ARIDUS TheBulletinofTheDesertLegumeProgramofTheBoyceThompsonSouthwesternArboretumandTheUniversityofArizona Volume20,Number2 August2008 Twenty Years Later – DELEP at Two Decades Matthew B. Johnson ProgramManagerandCurator DesertLegumeProgram cropresearch,forageresearch,seedstogrowplantsfor fodderforexoticanimals,wildlifehabitatimprovement, soilimprovementresearch,researchonsalinitytolerance, drylandforestry,researchintolegumesthatcanbeused ascovercropstoprovideweedcontrol,researchinplant Thissummer,DELEPcelebratesits20th anniversary. It is difficult to believe that it has been so long taxonomy,anatomy,morphology,molecularbiology, ago, in June 1988, when the first seed collections were genetics,DNAbarcoding,pharmacologicalresearch, madefromcultivatedlegumesontheUniversityofArizona researchtoidentifyphytotoxins,viralindicatorsstudies, campus.Thepasttwentyyearshaveseenmanychanges starchextractionfromseedpods,seedstogrowplants andmuchprogress. forfuneraryrites,seedincreaseforseedbanking,weed AttheheartofDELEPisourseedbank.From seedreferencecollection,archeologicalseedreference humblebeginnings,ithasgrowntoacollectionof3480 collection,teachingmaterialforuniversitycourses,seeds accessions representing 1350 identified species with a total forcollectionsandeducationalexhibitsatbotanicalgardens of1434taxain219genera.Theseseedshaveoriginated andzoologicalparks,andseedsforcommercialnurseries from57countriesonsixcontinents.Theseedsarestored andprivatehorticulturists. inawalkinfreezerandtwosmallerchest-typefreezers. EachseedcollectionthatDELEPobtainsis Storingtheseedsat0°F(-18°C)extendsviabilityand assigned a unique accession number, which is used to eliminatespotentialpestproblemssuchasseedweevils. trackanyseedsorplantsfromthatcollection.Adatabase Foreachaccessionwithaminimumof200seeds,a containsdetailedinformationoneachaccessionintheseed portionissenttotheUSDAAgriculturalResearchService’s bank.Accessionrecordsincludethenameoftheplant, NationalCenterforGeneticResourcesPreservation thecollectiondate,informationonthelocationwhereit (NCGRP),inFortCollins,Coloradoforsecurebackup wascollected,thename(s)ofthecollector(s),andother storage.Thisensuresthatthoseaccessionswillnotbelost detailssuchaswhetheraherbariumvoucherspecimenwas shouldsomethinghappentotheseedsstoredatDELEP’s made, the quantity of seeds, and storage location. Copies facilities. It would be very difficult and expensive, if not ofaccessionrecordsareprovidedwithanyseedsthatare impossibletorecreatetheDELEPseedcollectiongiven sentoutfromtheseedbank.VolunteerRoyWilliamshas therealitiesoftheworldtoday.Wearegratefultothe beenworkingonanimprovedversionofourdatabasethat USDAfortheencouragementandassistancethatthey willallowgreaterversatilityingeneratingreportsaswellas haveprovidedovermanyyears.DELEP’sIndexSeminum storingdigitalimagesandvideofootage.Thisrepresentsa isalistofseedsintheseedbankthatareavailablefor majorstepforwardinmanagingthecollection. distribution.ItisavailablethroughtheDELEPwebsite Collectingtripsinsupportoftheseedbankand http://cals.arizona.edu/desertlegumeprogram/andincludes otherprojectshavebeenanintegralpartofDELEP’s specific information on requesting seeds. The ARS also activitiessincetheprogramwasestablished.Duringthe includesDELEP’sseedbankholdingsonitsGenetic earlyyearsoftheprogram,theemphasiswasonobtaining ResourcesInformationNetwork(GRIN)siteandwe seedsofasmanytaxaaspossible.Extensivecollections receive numerous requests each year through GRIN. weremadefrombothwildandcultivatedlegumes.In DELEPhasprovidedseedstohundredsofrecipients recentyears,wehavefocusedonobtainingcollections aroundtheworld.Inmanycases,weareabletosupply frommultiplepopulationsofspeciesinanefforttosample seedsthatareotherwiseunavailable.Someofthemany a significant portion of the genetic diversity present across usesforwhichseedshavebeensuppliedincludefood theirranges.Wherepossible,seedsarecollectedfroma 2 DELEPcollectiontripinTexas,1990.(SVS) minimumof30individualplantswithineachpopulation. CollectiontripsfortheLegumesofArizonaproject(an efforttoproduceapublicationofthesamename)will greatly facilitate our efforts to improve the quality of collectionsintheseedbankaswellasaddnewtaxa.Inthe past,DELEPhascontractedwithcollectorsinotherpartsof theworldtocollectseeds.Additionalmaterialshavebeen obtainedthroughexchangewithotherbotanicalinstitutions, donationsfromprivateindividuals,andpurchasefrom commercialsources.Inthepast20years,DELEPhas hostedbotanistsfromtheRoyalBotanicalGardens,Kew andtheUSDA,assistingthemontripstocollectseeds. Beginning in 1989, DELEP has maintained field plotswherevariouslegumeshavebeengrown.Thereare currently two fields at the Campus Agricultural Center and an additional field at the West Campus Agricultural Center,inTucson,andasiteattheYumaMesaAgricultural Center.Since1989,nearly600taxaoflegumeshave been planted in these fields to evaluate their performance andadaptability.Numerousplantshavefailedtosurvive forvariousreasonsincludingfreezingtemperatures,soil conditions,herbivoredamage,orsenescence,andwere replacedwithotherplantsawaitingevaluation.Thereare currentlyover250taxaofperenniallegumesgrowingin the fields. Data on the performance of these plants has been collected since 1989. A summary of the field evaluations is availableonDELEP’swebsite.Inadditiontoevaluatingthe performance of legumes in our fields, the plants serve as an importantsourceofseedsfortheseedbank.Especiallyin caseswhereanoriginalcollectionhasonlyasmallnumber of seeds, we grow plants to flowering size to increase the numberofseedsfordistributionandresearch. Anotherimportantpurposethattheseplantsserve isforbiomasscollectionforvariousresearchprojects. Hundredsofsampleshavebeencollectedforbiomedical screeningandthesearchforpotentiallyusefulindustrial compounds.Intheearly1990’s,DELEPparticipatedin aprojectthatwaslookingatthearomaticresinfromthe calyxglandsofthedesertsmoketree,Psorothamnus spinosus,forpossibleuseasafragranceincosmeticsand householdcleaningproducts.DELEPcollectedhundredsof plantsamplesoveratenyearperiodforSankyoCompany inJapan,forabiomedicalscreeningproject.Collections foranotherpharmaceuticalscreeningprojectyielded compoundsthatwereextractedfromtheseedpodsofan Acaciaandarecurrentlybeingevaluatedforpossibleusein cancertreatment. DELEP’s field plantings serve additional uses. Wearenowinthefourthyearofcollectingdataonthe flowering and fruiting times of all of the legumes growing in our Tucson fields. We will continue to collect this phenologydataincomingyears.Researchcarriedoutbya UniversityofArizonagraduatestudentexaminedtheroots of mesquite (Prosopis species) growing in the fields for 3 nodulationbyRhizobium bacteria. Plants in the fields are evaluatedfortheirlandscapepotential.DELEPhasworked closelywiththeArizonalandscapenurseryindustryto introduceattractivetreesandshrubsthatareadaptedtothe local climate and have low water requirements. A dozen specieshavemadetheirwayontothelandscapepalettein Arizona,eitherasnewintroductionsbyDELEPorlittle knownplantsthatwerepromotedfollowingfavorable field evaluations. Interest in low water-use legumes hasn’t beenlimitedtoArizona.Wehaveprovidedmaterialfor landscapeevaluationinotherpartsoftheSouthwest andmoredistantstatesincludingGeorgia,Florida,and NorthCarolinawherethereisaninterestinreducing landscapewateruse.SeedshavealsobeensenttoAfrica, Asia,Europe,theMiddleEast,andLatinAmericafor horticulturalandlandscapepurposes. DELEPisdiligentregardingspeciesthatcould potentially become ecosystem weeds. The fields are closely monitoredforanylegumesthatmaybevolunteeringfrom seeds since these irrigated fields are particularly favorable sitesforthegerminationandestablishmentofplants.Nonnative species that show an eagerness to reseed in the fields arenotreleasedforlandscapeevaluation;thevolunteer seedlingsandinsomecasestheparentplantsaredestroyed. OtherprojectsthatDELEPhasbeeninvolvedin includedpropagatingandestablishingplantsofAcacia angustissimafortheU.S.FishandWildlifeServiceon Dr.PhilUpchurchandDr.BillFeldman,1994.(MBJ) theBuenosAiresNationalWildlifeRefuge,insouthern Arizona.Theseacaciasgraduallydroptheirseeds duringthewintermonths.Therefugewasworkingon reintroducingtheendangeredMaskedBobwhiteQuail,and itwasthoughtthattheseedsmightprovideafoodsourceat atimeoftheyearwheninsectsandotherfoodwasscarce. DELEPhasworkedwithWallaceDesertGardens since1989.TheWallaceGardensareanidealsitetoplant legumesforfurtherevaluationoftheirperformanceina landscapesetting.Mr.andMrs.H.B.Wallacehadakeen interestinlegumesandtheirimportance.Supportprovided bytheWallaceResearchFoundationhasbeeninstrumental intheprogressthatDELEPhasachievedtodate.DELEP hostedFulbrightScholarDr.AlejandraVilela,from Argentina,whocarriedoutexperimentsongerminationof NorthandSouthAmericanProsopisspecies. DELEPhasbeencloselyinvolvedwiththeBoyce ThompsonArboretum,ofwhichitisapart,sincetheearly daysoftheprogram.Anearlyprojectinvolvedgrowing legumesfortheBTAplantsales.Sincethen,DELEPhas grownover2000individualplantsforthelivingcollections atBTA.ManyspecieswerenewtotheBTAcollections. Whilethemajorityoftheplantswerelegumes,many otherwoodyplantsandsucculentshavebeengrown,and wecontinuetopropagateplantsforthecollectionsatthe Arboretum.DELEPhasbeeninstrumentalinhelpingto bringseveralexhibitstofruition.InthecaseoftheSouth Americanexhibit,essentiallyallofthewoodyplants exceptforsomeofthecommerciallyavailablespeciesof ProsopisweregrownbyDELEP.Theotherspecieswere notavailablefromothersources.MattJohnsonhasactively participatedincollectionsdevelopmentthroughtheBTA CollectionsCommitteesincetheearly1990’s,andMatt andMargieNoremserveontheArboretum’sResearch Committee. Fouryearsagowebeganaphoto-archiving projecttorecorddigitalimagesoftheplantsgrowingin our fields. Ken Coppola has spearheaded this effort. We extendoursincereappreciationtovolunteerDanSimswho providedadedicatedcomputerforthisproject.Danwas ourGreenhouseCoordinatorformanyyears.TheLegumes ofArizonaprojectcameoutoftheStrategicPlanning processinitiatedbyDr.MarkBierner.Begunin2006,this projectwillproduceamajorpublicationentitledLegumes of Arizona – an Illustrated Reference,whichwillinclude allofthenative,naturalized,andcommerciallygrown legumesfoundinArizonawithdescriptions,botanical keys,informationonhabitatanddistribution,andusesand potentialusesoftheseplants.Thebookwillalsoinclude distributionmaps,illustrationsandphotographs.Thiswill beamajormilestoneforDELEP. DELEP’sbulletin,Aridus,wasinitiatedby volunteerDr.EdmundWeber.Edservedaseditorforthe first three volumes. Volunteers Dr. Steve Stephens and 4 PhyllisStephensassumededitorshipforthreeissuesof Volume4.EditorshippassedtoMattJohnsonwhoserved in this capacity for five years. Dr. Margie Norem assumed themantleofeditorwiththelastissueofVolume9,and continuestoeditandproducethebulletinnowinits20th year.BeginningwithVolume16,Aridusmaybefound online,bygoingtoDELEP’swebsite.Anadvantageofthe onlineversionisthatimagesareincolor.Additionally,he websitecontainsinformationontheprogram,theIndex Seminum, and the field evaluation summary. DELEPisasmuchaboutpeopleasitisabout plants,asevidencedintheparagraphsabove.Many individualshavebeeninvolvedwiththeprogramoverthe past20years.Morethan110peoplehavevolunteeredfor DELEP since the first volunteer session in January, 1989. Among this distinguished group, five volunteers who were present at the first volunteer session are still active with theprogram:ClydeAdams,BillBearly,KarlMay,Dan Sims,andDr.EdmundWeber.Thevolunteerprogramis agreatassettoDELEPandbringstogetherpeoplefrom manywalksoflifewhocontributetheirtimeandtalentsto theprogram.MonthlyseedcleaningsessionsatDELEP’s headquarters are a great way to get involved. Some volunteershavecontributedexpertisewithcomputerhelp, theliteraturecollection,donorrelations,plantpropagation and care, and field work. Volunteers have participated in seedcollectingtripslocallyandaroundtheSouthwest. TheDesertLegumeAdvisoryBoardwas establishedin1994bythendirectorDr.R.P.Upchurch. Boardmembershavegenerouslydonatedtheirtimeto provideadviceandassistancewithactivitiesandefforts tostrengthentheprogram.Atotalof40Universityof ArizonastudentshavebeenemployedbyDELEPona part-timebasisovertheyears,gainingnewexperiencesand providingmuchneededhelp.Wearegratefultoallofthese peoplefortheirefforts. DELEPhasbeenablyledbythreeoutstanding directors.Ourfoundingdirector,Dr.RobertPhillip Upchurch(1988-1994)turnedDELEPfromavisioninto realityandestablishedtheprogram’sdirectionandprimary activities.Dr.WilliamR.Feldman(1994-2005)continued tomoveDELEPforward,makingmanyimprovements andstrengtheningthetieswiththeBoyceThompson Arboretum.Dr.MarkW.Bierner(2005-present)further strengthenedtieswithBTAandintroducedstrategic planningtoDELEP.ThroughDr.Bierner’sleadership, we have a series of specific objectives and a timeline for implementingthem,withthegoalofachievingexcellence attheinternationallevelandensuringthelong-term continuityoftheprogram. DELEP’s first curator was June Sullivan (19881989).Junewasinstrumentalinbeginningtheseed bankandpropagationprogram.MattJohnsonworked withDELEPin1988whilecompletinggraduateschool, conductinglibrarysearchesandleadingseedcollecting trips.Heassumedthedutiesofcuratorin1989andwas giventheaddedresponsibilitiesofprogrammanagerin 1992. Ken Coppola, DELEP’s horticulturist, field and greenhousemanager,andvolunteercoordinator,hasbeen withtheprogramsince1989.Heperformstheessential functionsthatkeeptheprogramoperatingsmoothly.Dr. MargieNorembeganworkingforDELEPin1990.Her timeisdividedbetweeneditingthejournalDesert Plants forBTA,andworkingwithDELEP.InadditiontoAridus, Margiehasbeentheleadpersoninprojectsinvolvingthe genusLupinusaswellasparticipatinginaprojectwithDr. UrsulaSchuchthatinvestigatedthephenologyofseveral woody legumes in DELEP’s fields over a two year period. Ourneweststaffmember,KirstenLake,joinedtheprogram in2007asmanagingeditorfortheLegumesofArizona project.Shehasmadeconsiderableprogressinashorttime onthisimportanteffort. Wehavehadseveralpart-timegroundskeepers whohaveprovidedinvaluablehelpwithplantcareinour fields and propagation facilities. Theresa Contos, Wayne McGowan,JenaPeterson,AdamRyan,RickSpriggs,Jamie Wahl,andSteveWilcoxhaveallbravedsummerheatand spinyplantsinservicetoDELEP.JenaandJamiewere previouslystudentemployeeswhocontinuedtoworkwith DELEPforatimefollowinggraduation.Administrative supporthasbeenprovidedbyDeeDilhoff,ValerieHales, CharlotteBrooke,CarolKnowles,JaneRua,GinaVance, andBruceKlewer.TimClark,MonicaDelisa,Kathy Brewer,andLeandraLewishaveassistedwithdevelopment activitiesthroughBTAandtheFriendsoftheArboretum office. Thefutureoffersmanychallengesaswellas opportunities.Futurefundingisamajorconcern.The DELEPendowmentprovidessomeyearlyoperating expensesandwillincreaseovertime.Wearegratefulfor supportprovidedbytheUACollegeofAgricultureandLife Sciences,aswellasmanyindividualsandorganizations thathaveprovidedsupportoverthepast20years.Weare currentlyseekingnewfundingopportunities.Aswemove into our third decade, we reflect on how far DELEP has comefromitshumblebeginningsandrememberthemany peoplewhohaveparticipatedwithusinvariouscapacities. PerhapsthemostimportantaspectsofDELEP’sworkare theservicesthatwehavebeenabletoprovidetotheworld communityinpreservingandsharingseedsandotherplant materialofthisvitallyimportantgroupofplants.Itiswith thisforemostinmind,thatwelookforwardtothecoming yearswiththecommittmentthatthisisaworthwhile undertaking.Workingtogether,wecanachievealevel of excellence for DELEP that will fulfill Dr. Upchurch’s originalvisionfortheprogramandcontinuetoprovide valuableserviceforyearstocome. 5 Staff and Volunteers in Action Weareinthetwentiethyear oftheDesertLegumeProgram’s existence, continuing a significant periodofwarmassociationsamongst ourfaculty,staff,volunteers,and administrators.Wecontinueour seedcollectionefforts;preserving, propagating,andsharingtheresources wehavecreatedwithyoursupport, interest,andinspiration.Seeds were first collected by volunteers, withfacultyandstaffguidance regardingspeciesforinclusion.The compositionofourvolunteergroup andmechanismsforaccomplishing our goals have changed as required duringtheseyears,butDELEP remainstruetotheobjectivesofour MissionStatement[seeARIDUS volume17,April2005]. MattandIhaveworked togetheratthecoreoftheprogram’s botanical,horticultural,andtechnical functionsince1989.Dr.Norembegan providing key elements to our field andlaboratoryresearchduringthe followingyearandbecametheeditor ofARIDUSinearly1998.Most recentlyshehasworkedtocreate DELEP’swebsitewhichincludes our Index Seminum and the past five yearsofARIDUS.Inmostyears,she andIworktogetheragainstunknown odds,inefforttoincreaseourLupinus species’ seed numbers through field andpottednurserypropagation. Thankstoyoursupport,DELEPhas beenabletogrowimportantlegume speciesforthegardensatBoyce ThompsonArboretum,helpingto creategreaterinterestintheirpotential uses.Ihopeyouwillconsidervisiting Boyce Thompson Arboretum for a first orreturnvisit,especiallyifyouhave notbeenthereinafewyears!The BTAwebsitewillhelpyouplanyour dayoryoureventontheBTAgrounds (WWW.arboretum,ag.arizona.edu). DesertLegumeProgramlinksarealso accessiblefromtheBTAwebsite. Astheseyearshavepassed, ourvolunteergrouphasgrownand changed.Intwentyyears,therehave beenmorethan200volunteerwork sessions!Astaffofstudentsand groundskeepershasprovidedamighty force, especially during the first ten yearsofDELEP’sexistence.There are14currentlyactivevolunteers whowereworkingwithusin1998. Fiveofthosefourteenare“original” volunteersfromthe1988group! Thesewonderfulfolksarestillactive atmonthlysessionsandinother supportaspects.Collectivelyandsolo wecontinuevariedseedcollection effortsforpreservation,propagation, andeventuallysharingtheresource wehavecreatedwithanevergrowing environmentally-mindedkinship. Wehavetraveledhundredsofmiles aroundArizonatomaintainour fields and volunteers have been with us on many occasions. Our field specimenshavegrownfromseedlings in“six-paks”throughmanypotsizes, reachingtheircurrentsizesinour four Arizona fields. There, many have attainedamazingheights,withsome taller than 55 feet, in the Yuma fields. Theselivingnurseriesareduallyfor evaluationsandseedproduction.It isgratifyingtobeabletoprovidethis varietyofseedsandplantmaterialto the scientific community, ensuring thelong-termsustainabilityofdesert legumesasanentityasenvisioned byR.PhilipUpchurchmorethan twentyyearsago.Wecontinueto achievewhatwehadintendedtodo, asDELEPchangedfromaprogram “concept”toaviableandthriving entity.Yourcontinuedinterestwill allowustocontinuethiszealous effort.Wethankyou! DELEPvolunteersession,1994.(MBJ) 6 TentativedatesforFallvolunteersessionsare:September 10,October8,November12,andDecember10.Please sendmeanemail,kcoppola@ag.arizona.edu,orcall(520) 318-7047tolearnmore.KC DELEP Personnel MarkBierner,Ph.D. Director Currentlyactivevolunteerswhohavevolunteeredsince DELEP’sbeginninginclude: ClydeAdams BillBearly KarlMay DanSims EdWeber Therestofourcurrentvolunteergroupare: BobandJoanBriggs CarolandMauryClapp KayandMikeFagan JeanandGeorgeGirard JanetandCharlieGray LauraHollander, BillKendall, CesarandHazelLee, CarmenandMatMatsuda SusieMay ShariandEdMontgomery PiaReynolds PatriciaRorabaugh MarvSmoot JackandIolaStroehlein MatthewB.Johnson BotanicalSpecialist KenCoppola Horticulturist MargaretNorem,Ph.D. EditorAridus KirstenLake FloristicsCoordinator BruceKlewer AdministrativeAssistant Volunteer Coordinators YumaFields PamelaHonaker MichaelChamberland ElizabethDavison DavidEllis,Ph.D. StephanieGreene,Ph.D. LeslieGunatilaka,Ph.D. RyanHuxtable,Ph.D. MichelleMcMahon,Ph.D. KenMorrow PamelaSlate RaymondTurner,Ph.D. PastandpresentvolunteersinourYumagroupinclude: GailCulver, PamelaHonaker GlenBranham TerenceDonovan JoePrincipi Wearesaddenedattherecentpassingofvolunteerand formerUACollegeofAgricultureprofessorT.CurtTucker. Ourcondolencestohisfamilyandfriends. Advisory Board 7 KeithTaylorandKenCoppolaplantingin1989. DanSimsandBillBearlyvolunteering inthegreenhousein1989. To Volunteer: Opportunities for Participation DELEP’sbulletinAridus,ispublishedthreetimesannually tostimulateinterestindesertlegumes,informourreaders ofDELEP’sactivities,andencouragesupportofDELEP’s programs.Manuscriptsrelatedtolegumesarewelcomeand shouldbemailedtotheeditorforreview.Subscriptionsare complimentary and are available by contacting the DELEP office. AridusispublishedbyTheUniversityofArizonaforTheDesert LegumeProgram. FinancialsupportforDELEPisprovidedbyprivateindustries, governmentagenciesandindividualsthroughcontracts,grants andcontributions.Dedicatedvolunteerworkisanintegral componentofDELEP.Ourvolunteershavemanydifferent backgroundsandworkonvariousprojectsincludingwildseed collecting, seed processing, special events and office tasks. Delep volunteersmeetonceamonth. Call(520)318-7046 Email:kcoppola@ag.arizona.edu To Contribute: Calltodiscussapledge,restrictedgift orestateplanning Makeacheckpayableto DELEP/UofAFoundation MailtoDesertLegumeProgram 2120E.AllenRoad Tucson,AZ85719 8 DELEP’Sboardofdirectors,1996:KeithTaylor,WarrenJones,BobKneebone,RayClark, CindySalo,PhilUpchurch,BillFeldman,AllanDunstan,EdWeeber,RyanHuxtable. TheUniversityofArizona DesertLegumeProgram 2120E.AllenRoad Tucson,Arizona85719 U.S.A. Return Services Requested NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 190 TUCSON, ARIZONA