Not Equal

Access to All)Access to All)PVP Protection by NDSU Marketing ArmPVP Protection by NDSU Marketing ArmNDSU EarlyGEM ProductNDSU EarlyGEM Product

Germplasm Improved by Intra & Inter Population Recurrent Selection (RS) (Advanced Cycles, ~10%)

NDSU Breeding Sources

Inbred Line Development

Elite x Elite (within Heterotic Groups, ~40%)

Elite x Elite (across Heterotic Groups, ~5%)

Top Progenies from RS (full sibs, half sibs, S1s, and S2s, with testers)

Top Backcross Progenies from NDSU EarlyGEM Adapted Breeding Crosses (~35%)

Elite Industry Lines under MTAs (~5%)

Germplasm Adapted from Stratified Mass Selection (~5%)

GERMPLASM PRE-BREEDING SOURCES FOR NDSU MAIZE INBRED LINE DEVELOPMENT (adapted from Carena et al., 2009b).

NDSU Maize Breeding: Genetic Diversity

GEM – Germplasm Enhancement Maize Program, 30 Industry & Public Cooperators, Following LAMP

GOAL: To Increase the Genetic Diversity of Industry Hybrids by Incorporating Unique Tropical and Temperate Corn

NDSU EarlyGEM Program: Unique to NDSU, Provides Industry the Chance to Access Unique Tropical and Late Temperate Maize

NDSU Leads the First Long-Term Continued Effort to Incorporate GEM Germplasm in the Northern U.S.

Over 10,000 BC1 Lines Screened so far. First Release/Distribution of Breeder Seed in 2011.

Inspiration!

90RM GEM Lines Vs. 85RM Industry

NDSU Genetics Provided Superior Performance Not Only in Yield, Test Weight, Drought Tolerance But Also in Grain Quality

Drought Tolerance 193.8 % Yield Under Stress

Extractable Starch 67.8% vs. 64.2%

Fermentable Starch 16.6% vs. 16.4%Grain Protein 10.5% vs. 9.4% (AA profile too)

Grain Oil 4.3% vs. 3.5%

Development of High Quality Drought Tolerant Maize for Utilization in the Northern U.S.

Hwy 16 Hwy 16

PREVENTING JOB AND WEALTHMIGRATION FROM RURAL ND

Trotters, Western NDTrotters, Western ND

Trotters, Western NDTrotters, Western ND

NDSU Maize Breeding for High Extractable Starch under Drought Stress is a Solution in Areas with Cheap Energy for Ethanol Processing. Most Ethanol Plants are Located in the West.Without Short-Season Drought Tolerance, noProduct Utilization

ESSENTIAL!: WINTER NURSERY IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE (New Products Developed in 4 Yrs. Vs. 12 Yrs, New Products Developed in 4 Yrs. Vs. 12 Yrs,

SEED PRODUCTION DROUGHT SCREENING

NDSU Maize Breeding Results: Drought and Cold

DROUGHT TESTING

NDSU Maize Breeding Efforts for Drought And Cold Tolerance Supported By MN and ND Corn Grower Associations

NDSU Maize Breeding Results: Earliness

Stratified Mass Selection provides earlier products at less than $200 per population

20,000 400

20,000 400

20,000 400 Cycle 3 (C3)

Plants Evaluated Plants Selected (only 2% each time)

Millions of Dollars from NSF and USDA are Still Being Utilized for Molecular Studies on non-Desirable Traits for Breeding (e.g., Flowering, Easy to Measure and Screen for).

NDSU has Made Maize Earlier at an Average Rate of 2.5 Days per Year. ISU even more. Cost: Less than a Penny per Plant Evaluated, a Cost/Efficient way of Moving Maize North. Without Exceptions, all Tropical and Late Temperate Maize have been Successfully Adapted.

After Selecting for Earliness

Yield = +20 to 40 bu/acGrain Moisture = -8 to -12 %Test Weight = +2 to 3.5 lb/buPlant and Ear Height = -9 to -28 cm or -4 to -11 inches

NDSU Maize Breeding Results: Earliness

A NEW METHOD FOR ESTIMATING RATE OF DRY DOWN

Area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC)

– AUDPC is used to summarize the progress of disease severity.

We Proposed:

Area under the dry down curve (AUDDC)

Larger AUDDC area, representing slower dry down progress

Smaller AUDDC area, representing faster dry down progress

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NDSU Corn Breeding Results: Dry Down

1) Development of the Next Generation Healthier Corn Products:Adaptation of QPM Products, EarlyGEM lines, New Populations (NDSS, NDL, NDBS11, EarlyGEM Synthetics for Different Traits)New Index/Quality Factor: Quality/AcreScreen from Current 4,000 to 25,000 Plots

2) Ex-PVP Lines, Evaluation of their Usefulness, Unique hybrid Combinations not Tested Before

3) On-going intra- and inter-Population Improvement Programs

IN THE PIPELINE:

Major Applied Breeding Concerns

1) Infrastructure: Cold Storage, Equipment, Personnel for Public Breeding Programs Addressing Long-Term Goals of Adaptation and Improvement. Not Very Popular among Grant Donors but Need Priority on Brainstorming Ideas before going after Funding.

2) Research Emphasis:Need more Innovation Research and Less “Cutting Edge” (what Everybody does).

3) Cooperation: Active cooperation with Industry should Provide Access to Latest Technology and should Prevent Spending Millions in Academic Labs that Become Obsolete Very Quickly (Indirect Costs should be Eliminated to Stop Vicious Circle in the Public Sector).

Major Applied Breeding Concerns

4) Germplasm Exchange: Think before Making Exclusive Agreements, Limiting Breeding Access. The Best Cultivar for your Area Might Never be Made.Will Royalties be the Only Way to Fund Public Breeding Programs?

5) Traits:Do Breeding Programs Target Traits with New Technologies? Markers, for instance, were Originally Created to Solve Breeder Challenges with Quantitative Traits that are Difficult to Measure. Do we need Markers for Maize Flowering? Too many Resources have been used without Targeting Traits.

6) Germplasm:Without Choosing, Sampling, and Locally Adapting Unique/Elite Germplasm Neither Traditional Breeding Techniques nor Modern Techniques will Succeed.

Major Applied Breeding Concerns

7) Hybrids: Each Successful Hybrid has its Own Combination of Genetic Effects. Sample Sizes for Basic Experiments (e.g., QTL) are Limited. Genome Sequence Information Could Complement ‘Traditional’ Quantitative Genetic Studies on DH or Other Breeding Populations.

8) Recurrent Selection and Genetically Broad-Based Germplasm:Breeding Programs Improving Genetically Broad-Based Germplasm Could Provide National Labs Unique Genetic Materials for Additional Sequencing Efforts and Increase the Sample Size Currently Limited by B73 and NAM, Identify Unique Alleles. Few Extensive Recurrent Selection Programs are Left that could Validate Models for New Selection Methodologies (e.g., GWS).

Conclusions

There is a Need for Vital Projects to Agricultural Applied Research that will Meet Present and Future Demands of Superior Genotypes Tolerant to Climate Changes in the U.S. and Abroad.

Training the Next Generation of Breeders Need Major Exposure to Germplasm Improvement AND Cultivar Development

Breeding Programs Addressing Climate Change Challenges are Essential for the Future Sustainability of Corn Production not only in Current Production Areas but Also in Areas Where Corn Production is Headed.

Breeding Programs Should Adapt, Improve, and Develop Elite and Unique Germplasm Through Most Efficient (old and new) Breeding Strategies Depending on Cost and Impact.

Conclusions

Adaptation to Climate Changes Requires Improvement of Traits Quantitatively Inherited Largely Influenced by the Environment. These Traits are Often Controlled by Hundreds of Genes and Their Interactions and are Difficult to Measure. Ideas to Overcome the Evaluation of Such Traits should be a Priority.

Long-term Activities to Adapt and Maximize Genetic Improvement of Elite Germplasm under Climate Changes are Required. This will be the Source of Unique Cultivars that will Meet the 21st Century Demands of Food, Feed, Fuel, and Fiber.

Applied Breeding Programs are the Only Ones that can Meet Future Environmental Changes and Applied Plant Breeding Capacity Building will be Essential.

AcknowledgementsMinnesota Corn Growers AssociationMinnesota Corn Growers AssociationNorth Dakota Corn Council UtilizationNorth Dakota Corn Growers AssociationNorth Dakota State Board of Ag. ResearchNorth Dakota Ethanol Producers Assn.USDA-GEMBASF/Thurston GeneticsAgReliant GeneticsMonsantoDuPont/Pioneer Hi-Bred InternationalSyngentaLaboulet SemencesAg SolutionsDow/MycogenSGI GeneticsCIMMYT/FAO/European public partners